How To Start Writing A Song
There are as many ways to write a song as there are Songwriters.
Whether you're just starting out, or have written many songs already, it's worth taking a close look at your songwriting process to see if there are ways to improve or to better organize your work. In this post, we'll examine the ways Songwriters go about the business of writing a song, and offer a step-by-step process you can use to write your own songs. I'll also offer some action steps you can use to further your songwriting skills and some useful learning resources for Songwriters.
Many Songwriters claim the talent to write songs is a special gift, which you either have or you don't. It may be true that at least some talent is required, but it's also certainly true that the art and craft of songwriting can be taught and learned.
The fact that there are college degrees offered in songwriting is proof of this. Studying songwriting could be an opportunity to develop and refine your natural gift in order to make the most of the talent and ability you have.
Here's our simple step-by-step for how to write a song:
- Choose a title or decide on your song topic
- Write a hook/chorus on your main instrument
- Choose a song structure
- Write the verses
- Write a bridge (if you want one) and consider modulating, or a breakdown
- Write lyrics
- Record a demo version
- Add other instruments (if needed)
- Listen back and improve on anything that's not working
Writing a song is like a project, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Where to start is the first important decision you'll face.
Some artists start with a title, a lyric, or a topic, while others might play around with a chord progression, a melody, and a rhythmic feel or tempo. There really isn't any right or wrong way to go about it. It comes down to what works best for you. You don't have to always use the same approach either; you can try different approaches for different songs.
It's important to write on a regular basis so you can develop your skills and a body of work. Understand that you will have to write many songs to end up with a few good ones. Most professional Songwriters have catalogues with hundreds of songs, and that doesn't happen overnight. If you've decided you are a Songwriter, you'd best get to work writing songs.
It's easy to say "just start." But where? Try putting yourself in a personal space where the inspiration is likely to hit you. For example, if you like to be in nature, or by the seashore, or in a big city, you could have an idea for a song come to you seemingly out of nowhere. Be attuned to these moments, and be sure to carry a little songwriting notebook with you where you can jot down any ideas that come to you.
Many accomplished Songwriters say they do this. It could be some words, a phrase, a title, a melody, or chords. Just write it down so you can return to it later.
What makes good songwriting?
I think, truth, I think resonance of a lyric with a melody. Sometimes you just can't believe how perfectly a lyric fits the melody. It makes you feel exactly what that lyric is saying. That to me is always like "wow, I can't believe it." Everything is just putting me in that spot that wants to feel. That's why people fall in love with music, with different songs and different artists because it's something that resonates with you and is on a frequency that your heart recognizes somehow.
Writing a song requires you to solve musical and lyrical problems. Returning to the question of where to start, you could consider the following steps in any order, or follow as a step-by-step guide.
When Paul McCartney wrote his iconic song "Yesterday" it was morning and he was sitting at his piano thinking about breakfast. As he tells it, the melody of the song started out with the lyric "scrambled eggs" but then he realized that wouldn't make such a great song title or lyric. So, he changed it to "Yesterday" and the rest is history.
This story shows how the original idea or concept for a song can evolve and change. The melody and chord structure were originally built around a whimsical lyric, and then the lyric was reworked to create a more meaningful song.
Although he lived in the San Francisco Bay area, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival liked to write songs about the deep south and particularly the Bayou. He wrote his famous hit song "Proud Mary" after having written down the title on the first page of his songwriting notebook as a teenager. He carried it around with him for some years before it turned into a real song.
When he first wrote it down, he didn't know the title would ultimately refer to a riverboat. In this case, he had the title and some of the concept fleshed out already before adding the chords and melody, and then he created a context with meaning for the words and the title.
These examples show how you can start with words, an idea for a title, or a concept of what the song is about, and then use that to mold the other elements of your song into a more polished and cohesive whole.
Popular songs almost always have some part that manages to stick in the memory of the listener. Songwriters call this the hook. Sometimes the hook is in the chorus, or it's a vocal refrain. The hook could also be a short instrumental section.
Hooks need to be relatively short so they can easily be recalled by listeners, so they are usually two to four bars in length. Try to listen for the hook in famous songs and analyze why they work so well. Then use your instrument to write your own hook. (Voice is also an instrument).
