You can also have the best melody in the world, but if your lyrics aren't good, the whole song will suffer. Whether you want to write some words for the chord loop you just found on the guitar or you just love writing lyrics, the tips in this article could help you in the process.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Understanding Common Structures
Step 1. Try to understand the various parts of a song
Which ones to choose will be up to you. Some standard structures are used more often and it is vital that you understand them. They include the following elements.
- Introduction: this is the opening section that leads into the song. Sometimes it might look different than the rest, it might be faster or slower, or it might not exist at all. Many songs don't have an intro, so you don't have to put it in.
- Verse: this is the main part of the song. It usually ranges from 50% to 200% of the number of lines in the chorus, but it is not mandatory. What distinguishes a part as a "verse" is that the melody is the same in the various verses, but the words change.
- Chorus: it is the part of the song that is repeated without changing: the lyrics and the melody are unchanged or almost unchanged. This is usually where you try to insert the most catchy part of the song.
- Bridge: this part is also not present in all the songs. It usually comes after the second chorus and can be completely different from the rest of the song. It's usually short, just a line or two of text, and sometimes leads to a shift in key.
Step 2. Start with the AABA framework
The AABA structure is probably the most commonly used for a modern song. When studying song structures, A usually indicates a verse and B usually means a chorus. In other words, in this structure there are two verses, a chorus and a final verse. Practice this basic structure before moving on to the more complex ones.
Step 3. Experiment with other structures
Of course, there are many others. You can try with AABB, ABA, AAAA, ABCBA, ABACABA and so on.
C usually indicates a bridge; any other letters probably just mean that that section of the song doesn't match any of the traditional parts and is an end in itself (a bit like taking a verse from a different song and putting it into your own)
Step 4. Try free-form songs
Of course, if you want to challenge your skills, you can try writing something that goes beyond traditional patterns and doesn't follow a standard structure. However, this can be very challenging and is not the best way to start.
Part 2 of 6: Getting Inspiration
Step 1. Write down everything that comes to mind
It means that you just have to keep writing, without stopping. You will be able to stop some ideas that would otherwise be lost.
Do your exercises every day to help you brainstorm. Over time this may help you write better texts
Step 2. Read the lyrics of many existing songs for inspiration
You will learn to distinguish what makes a song beautiful and what makes it ugly. Try to understand what they talk about and how, the use of rhymes, the rhythm of the lyrics, etc.
- What you consider to be a good song may differ from someone else's preferences. Focus more on what you like, because this is really important.
- To practice, you could try writing different lyrics for a song you like. You can change some lines or create a totally new version.
Step 3. Follow your thoughts on what kind of music you want to write and try to figure out what lyrics you like
Previously this passage indicated what constituted a good text or a bad one, but it is up to you what kind of music you want to write. You, believe it or not, are a growing artist and, as an artist, you can use your own path and formulate your own personal views on various singers and their work. So, if you want to write something in the style of Avril Lavigne or Frank Sinatra, don't let anyone tell you you can't.
- If you're not sure what kind of music you want to write, listen to your favorite songs and look for similarities.
- Find the authors who wrote your favorite songs. Then check out the entirety of their work to look for trends and evaluate their style.
Step 4. Read poems
If you have difficulty with inspiration but want to practice writing songs, try adapting existing poems. The more classic ones (Lord Byron, Robert Frost, Catullus) have wonderful ideas, but they may not seem current. Accept the challenge and adapt them. Can you compose a rap song with Shakespeare? A folk song with Leopardi? This type of challenge will improve your skills and offer you a great starting point.
Step 5. Be true to your style
Never look at how others write songs and don't feel compelled to do the same; everyone has a different style. Some write freely taking inspiration from their mind, while others do so with a specific intention. Although there are many rules and conventions related to music, in the end it will be a creative undertaking: the most important thing is to express yourself.
Being a songwriter is an art form, so it's great to develop your own style. Don't think you have to do what others are doing
Step 6. Keep writing for good results
Keep a journal and be prepared to write down a lot of stuff that doesn't work before you finally get to the good stuff. Try to write until you feel you are done. Writing a single word or a particular sound is also a great start. Let the song ferment. Writing texts takes a long time!
- Writing can go through various stages. Don't worry if what you're writing on paper doesn't initially sound like a song. You will be able to model it later.
