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 106 Comments
Rooster Thomas
April 29, 2013 - 04:22

If you have a song w/melody in your mind, and if you have computer, there is a program available that can help you to score your music. Check with your local supplier. Don't quit!

jojo
April 26, 2013 - 02:10

i love song writin bt ppl olwayz hate wht i writ bwt...so thnx guyz 4 makin me undastand dat these r my songs nt therz

Country music
April 16, 2013 - 16:53

How should i get inspiration?

Reply to Country music
Songwriter0104
April 24, 2013 - 18:11

most inspiration for songs come from tragic experiences of your past. If you can not think of anything tragic to write a song about choose the happiest event in your life time.

KLIFF_P
March 14, 2013 - 01:31

hi there, i'm just getting into song writing, but any time i start a topic i go short of ideas. what do i have to do

Reply to KLIFF_P
Jazz
March 17, 2013 - 04:13

Hello fellow song writer,
I write songs about things I see like I wrote a song about a circus i saw as a young child.
I hope this helps,
Jazz

Reply to KLIFF_P
chloe
April 08, 2013 - 12:26

you have to think about stough you have done in your life and write a song about it i hope this was good enough information

joel cj chiez
February 23, 2013 - 00:18

Any one ya'll rappers

Reply to joel cj chiez
Anonymous
April 09, 2013 - 22:20

I rap. but my music career is in rock music. but I definitely. can rap, and do write rap songs for my own pleasure. I just haven't released any as of now.

ally
February 20, 2013 - 15:20

i need a new topic for a song. my sister hates all the songs i write they are about love confusion hanging out and hearts breaking! i think they r good

Reply to ally
Songersboo
February 21, 2013 - 10:31

Try to write about:

unknown things
butterflies
walking on water
dragons
saints

actually you can think of any object but always relate them to your feelings and experiences.

Reply to ally
Andrew Brown
February 27, 2013 - 20:34

You could try writing songs about a time in your life when everything was very bad and how you made it through those times. Draw from your own experiences and inspire others through your lyrics!

Reply to ally
Alexa
March 28, 2013 - 09:59

Your sister is probably jealous of your creativity

Reply to ally
chloe
April 08, 2013 - 12:30

you could think where you have been in your life and write about it then sort it out into a song that is what i do i hope that was good enough information

Reply to ally
chloe
April 08, 2013 - 12:33

you could think about where you have been in your life and write about it then make it into a song thats what i do i hope that was good enough information

Reply to ally
Anonymous
April 09, 2013 - 22:00

I can't believe no one's said this yet, ally. but you shouldn't care what your sister thinks. these are YOUR songs. as an experienced songwriter, and singer/lead guitarist/main songwriter for a band. I can tell you that that's the most important thing for your personal enjoyment of songwriting, and for connecting with an audience (which is why I mentioned that I was in a band. it wasn't just to brag lol). point is, be yourself not wbleepedyour sister (or anyone else) wants you to be. And write music the way you want to.

Reply to ally
Anonymous
April 09, 2013 - 22:00

I can't believe no one's said this yet, ally. but you shouldn't care what your sister thinks. these are YOUR songs. as an experienced songwriter, and singer/lead guitarist/main songwriter for a band. I can tell you that that's the most important thing for your personal enjoyment of songwriting, and for connecting with an audience (which is why I mentioned that I was in a band. it wasn't just to brag lol). point is, be yourself not wbleepedyour sister (or anyone else) wants you to be. And write music the way you want to.

Reply to ally
angie
May 15, 2013 - 00:37

Write one about your sister.. or to her... ???

shawn
February 08, 2013 - 02:33

I am a writer and I have written hundreds of lyrics, as with most up and coming writers I have the melodies in my head but I am unable to create the actual music myself. Which music application(s) would be good to use for a beginner and where can I get them from, any particular web sites. Thank you for any advice given.

Reply to shawn
ronald wasswa
February 09, 2013 - 06:21

am also a beginner, at list i can perform my lyrics and listeners enjoy to listen to my next item , do u need afriend like me ? lets try to share.

Reply to shawn
ronald wasswa
February 09, 2013 - 06:21

am also a beginner, at list i can perform my lyrics and listeners enjoy to listen to my next item , do u need afriend like me ? lets try to share.

Reply to shawn
chad
February 13, 2013 - 13:57

The most popular to use is Fl studio you can download the demo on their website flstudios.com to see how you like it I still use it I use pro tools once before but I love Fl studios

Reply to shawn
Shawna
February 27, 2013 - 20:11

check out jamstudio.com it's pretty cool!!

January 18, 2013 - 16:22

What's up with everyone having horrible grammar talking about writing lyrics when they can't even spell properly? Wtf...

Reply to JamesD
Chuck
February 13, 2013 - 16:48

You could probably use your own advice, based on what you wrote here.

January 16, 2013 - 09:05

Hay....am an artist with agood voice a great song writing abilty..can u help with ways i can get signed up by a lebel?tanx

Reply to isiaka
James
January 18, 2013 - 16:16

Your grammar sucks...

Reply to isiaka
Anonymous
April 09, 2013 - 22:17

send a demo to the several labels. and wait for a response. but from what you said you seem to have a bit of an ego. that's not good. try to avoid talking about how good you are when dealing with record labels, and instead talk about things such as vocal range how many songs you have under your belt... you know facts not opinions like "I have a great voice" or "I have great song writing abilities"

like othrs av also fnd challngz in keepng d melody i gt swt melodz fiting on d topc n d words but as enjy d writng i c myself switchg 2 a diffrnt topc jst appxmt 2 d 1st one, hw cn i ovrcam dis?
December 28, 2012 - 08:22

I appreciat ur favour 2 us, thx so far i av 40 songs am a writer diffrnt catygrz hweva i fnd problm 2 ordr my self write b4 en demand 4rm smwhere mey b evn i n 4gt d melody.

htnhthntnhgh
November 28, 2012 - 04:07

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