If you have the concept, title, lyric, melody, chorus, or hook for your song already written, you might next decide on your song structure, sometimes also called song form. Most songs have an introduction, verse, and chorus, and you might consider writing a bridge, or adding a pre-chorus, or a refrain.
A refrain is a short lyrical phrase which includes the title of the song, while a pre-chorus is a section which comes between the verse and chorus. Songs can also include an instrumental section or interlude, which might come after a chorus, for example.
There're many ways to organize all the sections of a song, and sometimes getting the right structure is the element which really makes the song come together. To come up with the right structure for your song, you might practice playing a section over and over to see what feels like the most natural section to follow.
Pay attention to the length of each section, and how one section flows into the next. There's no rule that says the sections have to be in a certain order. You might decide to start your song with a chorus or a verse, it's really up to you to decide what will work best for the song.
Is writing a song hard?
I think it depends on the mood you're in, you know. Sometimes it flows very quickly, and sometimes, it's really hard work, it's difficult. I call it eating a sandwich with your eye. It's difficult and uncomfortable and doesn't do anything.
So it depends, I think you have to be everything in life–willing and open to failures and not being able to maybe get what you hoped for. I think that's what's exciting about songwriting is that you never know what's going to happen, really. Sometimes you're a channel, and it flows right through, and sometimes you're just trying to hack away at something that's not even there.
If you've started with a title or idea, and come up with a hook and chorus, you can now focus on writing the verses. The lyrics could tell a story, or be fairly random.
Either way, pay attention to the sounds of the words and focus on how the words work with the melody. Songwriters call this prosody and it is an important aspect of songwriting worthy of careful study. We'll return to this in a few moments when we discuss lyric writing.
The song now has verses, a chorus, maybe also a refrain and/or a pre-chorus. The bridge, sometimes also called the channel, or the release, is a contrasting optional section which gives some relief from the repetition of the other sections.
It can be a complete surprise, perhaps modulating to a different key, or it could just be a slight variation on what has come before. The change can be based on the lyrics, melody, rhythm, or chord progression.
You could also consider adding a modulation, or key change to add interest and variety. The most common modulations are up a half-step or a whole-step, which tend to increase tension and excitement in a song.
Another device for similar effect is the breakdown, where the bass and drums drop out, or sometimes other instruments are omitted. This creates suspense and interest, especially when the instruments are added back in. All of these optional devices can be used together or separately.
Creating your lyrics is an integral part of the songwriting process. If you've been working mainly on the music up until now, it's time to start crafting your lyrics to fit the melody.
As I mentioned earlier, how words and melody fit together is called prosody and it influences the meaning of the words and how they will be interpreted by listeners. Analyze some of your favorite songs keeping this in mind, and pay special attention to how the lyrics and melody work together in a unified whole.
Some Songwriters start with the lyrics, and some collaborate with a Lyricist to write the words, so they can just focus on the music. The famous songwriting duo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin have had a collaboration with music and words stretching back decades. Elton writes the music to Bernie's lyrics.
The lyrics could be written either before or after the music. If you are doing both, you could write them at the same time as writing the music, or put your focus on each individually.
Whether you write lyrics first, collaborate with other Writers, or create lyrics to fit your music, your goal is to find the perfect combination that somehow expresses what the song is about, conveys the proper mood, and compels and inspires you (and your audience) to want to listen.
One tip about lyrics: Make certain the tempo will allow all the words to fit in a relaxed way. You might test this by speaking the lyrics in the same rhythm they will be sung.
At some point, you will want to record your song so you can listen to it and play it for others to get feedback. Software programs like GarageBand or LogicProX make it possible to create a professional sounding recording of your song on your laptop or desktop.
You should first create some basic tracks, perhaps playing an instrument like guitar or piano through a digital interface or using MIDI instruments or a sequencer. Singers who don't play an instrument are at a disadvantage here, since they will need to enlist the help of musicians or a Producer to get the tracks for their song recorded.
Recording a chordal instrument (guitar or piano), bass, and drums would be a good start, as long as you can add your vocal track over it and it all works well together. If you have a good song it is definitely worth the time and effort to get a good quality recording of it.
It's still possible to rent a recording studio and hire musicians to record your songs, however that will be much more expensive and doesn't always lead to better results.
Can anyone write a song?
