Found this while recovering files from an old drive. It took me longer to type them up than to think them up, so don't take these as anything but a bit of entertainment. I posted this on another forum a long time ago, back before PGMusic invented drums.
Tangmo's 10+ Rules for Songwriting.
1. Don't be boring. If you ARE boring, then, for the sake of the song, pretend that you are somebody who isn't boring.
2. Don't use cliches...unless you have to in order to obey Rule #1
3. Remember the axiom: Write what you know. Then after you remember it, find the person who said it and shove it up his or her axiom! George Lucas didn't know anything about galaxies a long time ago and far away. He didn't in the 70's, and he still doesn't. Write whatever you want., as long as you don't break Rule #1.
4. Remember it's a song and make it 'song-sized'. You can't change the world anyway, so don't try to do it in a song. Think of lyrical subjects as water. Every song has essentially the same amount of water. You have two choices--small and deep, or broad and shallow. Go with small and deep and save everybody the trench-foot.
5. Don't write about your feelings. Nobody cares about your damn feelings! OK...maybe a few people kinda care, but even they don't care as much as you do, so don't burden them. Some of them have feelings of their own.
6. Hold a seat for your listener in the song. 90% of the time, you'll be saying something they WISH they could say. If they could say it and set it to music, THEY'D be writing the damn song. Save them the trouble and do it for them. We don't need more songwriters.
7. Never write about 'wearing smiles or frowns'. It was kinda cute the first time, but it sucks now--especially if its a clown. In fact, don't write about clowns at all. Nobody really likes them, and a significant portion of the populace is frightened by them. It's OK if your clown is 'evil', I guess...just remember rule #1.
8. Dana Carvey wrote 'Chopping Broccoli'.* Don't imitate him.
9. If it 'sings' good, it is good. Nothing else matters. Nothing.
10. A song is always sung. If it can't be sung, it's not a song, so don't call it one. Mozart would kick your [*****] if you called one of his symphonies a 'song'. Got it?
11. Don't follow anybody's rules for song-writing--not even mine. I have enough problems writing my own damn songs. I don't need the aggravation of enforcing rules. OK?
Lots of laughs there, I think number 10 was the best, and I'll definitely avoid "Choppin' Broccoli" (OK, maybe I'll slice it instead)
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Rules? there are no rules. There are however, suggestions.
Ones I like to follow on occasion....
1. Keep intros as short as possible .... not to exceed 13 seconds 2. Get to the chorus in under 1 minute. 3. Don't repeat key words. 4. Don't use cliches ever. Well, almost ever. 5. Be done or really close to it in 3:30 minutes. Less is more. 6. It's OK to totally disregard rules 1 thru 5 now and then.
That's a start for me.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 04/03/2002:57 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! A few of our videos are here on our website: https://www.janiceandbud.com/our-music.html
Hahaha. Expert advice, TangMo. I saw the subject of the post, and my first reaction was like what Herb said. There ARE no rules, (except maybe...). But it was you posting, so I had to see what you said. Great entertainment! And I couldn't agree more ---or less!
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
I don't usually write boring songs, but sometimes they start a wildfire.
My personal rules:
1. Write BOLDLY!!! 2. Be courageous and don't let anyone bully you. 3. Write true to yourself. 4. Don't write too many sappy love songs or sad songs, unless you can put a unique spin on them. They are like cliches, been way overdone. 5. Don't let others discourage you. 6. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. 7. Realize we are all different and not everyone is going to like what you write. 8. Who cares? Be persistent anyway, because more people will like you than those who don't. People will admire your courage to attempt something that others wouldn't.
Originally Posted by: Tangmo Found this while recovering files from an old drive. It took me longer to type them up than to think them up, so don't take these as anything but a bit of entertainment. I posted this on another forum a long time ago, back before PGMusic invented drums.
Quote:
Yes, There ARE Rules for Songwriting by Benjamin Samama Professionals are craftsmen; songwriters are not artists. Most of these hit tunes are written by proficient lyricists: skilled ones who know the proessays songwriting principles back to front. Notwithstanding the styles, a great text follows a specific arrangement of rules that ensures its intrigue to a bigger crowd.
That list was a good mood-lifter for me My personal rule: I always move when I write. I can't sit still, I just need either to walk around the room or do some exercises (a weird thing: only for the legs though). Maybe, the reason for it is that I studied kinesiology and psychology of movement at college and it's just one of the habits I have now:)
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Special Extended Until September 15, 2026! Save over 40% on XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac!
We've extended our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs sale until September 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 offer a wide range of genres designed to work seamlessly with your project. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 for Mac or for Windows are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 11 PAKs for only $149 (reg. $299)!
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with ANY version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-11 includes 1,100 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 for Mac or for Windows are on special for only $29 each (reg. $49 ea), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! .
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 includes 3,900 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
Note: XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs include additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® that work seamlessly with your project. Xtra Styles PAKs and XPro Styles PAKs are NOT included in any Band-in-a-Box® package!
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
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(OK, maybe I'll slice it instead)
My personal rule: I always move when I write. I can't sit still, I just need either to walk around the room or do some exercises (a weird thing: only for the legs though). Maybe, the reason for it is that I studied kinesiology and psychology of movement at college and it's just one of the habits I have now:) 
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