Hey, Eric – thanks. Looking forward to part 2. Have been studying sync for about an year now and absorbing all the info I can find 🙂 Love the example of the lyrics switch in the song to be much more personal and real to what we all have to work through as individuals.
Lesson one broke down the basics of sync songwriting very simply. The lesson is engaging and easy to understand, Thank you for this opportunity and for sharing the knowledge you have, I’m so ready for lesson two!!!
Thanks, Eric. Most informative. Yes, as I have found out, over several years, it’s extremely hard nailing exactly what sync clients want – in all their myriad needs. Looking forward to Lesson 2.
The song comparison sold me considering this was only meant to demo the lessons demonstrated. I know for a fact that this is worth the time it took to make and whatever you charge is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!
Hey, Eric – so glad I found this workshop!! Thank you for sharing examples of literal, on-the-surface lyrics vs more relatable lyrics. I’ve attended workshops that only discuss this in theory. I appreciate having small chunks of information that give attendees time to digest the info. Sometimes people add extra fluff that doesn’t help people who need practical steps. Looking forward to the remaining sessions!
BTW, I was a huge fan of Greenleaf! Are you able to share which song(s) you contributed to writing? You just inspired me to re-watch it!
Thanks for this lesson Eric, it gives me hope because I have a pretty sizeable catalogue of songs and all of these songs are honest and authentic to my feelings and not crafted for sync per se
I would be lovely if you could share a link to tune in to the gospel song you did for Oprah.
Thank Eric I I watched that green leaf series and I do remember the music was very good! My question , will this
Workshop apply to songs that really has no lyric?
I’d also be interested. I didn’t originally start out as a lyricist so while I am practicing/learning songwriting, it’s certainly not my strong suit at the moment. I got instrumentals and arrangements for days though.
Love to hear about your success, thanks for sharing. I hope to be synced at least once somewhere – my songs are born out of pain but are beautifully cathartic. Do you release these as an artist on Spotify too? I’m curious if it’s important to hold on releasing songs as an artist, or if when you do, you should also drop “instrumentals” and “sped up” versions. I see some major top 40 artists doing that a lot which I think is so interesting that it’s in their catalog when it’s clearly for sync or social media opportunities versus for the listener
Great start and the example added a nice touch to really drive the point home. Looking forward to the rest of the course. Catchy hook even if it was just made up for this.
Ok, Eric I’ve learned with song writing to have an effective song I need to show and not tell! Is sync similar do I need to tell more or is it still show, just don’t be specific? Thanks
Awesome Eric! Thank you for the insight you provided in this lesson. Very valuable indeed. Love the example to illustrate the differences between good and great writing for sync. Already hungry for your next lesson!
It’s crazy how I have been seeming this shallow songwriting for a while and wanted to understand how to write better. Lyrics need to show not tell. Love this, I need the next one
Very informative!! didn’t realize a few changes here or there can make a break a sync song. I’m still learning to format Sync songs; I’m used to doing regular formatted songs.
Thanks Sean. Sometimes, little changes make a big difference. The actual structure of songs for sync is not much different than typical artist songs, it’s just that the content is more based on emotion.
Thank you for the practical example. I have found such lessons are rare in the 4-5 years I’ve been pitching music. Do you have any advice for those of us who lead rather uncomplicated lives? The kids are grown and doing well, the 8-5 job is stable, home life is comfortable… Every day is a great day here in the Midwest… I don’t have much angst to draw upon… Thoughts?
Good questions Michael. Without knowing more of your story, my instinct is to say “dig deeper”. Even in the best of circumstances, we all deal with anxiety or regret or doubt. As a parent, there’s worry about whether your kids are making the best choices or maybe it’s the responsibility of have to take care of parents.
And if all that doesn’t stir anything, try looking to other’s people’s stories in your family (or even in books or on TV). There’s lots of drama everywhere
Inspiring, affirming, empowering and heartfelt Lesson#1. I have learned so much from Eric over the past year, but even better than that, I have felt encouraged to continue working and honing my skills in a new lane of my career which is the modern landscape of sync. There have been lots of downs to the ups on this hill but… Eric has fanned the flames and kept my eye on the prize while learning to become an efficient, effective self produced artist. I’m ready, on fire & excited for lesson #2!! let’s go!
All I can say is THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge with us Eric. I’ve learned so much from you and cannot wait to continue soaking up this series. All the best!
