Songwriting Tips & Techniques : How To Avoid Plagiarism In Music

Learn tips on how to avoid plagiarism when songwriting in this free video clip.

Expert: David Jackel
Bio: As a singer, David Jackel knows the dire effects that a cold can have on his ability to perform.
Filmmaker: David Jackel

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• song
• writing
• lyrics
• melody
• songs

[JiminyKracker]

@chordsequencer001 I hate that. Once I dreamt I wrote a song, woke up and tried to get it down as best I could on paper. Then 2 years later I realized that I'd ripped off 80's power ballad "I need you now" lol - must've been playing in the background somewhere in the days leading up to that nights sleep

[amonnar]

There is a website called midomi dot com. It should help with checking if the melodies you write are from other artists, or interpreters.

[harvey1954]

Harrison was sued for ripping off the Chiffons' "He's So Fine", not a Motown tune. It did sound like their tune exactly. It always pays to play your stuff privately and get others opinions before launching it into the commercial arena.

[SteveGad]

Every time a band is asked who their influences are, they are saying the groups they like best are a basic template for their own work - however subconscious. Theirs a big difference between being broadly similar and outright plagiarism. It's virtually impossible to write something that can't be likened to something, somewhere. It's only when you push the envelope - as a well known Manchester band did several times, that trouble comes your way!

Shit happens, so just enjoy writing your stuff!

[iHeartSmileyFaces2]

He's recommending that we re-listen to every song we know to decide whether or not we subconsciously plagiarized?

[jf99151]

@mikeunt33  shut up asshole

[wirezts]

You're a neurotic weirdo cock, stop being weird all your life.

[STimo95]

@mikeunt33

yeah going through your cds and mp3s is a bit to much.

but it isn't about small similarities though, its when the whole song is bassicly the same. i was writing a song one day, and thought it was pretty awesome, but than the other day i found it had the exact same melody and chords as all along the watch tower.

I think that relistening to the songs you heard before writing your songs is a better idea, but still.

[TheBubbadub]

dude..you write what you write..if you go through all the music you have, your bound to find similarities

[JiminyKracker]

An easier way to see if you've subconsciously ripped someone off is to play your song to a couple of friends who are music buffs and ask then if it sounds similar to anything they know.