I love this podcast, because it’s great for beginners. I’m just starting to get into songwriting and his tips and tricks really help. I would definitely recommend this podcast to anyone who wants to get into songwriting.
I’ve been listening to this podcast for at least 5 years. Joseph’s straightforward approach makes this podcast easy to follow. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or have been writing songs for years. I love how he discusses different parts of songwriting. I always look forward to new podcasts! I’m sad he’s taking a break from the podcast. But I understand he wants to focus more on his craft!
This is the only songwriting podcast that I keep coming back to. I’m fairly new to songwriting and Joseph’s straightforward, practical teaching style has provided me with helpful tools to grow my knowledge. I also appreciate how he stresses music theory.
I have learned so much from Joseph. This truly is a podcast for songwriters and he teaches a breadth of things that make you better in all areas of songwriting. He is clear and easy to understand, personable, and relatable. When he goes deeper, he gives you concise background so you don’t get lost. I have devoured every episode and listened to many multiple times.
I’ve listened to about 15 episodes so far and I’ve gotten so much helpful information I’m shocked! I’ve been writing songs for a couple decades but still learned a ton. Joseph really gets it and has a real talent for breaking things down and explaining in a way that’s easy to understand.
This podcast has helped me understand how to write a song much better. And for someone writing a musical this has made writing songs and instrumental so much easier
16 and pretty new to songwriting. I don’t have a lot of life experience yet so I get discouraged and always feel like anything I write won’t be very moving or emotional. But every time I really sit down and start writing it feels great to get everything I feel down on paper. This podcast helps me to want to do that and to find new ideas.
I’ve been listening for more than a year and always find something valuable. The show is a great mix of helpful music theory (made easy to understand), systems to make writing more efficient, and motivation to keep going.
I just started writing songs a few months ago. Your podcasts have been so helpful. I also really benefited from your slim (thank you) volume on music theory. It is such a gift to put out all of this content for us. Thank you Joseph!!
For all those budding music artists who find themselves googling every piece of music jargon they hear to avoid reading books or buying lessons… this is the place!
This podcast is super informational. I’m a recent Berklee College of Music grad (Songwriting major) and just started listening- you talk about some valuable songwriting techniques that honestly wasn’t covered in my undergrad. Every songwriter should listen to this podcast. You can also hear the passion behind the information given. Great stuff! Keep this podcast around!!!
I’ve been listening to this podcast for the past few weeks, catching up on older episodes that are of interest to me, and I am incredibly impressed. The information provided is simple enough to absorb and implement, yet profound enough to truly impact my songwriting journey. This podcast has reinvigorated my belief in the value of working on my craft, and motivated me to better set goals and implement changes that allow me to reach those goals. If you have any interest in songwriting, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned veteran, you will find inspiration and information from this podcast that will help you on your way. A truly amazing resource!
This podcast set me on the track to being able to write songs of my own, gave some great music theory advice with actionable steps on what to do to make my DAW tracks sound like actual songs rather than mere random notes, and has been a great listen while I've been working on making a comic book (and overcoming a hefty amount of perfectionism to do so).
Also, possibly my favorite line from Songwriter Theory was once where Joseph was talking about how someone thought the way someone was talking was to rant-y (or something like that) and he goes like "Wow. This person would really not be able to listen to Dave Ramsey".
That... was... EPIC!!!
I'm like "who even makes a Dave Ramsey reference? That is awesome!" Thank you so much Mr. Vadala, and Financial Peace Out!👍
The podcast I played, we were at 6:47 and so far, zero tips on Songwriting. When they started talking about the Super Bowl I clicked off.The voice is pleasant bit you just need to hurry and get to the point.
I recently discovered this podcast. I started from the beginning and I’ve now listened to the first 53 episodes. I’ve learned a lot, a lot, a lot. I’m eager to listen to all episodes. Thanks so much Joseph for investing your time to create this podcast! Fred Lancia, Sammamish, WA
I’ve been listening to the Songwriter Theory podcast for a few months now and have listened to a significant number of back episodes in that time as well. Despite the title, which suggests exclusive focus on music theory, the podcast covers a large variety of songwriting topics including lyric writing, song structure, arranging, recording as well as a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of music theory needed for songwriting. I personally already knew most of the fundamental music theory principles covered but still enjoyed listening to those episodes because the presentation style is very engaging. For me, I’ve especially gained from the podcasts that focus on lyric writing — definitely the slowest part of songwriting for me. Also, based on tips from this podcast, I’ve started writing more songs by starting with instrument hooks and have had some good results from this approach. At the end of the day, the songs I’ve written since I started listening to this podcast have been mostly better than the ones I was wrote before that (I’ve only been writing songs for ~ 1 year).
