From before King David, to the Reformation, to the colonization of the Americas and to the present day, music has always been an important part of civilization. The process of creating music has evolved over time - we have developed more words, learned to refine the melody and introduced technology - but the need to express oneself with a song always remains very strong. Here's how to do it!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Take a cue from the Masters
Step 1. Start from the beginning
To get started you will need to identify your style. Many authors, such as Peter Gabriel, write music before words. They can accompany the melody with nonsense syllables to get an idea of how text and music work together.
- One of the most famous and performed songs in history was created in this way. The author woke up one morning with the melody in his head and sang "Scrambled egg, oh you've got such lovely legs" as a text. Eventually he found the right words, and that was how Paul McCartney wrote "Yesterday".
- For a good example of this technique, listen to "A Different Drum" by Peter Gabriel, starting at 1:40. His "lyrics" are just sounds.
- Other authors write the text first, or work with a lyricist. Think of Mogol, Paolo Conte, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. Many people find this path more difficult - there is a big difference between poetry and song, and without a solid musical foundation, you will have to overcome many obstacles. Nonetheless, when you are struck by inspiration, what does it matter if it struck you first with the words? Follow your instinct.
- A composer became very famous working with a lyricist: Elton John, putting the words of Bernie Taupin to music. When this pairing works, it produces memorable tunes.
Step 2. Decide on the structure
Most of the songs follow a recognizable formula: Introduction, a verse or two with chorus, bridge, verse and chorus and closing.
- Introduction. It can be instrumental, a part of the chorus, or something completely different. The Beatles' "Rocky Raccoon" for example begins with a spoken introduction describing the character and preparing the song.
- Verse. This section forms the largest part of the songs - although not always the most important. It is the exhibition, which describes the scene, the person or an emotion. Often two or three lines follow one another in a row with the same musical structure, the same rhyme and meter, but different words. The second verse expands the argument described in the first verse, etc. Most songs have a recognizable verse structure, although often you won't be able to hear the words except with the lyrics in hand.
- Refrain. Here the song is expressed 100% - all the verses prepare the chorus, usually the part of the song sung by the people. Think The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love". Can you remember the verses? Perhaps. Can you remember the chorus? It's that easy! "All you need is love!" However important a chorus may be for a song, it is not always there. In "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go", Bob Dylan repeats a phrase at the end of each verse (the one in the title), and this is the only form of chorus present.
- Bridge. This is the part of the song that changes - they can change the tempo, the volume or the instruments - it's all worth it. A good example to summarize this is Jack Johnson's "Better Toghether". Use this form: Introduction-Verse-Verse-Chorus-Break-Verse-Verse-Break-Bridge-Break-Exit
Method 2 of 2: Learn the Art
Step 1. Stop thinking about writing songs and start writing them
Do you want to become a famous star? You daydream of being on stage and hearing the crowd cheering on you. The only problem is that you are living only in dreams.
If you want to write a really good song, you will have to work hard. Get started today. Commit to writing a certain number of songs a week, just as successful authors commit to writing a thousand words a day
Step 2. Actively listen to different genres of music
You may have favorite artists and think other genres are unsavory, but there is a reason someone likes them. Find out what it is.
Good writers read books of many genres. Good authors listen to multiple genres of music. When you listen, think about what you like about a song. Is the lyrics unique, are the chord changes perfectly expressing emotions, or do you like the transition from one part of the song to another?
Step 3. Learn the technique
You don't need to have a degree in music theory to write a good song, but you should understand how the songs are built. To do this, you will need to have basic notions of harmony, melody and rhythm.
Harmony is about arranging chords and creating a harmonic structure that suits the rhythm and melody of the song. A beginner should learn about the basic major and minor keys and the chords related to the key he is using
Step 4. Learn the chords
In the key of C, the chords are:
- C, D minor, E minor, F, G, A minor and B diminished. Chords are also defined on a numerical basis, with the advantage of a key-independent naming. For example, C is I (one), D minor is II, Fa is IV, and G V.
- Chords I IV and V can be defined as the ABC of musical writing, because those three chords can accompany any melody of the relative key. Most pop songs are built on an I-IV-V structure.
- There are endless ways to build a song, but in most of them you will find a common sequence (see Tips). When you listen to a song, try to identify the different parts. Check by looking at the lyrics on the internet or in a music book; often the parts of the songs are identified in these documents.