- Keep it all. Even if you only write one sentence, sooner or later it will lead you to something else.
- There's no problem if your songs aren't very good at first. You can always review them to write better lyrics.
Step 7. Spend a lot of time writing
Write about your feelings and the world around you. Describe a person or thing that matters to you. This is what can help you find the most expressive words for a song. Write the poem on which the song will be built. Remember: She doesn't need to express an emotion or always be depressed or angry. Even a laundry list could be poetic if done right.
- Keeping a journal can be a great inspiration for a song. For example, when you're going through tough times, you might write song lyrics that encapsulate your frustration, despair, or hope. This will help the listener to relate to you.
- You will likely get writer's block, as everyone does. The best way to overcome this is to simply put the words on paper. Don't worry if they are good or not.
Part 3 of 6: Finding the Words
Step 1. Express something, not just words
"I'm so sad, I feel bad, my girlfriend left me today …". Don't: This is a quick way to make your song mundane. The best texts, like any literary work worthy of the name, make us feel emotions because they capture that experience: they don't tell us what to feel. Try describing how you feel, instead of just telling your audience what happened to you.
- A good example of an alternative to the very banal statement "I'm so sad" is expressed by Damien Rice's song, The Animals Were Gone: "At night I dream without you and I hope not to wake up, because waking up without you is like drinking from an empty cup. ".
- Brainstorm some ideas so you can see what you have and pick (or even rebuild from scratch) an existing idea. It is probably best if you feel inspired.
Step 2. Use your rhymes rationally
Do you know when you see that a song is written by someone who is not very capable? When there are too many rhymes, often forced. You should avoid having all rhyming lines and the rhymes you use should appear natural. Don't put weird phrases or words in your text just to rhyme. Many songs are an example of this.
- Good: "You make me feel real again / You just have to smile and I know / The sun's coming out - Amen!".
- Bad: "I really love my cat / My cat is where it's at / Her tail looks like a bat / She's getting kind of fat…".
- Of course there are some considerations with respect to the genre used. Rap uses rhyme much more frequently than other genres, but it's not necessary here either. It's just a stylistic question.
Step 3. Try non-standard rhyme schemes
If you want, you can experiment with different styles. Did you know that there are other ways to rhymes than what you learned in school? Explore assonance / consonance, half rhyme, alliteration, forced rhymes, and so on.
For example, Macklemore's Same Love uses many examples of assonance and other non-standard rhymes: lately / daily, anointed / poisoned, important / support it etc
Step 4. Avoid clichés
You definitely have to avoid them as they are mundane and don't show your unique talent. If you describe situations that have been written about and rewritten about, you probably need to revise your plans.
Part 4 of 6: Consider the Music
Step 1. Learn music notation
You will probably remember hearing about the conservation of matter in science courses (nothing is completely destroyed). Well, the same rule generally applies to music. Find out more about how music notation works (beats, measures, notes, rests, etc.) to make sure your lyrics are in tune with the music. In short, you should make sure that the lines have roughly an even number of syllables and that the metric is always constant.
Think of a section of music as having four cups of water. It is possible to pour half of one of the cups into a fifth, but now you would have two half full. No more water is poured. Likewise, you can't add extra beats without balancing them somewhere (usually with a rest)
Step 2. Start with a pre-written melody
When starting to write songs, it's best to start with an existing melody. For many it is easier this way than trying to create a melody that fits the existing lyrics. You can write your own melody, work with a musically gifted friend, or adapt a classic melody, like from old folk songs (just be sure to use public domain songs).
Step 3. Stay in a single interval of about two octaves
Not everyone has the Mariah Carey vocal range! When composing a melody, try to keep the notes within a reasonable range so that someone can actually sing it.
- If you are writing the song for yourself, you will need to understand your vocal range. First warm up your voice, then hum and lower your voice as low as you can. The least you can do while humming clearly is the base of the range. So, go as high as you can. Wherever you can hold a note for 3 seconds, this is the top of your range.
- If you want to improve your vocal range, repeat this exercise, but try to stretch your voice a little more each time you do it.
Step 4. Add rests so that the singer can catch his breath
Singers are human too and need to breathe! Insert pauses of 2 to 4 bars here and there that allow the singer to stop and catch their breath for a few seconds. This also gives the listener the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the text.
