Stop Writing Choruses Line by Line
30sA counterintuitive songwriting tip that immediately challenges viewers' creative process.
▶ Play ClipAI Summary
This video teaches songwriters a technique called 'the mumbles' to build choruses easily. Instead of writing lyrics line by line, the presenter demonstrates how to use filler lyrics to map out the melody and structure of a chorus around a title.
Chapters
[00:04]
Build structure around the title
Rather than writing the chorus line by line, start by building a structure around the title to determine where the melody of the title will fall.
[00:18]
Use filler lyrics or 'the mumbles'
Filler lyrics or a sophisticated method called 'the mumbles' help fill in the rest of the shape of the chorus while figuring out the melody.
[00:31]
Live demonstration
The presenter demonstrates the technique by singing a chorus with placeholder lyrics, showing how the title 'Without you' fits into the melody.
By using the mumbles technique, songwriters can quickly sketch out a chorus melody and structure, making the writing process more intuitive and efficient.
Tutorial Checklist
Study Flashcards (5)
What is 'the mumbles' technique?
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What is 'the mumbles' technique?
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Using filler lyrics to map out the melody and structure of a chorus before writing final lyrics.
00:18
What should you start with when writing a chorus?
easy
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What should you start with when writing a chorus?
easy
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A title.
00:04
What is the purpose of building a structure around the title?
medium
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What is the purpose of building a structure around the title?
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To determine where the melody of the title will fall in the chorus.
00:04
What are filler lyrics used for?
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What are filler lyrics used for?
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To fill in the shape of the chorus while figuring out the melody.
00:18
How does the presenter demonstrate the mumbles technique?
hard
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How does the presenter demonstrate the mumbles technique?
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By singing a chorus with placeholder lyrics like 'Without you, I'm like a second...'
00:31
💡 Key Takeaways
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Structure-first approach
This principle shifts songwriting from linear lyric writing to a more flexible, melody-driven method.
00:04
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The mumbles method
This named technique gives songwriters a concrete way to sketch out a chorus quickly.
00:18
💡
Melodic demonstration
Hearing the technique in action makes its utility immediately clear for viewers.
00:31Full Transcript
[00:04] scaffold around the title. This will be best demonstrated through examples. So, in a moment, I'll pick up the guitar and show you how it works in practice. But the concept here is once you have the title, we don't
[00:18] need to write the chorus line by line. What we want to do is almost build a structure around the title so that we can figure out the melody of the title, where the melody is going to fall in the chorus, and just use filler lyrics or
[00:31] even a very sophisticated method called the mumbles to fill in the rest of the shape of the chorus. Without you, I'm like a second
[00:49] part without you. I'm like my you. I'm like my day. I'm not whole without you. Cuz you are half You are half of my heart.
[01:06] half You are half of my heart. [Music]