Step 5. Prepare for the arrival of inspiration
Unfortunately, inspiration doesn't always strike at the right moments, so it's important to be able to remember every song that comes to mind, no matter where you are.
Always carry a pen and paper with you, or even better, bring a cassette or digital recorder - melodies are very difficult to write on paper unless you have a very good understanding of music theory
Step 6. Learn to write the text
Think of something that has truly touched you or changed your life. A special person? A bully? A bad separation? Think about it and describe that image. How did you feel? Is reported? Couldn't think of anything else? Start thinking about your personal experiences!
- It will be useful to have a musical instrument (e.g. piano, keyboard, guitar, etc.) so that you can explore the music. Another advantage is that you can easily write notes (or tabs) when you find a melody. Try recording it for feedback. It is possible to plug a guitar directly into your computer's microphone jack with an adapter.
- You can always use the registration as a reference. It will be useful to you. If you make any corrections, re-register the piece.
Step 7. Find out what you have
From time to time, inspiration will hit you like a storm, and suddenly you'll have a complete song out of thin air. In most cases, however, you will only be able to write a small part of a potential song, and you will have to continue the difficult but fun job of completing it. You should be able to figure out which part of the song you created.
- If it's a super catchy piece (a line from the lyrics or part of the music), and you can think of it as a repeat theme of the song, you've found the chorus - the climax or summary of your musical story - and you'll have to write the verses to explain it..
- If what you wrote is more narrative text or discreet music - a part of a story and not the main idea - you have probably found one verse, and you will have to write the rest (more verses) and usually a chorus.
Step 8. Set the mood
Make sure the music fits the story. If it is sad, your melody should evoke sadness (slowing down or containing minor chords for example), or it should amaze and evoke cheerfulness to create a sense of tension and ambiguity.
Step 9. Say something
You can write a song with less than great lyrics, but you will be much more likely to create a really good song with great lyrics. This does not mean that you will only have to write serious texts, but avoid clichés and platitudes. Write the text as if you were speaking to someone you want to impress or someone you have strong emotions for.
Step 10. Make your words sing
Texts can appeal to emotions, and they should also be pleasing to the ears. There are a few different ways to do this. You should choose words that fit the rhythm of the song, and the way they sound will be just as important. Some words are more fluid than others ("cool breeze" is more musical than "frigid wind"). Use the structure and character of the words to enhance the song.
- Another useful tool for an author is a rhyming list. You can create many types of rhymes to write the lyrics of a song. Learn these poetic tools, and try to make them work for you.
- You can create a rhyme at the end of each verse or every other line, or choose less frequent rhymes. You can also create rhymes within the lines for a nice effect (think rap lyrics).
- You can also take advantage of other figures of speech, such as alliteration and assonance. -
- But don't feel like a slave to rhymes! You can make a phrase stand out by avoiding the conventional means of inserting it into a song, and many hit songs don't use rhymes at all.
Step 11. Find the balance between repetition and variety
Repetitions make a song catchy; repeated choruses, for example, stay in our heads even when we forget the rest of the song. It's easy to ask people to accompany you on the chorus. That's why many people only know a few words of the songs.
- While there are great songs that are so simple that they have no chorus and always have lines of the same length, the same rhyming pattern and the same chord progression, most people find this style boring. The most common way to add variety to a song is to insert a bridge.
- A bridge is a musical section, in some cases instrumental, which differs in structure from the verses and the chorus, and is usually found in the final part of the song before the last chorus, where a verse would normally be found. The bridge can be written in a different key than the song, but it is not a necessary condition. It can also be faster or slower, shorter or longer, or otherwise different from the other parts.
- In some cases a bridge is followed by an abbreviated refrain, according to its length. Note that the transition between a verse and the chorus can also be defined as a bridge, because bridges are often used in this way.
Step 12. Look for the hook
The hook is that elusive part of a great song that captures your soul and makes you want to listen to a song over and over. Hooks are often found in the chorus and frequently become the title of the song. Unfortunately, there is no recipe for hooks, but you will understand when you have found one. Even better, your friends will let you know, because it will be the part of the song that they won't be able to forget. Here are some examples:
- "Here's my number, call me maybe." If you've ever heard of Carly Rae Jepsen's hit, this phrase will forever be etched in your synapses.
- "Oppan Gangnam Style". PSY's astonishing success has garnered more than two billion views on YouTube - the sign of a truly viral hook.
- "Fly oh oh, Sing oh oh oh". The hook of Domenico Modugno's global success "Nel blu painted di blu" is well present in the minds of all Italians.
