Songwriting Skills

MESSAGES
LOG IN
EXPLORE
HELP US

Home Categories Arts and Entertainment Music Songs and Song Writing
ArticleEditDiscuss
How to Write a Song
Sample SongsListen to the MastersLearn the Craft
Edited by Josh Hannah, James Quirk, Jack Herrick, Lis and 287 others
From before King David, to the Reformation, to the colonization of the Americas,
and into present times, music has been a big part of civilization. The process
of creating music has evolved over timewe've developed more words, fine tuned mel
ody, and stacks of Marshall amps that go to 11but the urge to express ourselves i
n song remains as strong as ever. We'll show you how to do it!
Sample Songs
Sample Pop Song
Sample Song from a Musical
Sample Country Song
Sample Rock Song

Sample Indie Song

Sample Love Song
Method 1 of 2: Listen to the Masters
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.
One of the most famous, most covered songs in history was created this way. The
composer woke up one morning with the melody in his head, and sang "Scrambled eg
gs, oh you've got such lovely legs" as the lyrics as he developed the song. He e
ventually figured it out, and that's how Paul McCartney wrote the song "Yesterda
y."
For a good example of this technique, listen to Peter Gabriel's "A Different Dru
m" starting at about 1:40. His "lyrics" are just word-sounds.
Other composers work out the lyrics first, or work with a lyricist. Think of Ric
hard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein, Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, or Joe Strumm
er and Mick Jones. Many people find this a much more difficult row to hoethere's
a big difference between poetry and song, and without a solid musical foundation
, there are many hurdles to overcome. Still, when the muse strikes, who really c
ares if she hits you with the words or the melody first? Grab the inspiration an
d run with it.
One composer became very well known working with a lyricist: Elton John, putting
the lyrics of Bernie Taupin to music. When it's done well, it's very good!
Ad

