how to write a song.docx

8/22/2019 How to Write a Song.docx

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How to Write a Song

Ever since early man got his groove on by banging on a log with stick, or playing skull marimbas, humans

have been writing songs. The process has evolved over timewe've developed more words than "ugh

ugh," fine tuned melody, and stacks of Marshal amps that go to 11but the urge to express ourselves insong remains as strong as ever. We'll show you how to do it!

Method One: Listen to the Masters

1. 1Begin at the beginning. That beginning is to know what works best for you. Many songwriters,

such as Peter Gabriel, work out the music before they work out the lyrics. They may sing

nonsense syllables just to get a sense of how the lyrics and music might work together.

o One of the most famous, most covered songs in history was created this way. Thecomposer woke up one morning with the melody in his head, and sang "Scrambled eggs,

oh you've got such lovely legs" as the lyrics as he developed the song. He eventually

figured it out, and that's how Paul McCartney wrote the song "Yesterday."

o For a good example of this technique, listen to Peter Gabriel's "A Different Drum"starting at about 1:40. His "lyrics" are just word-sounds.

o Other composers work out the lyrics first, or work with a lyricist. Think of Richard Rogersand Oscar Hammerstein, Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, or Joe Strummer and Mick

Jones. Many people find this a much more difficult row to hoethere's a big difference
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between poetry and song, and without a solid musical foundation, there are many

hurdles to overcome. Still, when the muse strikes, who really cares if she hits you with

the words or the melody first? Grab the inspiration and run with it.

o One composer became very well known working with a lyricist: Elton John, putting thelyrics of Bernie Taupin to music. When it's done well, it's very good!

2. 2Work out the structure. Most songs have a recognizable formula: The intro, a verse or two with

a chorus, a bridge, followed by another verse and chorus, and then out.

o The intro. This can be strictly instrumental, a part of the chorus, or somethingcompletely off the wall. For example, "Rocky Racoon" by the Beatles starts with a talky

introduction describing the character and setting the stage for the song.

o The verse. This is the majority of most songsthough not necessarily the mostimportant part. This is the exposition, describing the scene, or the person, or an

emotion. Very often there are two or three verses in a row that have the same musical

structure, the same rhyme and poetic meter, but different words. The second verse

builds on the picture painted in the first verse, etc. Most songs have a recognizable

verse structure, though unless you read lyrics on websites, you may not always here the

actual words being said.

o The chorus. This is where it all comes together all the verses have been leading up tothe chorus, and is usually the part of the song people sing along with. Think "All You

Need Is Love" by the Beatles. Can you remember the verse lyrics? Maybe. Can you

remember the chorus? It's easy! "All you need is love!" However, as important as a

chorus can be to a song, it's not necessarily a given. In "You're Gonna Make Me
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Lonesome When You Go," Dylan has one sentence at the end of each verse (the title

line), and that's about as close as he gets to a chorus.

o The bridge. This is the part of the song that shiftsit can suddenly change tempo, orvolume, or instrumentationit's all fair game. A good example that puts this all

together is "Better Together" by Jack Johnson. He uses this form: Intro-Verse-Verse-

Chorus-Break-Verse-Verse-Break-Bridge-Break-Out

Method Two: Learn the Craft

1. 1Stop thinking about writing songs, and start writing songs. You really want to be a famous star,

don't you? You daydream about being on stage and hearing the roar of the crowd. Only trouble

is, gee whiz, you're dreaming your life away.

o If you want to write a really good song, you're going to have to work for it. Start today.Commit to writing a certain number of songs per week, the way successful authorscommit to writing a thousand words a day.

2. 2Listen activelyto different types of music. You may have your favorite and you may think the

other kind of music sucks, but there's a reason people like it. Find out what that is.

o Good writers read several genres of books. Good songwriters listen to genres of songs.As you listen, think about what you like about a song. Are the lyrics unique, do the
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song's chord changes perfectly capture a mood, do you like the transition from one part

of the song to another?