A good example is the national anthem of the United States: after the line "For the land of the free", there is a pause before "And the home of the brave" which allows the singer to recover from some very previous bars. powerful
Part 5 of 6: Dedicating the Finishes
Step 1. Read what you wrote
What is the larger picture? Does the song make a narrative, a statement or a description? Is it a call to action, a series of directions or a greeting? Is it a philosophy or a reflection? Is it completely nonsense? Does it have multiple forms of expression? Start moving the words and changing them so that they are in tune with the rest of the text. Think about how you want to proceed and how to get to what you want to say. Do you like how consonants and vowels sound as well as you have positioned them? Does a verse have multiple meanings? Does a sentence stand out in particular? Do you want to repeat a verse or a word? Remember: the first time the audience listens to a song, they hear only the parts that stand out the most.
Step 2. Rewrite
Who says you can't change what you wrote? If you like the original, keep it. But most lyricists need to play around with the song a bit before they get the perfect sound. A good song can only be written after a single attempt, but it often takes time. You can also move entire stanzas for the song to have continuity. Sometimes a song can completely change meaning.
- Try writing a great first line to grab the listener's attention.
- Editing your song is the perfect way to write better lyrics.
Step 3. Consult with others
Once you're done with your song, it can be a really good idea to share a trial version with other people. Even if they are just starting to read your text, they may be able to find spots in words that either don't fit the rhythm or where the rhymes sound weird. Of course, asking for commissioned opinions is a bad idea, but if you agree with their feedback on errors, you can make the necessary changes.
Step 4. Do something with your song
We can make the world a better place when we share our creations. It's okay to be shy and just because you've written a song doesn't mean you have to go out for a concert. But you should write it down or record it so that you can share it with others. Don't hide your amazing work!
Part 6 of 6: Additional Help
Step 1. Learn to write music
If you've written the lyrics for the song but have never composed one before, you may need help learning. It's actually not that different from writing texts - there are also rules and guides that you can use as a foundation to work on.
- With practice you may be able to teach yourself how to play a musical instrument. However, you may prefer to take lessons - this will make it easier for you to learn proper techniques and concepts, such as chord progression.
- Learning to write music will help you create an entire song, rather than just its lyrics.
Step 2. Learn to read music
While not strictly necessary, having a basic understanding of how music works will significantly increase your ability to write good songs. You may even be able to write them for someone else to play!
Step 3. Improve your singing
Being a better singer will help you understand the notes you are looking for when writing music. Work on those vocal skills and you will be surprised at how much they can help you.
Step 4. Acquire basic instrumental skills
Knowing some basic notions of how to play the most common instruments can go a long way in composing lyrics. Consider learning to play the piano or guitar. Both can be self-taught and are not too complicated.
Step 5. Create a melody that fits with the lyrics. Try creating an original melody on your guitar
Add keyboard and percussion to make your song even better.
Advice
- If you can't complete a song, don't throw it away - you could use those parts as inspiration in the future or be able to finish it at another time.
- Insist. Finding inspiration can be difficult, so always stay open to new ideas. You will find something wonderful if you don't stop looking!
- Always carry pen and paper with you. You never know when inspiration will come to you. It is also okay to keep a notebook or a special file on your PC, so that you can better organize your thoughts.
- Never consider a song idea "too stupid". Some great songs are about strange or mundane topics.
- Don't write overly repetitive songs. Nobody wants to hear "I miss my girlfriend" dozens of times. But don't be afraid to repeat a verse either.
- Repeat your ideas aloud, even if you are alone. This will allow you to create better rhymes and check the metrics and fluency of the lines.
- Write a word. Then write down all the synonyms you know of that word. If you are not satisfied with the result, use a thesaurus or search the Internet for them.
- Write the date of your compositions. It will be easier for you to remember the mood you were in when you wrote them.
- Read articles and interviews from other lyricists.
- In some cases it can help you to write a poem first and then turn it into a song.
Warnings
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Don't look for a rhyme for each line. By placing too many risks of boring, as in the following example:
Example not to follow: My life is horrible and I think it is horrible because I left my cat at my Grandma's and she won't give my cat back so what am I going to do ohhh yeahh… What am I gonna do?
- Don't plagiarize other artists' songs or you could end up in serious legal trouble. However, it is legitimate to be inspired by a particular style of writing or genre.