spaceplay / pause escstop ffullscreen shift + ??slower / faster (latest Chrome a
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
??seek . seek to previous 126 seek to 10%, 20%, 60%
2Work out the structure. Most songs have a recognizable formula: The intro, a ve
rse or two with a chorus, a bridge, followed by another verse and chorus, and th
en out.
The intro. This can be strictly instrumental, a part of the chorus, or something
completely off the wall. For example, "Rocky Raccoon" by the Beatles starts wit
h a talky introduction describing the character and setting the stage for the so
ng.
The verse. This is the majority of most songsthough not necessarily the most impo
rtant part. This is the exposition, describing the scene, or the person, or an e
motion. Very often there are two or three verses in a row that have the same mus
ical 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.
The chorus. This is where it all comes together all the verses have been leading
up to the chorus, and is usually the part of the song people sing along with. T
hink "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles. Can you remember the verse lyrics? M
aybe. Can you remember the chorus? It's easy! "All you need is love!" However, a
s important as a chorus can be to a song, it's not necessarily a given. In "You'
re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," Dylan has one sentence at the end of eac
h verse (the title line), and that's about as close as he gets to a chorus.
The bridge. This is the part of the song that shiftsit can suddenly change tempo,
or volume, or instrumentationit's all fair game. A good example that puts this a
ll together is "Better Together" by Jack Johnson. He uses this form: Intro-Verse
-Verse-Chorus-Break-Verse-Verse-Break-Bridge-Break-Out
Method 2 of 2: Learn the Craft
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
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 r
oar of the crowd. Only trouble is, gee whiz, you're dreaming your life away.
If you want to write a really good song, you're going to have to work for it. St
art today. Commit to writing a certain number of songs per week, the way success
ful authors commit to writing a thousand words a day.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
2Listen actively to 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. F
ind out what that is.
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 uni
que, do the song's chord changes perfectly capture a mood, do you like the trans
ition from one part of the song to another?
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
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 of harmony, melody, and rhythm.
Harmony is about the chord arrangements and having harmonic qualities that blend
with both the rhythmic feel and the melody of the song. A beginner would want t
o 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 th
e neck are:
C, Dm (minor), Em, F, G, Am, and Bdim (diminished). They are also called by thei
r scale steps, 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.
The I IV and V chords of any key can be thought of as a meat and potatoes way of
writing a song, as these three chords will accompany any melody that stays with
in the given key. Most pop songs are built around a I-IV-V structure.
There are infinite ways to structure a song, but there's a common sequence found
in most of them (see Tips). As you listen to songs, try to identify the differe
nt parts. Check yourself by looking at lyrics online or in a music book; the par
ts of songs are often labeled in these media.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
4Be ready when inspiration comes calling. Unfortunately, inspiration usually doe
sn'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.
Carry a pen and paper with you wherever you go, or better yet, carry a tape reco
rder or digital audio recordermelodies can be extremely difficult to capture on p
aper unless you have a strong music background.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
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 des
cribe it. How did that feel? Did it hurt? Does (s)he make you think about him or
her all the time? Just start by thinking about personal experiences!
It would be helpful if you have a musical instrument (e.g. piano, keyboard, guit
ar, 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.
You can always go back to your recording. It helps. If you revise it, then recor
d it again.
6Figure out what you've got. Once in a while, inspiration will hit you like a fu
ll force gale, and suddenly you have a full song out of nowhere. Most of the tim
e, 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 wha
t part of the song you've come up with.
If it's super catchy (either a lyrical phrase or a snippet of music), and you ca
n envision it being a repeated theme in the song, you've got the chorus or refra
in the climax or summary of your musical story and you need to write verses to e
xplain how you know in detail.
If what you've come up with, seems more narrative lyrically or subtler musicallya
part of 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.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
7Set the mood. Make sure your music fits the story. If it is sad, then you may w
ant 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.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
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.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
9Make your words sing. Lyrics can appeal to emotions, and they should also appea
l 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 impo
rtant part as well. Some words sound smoother than others (for example, "cool br
eeze" sounds smoother than "frigid wind.") Use the texture and character of word
s to add to the feeling of a song.
Another useful tool for the song writer is a rhyming dictionary. There are a var
iety of ways you can rhyme lines in a song to help tie the lyrics together. Lear
n about these and other tools of poetry, and try putting them to work for you.
You can rhyme at the end of every line or every other line, or your rhymes can c
ome more sporadically. You can also rhyme within lines to good effect (think of
rap lyrics).
There are also other poetic devices you can use, such as alliteration ("They pav
ed paradise, 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" sou
nd in "honesty", "promise" and "gonna").
However, do not burden yourself with rhyme! You can get away with making a phras
e stand out by avoiding conventional means of fitting it into a song, and many s
uccessful songs do not rhyme at all.
nd Safari)
??volume mmute
10Strike a balance between repetition and variety. Repetition is what makes a so
ng 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 line
s of so many songs.
While there are good songs that are so simple that they have no chorus and have
the same line length, the same rhyme schemes, and the same chord progressions re
peated throughout them, most people get bored with that. The most common way to
add variety is to insert a bridge into your song.
A bridge is a section of music, sometimes instrumental, that differs in its cons
truction from the verses and the chorus, and is usually placed near the end of t
he song before the final chorus, where a verse would typically be. The bridge ca
n be in a different keyusing a different set of chordsthan the rest of the song, b
ut it doesn't need to be. It can also be faster or slower, shorter or longer, or
otherwise different from the other sections.
Sometimes a bridge is followed by a shorter chorus, depending on the length of t
he bridge. Be aware that bridges can also refer to the transitions between verse
and chorus, as this is a common usage of bridges.
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 a
re 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, yo
ur 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:
"Here's my number, call me maybe." If you've heard Carly Rae Jepsen's hit even o
nce, that will be burned into your synapses forever.
"Oppan Gangnam Style". PSY's surprise YouTube hit has a hook that, like "Call Me
Maybe," has spawned millions of views and almost as many parodiesthe sign of a t
ruly infectious hook.
In Tommy Tutone's song "Jenny/8675309", the hook lyrics may be the numbers 8-6-7
-5-3-0-9.
In the Beatles' song "Hey Jude" the hook may be the ending part, Naaa, naa naa,
nana naa naaaaaa, nana naa naaaaaaa, hey Jude that repeats and repeats as it bor
es its way into your brain.
Good hooks let people remember your tune from your lyrics, even if they do not c
oincide. Many people can remember the riff from 'Smoke on the Water' from hearin
g the title.
12Smooth the rough edges. If the pieces do not fit together, try building a tran
sition. 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 spee
d 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.
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 son
gs: friends and family may tell you that your first song is great even if its awf
ul, 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 t
hat will accept nothing less than to hear it post-produced with all the bells an
d whistles that a band in a studio can offer.
14Once you've finished your first song, don't stop. Keep writing and practicing,
and you'll find yourself getting 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 ne
ed to write a lot more before you get another good one. Work hard and have fun d
oing it!
Ad