3. 3Get technical. You don't have to have a degree in music theory to write a good song, but you

should have an understanding of how songs are built. This includes a basic understanding ofharmony, melody, and rhythm.

o Harmony is about the chord arrangements and having harmonic qualities that blendwith both the rhythmic feel and the melody of the song. A beginner would want to look

into basic major and minor keys and chords which pertain to the given key they are

working in. #Learn the chords. In the key of C, the chords going up the neck are:

o C, Dm (minor), Em, F, G, Am, and Bdim (diminished). They are also called by their scalesteps, which has the advantage of not being "key-centric." For example, the C is the I

(one), the Dm is the II, the F is called the IV, and the G the V.

o The I IV and V chords of any key can be thought of as a meat and potatoes way ofwriting a song, as these three chords will accompany any melody that stays within thegiven key. Most pop songs are built around a I-IV-V structure.

o There are infinite ways to structure a song, but there's a common sequence found inmost of them (see Tips). As you listen to songs, try to identify the different parts. Check

yourself by looking at lyrics online or in a music book; the parts of songs are often

labeled in these media.

4. 4Be ready when inspiration comes calling. Unfortunately, inspiration usually doesn't strike at the

most convenient times, so it's important that you be able to remember each new song that pops

into your head, no matter where you are.


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o Carry a pen and paper with you wherever you go, or better yet, carry a tape recorder ordigital audio recordermelodies can be extremely difficult to capture on paper unless

you have a strong music background.

5. 5Learn to write lyrics. Think about something that really touched you or changed your life. That

special someone? A bully? A bad breakup? Think about it and describe it. How did that feel? Didit hurt? Does (s)he make you think about him or her all the time? Just start by thinking about

personal experiences!

o It would be helpful if you have a musical instrument (e.g. piano, keyboard, guitar, etc.)so that you can explore the music. An added advantage is that you can easily write

down the notes (or tabs) when you have a tune. Try recording it for feedback. Guitars

plug directly into computer microphone jacks with an adapter.

o You can always go back to your recording. It helps. If you revise it, then record it again.6. 6

Figure out what you've got. Once in a while, inspiration will hit you like a full force gale, andsuddenly you have a full song out of nowhere. Most of the time, however, just a small piece of a

potential song will come to you, leaving you to do the hard, but fun work of fleshing it out. You

should have a feel for what part of the song you've come up with.
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o If it's super catchy (either a lyrical phrase or a snippet of music), and you can envision itbeing a repeated theme in the song, you've got the chorus or refrain the climax or

summary of your musical story and you need to write verses to explain how you

know in detail.

o If what you've come up with, seems more narrative lyrically or subtler musicallya partof a story rather than the main ideayou've probably got a verse, and you'll need to

write the rest of the story (more verses) and, usually, a chorus.

7. 7Set the mood. Make sure your music fits the story. If it is sad, then you may want your melody

to evoke sadness (by slowing it down or adding some minor chords, for example) or you might

want to add a twist and combine sad lyrics to upbeat music in order to create a sense of tension

and ambiguity.
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8. 8Say something. A song can get by with poor lyrics, and you have a better chance of writing a

really good song if your lyrics are great. This does not mean they have to be serious, but they

should not be clich or ho-hum. Write your lyrics as though you are talking to somebody who

you want to impress or to someone toward whom you feel some sort of deep emotion.

9. 9Make your words sing. Lyrics can appeal to emotions, and they should also appeal to the ear.