Sure. I think so. If they are willing to, and willing to have fun. Yeah, I think anyone could write a song. I think that some songs are written by people who have never written a song before. Something fun happens and there doesn't have to be any rules. I think that's why there are so many new artists always coming out because people just wing it and sometimes it's great.
Once you have your song completed and are recording it, you could layer some other instruments, or background vocals, to make it sound more full and professional. You might want to feature a certain musician playing a solo or arrange your song in a certain style. Different combinations of instruments can enhance the recording and lead to surprising and attractive colors and textures.
There's a certain amount of artistry involved in recording and playing instruments, so it's fine if you get others to help you with this part. It's nice when a song becomes a real collaboration, and if that works well, you might work with the same people again on your future compositions and recordings.
A big part of the recording process is listening back to what you've done, and thinking about what is working well, and what is maybe not working so well. Then you can tweak as appropriate. It can be a good idea to come back after a day or two, to listen with fresh ears.
In general, be observant about what parts of your songwriting process seem to work best, and where you need to improve. It can also be really helpful to read books about songwriting and Songwriters, as there's plenty of very useful and inspirational literature on the topic of songwriting. You can learn a lot by studying the methods and successes of others.
I'll list a few books and other resources at the end of this post, but first, let's consider some action steps you can take right now to improve your songwriting skills and get results.
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Work on developing and increasing your awareness of and ability to recognize original song ideas. Write your ideas down in a dedicated songwriting notebook you keep with you at all times.
Look for other Songwriters and Lyric Writers to collaborate with. Create a roster of people you'd like to co-write with and schedule times to get together to work on songs.
Experiment with changing up your songwriting process. Write the different parts of a song in the reverse order from your usual approach.
Let other art forms (or music) inspire you. Listen to some Mozart, read a short story, or visit an art museum. Study the art and make notes about the feelings the work inspires in you. Create a melody to fit with the words you wrote.
Write a song about a person you love or admire, or a pet. It could be someone in your circle of friends and family, or a famous or historical figure. If possible, play the song for them and see their reaction.
Try writing a new lyric for an existing song you like.
Do some free word-association. Think of four words, set a timer, and write as much as you can about each word, giving yourself two or three minutes for each. Then craft these words into a lyric.
Practice writing melodies and chord progressions separately.
Study up on intellectual property (IP) laws and increase your understanding of how to protect your songs, publish them, and license them for use to provide income. You can do this by reading books, taking a music business course, or investigating the performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
Songwriters On Songwriting by Paul Zollo is a large collection of interviews with many of the songwriting greats, from Bob Dylan to Burt Bacharach.
Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music by John Fogerty. Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) had more #1 hits than the Beatles in 1969. CCR's lead Songwriter offers a masterclass on how to write, along with his horrific story of being cheated out of his royalties for 20 years.
The Complete Rhyming Dictionary: Including The Poet's Craft Book by Clement Wood. This is a rhyming dictionary created for Poets and Songwriters.
Pat Pattison's Songwriting: Essential Guide to Rhyming: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Rhyming for Poets and Lyricists. Pat is a very popular Teacher in the Songwriting Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has other books available, such as Writing Better Lyrics and Songwriting Without Boundaries . He has also authored several Berklee guides to songwriting.
The Craft & Business of Songwriting by John Braheny. Covers how to write songs and make them stand out in the industry. Also has some good songwriting exercises.
How To Make It in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician by Ari Herstand. We use this book at Berklee for our Professional Music Business courses.
Business Basics for Musicians: The Complete Handbook from Start to Success by Bobby Borg. Bobby also has other great books on the music industry from Hal Leonard Publishing, including on music marketing.
This Business of Songwriting by Jason Blume. Writing great songs is not enough. To make money, Songwriters need a firm, realistic grasp of how songs generate income. This book covers the business for Songwriters.
Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music by Phil Ramone. The Producer of records by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Sting, and Madonna shares his secrets of how to create hit songs in the studio.
You could also consider picking up either the Harvard Abridged Music Dictionary or the Oxford Dictionary of Music .
Evernote is an app designed for note-taking, organizing, task management, and archiving. It can be very useful for Songwriters who prefer taking notes in digital format.
OnMusic Dictionary is a free online music dictionary offering definitions of common musical terms and symbols.