I always find a couple of nuggets listening to this one. Very actionable tips, I especially liked the episode on consuming vs producing. Very down to earth.
I have been writing songs for years, but I still enjoy listening to your podcasts, and have gleaned great info from them. We learn from each other. Thank you for investing your time & knowledge into these helpful segments.
I just discovered this podcast. It’s great not just for songwriters but for anyone looking to learn more music theory at any level. Really looking forward to exploring the other episodes.
Episodes on music theory are excellent! - 5 stars.
Thank you. I don’t know how you got so good at music theory and explaining it at your age (while also working in a different field).
As a moderately experienced and older songwriter and producer, some of the teaching and advice is very good and useful to me - though some of it I don’t agree with and some is not as useful.
Some of your ideas may evolve and be refined with experience - helpful if you continue teaching here or start teaching on a YouTube channel in the future.
For a beginner songwriter some of these areas might be more useful.
You also have a talent for thinking up metaphors - good for both teaching and songwriting.
Thanks for your work in making these.
Ok I changed my mind. This podcast might be helpful for people who aren’t really songwriters and need someone else to write their song for you. He is super negative and everything I’ve been doing when I write songs is “wrong” according to him. Good try but don’t be so negative and don’t manipulate peoples feelings we don’t need hundreds of the same song in this world. Thanks for your time but this podcast isn’t a good listen.
He knows what he’s talking about, offers advanced theory concepts, and he’s good at explaining it to even the most beginner of beginners.
Sometimes he starts with basic stuff where I start to think the episode is too beginner for me but then he expands to stuff I didn’t know and it’s like “ohhhh yaaa ok so that’s how augmented and diminished chords work ”. Etc etc.
And he’s pretty cool he tries to make it funny and tie it in with relatable metaphors, overall it’s a good listen
Forget about any practical advice. It’s just a guy belaboring a point for an hour straight that he could have made in five minutes. In between, you get to hear a whole lot of dragged out analogies, usually Star Wars.
If you have the time to listen to him waste half a minute of your life trying to remember what year some Star Wars sequel was released in an effort to make a point you’ve understood twenty minutes ago, knock yourself out.
I’d recommend the Hack Music Theory people instead. Their constant plugs are obnoxious but at least you’ll learn something. I have no idea what kind of person sits through an hour of this and feels he got something out of it.
Nice guy but nah. Pass.
So glad to have found this podcast. Joseph does a really nice job of laying out his takes and ideas on a number of topics that will surely help most become more proficient at songwriting.
I’ve been writing and playing jazz on the piano and guitar for many years and by muscle memory I can play all sorts of riffs without knowing exactly what I’m doing. I’m an adherent of “if it sounds good, it is good.” Still, I’ve found Joseph’s podcasts and blogs so good that it’s inspired me to break out into some new paths. Crazily, the advice to lay new beats and to move to new modes has opened up all kinds of interesting sounds. Although I’ve integrated music theory, revisiting the basics has given me lots of new ideas. I also enjoy Joseph’s approach in the podcasts — informative with a good mix of humor and preference. Good stuff.
The advice given and topics covered are easily understandable and adaptable to your own style and preferences. He also providers a step by step plan that really helps break down songwriting into manageable pieces. I’ve only just begun implementing his strategies, and I already feel that I’m improving. Thanks a ton for this and all the insightful content you provide!
I struggle with specific elements, melody for instance. I can usually find an entire podcast or several podcasts specifically related to improving creating melodies.
I waded/waited/weighted through a couple of his podcasts and got nothing. But I’m glad Josh (Mr. Lawson) was a great music teacher).
Might have inspired me to write a song about ego, space waste and hot air, but not much here.
I’ve been writing songs for about 2-3 years now and this podcast has helped me get out of a songwriting rut and speed up my progress. It‘a a funny and entertaining podcast that I recommend to all of my music friends :-)