Thanks for opening this up for everyone, Eric. I felt the verbal content here is close to what you shared previously on your other offerings and freebies, but the contrasting example was beneficial. After reading everyone’s comments, I am writing notes on some of the answers you provided, for example, to dig deeper into one’s emotions and, if there are none currently, to look for some in movies and books.
I am also creating a playlist of your songs for the Greenleaf series. Perhaps you have one to share with course participants too?
Hi Eric, it’s Frankie from Australia, absolutely enjoyed listening to you. Lots of valuable information, Looking forward to the next lessons. You have fired me up bro. want to get back into sync writing cheers.
this was very insightful! The musical example you gave was game changing. It definitely helped me understand your thoughts on your approach better. Im looking forward to the next video
This is great. So I guess the secret of great sync songs is picking a generic theme and writing lyrics based on how you feel about that theme (that other people can easily relate to), plus instrumentals that match the mood. Thanks Eric
Thanks David. I wouldn’t say the theme should be ‘generic’ but rather there’s a group of themes that tend to usually work for sync. Apply everything else you said but apply it to the subset of themes that work for sync (I’ll talk more about this later).
I’ve watched this like 6 times! Loved the example and I could tell the difference. Songs musts be relatable, vulnerable and have depth! Thanks so much.
I’ve been songwriting on and off for a few years, but really started digging into the craft last year. One thing I’ve noticed is that I think my instrumentals are great, but I’m not much of a singer, so I thought I was sabotaging my own work. The more I work and try to plan out who I want to be in the industry and what I want to do, I realized…maybe sync is for me! I love the craft, writing great lyrics, and structuring songs. I’ve had the most success in producing and arranging. I find it hard to stick to one genre, too.
All that to say…maybe sync is for me! 🙂
Thanks for the course Eric. Looking forward to learning from you!
I can relate to this. I’ve worked on my singing for many many years and I love doing it all (writing, producing and singing). But I also recognize some songs I write will really pitch better if I put another singer on it. I have to judge each on a case by case basis.
Thank you Eric for a great first lesson. I have been writing for a while and had some cuts in the past, but I need to up my game and also the production. My goal is to start creating my own tracks, but I’m concerned about what kind of samples (if any) I can use and loops. I heard that they are all a no no in sync. Looking forward to lesson two.
yeah, samples are tricky. You can’t use anything that’s unauthorized. And even with royalty free loops like Splice, you have to be careful. If you use those, I recommend modifying the sample so that it becomes uniquely yours. That’s a little easier for percussion than it is for melodic loops.
This is great. I know for me personally, I definitely value you showing me the difference between when I THINK I am doing what you teach, from what I am actually doing! Thank you so much Eric!
Eric,
This is wonderful. I really, really appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. There aren’t many who be willing to do this. As you know, the sync licensing game can be brutal, frustrating, and at times, downright discouraging. However, it’s this kind of specialized, encouraging info that we need to hear sometimes. Looking forward to the next one.
Really cool and insightful stuff Eric! I love that the focus is all around the craft of great music making. I’m wondering what advice you would give to someone like myself who composes almost exclusively instrumental music. I know there is a huge need for quality and engaging instrumental pieces, but how would you suggest we apply the same advice of this lesson regarding making standout and emotionally provocative pieces without the use of lyrics.
Thank you for providing this great information and shedding some light on this exclusive and mystifying industry
Thanks Chad. The context shifts a bit for instrumentals but the strategy is similar – avoid the typical generic things you hear on reality tv and go for high bar instrumentals that you might hear in Google / iphone ads or other commercials from premium brands that value high end music. Remember that arrangements differ from song arrangements so study that as well.
But also, don’t discount creating hi end tracks for artists that write hi value sync songs – that’s always a need.
Great start to the series, Eric! Can’t wait to watch all the future parts. I’ve made some great connections through CTRL Camp and look forward to making more.
Hey, Eric – thanks. Looking forward to part 2. Have been studying sync for about an year now and absorbing all the info I can find 🙂 Love the example of the lyrics switch in the song to be much more personal and real to what we all have to work through as individuals.
Thank you for your comment Teni. I’m glad you’re soaking up all the info!
Great info! Thanks Eric!
My pleasure F-M!
Thanks Eric, that was masterfully presented!
Congrats on all of your success!
Fyi, the thing that really brought the message behind the presentation to light was the A/B song writing styles!
Masterful, you are the best man!
Thanks again
J
Thanks Jay and thanks for letting me know that the example was helpful.