There are a few different ways to do this. Words should fit with a rhythm you are creating in the

song, and the way these words sound play an important part as well. Some words sound

smoother than others (for example, "cool breeze" sounds smoother than "frigid wind.") Use the

texture and character of words to add to the feeling of a song.
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o Another useful tool for the song writer is a rhyming dictionary. There are a variety ofways you can rhyme lines in a song to help tie the lyrics together. Learn about these and

other tools of poetry, and try putting them to work for you.

o You can rhyme at the end of every line or every other line, or your rhymes can comemore sporadically. You can also rhyme within lines to good effect (think of rap lyrics).

o There are also other poetic devices you can use, such as alliteration ("They pavedparadise, put up a parking lot"). The "p" sound is repeated. And, assonance ("...honesty,

promise me I'm never gonna find you faking"). The repeated "ah" sound in "honesty",

"promise" and "gonna").

o However, do not burden yourself with rhyme! You can get away with making a phrasestand out by avoiding conventional means of fitting it into a song, and many successful

songs do not rhyme at all.

10.10Strike a balance between repetition and variety. Repetition is what makes a song catchy;

repeated choruses, for example, stick in our heads even when the rest of a song does not. It is

easy to ask people to join you in a refrain, which is why it is usually called a chorus. Thats why

so many people know just a few lines of so many songs.

o While there are good songs that are so simple that they have no chorus and have thesame line length, the same rhyme schemes, and the same chord progressions repeated

throughout them, most people get bored with that. The most common way to add

variety is to insert a bridge into your song.

o A bridge is a section of music, sometimes instrumental, that differs in its constructionfrom the verses and the chorus, and is usually placed near the end of the song before
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the final chorus, where a verse would typically be. The bridge can be in a different key

using a different set of chordsthan the rest of the song, but it doesn't need to be. It

can also be faster or slower, shorter or longer, or otherwise different from the other

sections.

o Sometimes a bridge is followed by a shorter chorus, depending on the length of thebridge. Be aware that bridges can also refer to the transitions between verse and

chorus, as this is a common usage of bridges.

11.11Look for the hook. The hook is that elusive part of a great song that captures your very soul and

makes you want to listen to that song over and over. Hooks are frequently found in the chorus

and often become the title of the song. Sadly, there is no recipe for hooks, but you'll know when

you have one. Better yet, your friends will tell you, because it is the part of a song they can not

seem to get out of their head. Here are a few examples:

o "Here's my number, call me maybe." If you've heard Carly Rae Jepsen's hit even once,that will be burned into your synapses forever.

o "Oppan Gangnam Style". PSY's surprise YouTube hit has a hook that, like "Call MeMaybe," has spawned millions of views and almost as many parodiesthe sign of a trulyinfectious hook.

o In Tommy Tutone's song "Jenny/8675309", the hook lyrics may be the numbers 8-6-7-5-3-0-9.

o In the Beatles' song "Hey Jude" the hook may be the ending part, Naaa, naa naa, nananaa naaaaaa, nana naa naaaaaaa, hey Jude that repeats and repeats as it bores its way

into your brain.
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o Good hooks let people remember your tune from your lyrics, even if they do notcoincide. Many people can remember the riff from 'Smoke on the Water' from hearing

the title.

12.12Smooth the rough edges. If the pieces do not fit together, try building a transition. Put all the

sections of your song in the same key. If your song suddenly changes in tempo (speed) between

the two parts, try gradually changing the speed as you enter and exit the section that does not

fit with the rest of the song. Try adding a short instrumental interlude that will carry you from

one part to the next. While it is possible that two parts should not be in the same song, it could

be that you started one part with the wrong meter or wrong kind of beat.

13.13Get feedback. Play or sing your song for people and get their opinions. Youll p robably get a

better idea of what they really think after youve written a few songs: friends and family may tell

you that your first song is great even if its awful, but as they hear more of your songs, theyll

probably give you hints like, "Its good, but I liked that first one you wrote better" or "Wow,

thats the best song youve written. Thats a really good song." Be prepared for a critic in the

family that will accept nothing less than to hear it post-produced with all the bells and whistles

that a band in a studio can offer.
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14.14Once you've finished your first song, don't stop. Keep writing and practicing, and you'll find

yourselfgetting better and better. You may need to write a lot of songs before you hit on one

you really like, and even after that, you may need to write a lot more before you get another

good one. Work hard and have fun doing it!