Video

This video explains the "songwriters formula" used in mainstream music. An easy
method to writing music that is effective!
Tips
Make sure your song is catchy, but not in that annoying way.
Currently most popular songs have some variation on the following sequence: intr
o, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge/instrumental solos, chorus, and sometime
s an outro. Sometimes the order of these components is different, and sometimes
one or more of them is absent.
Dynamics are a good tool to utilize to separate out the different sections of th
e song. Quieter for verses, louder in the choruses. Dynamics can also help to cr
eate that chorus hook that everyone will remember when listening to your song.
You can usually record yourself a memo on a cell phone, and if not, you can call
yourself and leave a message of your singing or humming on your voice mail. Mak
e sure you sing loud enough for the song to be clear when you listen to the mess
age later; make people think you're crazy!
It helps to know how to play an instrument. Knowing how to play a guitar or pian
o, for instance, will make songwriting immeasurably easier. Plus, you'll be able
to accompany yourself when you sing for 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.
Experiment with lots of ways of making sound. Try to play an instrument you are
less familiar with. The "mistakes" you make may prove inspiring.
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 thin
gs happen in the blink of an eye". So just wait for it. One day you'll get it.
If you've got total writer's block, start by scribbling out your feelings/what y
ou want to talk about. The lyrics will come to you when you see the lyrics on pa
per. Well, it might take some work, but at least get those beginnings of a song
down.
Stop, collaborate and listen to another songwriter. Some people can pen great ly
rics, but can't write a melody to save their lives; for others, the reverse is t
rue. 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.
If you do play an instrument, try putting it down once in a while. Spend more ti
me singing to come up with melodies and sounds. This way you eliminate the possi
bility of just playing the "same old licks".
Show 5 more tips
Ad

Warnings
Try something new! Be original and experiment with different things. Who says th
at you always have to rhyme every stanza or have a chorus?
Be careful with rhyming. Don't choose a word just because it rhymes with anotherm
ake sure the words make sense in the song. Be aware of rhyming dictionaries: the
y can be helpful, but if you overuse them, you're liable to start sounding ridic
ulous. A thesaurus is a better tool: it will give you the most ways to express y
our 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 hit song. Another, more subtle problem is subconscious plagiarism, w
here a songwriter does not realize that he or she is largely copying another son
g. 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 y
ou can, and see if they think so, too. You need to avoid people mistaking your s
ong for another song, or they may not credit you for writing it.
Don't forget to copyright your song.
Don't let yourself become constrained by the "verse-chorus" structure. A lot of
excellent songs are written as a single string of ideas instead of one idea repe
ated multiple times. Maybe that "hook" you came up with would work better as a o
ne-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 vari
ation in your songs.
Don't be afraid to try something new. Many highly influential and well regarded
musicians have become 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 mo
st different. Many genres of music ignore conventional song writing structure (f
or example, progressive rock is structured in a way that there is often no disce
rnible verse or chorus.) With experience, you will learn where you want to take
songs, and you should follow your intuition.
Related wikiHows
How to
Write a Song for a Girl
How to
Write a Song with a Best Friend
How to
Select the Right Music to Write
How to
Make an Arrangement of a Song on the Guitar (Chords/Melody)
How to
Write a Top Hit Song in One Evening
How to
Broaden Your Musical Horizons
Article Info
Featured Article
Categories: Featured Articles | Songs and Song Writing
Recent edits by: Milly Harris, Joshua George, El Len
In other languages:
Portugus: Como Compor uma Msica, Espaol: Cmo escribir canciones, Nederlands: een lie
dje schrijven, Deutsch: Einen Song schreiben, ???????: ???????? ?????, ??: ??, F
ranais: Comment crire une chanson
DiscussPrintEmailEditSend fan mail to authorsAd

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,564,939 times.
Was this article accurate?
YesNo
Random Article Write An Article
Related Articles
How to
Copyright a Song
How to
Write a Song As a Gift
How to
Compose a Song
How to
Read Music
Share
122
Featured Articles
How to
Make Beignets
How to
Survive the Death of Your Child
How to
Make Hot Cocoa Cake Pops
How to
Block Websites
Meet a Community Member
Meet Nate848, an American wikiHowian who has been on the site over 2 years. He h
as written 39 articles and patrolled over 7,700 edits. He likes to patrol recent
changes, make bold edits on articles, and copyedit to improve quality. His favo
rite article hes worked on is How to Contrast Evolution and Intelligent Design Fr
om a Creationist Perspective, when he helped save it from deletion. His proudest
moment on wikiHow so far has been receiving his first Rising Star for How to Gr
ow the "Three Sisters", and he loves that wikiHow gives him a chance to help oth
ers. His advice to new users is to start helping out with the Tips Patrol or Qua
lity Guardian tools and get more involved from there!
Join The Community
Follow Us On...
HomeAbout wikiHowTerms of UseRSSSite mapLog In
All text shared under a Creative Commons License. Powered by Mediawiki.

Songwriting Skills

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Songwriting Skills

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MESSAGES

You might also like