How To Write A Song

How to write a song… There are many people who have fragments and ideas for songs, but don’t know what to do with them. I want to show you the quick and easy steps to creating something that you can call your own. Who knows, you may have a songwriter’s brain and not even know it!

If you’re able to play a few guitar chords, or if you have some basic piano skills, you will be amazed at what you can do. Some of the world’s best songs were created using three chords. If you’ve got an imagination, the sky is the limit!

So what do you do if you’ve got a bit of a musical idea, but don’t know how to get those thoughts assembled into a song? Perhaps you’ve stumbled upon a chord progression that you like. Here are some quick and easy steps to turn that chord progression into a song:

1. Become intimately acquainted with your chord progression. Play it over and over. Try holding the chords for different lengths, and as you work, you’ll notice that melodic ideas will start to materialize in your brain.
2. Hum the melodic ideas as they occur to you. You’ll notice that many of the ideas just won’t work, but occasionally one or two will catch your attention. If you don’t write music, sing them over and over to ensure they stay with you, and if possible record them.
3. Try to amplify your chord progression and melodic ideas. You need to give shape to these musical fragments. Perhaps your song will have a verse and chorus. If so, keep this guideline in mind: Generally, a verse melody is pitched a little lower than a chorus melody. And a chorus will use the tonic (key) chord more than a verse will.
4. Develop a lyric. For many, those first song ideas come with a topic already in mind, but if you don’t have a topic, you’ll need to choose. You need to write a song that touches the heart of the listener, so songs that connect emotionally will work the best: love, friendship, your child… those sorts of things. Remember that however you craft your lyric, the words should flow naturally. Good lyrics do not have to be good poetry. Simplicity wins out over complexity every time.
5. Develop a form for your song. There are many possibilities, but one of the most common forms is: Intro – Verse 1 – Chorus – Verse 2 – Chorus – Bridge – Final Chorus
6. A bridge occurs after the second chorus, and is a way for the songwriter to intensify the emotion of the song. Think of it as a third melody (after the verse and the chorus). A bridge melody is often pitched even higher than the chorus melody, and uses a different chord progression.

At this point, you should see your song really coming together. There is so much more you can be doing, though, to become the songwriter you’ve always wanted to be.

If you’d like to learn more about songwriting, you’re ready for Gary Ewer’s songwriting e-books. They’ll show you every stage of songwriting, in clear, easy-to-understand language.

Click here to see those songwriting e-books, and start writing great songs!