Tips

Another great way of writing a song is to write a free verse poem with a little rhyming. I find iteasiest to write songs when I don't think of them as songs but as poems. I write my poem then

edit it by finding the right stanzas for the verses and the perfect stanza for a catchy chorus that

pulls it all together.

Currently most popular songs have some variation on the following sequence: intro, verse,chorus, verse, chorus, bridge/instrumental solos, chorus, and sometimes an outro. Sometimes

the order of these components is different, and sometimes one or more of them is absent.

It helps to know how to play an instrument. Knowing how to play a guitar or piano, for instance,will make songwriting immeasurably easier. Plus, you'll be able to accompany yourself when you

singfor others. If you don't have an instrument, try using Google to find some song makers. Free

ones are hard to find, but you can always get a free trial.

You can usually record yourself a memo on a cell phone, and if not, you can call yourself andleave a message of your singing or humming on your voice mail. Make sure you sing loud

enough for the song to be clear when you listen to the message later; make people think you're

crazy!

Take your time. Most songs don't pop out of nowhere and scream, "Hi! Here I am! Write me!"As the old saying goes, "good things take time, but really great things happen in the blink of an

eye". So just wait for it. One day you'll get it.

Dynamics are a good tool to utilize to separate out the different sections of the song. Quieter forverses, louder in the choruses. Dynamics can also help to create that chorus hook that everyonewill remember when listening to your song.

If you've got total writer's block, start by scribbling out your feelings/what you want to talkabout. The lyrics will come to you when you see the lyrics on paper. Well, it might take some

work, but at least get those beginnings of a song down.

Make sure your song is catchy, but not in that annoying way. Stop,collaborateand listen to another songwriter. Some people can pen great lyrics, but can't

write a melody to save their lives; for others, the reverse is true. Find a like-minded songwriter

who can put your words to music or your music to words. Many hit songs have been written by

collaboration.

Experiment with lots of ways of making sound. Try to play an instrument you are less familiarwith. The "mistakes" you make may prove inspiring.

Try the mainstream songwriting formula of... Verse - Chorus - Verse2 - Chorus2 - Bridge -Chorus3. It's simple and quite effective.

Just like any writer, you might get writer's block. Follow the suggestions inHow to Get OverWriter's Blockto break out of that creative rut.

If you do play an instrument, try putting it down once in a while. Spend more time singing tocome up with melodies and sounds. This way you eliminate the possibility of just playing the

"same old licks".
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While a lot of musicians and songwriters don't know much about music theoryand some can'tevenread musica good knowledge of the essentials of music can help you harness your

creativity anddevelop your own style. Even if you can play andsingby ear amazingly, knowing

at least how to read and write music will help you play with others and communicate your music

to your band members (if you plan tostart a band).

Warnings

Don't forget to copyright your song. Be careful with rhyming. Don't choose a word just because it rhymes with anothermake sure

the words make sense in the song. Be aware of rhyming dictionaries: they can be helpful, but if

you overuse them, you're liable to start sounding ridiculous. A thesaurus is a better tool: it will

give you the most ways to express your thoughts, and help you find the best lyrics.

Avoid plagiarism. Naturally, you don't want to just copy the melody or the exact words of a hitsong. Another, more subtle problem is subconscious plagiarism, where a songwriter does not

realize that he or she is largely copying another song. This has happened before in songs such as

"Spirit in the Sky", which is often mistaken for ZZ Top's later hit song, "La Grange". If you worry

that your song sounds like another song, you might be right. Play it for as many listeners as you

can, and see if they think so, too. You need to avoid people mistaking your song for another

song, or they may not credit you for writing it.

Don't let yourself become constrained by the "verse-chorus" structure. A lot of excellent songsare written as a single string of ideas instead of one idea repeated multiple times. Maybe that

"hook" you came up with would work better as a one-time-only "climax" that the rest of the

song builds up to. Don't be afraid to get creative. Adding some variety to your song structures

makes for richer variation in your songs.

