Songwriting in 4 steps

Remember that this is just a Helpful GUIDE to writing songs.

Step1. The equation for writing a catchy song
Step2. Develop Chord progression

A. Pick the key

B. The one rule to live by with music
Step3. Hum the tune to get a feel for the song

A. What’s the feeling of the song?

B. How does it make you feel? What does it make you think of?

C. How do you want others to feel when they hear it?
Step4. Lyrics

A.Song Title?

B.Overcoming Writer’s Block

Songwriting made easy! This article is going to teach you how to write songs by following 4 simple steps.

Step 1: Following The “equation” For Writing A Song.

Here are 4 simple equations to follow. To start pick one:

Verse (stanza 4verses)
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Verse
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Change/bridge-introduce something new
Chorus

An example of this pattern, of the songs I’ve written, is My Only Girl.

or:

Verse
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
Verse
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
Change
Verse
Pre-chorus
Chorus

or:

Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Change
Verse
Chorus

An example of this pattern, of the songs I’ve written, is Just my train of thought.

or:

Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Change
Chorus

Remember there are plenty of ways to write a song. This just a guideline.

Verse: the 1st verse opens up the song and creates the general idea. 4 verses are put together to create a stanza. Most songs usually use a rhyming pattern but as a beginner you don’t have to. During this part of the song, the problem could also be introduced.

Pre-chorus: the pre-chorus is used as a transitional section of the song. It blends the verse into the chorus.

Chorus: www.dictionary.com states that the chorus is: “A line or group of lines repeated at intervals in a song.”

Second Verse: the second verse further explores the topic.
Third Verse: If there was a problem established in the beginning, this is where it would be summed up.

Change: also known as the bridge. This part of the song is where you introduce something new to the song.

Step2: Developing A Good Chord Progression.

A chord progression is just chords following one another. Try picking 4 that sound good together and put them one after another. When it comes this part of song writing you get to the one rule about writing a song. If it sounds good, it is good. That’s basically it.

Step 3: Hum The Tune And Get A Feel For It.

After you have composed the chord progression, for the verses & chorus, try humming a tune over top of them. As you play get a feel for the emotion that lies within the chords you are playing. Think about how it makes you feel, and how you want others to feel when they hear this song. For greatest results, also follow these simple steps for getting into the “zone”:

Go into an empty room with a sheet of paper, your guitar, and a pen or pencil.

Start out by taking two deeps breathes with your eyes closed. In through the nose and out through the mouth, while thinking about what you want your song to be about.

Begin playing the progression and humming (or singing) your tune over top of them.

Let yourself go. Allow you’re self to “feel” the song and evoke the emotion within you. Visualize the scene in your minds eye and allow you’re self to relive the emotion that you’re trying to capture.

Then start writing the lyrics

Try not to allow any other thoughts to enter your mind. Stay focused and on topic!

Step 4: Lyrics!

After you have followed the steps in the above section for getting into the “zone” and
You have that emotion, Songwriting and lyrics come easily. Begin by writing your thoughts about the subject. How it makes you feel. No matter how crazy or stupid you might think it sounds. (Who cares? No one else will ever read this paper if you don’t want them to)

Overcoming Writers block!

An easy way to overcome writers block is to get up! Move around and don’t force the issue of the song. Think about something else! That’s it. Even something as small as taking out the trash can be helpful. Remember good things and good lyrics come from a relaxed mind. Another technique is to write your way through writers block. Just like a running cramp is taken away by running more, don’t stop the ideas flowing!

Song title: listen to the lyrics of the song. Choose something that is maybe repeated in the chorus. OR Choose something that sums up what the songs about in a few words.

Conclusion.

I hope my style and format for writing songs will become a useful tool for you in overcoming writers block and to writing better songs. Good luck and happy song writing!

Check out my music at www.myspace.com/dominicditanna, www.domscd.com, www.myspace.com/thewintersocial, www.amazingdom.com.

Comments

[MasmaI]

Meh. I didn't like it. All you did was take a couple basic song structures and tips and put them together. It feels like you took WAY too much time writing this out. That being said, it's alright for people with writers block. Out.

[libertines4ever]

I rated it 8 because a few tips are quite good and it probably will be helpful to some who haven't tried songwriting yet. But somehow I got the feeling that you wanted some people to look at your myspace

[TacoMcTwelveToe]

I agree with libertines4ever about the myspace thing, but it did help. 9/10!

[parris.preston]

Not that the lesson was bad, but you have so many lessons before you saying next to the same thing, you have to show your audience something different.

[Overkilled]

Thx simple lesson, but hey! I'm not complaining!

[ultimatesmeg]

I would disagree with your statement that "songwriting and lyrics come easily". This might be misleading for beginner songwriters. Even if you are in the zone, you can hit a wall. Also, even accomplished songwriters state that songwriting is a hard slog. Very infrequently does inspiration just strike at will and a whole song tumble out. Some of the other stuff here was good, though. Sometimes making a simple explanation of a seemingly overwhelming topic can be very helpful.

[Jyuukai]

As a songwriter, I find this lesson to be very simple yet vague. Like UltimatesMeg said, song writing isn't as easy as it sounds. I've had writer's block for the past few months!

[yoduh4077]

You've inspired me to write my own songwriting guide. I think it's on par with this one:

Step 1: write a song.

I think mine helps just as much.

[guguscr]

I realy didn't like it!

[brutal_romance]

it helped alot tnx dood

[musicfreak8]

by any chance, Do you have something to help ADHD indude Writer's Block?

[SaiNt adEL #13]

wow...rather pointless

[Thnder1nYourEar]

This is cool, but I think that a lot of the songwriting guides are focused on 'popular' or 'contemporary' songs. Tons of great songs never follow even on of these lines, think of Bright Eyes, and even some of The Spill Canvas. And I know I don't always follow the 'verse-chorus-verse' way of writing, but then again I don't even know if anyone really digs anything I've written. There probably isn't an actual 'formula' to songwriting, just letting the ideas flow and coming up with an original is about as 'mathematical' as it can get.