How to Get Started with Songwriting - P1



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Song Components

A song is words+music, and for a song to be successful it has to have great lyrics and great music.

Great lyrics are simply a mix of easy, nice words revolving around an interesting topic. The good thing is that lyrics don't have to go by any rules; it is simply a matter of practice...May be there are some rhyming "rules" but those can be hardly called rules. We will discuss rhyming later.

As for great music, you don't have to create a complicated masterpiece..! Actually, great music in this context means simple, catchy melody and well-structured chord patterns. We will also see about music later.

OK. Now we got music and lyrics but that means nothing if a catchy melody and a number of nice words were just scattered all over your song...Music and Lyrics need to be put into a concrete Song Structure...



Song Structure

A song usually has three short melodies, two of which are repeated several times…

Chorus: The chorus is a lyrics-music combination that is repeated with little or no change throughout the song. Usually, the chorus's lyrics include the song title and give the listener a general idea about the song's topic. The chorus music includes the catchiest melody in the song and it is usually the part that your listener will remember from your song.

Verse: The verse has the second melody of the song; this melody hardly changes throughout the song. The verse's lyrics are actually what usually change; as the verses usually give details about the song's topic. Notice that no matter how the lyrics change they all have to fit the same melody, without having to look "artificial"...This actually is a great challenge for the lyricist ;).

Bridge: The third melody and the one that -in most song structures- appears only once. It is better if the listener gets a small surprise in the bridge; may be a change in the chord structure or a smooth shift to another scale...etc. However, the bridge's melody almost always ends by shifting back to the original mood and repeating the chorus all over again. As for the bridge's lyrics they usually represent a conclusion or a flash back to the whole song, this adds to the surprise. Sometimes, -especially in Rock- the bridge is just an instrumental solo with no lyrics.

But how are those three parts arranged in the song? Well, you got Chorus, verse and bridge...Yes, arrange them in any way you want, but don't get too messy or your listener will get lost. To make it easier, songwriters have come up with these agreed-on song structures. Most of the songs follow three structures…

verse / chorus / verse / chorus / verse...etc.
verse / chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / (verse) / chorus
verse / verse / bridge / verse

Now, about the verse / verse / bridge / verse ... This structure takes a tricky melody for the verse; it has to be catchy and longer than the usual verses. Moreover, you have to spice it up every time you repeat it with a new thing (like a new instrument in the background, or a back vocals line...etc.). I personally like this structure because I feel it gives a certain freedom with the lyrics, the other two structures don't give. Besides, this structure gives room for musical intros and outros, not to mention the opportunity to add some musical breaks (between the verses) without having to worry about making the song too long.

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Comments

1-30 of 38 Comments
Stevani
January 30, 2012 - 05:46

Am stevani, i play guitar with the ability to form a chord and to sing a little; also with a burning passion for songwritting and composition, but seem's difficult. any help pls.

January 05, 2012 - 19:23

I keep publishing my lyrics on here but it never saves I did it twice and its really getting upsettin can someone plz help me

Julie
December 11, 2011 - 17:01

My boyfriend writes some amazing songs, which almost puts my writing into shame, I want to write something to him and to my mum, if only I could be creative enough to find music to spark my songwriting!

Wannabe Girlz
November 15, 2011 - 02:16

Keep trying kay?

Wannabe Girlz
November 15, 2011 - 02:15

I love this guide, Amber keep trying.. I kept tryin, I used to write songs that had to be sung in a robot kind of speech pattern, I tore those out of my book, and said ' Get a grip, get inspired' And i did, i worte one about a jerk i have a crush on, and a liar with a deep secret...

Devarrious
November 05, 2011 - 20:59

I HAVE BEEN WRITING SONGS FOR YEARS..... BUT WHAT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME IS PUTTING THE SONGS I'VE WRITTEN WITH INSTRUMENTALS OR WRITING TO A BEAT.... HELP SOMEONE PLEASE!!!!

Reply to Devarrious
rob
January 13, 2012 - 18:18

what i like to do is listen to different bands and thier tempos and if i like the sound of one and my lyrics fit i put them in with the beat. try a standard 4/4 tempo with a few basic guitar chords and worry about the other stuff later.

juan
October 25, 2011 - 05:30

Hello everyone,

I'm juan and I consider myself a songwriter
I have writed about 20 songs so far but
I have a problem I feel I bit ashame of people
Listening to my songs.
I have 2 friends that are telling me that the songs are
Good...what do I do?

Reply to juan
srarcruiser100
January 16, 2012 - 10:46

Fist, be confident in your songs. If you have a cheerleader wbleepedis really good at analyzing songs, great. When they say a certain song needs work, then you know they're being straight with you. Listen to their criticisms with appreciation.
Let them be honest without defending your writing. When they say they like it, rejoice and sing your songs with confidence! Keep plugging away till you have fifty songs. That will build your confidence and skill.

michaela
September 04, 2011 - 22:10

hey im michaela and i sometimes make up song but i always putting them on the bin but not this time can i have some advice on what i should do with it? thanks all!!