Don't be afraid to try something new. Many highly influential and well regarded musicians havebecome successful through avoiding many conventions all together. Don't feel like you are

bound to what is considered contemporary or safe. Music is an art, and as such some of the

most rewarding work you can do can be the most different. Many genres of music ignoreconventional song writing structure (for example, progressive rock is structured in a way that

there is often no discernible verse or chorus.) With experience, you will learn where you want to

take songs, and you should follow your intuition.

Try something new! Be original and experiment with different things. Who says that you alwayshave to rhyme every stanza or have a chorus?

Sample Pop Song

Make You Mine

I twirl my hair as you sit down next to me,

Youre new to school, and I want to set you free,

I smile wide as you look into my eyes

If class were over, I would pick you as my prize.
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I cant help thinking, this is like love at first sight,

If you were with me, I would make everything all right.

The bell will ring soon, its time to make you mine.

Its time to make you mine.

CHORUS

Running down the halls,

Spinning round until we fall,

You will hold my hand so tight,

Everyone will know its right.

Eating lunch under the sun,

Making school be so much fun.

Every dance youll be my date,

But for now, I can just wait.

BRIDGE

I wonder...when will you notice me

I wonder...when will you notice me

I spent all of lunch, staring at you from my seat.

My friends were asking why I could barely eat.

I want to say hi, but I dont know how to start.

It seems so easy, but its not inside my heart.

Thump thump, its racing so very fast,

I start to walk, and I think my legs wont last.

Lunch will be over soon, its time to make you mine.


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Im almost out of time.

CHORUS

BRIDGE

School is over, and you dont even know my name.

I kick myself. I feel so very lame.

But I remember, tomorrows another time

When I can make you mine.

CHORUS

BRIDGE

Tomorrow...you will notice me.

Tomorrow...you will notice me.

Sample Song from a Musical

Madeline

You loved me.

You moved me.

You changed me.

But now, worlds apart, you escape me.

They took you away, and Ill never see your face.

Some day, Ipray, Ill hold you in a place

Where there is no more war, no more anger, no more hate,

Where youll be in my arms, in my life, and in my fate.

Ill find you again, and Ill never let you go.

Ill find you, I swear, and my love will warm you so.


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I wish the world were small, so that I could have you near,

But now, far away, you are only in my tears.

CHORUS

Madeline, my Madeline,

Love will find us in the end.

Madeline, my Madeline,

Love will help us all to mend.

The world is torn, the world is worn,

but in my heart youre safe with me.

Oh Madeline, in my heart I set you free.

MUSICAL BRIDGE

Theyll never take my soul, even though they try and try.

They think without you near, all Ill ever do is sigh,

But I only want to fight, so that I can have you back.

Theyll soon see my might, and Ill plan my first attack.

I wont even rest, until that day will come

when I have you in my arms underneath the glowing sun,

The only thing they killed is the old me that would break,

Im ready and Im skilled, so watch out,Im here awake.

CHORUS

Sample Country Song

Breakdown Break-Up

Sittin on the side of the road,


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Laughin at how life has a code.

Just had to go to the store.

Thats all, just go to the store.

But now, its dark and its late.

How did this become my fate?

The day had started out fine,

but now its no longer mine.

CHORUS

The dust swarmed around my truck.

Skiddin fifty, out of luck.

Got a flat, tires blown.

I just wanna make it home.

Want my girl by my side.

Oh, I gotta find a ride.

Cant be late, got a date.

I will run until I make it right.

BRIDGE

Darlin, Ill be there soon.

I promise, be there soon.

I swear, be there soon.

I see the lights of a car.

I know it cant be far.

Wavin my hands, Over here!


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They pass me bynowhere near.

I keep on walkin, like a fool.

She must be mad, think Im cruel.

Must be worried, in a fright.

I gotta tell her, Im all right.

CHORUS

BRIDGE

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