Songwriting can be a tough thing to get right. As artists, we want to write songs, but sometimes have no idea where to begin. It's a creative journey that allows you to express feelings, tell stories, and connect with others through shared experience. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced writer, there are various ways to approach songwriting.
In this blog, we'll explore a few different approaches; the process of developing a song, the importance of a great hook, various song structures, and the nuance of arranging instruments around vocals.
Different Approaches to Songwriting
There's no correct one-way to begin writing a song. Some people start with lyrics, while others begin with a melody, chord progression or even a beat. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Lyrics First: If you're an artist or storyteller, your primary focus may be that the lyrics are the foundation of your songs. Some ways to start could be; writing down your thoughts, feelings, or a story. Having lyric concepts written down can often spark inspiration for other elements - melody, chords, phrasing.?
- Melody First: Hum or play around with different melodies on an instrument. Once you find a melody you like, you can retrofit lyrics that fit into the rhythm and tone. It can be a super fun and rewarding challenge to figure out how to tell a story with a set number of syllables.?
- Chords First: Jam it out and experiment with different chord progressions on your instrument. Chords can evoke different feels, which end up directing where your song is going to go and what story you may want to tell.
Once you've got your good idea, it's time to develop it. Here's a simple process you can follow:
- Hook Creation: Your song's hook is the catchy part that grabs your listener's attention. It could be a memorable melody, a clever lyric, or a unique sound. Spend time crafting a hook that sticks in your audience's mind.
- Build a Structure: Most songs follow a structure, often consisting of verses, choruses, bridges, and sometimes pre-choruses. Decide how many sections your song will have and arrange them in a way that tells a coherent story.
- Filling in Lyrics and Melodies: If you started with lyrics, fit them to your melody and vice versa. Adapt your lyrics to flow naturally with the melody. With lyrics, what often starts out as “full” sentences or phrases, often becomes broken in order to fit with the song. There is no right or wrong way to make lyrics work in the context of a melody or rhythm.?
- Chord Progressions: Choose chord progressions that support the mood of your song. Experiment with different chord changes to add depth and movement. You could stick to the same 4 chords the whole song, have one specific moment where there is a significant chord change to stand out, or even pedal one chord for a whole section to build tension.?
- Instrumentation: My favourite part, arranging. Decide which instruments will accompany your vocals. Consider how each instrument can enhance the emotional impact of your lyrics and melody. Careful not to throw too many ingredients in the pot. It’s easy to overcrowd a song arrangement. Also, it’s great to be mindful of the “rules” of the genre you’re writing in. What are the staple sounds of the genre? What should you stick to, and what rules can you break and genre-bend??
The Importance of a Catchy Hook
A hook is the thing that listeners remember long after the song is over. It's the part that gets stuck in their heads and makes them want to listen again. A strong hook will make your song stand out and create a lasting impact. To create an effective hook:
- Simplicity: Keep it simple so that it's easy to sing along or hum. A good rule of thumb is: make everything singable.?
- Repetition: Repeat the hook throughout the song to reinforce its memorability. But, also don’t overfeed your audience. There is a fine art to giving people just enough so that they want more.?
- Connection: Make sure the hook relates to or enhances the emotion of the song. You wouldn’t (typically) put an EDM lead line in a ballad. This ties back into arrangement and instrumentation.?
Exploring Different Song Structures
Song structures are like blueprints that guide the progression of your song. Here are some common structures to consider:
- Verse-Chorus: This is the most common structure, with verses that tell the story and a chorus that delivers the main message. You can hear countless songs using this structure, from the Beatles to modern Top-40 Pop. Examples: Jimi Hendrix - Foxy Lady, The Beatles - Yesterday, Ed Sheeran - Shape of You.?
- Verse-Pre-Chorus-Chorus: Add a pre-chorus before the chorus to build anticipation and create contrast. A PC can be a great way to add tension, or introduce a different perspective within the song. It can also be used as a bridge later. Examples: The Beatles - Hey Jude, Katy Perry - Firework, OneRepublic - Counting Stars.?
- ABAB: In this structure, each verse has a different set of lyrics, but the melody remains the same. This is often used in folk and country music. Similar to, but not to be confused with, Verse-Chorus. Examples: Tracy Chapman - Fast Car, The Police - Roxanne, Drake - Pain 1993.?
- ABA: This structure features a repeated verse (A), followed by a different section (B), and then a return to the initial verse (A). Examples: Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah, Frank Sinatra - My Way, Imagine Dragons - Radioactive, Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass.?
Arranging Instruments Around the Vocals
The arrangement of instruments WILL greatly affect the impact and effectiveness of your song. Here's how to arrange instruments around vocals effectively:
- Serve the Story: Instruments should complement the mood and story of the song. If the song is sad, choose instruments that enhance that emotion.
- Start Simple: Begin with a simple arrangement of maybe 3-5 key instruments, and then gradually add more instruments as the song progresses.
- Dynamic Changes: Use instrument arrangement to create dynamics in your song. Increase the number of instruments for a strong chorus and scale back for verses, bridges or drop-choruses if you choose to have those in your song.
- Vocal Space: Make sure the vocals have enough space to shine. Avoid overcrowding the mix with too many instruments.
- Save Your Pennies: Don’t give it all away from the beginning. Make sure the arrangement develops over the course of the song. Take your listeners on a journey.?
Songwriting is an artform full of subtleties and nuance. By exploring different approaches, developing your ideas, crafting a captivating hook, experimenting with song structures, and arranging instruments thoughtfully, you can create music that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression. Remember, the rules are only starting points and references. Some of the best songs ever written have thrown them out the window.
Hey, if you got this far, thanks so much for reading this blog post. I hope you got something out of it!?
If you know someone else who is a songwriter or artist and may benefit from this, I'd truly appreciate you sharing and passing it on.?
W: https://www.goodboymusic.co.nz