Lesson one broke down the basics of sync songwriting very simply. The lesson is engaging and easy to understand, Thank you for this opportunity and for sharing the knowledge you have, I’m so ready for lesson two!!!
Thank you Moe. Engaging and Easy to Understand is exactly what I was hoping for. Lesson two coming in a few days!
Very cool to see the subtle differences that make a big impact on the songwriting side in your example
Thanks Cole. I’m glad it was helpful.
Thanks for the great song comparison breakdown!!!
Looking forward to Lesson #2
My pleasure Patti. thanks for commenting.
This is great, thanks for this breakdown,,, looking forward to part 2
Thanks Kester!
Thanks, Eric. Most informative. Yes, as I have found out, over several years, it’s extremely hard nailing exactly what sync clients want – in all their myriad needs. Looking forward to Lesson 2.
Thanks Raymond. Yeah, it’s tricky and the needs change but I’ll share what I know as I discover it.
This is great, thanks for this,,, looking forward to part 2
My pleasure Kester.
The song comparison sold me considering this was only meant to demo the lessons demonstrated. I know for a fact that this is worth the time it took to make and whatever you charge is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!
I appreciate that. I was fun to make and I’m glad it was helpful.
Hey, Eric – so glad I found this workshop!! Thank you for sharing examples of literal, on-the-surface lyrics vs more relatable lyrics. I’ve attended workshops that only discuss this in theory. I appreciate having small chunks of information that give attendees time to digest the info. Sometimes people add extra fluff that doesn’t help people who need practical steps. Looking forward to the remaining sessions!
BTW, I was a huge fan of Greenleaf! Are you able to share which song(s) you contributed to writing? You just inspired me to re-watch it!
Hey Anissa. I’m glad to know the examples helped.
For Greenleaf, look up the Season 2 Greenleaf Soundtrack on your preferred streaming service. I wrote tracks 2, 4, & 8.
Great hearing the song example you presented, lyric changes really improved the track.
Thanks Bob. I’m glad that was helpful.
Thanks for this lesson Eric, it gives me hope because I have a pretty sizeable catalogue of songs and all of these songs are honest and authentic to my feelings and not crafted for sync per se
I would be lovely if you could share a link to tune in to the gospel song you did for Oprah.
Thanks again
Cheers from Calcutta India
Tuki
Thanks Tuki,
Honest and Authentic are definitely the way to go.
For Greenleaf, look up the Greenleaf Soundtrack – Season 2, on your preferred streaming service. I wrote tracks 2, 4, & 8.
Thank Eric I I watched that green leaf series and I do remember the music was very good! My question , will this
Workshop apply to songs that really has no lyric?
Thanks Niles,
For this workshop, the focus is on songs with lyrics.
I’m considering doing a workshop around production and instrumentals in 2025. Let me know if that would interest you.
I’d be interested in a similar course about instrumentals.
Thanks for letting me know.
Definitely will! Hope to have a couple hit or two by then
Thanks Niles
I’d also be interested. I didn’t originally start out as a lyricist so while I am practicing/learning songwriting, it’s certainly not my strong suit at the moment. I got instrumentals and arrangements for days though.
Good to know Patrick. Thanks.
Love to hear about your success, thanks for sharing. I hope to be synced at least once somewhere – my songs are born out of pain but are beautifully cathartic. Do you release these as an artist on Spotify too? I’m curious if it’s important to hold on releasing songs as an artist, or if when you do, you should also drop “instrumentals” and “sped up” versions. I see some major top 40 artists doing that a lot which I think is so interesting that it’s in their catalog when it’s clearly for sync or social media opportunities versus for the listener
Thanks Violet.
Whether or not to release is a personal choice. You can pitch songs whether they’re released or not.
Great insight as always, positive and encouraging. Thanks Eric, looking forward to the next one!
I assume no login on this page?
No, no login required for these but the site will go away after a certain time so be sure to watch them as soon as they’re available.
Great start and the example added a nice touch to really drive the point home. Looking forward to the rest of the course. Catchy hook even if it was just made up for this.
Thanks so much Samar. I appreciate that.
Thanks Eric, very informative. Can’t wait for the next one
You’re very welcome Clarence.
Ok, Eric I’ve learned with song writing to have an effective song I need to show and not tell! Is sync similar do I need to tell more or is it still show, just don’t be specific? Thanks
Great question MR.
Typically by ‘show’ they mean pointing to all the things going on externally to help describe the story.
For sync it’s more helpful if you ‘show’ what’s going on INTERNALLY – which goes more to how you’re feeling.
