One of my favorite artists, Jake Parker, recently wrote an article over on his Substack called The 12 Commandments of Making Comics. In it, he gives 12 tips (“commandments”) on making comics and how to respect the innate forms in the art. While I’ve never made a comic, I have made some albums, so I thought I’d try to repurpose the list to be musically focused and see if the advice translated at all. Be sure to check out the original article if you want some context for the following, and after you’ve done that, read on.1
- FINISH THE SONG
Most musicians don’t follow this commandment, and as such, most music doesn’t get released. That’s fine, but even if you never plan on releasing your song, finish the song. Finishing will allow you to move on to the next project with a clear head. Having a pile of unfinished songs can add unneeded stress and can have a negative impact on motivation. This is the commandment to follow, and the only one that truly matters in the end. - MELODY IS KING
This one depends a bit on the genre of the song, so replace it with HARMONY or RHYTHM if that makes sense for you. The king gives direction to the song. Kings aren’t always pure, or nice, or beautiful, but they are in control. Be sure you’re conscientiously using melody to enhance the song’s flow and add a sense of focus. - RESPECT THE FORM
There are unspoken rules about how songs are structured in any given genre or culture. Don’t push against this; let this instinct guide your compositions. Understanding and being able to write skillfully within a specific form is a necessary skill and often the preferred choice. - CLARITY OVER COOL
Do not sacrifice clear songwriting for cool sounds or clever forms. - USE WHATEVER TOOL WORKS
Whether it’s electronic or acoustic, if it’s getting the job done and contributing to you keeping commandment number one, then keep using it. - KNOW THE ENDING BEFORE YOU START
Whether it’s seeding the beginning with hints and set-ups, or it’s adjusting the mushy middle, figure out the ending first, and it will make every part of your job a little bit easier. - PHRASE CONTROLS PACE
In most genres, phrasing gives the audience a sense of time and scope in music. Use that to your advantage. - SOUND EFFECTS ARE STORYTELLING
Do not neglect the beauty, artistry, and style good sound effects can bring to your song. Use them to enhance your message and flesh out the space you’re creating even more. - EVERY SONG NEEDS AN ESTABLISHING THEME
Again, very dependent on genre, but neglecting the establishing theme robs the following sections of context. Even worse, it confuses the listener. Theme in this sense can of course be a melody, but it can also be a mood or soundscape. That core idea that gives the song meaning. - MUSIC ISN’T MOVIES
Music is a unique form of art unto itself. Treat it as such. Don’t let your songwriting be limited in scope or technique by using the wrong artistic framework during your creative process. - THINK THEATER STAGE, NOT MOVIE SET
A strange parallel, but one that works. Add just enough detail in your sections to get the point across. You do not need to flesh out every part in detail. The listener’s imagination can fill in the gaps. Abstraction is your friend. - COLOR CONTROLS MOOD
Don’t just slap any instrument in your song. Think of them as more storytelling tools.
Use the unique color of each instrument as an expressive tool when writing and use it purposfully to effect the mood of each section, melodic development, or atmospheric space.
- I’ll be using the word ‘song’ for convenience, but replace it with ‘piece’ or ‘work’ if that fits your style better. ↩︎