How do you write a song (for beginners)?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
Here's a basic step-by-step process beginners can follow to write a song:
- Write a chorus melody, using your instrument
- Decide on a song structure
- Write the verse, using your instrument
- Create vocal melodies for chorus and verses
- Write lyrics for those vocal melodies
- Add a bridge, if desired
- Write the intro and outro
- Record the song, make improvements after listening
Why is songwriting so hard?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
If songwriting seems hard, you might be a beginner who doesn't fully understand the songwriting process…or you might just have writers' block. To boost your songwriting, study famous songs and see how Songwriters used techniques like song structure and chord progressions to write memorable songs.
This tip should work for beginner and seasoned pro Songwriters alike. Getting inspired by some of the greatest songs in history usually opens up doors in the brain and the heart, and will help better songs come pouring out.
Can I make money writing songs?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
Yes, but it's very competitive!
Here are the different ways Songwriters make money writing songs:
- Royalties from publishing deals
- Royalties from streaming and downloads
- Royalties from physical album sales (vinyl, CDs)
- Royalties from when someone covers your song
- Royalties from a live or radio performance
- Royalties from sheet music
- Licensing music to film/TV
Check out this blog for an in-depth look at the different types of music royalties.
LP
There's this girl in the corner and she's small, really small, and she looks like a boy, and she's seething with emotion, with rage and love – because she's alone, because we're all alone, because our parents didn't get it. She just found out faster.
Her skin is thinner because her heart is bigger. Her heart pushes against the skin, stretching it, sometimes too much.
She is a bloodletter, this girl. "A bloodletter of emotion," she says.
I think, given the right or the wrong moment, you are too.
"I'm like a singing fucking banshee," she says. "My music errs on the histrionic side, but that's how I feel, you know, I try to just let it seep out because it just hurts me if I don't. I put it all on the line, you know, I think I am possessed by the spirit of a gambler, the big wheel. I've put it all on red 27." She could lose it all right now.
This is LP.
Born Italian. New York. You've got to understand that; the hottest blood, the toughest city, the smallest girl.
Today she is 5' 3" and just over a hundred pounds but her sound is anthemic, maxed out. You don't believe your ear-eyes when you see-hear, pealing from the body of one fighting with not enough, the music of so, so much. It is the music of emotional emergency, a prayer sung loud into a bottle and cast out to sea.
"When they see someone like me," she says, "you can think, oh shit, I can be like that."
I think of Judy Garland, Bjork, Freddie Mercury if he had to deal with being a fucking girl. From a little match, a conflagration.
"I'm like, just a very, very emotional, sensitive motherfucker. I'm just constantly worried about everything. But I'm trying to send a message to people that it's going to be okay. They see the person who makes the music and I want them to know, like, I'm good. You know? I'm still sad, I'm still angry, but I'm good. I want them to know that."
LP is the medicine. She is good for heartbreak, which she knows, and in a way, lives in. "I'm always scared to lose someone," she says. "I'm very cognizant of the fact that it could all be gone in a second."
She writes from that, sings from that. The annoyance, the grain of ocean-floor sand troubling the oyster. It's loss. It's always there.
Her mother died when she was a teenager. She sang too —a voice, LP remembers, that "was very operatic, kind of like Maria Callas with a Julie Andrews cleanness to her tone."
Loss, loss. I've lost too.
She'll never recover, but there is the mounting hope, the certain knowledge, hard-earned, that "you can wield suffering, which is strength and power."
So it works like this: loss, loss, pearl.
LP is the power crawling itself out of the ashes. I'm worried about her. She doesn't look like she'll make it — then you hear. Then you know. "Everyone in the audience, I feel like I want to literally look them in the eye the whole time." She sings:
my church is you
my church is love
my church includes all of the above
no questions asked
no one to judge
my church is you and always was.
The more she loses, the more we gain. The more we gain, the less she loses.
"I want everyone," she says, "to know they can feel safe."
Church, no church. Gay, not gay. The bloodletting's the same.
The blood-pearls of a poet-oyster who has hit songs and record deals and plays sold out shows all over the world and goes to bed saying to herself, "I love, I love, I love, I love…"
How To Start Writing A Song
Source: https://www.careersinmusic.com/how-to-write-a-song/
Posted by: davisretraid1949.blogspot.com
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