Kaylei
August 29, 2011 - 20:49

I am a singer and have connections to a radio station; I have never sat down to actually write songs but I have the ability to add rhythm to things, especially when it comes to composition. Love to hear from some song writers wbleepedcan possibly just add ideas or lend lyrics

Jasmine
August 01, 2011 - 21:04

I write lyrics that i think are really good but i cant play any instruments and i dont know people wbleepedcan so my lyrics cant be like a real song. and i want people to hear my songs but i dont know how. and i love to sing and i sound good.

Reply to Jasmine
srarcruiser100
January 16, 2012 - 10:54

Put a classified ad in the paper. Ask for what assistance you need and leave your email address or phone number.
Someone will reply to fill the need.
If you're inclined pick out an instrument and take some lessons. Community education may help.
Don't give up!

Andrea
June 28, 2011 - 07:15

Been listening to alot of BTR lately, and it acutally got me into song writing, had a topic in my head one day and it just started coming ago (most of them rhyme), but I try to stay on topic of the song. I didn't know how to write it as a song so as I just wrote it down, so far 5 of my friends say its good and they like it. I just want to hear my song on the radio someday, or have an artist opinion to see if its worth it.

Thanks to this website, I now know how to structure
it.

If anyone is interested in reading my songs or knows of a great record producer, please let me know.

I don't need fame and forture, I just want my songs to be heard.

Reply to Andrea
Emmanuel
July 28, 2011 - 08:10

Hi Andrea,i will like to read some of ur songs,ok.....i like reading songs,it gives me inspirations to write my lyrics,so i wil be waiting to read urs soon,thanks

Reply to Andrea
Alex
August 18, 2011 - 16:30

Can i have a look at your songs

Reply to Andrea
anna
September 02, 2011 - 10:22

heey andrea i would love to hear some of your songs if you dont mind?!?

CharlieGurl
June 04, 2011 - 20:20

I am 14 and have written many songs, prolly since I was 7. I've dealt with a lot of stuff and so my songs come from the heart. I also sing( a little ) and really try to make my songs true. This website has helped me greatly. I'd love to hear from anyone wbleepedcould help me get a record deal or sell some of my lyrics to anyone wbleepedcould make them famous. Thanks so much and please, no creeps please!!! Thanks all!!

May 31, 2011 - 09:59

i wrote a song when i was 17 it was called (room full of memories)i got to excited with the outcome and in trust and stupidity i sent it to one of those adds in country mag. about a year later i heard it on the radio with a slight arangement ajustment (when i call your name) so if your new to songwriting slow your roll.

Tie
April 25, 2011 - 21:02

I usually invent lyrics and melody right off the bat when I'm in the mood, so I never get to record or write down my compositions, if you can call them that. I'll try these out for some serious songwriting.

Reply to Tie
Fb me flexy uboh de blade
August 13, 2011 - 01:10

Yap lets go dia

April 21, 2011 - 08:14

I love this website because it helped me get a record deal.

chelsea
April 17, 2011 - 19:11

i have been writing songs since i was 10 years old i am 13 now i like this website it has given me some good tips to use i love to write songs in my songs i express how i feel and things that i know i am not the only one going through

Reply to chelsea
Emmanuel
July 28, 2011 - 08:23

Hi chelsea,i wil like to read some of your songs and lyrics....i like love songs alot,i wil be waiting.......thanks alot

February 18, 2011 - 15:25

Wow...this REALLY HELPED ALOT! I'm 12(turning 13 in about 7 months) and has been writing songs since I was 10! So far, this is the best tips I've recieved!! Thanks!

Prestina
February 17, 2011 - 01:45

I'm really good at poetry. I love to write it. Not memorize it. So I wouldn't call myself a poet in the true sense. But I come up with some really good stuff that I would like to put to a song. I already know someone with a music studio & makes demos for people. I would like to really learn the song structure before presenting him with a song. I can basically do the melody & some chorus, but he would arrange the music & all of that stuff.And find a singer, since I can't do much more than backup, but I hear these songs in my head that a real singer could do.I don't want to waste his time until I can really show him something in a good song structure. I have no problems with writing lyrics, just don't know how to put them into a song structure. The above advice you gave is helpful, but it's like a foreign language to me. What advice do you have that won't cost me a lot of money? Any free ebooks available on the subject somewhere? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. I want that Grammy!

Richelle Taitua
October 26, 2010 - 17:45

I cant wait to publish my song, its sort of similar to Cody simpsons (Dont know how to spell his name ) But i will try using this method to write my song Thx for da advice

Reply to Richelle Taitua
richard
April 19, 2011 - 20:35

Hey email me some of your songs and I will see if we can work on some music. Hope to her from you soon.

October 13, 2010 - 14:06

wow thats definatley something that i would wanna be interstted in.

August 28, 2010 - 06:08

I find it easy to write my choruses but its very challenging to write my verses any help to overcome that

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