- In Ligabue's song "Screaming Against the Sky", the hook is the sort of stadium choir that follows the title of the song, and that has blown millions of fans.
- The best hooks make people remember the music in your lyrics, even if they don't match. Many people can remember the riff from "Smoke on the Water" just by hearing the title.
Step 13. Refine the song
If the pieces don't come together well, try creating a transition. Write all sections of the song in the same key. If your song suddenly changes speed between the two parts, try changing the speed gradually before entering the section that doesn't match the rest of the song. Try adding a short instrumental interlude leading from one part to the next. While it is possible that two parts are not suitable for the same song, it is also possible that you started a part with the wrong meter or type of rhythm.
Step 14. Ask for feedback
Play your song for other people and ask for their opinion. You will probably have a better idea of what they really think after you write a few songs: friends and family may tell you that your first song is great even if it is actually terrible, but if they hear more, they will give you directions like "E 'nice, but I liked the first one more "or" Wow, that's the best song you ever wrote ". Be prepared for criticism.
Step 15. Once the first song is written, don't stop
Keep writing and practicing, and you will find yourself getting better and better. You may have to write a lot of songs before you find one you really like, and even then, you might have to write a lot more before you find another of the same level. Work hard and have fun!
Advice
- Each artist has their own way to start writing a song; there are those who start from the title and use it as a pivot on which to rotate the work, those with a catchy refrain and those with a breathtaking attack. Some prefer to start with the text and for others it is just the last element to work on. In short, there are no mathematical formulas or precise rules. Let the inspiration be the first point to your work.
- Do not rush. Most of the songs don't come in a flash… - So be patient. One day you will be able to write a great song.
- If you have writer's block, start by writing down your feelings or the topic you want to talk about. The text will come to your mind when you see words on paper. It may take time and work, but at least you will have written a foundation.
- Write anything that could become the lyrics of a song. You can take inspiration from advertisements, images, books and so on.
- Another great way to write a song is to create a free verse poem with rhymes. It is easier to write the lyrics of a song when you do not consider it a song but a poem. Write the poems then rework them to find the right metric for the verses and the chorus.
- Make sure your song is catchy and not annoying.
- If you play an instrument, try putting it aside from time to time. Spend more time singing to find melodies and sounds. This way you will avoid playing the same melodies over and over.
- Dynamics is a very useful tool for separating the different sections of a song. Calmer in the verses, more intense in the chorus. Dynamics can also help you create choruses that everyone will remember.
- Try to follow the most used formula: Verse - Chorus - Verse 2 - Chorus 2 - Bridge - Chorus 3. It is simple and very effective.
- Experiment with many methods of producing sounds. Try to play an instrument that you are not very familiar with. The "mistakes" you will make could be a source of inspiration.
- Like any writer, you may be hit with writer's block. Do your research for ways to overcome this problem.
Warnings
- Pay attention to rhymes. Don't pick one word just because it rhymes with another - make sure the words make sense. Beware of rhymes too - they can be useful to you, but if you abuse them, your lyrics will be ridiculous. A vocabulary is more useful: it will give you the means to express your thoughts, and will help you find the best words.
- Avoid plagiarism. Of course, you shouldn't copy the exact melody or lyrics of a hit song. Another more subtle problem is unconscious plagiarism, in which an author does not realize that he is largely copying another song. This happened for example with "Spirit in the Sky", which is often mistaken for ZZ Top's most recent hit "La Grange". If you're worried that your song sounds like another, it probably is. Play for as many people as possible, and ask for their opinion as well. You should avoid people mistaking your song for another, or they may not take credit for its composition.
- Don't forget to register the copyrights on your songs.
- Don't be forced by the "verse-chorus" structure. Many excellent songs are written as a simple series of ideas instead of just one idea repeated over and over. Maybe the hook you found is more suited to single climax, prepared from the rest of the song. Don't be afraid to use your creativity. Adding variety to your song structure allows you to make it richer.
- Don't be afraid to try new things. Many influential and respected artists have become famous by avoiding convention. Don't feel the need to produce music that is considered contemporary or normal. Music is an art, and as such your most rewarding works will be the most original ones. Many musical genres ignore the conventional structure of writing (for example, progressive rock is written in a way that does not have definite verses or choruses). With experience, you will learn to write songs according to your taste, and follow your instincts.
- Try something new! Be original and experiment with different things. Who says you have to write a rhyme for each line or insert a chorus?
