Songwriter Advisor Blog

There are many methods you can use to start to write songs such as playing some chords on guitar or piano, coming up with a melody or hook in your head when you least expect it, listening to a favorite song and writing something similar, etc.; the number of ways you can begin to write your own songs is almost endless!

But have you ever wondered how to really dig into your innermost thoughts, so profound in fact that you have no choice but to write something so deep the fish will be swimming around you and clapping their fins in approval?

The music world is full of shallow lyrics by big-name pop recording artists and many are hits for a short while, but haven’t you noticed in the last few years how forgettable most of the pop songs of today are?  It’s because while the melodies are usually very good, the lyrics are usually poorly-crafted, and the public knows it! So, we hear the songs and love them for being the song of the moment, but we could care less if we ever heard the song again thereafter!

But when a song with substance is released such as Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, the world takes notice!  It’s no coincidence that this song has turned out to be Coldplay’s most successful single to date.  Compare this song to others on the top 40 charts, and you’ll immediately hear and see the difference.

In order to write songs with feeling, follow this example of a common pop idea:

1. Write and map out an interesting, original idea or story for your song.  Ask yourself questions such as, “What opinion or feeling do I want to express in this song?” “Who are the characters in my song?”

2. Then, make a list of what you want each song section to be about starting with the first verse all the way to the last chorus, and write any words or phrases that come to your mind
that may describe each section.
For example,

1st Verse:
You don’t understand how complicated this situation is becoming.
Words/phrases:  confused, complicated, I’m sorry this happened  

Prechorus:
You and I are getting in too deep and I fear we’re getting close
to a point where there’s no turning back.
Words/phrases:  drowning, return, scared 

Chorus:
Stay away from me; although it hurts, this is how it has to be,
and there’s nothing you can do or say to change my mind.
words/phrases:  memory, the past, the truth, be real

Continue for every section of your song.

Then make a word list by accessing http://www.songwriteradvisor.com/rhymezone.html and expand your words and phrases for each section before committing to writing the lyrics.

You’ll find using this method will allow you to learn how to write songs with much more focus than if you simply come up with line after line as you go.  It could mean the difference between a “so-so” song and a great one! 

One of the secrets in knowing how to write great songs lies in varying basic songwriting techniques and principles, and in this workshop I’ll show you how to add power to your verses with a little technique to add interest and spark to your verses.

In a previous workshop, Really Focus On Your First Verse, we talked about the importance of creating an idea or story before writing a song in order to focus on the song’s idea to make the song clear for your listeners.

Let’s take the lyrics we used as an example for that article, and use it for the concept I’m about to explain:

My eyes have been locked into yours all night
Now tell me it isn’t so
Your smile has found me more than once or twice
Enough to tell me all I need to know

The particular verse lyrics example above sounds like the start of a country tune to me, so I’ll keep using that country flavor as I go.  Keep in mind you can use the following tips for any genre in music effectively!

Let’s introduce the technique; we want to place a shorter line after a longer one to call attention to the lyrics and melody of the short line.  Using the above lyrics, I’ll continue writing the verse using this example (the song is called, “Don’t Get Carried Away“):

(1st Verse)
Your eyes have been locked into mine all night
Now tell me it isn’t so
Your smile has found me more than once or twice
Enough to tell me all I need to know

But I’m holding back I don’t trust myself
I usually go after what I can get
It’s gettin’ pretty hot in this happenin’ place
And your “hello” hasn’t found me yet

(Prechorus)
In my head
A little voice says
Don’t get carried away
Don’t get carried away

followed by the (Chorus)……………………………………l.

What I’ve done is:

(1). I shortened the phrases in the prechorus by a few syllables to place emphasis on those lines, and

(2). I’ve included the song title in the prechorus, which leaves me the option of using the song title again in the chorus to drive my message home! 

A recent pop/r&b song that used this technique effectively was Ne-Yo’s “Closer,” where right before the Chorus, there’s a short prechorus containing the title:

Come closer
Come closer

In “Closer” the song title is never used in the actual chorus and the song was still powerful because it used the technique explained in this article effectively!  As you can see and hear, knowing how to write great songs involves experimenting, even if it means not including the song title in the chorus in certain songs.