Before submitting or performing your masterpieces, give the songs a quick run through this uncomplicated checklist for maximum song impact:
"I'm In Love" use something like "I'm Done"!
(b). Does the title reflect what your song is about?
The whole concept of writing a song is to write about something of interest, so let your title reflect that something that
will interest you as well as your listeners.
(c). Does the title repeat itself throughout the hook
of the song?
Repeating the title in the hook is one of those elements that
makes songs stick in listener's minds upon their first listen.
However, in the spirit of creating something original and
straying from the norm, you can create a song with just as much
impact by exercising freedom here and not even using the title at
all in the song, as long as your title evokes the general idea of
the song, and as long as you have other certain elements in your
song such as unique phrasing, awesome melody, surprise chords,
tempo changes, a time signature change consistently right
before a certain section, etc.
Dare to be original and different!
2. Song Form
(a). Does the song form you have chosen feel natural?
One of these song forms is usually a good choice:
Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus (ABAB)
Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus (ABABCB)
Verse-PreChorus-Chorus-Verse-PreChorus-Chorus (ABCABC)
Verse-PreChorus-Chorus-Verse-PreChorus-Chorus (ABCABCDC)
Verse-Verse-Bridge-Verse (AABA)
However, If your song is missing that "extra ingredient", why not try experimenting with a different song form or better yet, using these common forms, start twisting them around a bit.
For example in an (ABAB) format, go into an instrumental break after the second verse instead of the normal chorus and hit the 2nd chorus with even greater impact. Freak everybody out!
Or take an (AABA) song and add a section after the "B" either
instrumentally or a contrasting vocal/melody part totally
different from any other section of the song.
The point is, experimenting with a song that's missing that
special something by shuffling a song form could be what the song
needs.
3. Hook/Chorus
(a). Does the hook/chorus stand out as being the most
powerful, exciting, and/or interesting part of the song?
The hook has to make the biggest impact on the listener
regardless of whether the melody is sung using higher or lower
notes than the verses.
Try this as an alternative to the common chorus using higher
notes: Use lower notes in the whole chorus for a cooler effect,
or start out with lower notes in the chorus and break into a
higher note section than the verse towards the end of the chorus.
Experiment!
4. Verses/Pre-choruses
(a). Does the first line of your song make an immediate
impact, making the listener want to hear more?
(b). Is the last line of each verse or prechorus strong enough
to help the chorus make the biggest impact?
5. Bridge
(a). Does the bridge add a whole new dimension to the song by varying the melody, rhythm, and harmony?
6. Point Of View
(a). You have already picked a point of view for your song, usually "first person
narrative". Many songs have been improved dramatically by changing the point of view
because of added freshness. Make sure you are using the best point of viewfor your
song by changing pronouns to fit the other two points of view:
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Subjective Objective Possessive
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First person narrative:
Singular I me my/mine
Plural we us our/ours
Second person:
Singular you you your/yours
Plural you you you/yours
Third person narrative:
Singular he/she/it him/her/it his/hers/its
Plural they them their
First Person Narrative - the singer is involved in the story he or she is telling. Second and third person narrative pronouns are also commonly used while writing in this point of view.
Second person - the singer is talking to another person. First and third person pronouns can also be used when writing in this point of view.
Third person narrative - the singer tells a story with the goal of trying to get the listener to relate and feel the emotion or meaning of the story.
7. Rewrite
Have you rewritten and polished your song, so that aside from the first 6 checklist entries, the song:
(a.) Makes sense even though you've used metaphors and
logically progresses from beginning to end unless it's a song
that starts out in the future and regresses to reflect on the
past?
(b). Answers who, what, when, where, and why before it
gets to the 2nd verse?
(c). Has a consistent rhyme scheme?
(d). Uses consistent verb tenses and words used
in the song are sung like they are pronounced without being
forced in order to fit in a line of the song?
(e). Is clear because it contains one single idea?
(f). Doesn't contain unnecessary words such as "a lot",
very, etc.?
(g). Chord structure, melody, rhythm, and overall feel
of the song matches the lyrics?
There are many other small areas of concern for improvement
when writing a song that are too numerous to be covered here.
The checklist above is very thorough without going overboard
but SA will cover many more pro tips and techniques in future
issues so they become "second-nature" and "automatic" to those
who are not familiar with the concepts.
1. Song Title
(a). Does the title stand out as interesting and original on its own?
Develop a memorable title. You're less likely to grab the listener's attention with a common song title that's been used and sung to death.
Suggestion:
Take a common song title and use your imagination to put a fresh spin on it. i.e., instead of
Run your songs through this checklist to make sure they will have the greatest impact possible to your listeners!
