How to write a song: Introduction to songwriting

Writing your own song can be both an exciting and intimidating journey. It could lead you to unexpected places as your song grows and develops throughout the songwriting process.

Whether you’re thinking of writing your first song to express creativity or just curious about how to write songs, learning the fundamentals of song structure, composition, and song lyrics is essential.

Learn the basics first, and soon you’ll be ready to write your first hit song!

Understanding song structure

A song’s structure is the blueprint that dictates how the song unfolds and keeps the listener engaged. There’s a reason why skilled songwriters rely on familiar ways to build their songs, as the right song structure helps keep the listener interested.

Most great songs have plenty of repetition and predictability, which isn’t a bad thing (unless you’re writing the next big prog rock epic, in which case breaking the rules of song structure can work).

While there are no strict rules, most popular songs follow a common structure. Here are the basic components of a song:

• Intro: The introduction, or intro for short, sets the song’s tone. The intro can be a dramatic slow opener that grows toward the first verse or chorus, or it can jump right into the action, grabbing the listener’s attention from the very beginning. Remember that the intro is the first impression of your song. The listener may skip to the next one if the intro isn’t interesting.
• Verse: The verse is a great place to showcase your lyrics and storytelling skills to drive the song’s narrative forward. Different verses of the same song generally have little to no variation instrumentally. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t make unexpected changes or add a new instrument between verses.
• Pre-chorus: Before jumping into the most memorable part of the song, the pre-chorus often acts as a short transition between the verse and the chorus. You can write a song without a pre-chorus, but when implemented well, it can make the start of a chorus more impactful.
• Chorus: Another much-repeated part of the song is the chorus (also known as a refrain), which is commonly the song’s focal point. If you had to name one part that most listeners remember the best, it’s probably the catchy chorus. To make a chorus memorable and catchy, focus on creating a melody that’s simple and gets stuck in the listener’s head. Let your skills as a wordsmith shine, but don’t cram too many lines of lyrics into the chorus, or you risk losing the listener.
• Bridge: The bridge offers a departure from the verses and chorus by introducing tonal shifts or a new perspective to the story. Creating contrast to the previous parts during the bridge helps maintain the listener’s interest before launching once more to the final chorus and outro, creating a sense of resolution.
• Solo: Songs in certain genres, such as rock, metal, and blues, wouldn’t be complete without an impressive solo. Most often, the solo is reserved for the guitarist to showcase their talent, but drummers, bassists, keyboard players, or any band member, for that matter, can play a solo.
• Outro: You can think of the outro as the opposite of the song’s intro, acting as the song’s conclusion. There are different ways to end a song, such as repeating the chorus, fading out the song, or ending abruptly. A well-crafted outro leaves a lasting impression on the listener and is the last thing the listener hears.

Writing melodies for your own songs

Writing a captivating melody will make your song stand out from the hundreds of other songs listeners encounter on a daily basis. Start with a few simple notes when creating a captivating melody on an instrument like a piano or guitar, and experiment with different note sequences.

If you have some understanding of scales and chord progressions, it might be tempting to get carried away and write a complex and technically nuanced melody.

However, sometimes less is more, and adding more notes to a simple melody may do more harm than good. Once you have a melody that sounds good to you, don’t be afraid to repeat it throughout the song, either as it is or with slight variations to create short motifs (recurring musical phrases).

You can also write a melody on top of a chord progression that acts as the base layer on which you can build the rest of the song. As with other parts of the song, opt for simplicity to avoid overwhelming the listener.

Writing engaging song lyrics

Lyrics are the song’s words, and they allow the songwriter or the lyricist to tell their story. Certain lines in the song’s lyrics are repeated, such as during the chorus, whereas others are used to progress the main narrative.

When writing song lyrics, start with a central idea, such as a theme, an emotion, or an experience that you want to convey. Just like when writing a novel, the lyrics can be based on a real experience (either your own or someone else’s) or a fictional one.

You can write lyrics first and compose the song over them or write the instrumentals and create lyrics that fit the vocal melodies, rhythm, and tone. Use rhyming to make your lyrics more interesting, but don’t force it if you can’t find perfect rhymes for each line.

Don’t worry if the lyrics don’t come out perfect the first time around; writing memorable lyrics can take several drafts and iterations.

Tips for writing songs

• Choose a chord progression: Select a chord progression that works with your song’s melody and lyrics, such as I-IV-V (e.g. C-F-G in the key of C major).
• Arrange your sections: Decide which song parts you need and how many of each there should be. Arrange them in a way that ensures a logical progression and flow for your song. Make sure there’s a catchy hook in the song, most importantly in the chorus.
• Build dynamics: Vary the intensity and volume throughout the song, throwing in softer and louder sections to spice things up. Use bridges and other transitions to build up toward louder sections. The contrast between loud and quiet makes energetic sections feel more impactful and keeps the listener engaged.
• Select instrumentation: Decide which instruments your song needs and match your selection with the genre and style. A simple punk or rock song may not need more than the basic rock instruments (i.e. guitar(s), bass, drum, and vocals), whereas a dance song benefits from synths and other electronic sounds. Don’t be afraid to experiment with horns or additional percussion and strings. However, be careful to not overdo it.
• Record and revise: Record a rough demo of your song and listen to it critically. What works and what doesn’t? Is something missing, or is there simply too much going on? Ask for feedback, and don’t be scared to share your work, even for unfinished songs.
• Study other songs: Listen to a wide range of music and try to tease out the things that speak to you in a song. Learn from your idols but make sure to explore other artists and musical styles around the world and throughout music history for inspiration.