---
title: 'How to Write Lyrics and Melodies That Aren''t Embarrassing - Tiny Tuesday Tips with sTuart!'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=GX4kEFDCv6Y'
video_id: 'GX4kEFDCv6Y'
date: 2026-06-30
duration_sec: 200
---

# How to Write Lyrics and Melodies That Aren't Embarrassing - Tiny Tuesday Tips with sTuart!

> Source: [How to Write Lyrics and Melodies That Aren't Embarrassing - Tiny Tuesday Tips with sTuart!](https://youtube.com/watch?v=GX4kEFDCv6Y)

## Summary

This Tiny Tuesday tip from Stuart emphasizes the crucial yet often underestimated role of empty space in songwriting. He explains that leaving more space between melodic phrases and lyrical lines makes songs cooler and less embarrassing to share.

### Key Points

- **The Importance of Space in Melody** [0:36] — Stuart reminds that the space between notes is more important than the notes themselves, a well-known principle but often underapplied.
- **Leave Twice as Much Space as You Think** [1:00] — He advises leaving double the amount of empty space most songwriters typically do, citing Arctic Monkeys as a rare exception.
- **Visualizing Space with Lyrics** [1:33] — Stuart demonstrates with a lyric book: after the first line, leave space for a whole extra line before singing the next line, resisting the urge to fill the gap.

### Conclusion

The key to less embarrassing songs is embracing generous amounts of empty space in both melody and lyrics. Trust that more space makes the song cooler and more effective.

## Transcript

[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
I've been on a songwriting kick lately.
I've been writing songs. That's been
like my hobby for the last couple weeks.
When I was younger, I wrote songs
constantly. And then when I was less
younger, I wrote songs all the time. And
then I kind of like took a step back.
But now writing a lot of songs, guys.
And here's what I've discovered. I've
always known this, but I've like
re-established it for myself. This is a
tiny Tuesday
tip. I've always known that you're
supposed to leave a lot of space in your
melody. You're supposed to leave a lot
of empty space. Everybody knows that.
You've heard it a thousand times. It's
not the notes, it's the space between
the notes. Yeah, great. Okay, you leave
space. Leave space. Perfect. Even when
you're thinking, "Okay, I have to leave
empty space." I bet you're still not
leaving enough empty space. Listen to
any of the bands that you like other
than Arctic Monkeys. Arctic Monkeys
don't count. He Alex Turner leaves no
space and he makes it work somehow. But
everybody else leaves twice as much
space as you are leaving. So here's my
tip. When you're writing lyrics and you
write like blinkity blinky blinky blow
and then okay, there's going to be a
little space and then it goes blinky
blinky blinky blah. Great. And then a
little bit of space. Blinky blinky
blinky blue. Little bit of space. Blinky
blinky blinky ble. Little bit of space.
Great. Oh man, you're off to such a good
start. You want to leave so much more
space than that. So, what you actually
want to do is go blinky blinky blinky
blah. Leave a little bit of space. Keep
leaving space where you thought you were
going to put the next line. Then blinky
blinky blah. You put the next line right
there. Here's what I'm trying to say.
You're writing out lyrics. I have a
lyric book around here somewhere. Hang
on. Okay, look. I've written lyrics
right here. Right here. There's lyrics.
And another line, then another line,
another line. Guys, here's what I'm
saying. Don't do this first line and
then have a moment and then go to the
next line. Do the first line, then leave
space for an entire another line of
lyrics, but don't sing anything, and
then go to the second line of lyrics.
You're thinking, "Uncle Stewart, this is
crazy. That's way too much empty space."
Unless it's Arctic Monkeys or like um
just like mainstream pop pop pop pop
song, you want that extra space in
there. It's going to make your song so
much cooler. you're going to be way less
embarrassed to show it to your friends
and family and uh me. You show show me
your songs. I want to hear your songs
that you've written. Um I don't know.
That's my tip. It's h gosh darn it. I'm
I like am in the mood to make these tiny
tips today, but I'm not I'm not feeling
very tipular. I'm feeling
just I'm feeling very Steuart today is I
think the best way to put it.
[Music]