But ‘show don’t tell’ is still a good reminder to find the more emotionally powerful way to describe our feelings other than just simply stating it.
Awesome Eric! Thank you for the insight you provided in this lesson. Very valuable indeed. Love the example to illustrate the differences between good and great writing for sync. Already hungry for your next lesson!
Appreciate you sir
Thanks so much Matthew. I’m glad you’re hungry. Pt II comes in a few days.
It’s crazy how I have been seeming this shallow songwriting for a while and wanted to understand how to write better. Lyrics need to show not tell. Love this, I need the next one
Thanks Rammy. I’m glad you understand the value of authentic lyrics. Pt II comes in a few days.
Sounds great!! Can’t wait for lesson 2. I’m taking notes.
Thanks Andre!!
Very informative!! didn’t realize a few changes here or there can make a break a sync song. I’m still learning to format Sync songs; I’m used to doing regular formatted songs.
Thanks Sean. Sometimes, little changes make a big difference. The actual structure of songs for sync is not much different than typical artist songs, it’s just that the content is more based on emotion.
Thank you for the practical example. I have found such lessons are rare in the 4-5 years I’ve been pitching music. Do you have any advice for those of us who lead rather uncomplicated lives? The kids are grown and doing well, the 8-5 job is stable, home life is comfortable… Every day is a great day here in the Midwest… I don’t have much angst to draw upon… Thoughts?
Good questions Michael. Without knowing more of your story, my instinct is to say “dig deeper”. Even in the best of circumstances, we all deal with anxiety or regret or doubt. As a parent, there’s worry about whether your kids are making the best choices or maybe it’s the responsibility of have to take care of parents.
And if all that doesn’t stir anything, try looking to other’s people’s stories in your family (or even in books or on TV). There’s lots of drama everywhere
Inspiring, affirming, empowering and heartfelt Lesson#1. I have learned so much from Eric over the past year, but even better than that, I have felt encouraged to continue working and honing my skills in a new lane of my career which is the modern landscape of sync. There have been lots of downs to the ups on this hill but… Eric has fanned the flames and kept my eye on the prize while learning to become an efficient, effective self produced artist. I’m ready, on fire & excited for lesson #2!! let’s go!
Thanks so much for your heartfelt message Liz. I truly appreciate it. I’m on fire for you!!! Let’s go!
Great presentation and introduction Eric. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you Alex. Next one comes in a few days. Plus Live Q&A tomorrow.
This is authentic information. I say this as someone who is not a newbie, this is excellent truthful insight. Thank you Eric. Looking forward to more!
Thanks so much Rohan. I appreciate that.
Great job Eric! Looking forward to what comes next! Insightful and inspiring as your shares always are. Keep shining!
Thanks so much Lynda 🙂 I appreciate your constant support.
Very inspiring! I love the song examples and the story about the Oprah series. Powerful stuff. Thanks so much Eric!
Truly my pleasure!
All I can say is THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge with us Eric. I’ve learned so much from you and cannot wait to continue soaking up this series. All the best!
I’m so glad it’s useful Mark!!
Very valuable information.
I know you put a lot of time & hard work into The Sync Writing Workshop.
I’m genuinely Thankful!!!
Thanks so much for your time!
Looking forward to more!
thank you Fuzzy. I appreciate that.
Thanks for the lesson, Eric! The example was awesome and I also liked learning about other possibilities for songwriting. I appreciate you!
Thanks so much Tonyaa! I appreciate you as well!
Thanks for opening this up for everyone, Eric. I felt the verbal content here is close to what you shared previously on your other offerings and freebies, but the contrasting example was beneficial. After reading everyone’s comments, I am writing notes on some of the answers you provided, for example, to dig deeper into one’s emotions and, if there are none currently, to look for some in movies and books.
I am also creating a playlist of your songs for the Greenleaf series. Perhaps you have one to share with course participants too?
Thanks for the feedback Ludmila. I agree the discourse here in the comments if really valuable.
And stay tuned, I’ll be offering some additional song analysis in near future.
Thank you for this lesson Eric! Looking forward to the next one. Loved the example.
Thanks so much Lynda
I felt the difference in the authentic song. The lyrics made me feel “comfortable”
Thanks so much this video, waiting for the next.
God bless you sir
Thank you for that feedback Ifeanyi. God bless you too.
Hi Eric, it’s Frankie from Australia, absolutely enjoyed listening to you. Lots of valuable information, Looking forward to the next lessons. You have fired me up bro. want to get back into sync writing cheers.
Hey Frankie. Thanks so much for that encouragement and I’m glad you’re fired up! Let’s go!
It’s your explanation of authenticity and relate-ability that’s really got me thinking, Eric. Thanks very much for this!
Nice. I’m glad that explanation hit home for you!
Finally someone who gives examples! Thank you looking forward to seeing Part 2.
I’m glad the examples were helpful. Thanks Ollie.
this was very insightful! The musical example you gave was game changing. It definitely helped me understand your thoughts on your approach better. Im looking forward to the next video
Thank you. I’m glad that was helpful. Next one launches in a few days.
This is great. So I guess the secret of great sync songs is picking a generic theme and writing lyrics based on how you feel about that theme (that other people can easily relate to), plus instrumentals that match the mood. Thanks Eric
Thanks David. I wouldn’t say the theme should be ‘generic’ but rather there’s a group of themes that tend to usually work for sync. Apply everything else you said but apply it to the subset of themes that work for sync (I’ll talk more about this later).
I’ve watched this like 6 times! Loved the example and I could tell the difference. Songs musts be relatable, vulnerable and have depth! Thanks so much.
I Love This!! Thanks Kandice. I’m so glad it’s helpful.
I’ve been songwriting on and off for a few years, but really started digging into the craft last year. One thing I’ve noticed is that I think my instrumentals are great, but I’m not much of a singer, so I thought I was sabotaging my own work. The more I work and try to plan out who I want to be in the industry and what I want to do, I realized…maybe sync is for me! I love the craft, writing great lyrics, and structuring songs. I’ve had the most success in producing and arranging. I find it hard to stick to one genre, too.
All that to say…maybe sync is for me! 🙂
Thanks for the course Eric. Looking forward to learning from you!
I can relate to this. I’ve worked on my singing for many many years and I love doing it all (writing, producing and singing). But I also recognize some songs I write will really pitch better if I put another singer on it. I have to judge each on a case by case basis.
Great intro lesson, Eric! Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom with us. Looking forward.
Thanks so much Jonathan.
Thank you Eric for a great first lesson. I have been writing for a while and had some cuts in the past, but I need to up my game and also the production. My goal is to start creating my own tracks, but I’m concerned about what kind of samples (if any) I can use and loops. I heard that they are all a no no in sync. Looking forward to lesson two.
yeah, samples are tricky. You can’t use anything that’s unauthorized. And even with royalty free loops like Splice, you have to be careful. If you use those, I recommend modifying the sample so that it becomes uniquely yours. That’s a little easier for percussion than it is for melodic loops.
This is great. I know for me personally, I definitely value you showing me the difference between when I THINK I am doing what you teach, from what I am actually doing! Thank you so much Eric!
I’m so glad it’s helpful Art!!
Good example. That first set of lyrics was definitely pretty vapid…
Exactly. Thanks Mike.
Eric,
This is wonderful. I really, really appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. There aren’t many who be willing to do this. As you know, the sync licensing game can be brutal, frustrating, and at times, downright discouraging. However, it’s this kind of specialized, encouraging info that we need to hear sometimes. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks Teddy. I really appreciate that feedback.
Really cool and insightful stuff Eric! I love that the focus is all around the craft of great music making. I’m wondering what advice you would give to someone like myself who composes almost exclusively instrumental music. I know there is a huge need for quality and engaging instrumental pieces, but how would you suggest we apply the same advice of this lesson regarding making standout and emotionally provocative pieces without the use of lyrics.
Thank you for providing this great information and shedding some light on this exclusive and mystifying industry
Thanks Chad. The context shifts a bit for instrumentals but the strategy is similar – avoid the typical generic things you hear on reality tv and go for high bar instrumentals that you might hear in Google / iphone ads or other commercials from premium brands that value high end music. Remember that arrangements differ from song arrangements so study that as well.
But also, don’t discount creating hi end tracks for artists that write hi value sync songs – that’s always a need.
Always inspiring hearing about your journey. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Marcus!
Great start to the series, Eric! Can’t wait to watch all the future parts. I’ve made some great connections through CTRL Camp and look forward to making more.
Thanks Corey, I’m so glad to hear that CTRL Camp is helping you find your team of collaborators.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge & giving us the opportunity to learn Sync business. God bless you Eric…Hope we get to work together in the future
Thanks so much Norman.
Thanks Eric, this is really great info and very encouraging