I've been writing songs for over 20 years. It's been a heck of a lot of fun! And over those many number of years, you learn a thing or two. Like how to "Condense" a full movie into three and a half minutes! (Average song length) Or, that your subject matter All has to coincide with the main story. But, there Is "No one way" to write a song. The number of ways to write a song Is Infinite! It's tricky, but If you put In the time and effort, anyone can do it. So today, I'm about to show you one of the approaches that you can try to write your very own song. For this example, I'll use one of the songs that I have written as an example. It's called "Find A Way." It Is available on Itunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Beats and more! It's under my production name "M5". I wrote, produced, arranged, and sang it all. Every last note you hear is me! Now that the "shameless" promotion Is done, let's get started! lol:)
Passion!
- First and foremost, you must have a passion for your song! Whether it's a fast dance song in a club, or a slow emotional song about love.
- Passion gets you excited to keep going. Even though most songs you hear on the radio average about 3 1/2 minutes, It could take you up to a month or more to write a song! Sometimes, it has taken me as little as 10 minutes. It depends on your understanding of your vision about the song. Having patience Is also vital!
- If you are not passionate about "Your" song, nobody else will be either! If you're convinced, and can let people listen to it without questioning any parts of it, you're ready! So get excited to write:)
Emotion
- Secondly, you need emotion injected into your song. The feeling of what you're trying to say. The emotion of a "fast" song, may be different than a "slow" one. Maybe, they could be the same. That's the beauty of writing.
- Next, you need to define your level of emotion. For example, if you were writing about Love. Do you want to describe someone that you just have a "light" crush on? Or, dive deep into an emotional pool of a 4 year relationship with someone you just broke up with? There Is NO Limitations on your creativity. Literally, the sky Is the limit!
- You need to express that emotion with clarity. Your writing must have a clear vision. It must know the direction that It wants to go. Noticed I said "It." Your work must have It's own life. Live, breathe, and function on it's own.
Vision
- Can you "See" the song happening before you write it? Chances are, If you can, you are on the right track! Vision Is very Important to a song. Important In life In general. It gives a transparency to your audience. It gives a reason for your song to exist. Vision defines the song from start to end. You have to know every aspect of your vision. Inside and out. After all, you are just telling a story. (Albeit with music) I tell all my younger songwriters that if you want to capture an audience, "See" the song first!
Subject
- Next, Is a subject. Or some people like to refer to It as a topic. The number of things that you could write about Is endless! But, there are some subjects that are timeless. Love, dancing, and heartbreak top that list!
- Experience. If you have experience In any one of these subjects, you have about 90% of your song completed already! No one can express the way that "You" have been In love. Or, the feelings that "You" have felt. Maybe the heartache too...
- Does your topic relate? Can people connect with what you are saying? You have to answer these questions before you write your song. But starting with those three subjects Is definitely a start:) Below I have an outline of a song to show the start of the process. We'll write a song about being In love. Let's call It:
"Find A Way"
Structure Of A Song
- Now we get into the "Meat and Potatoes!" (Or vegetables If you're vegetarian:) Verse...Chorus...Bridge
- A Verse sets up the song. It introduces the story of the song. If you have a story about a relationship, here Is where you want to set it up. It could begin anywhere. In a coffee shop. On a dance floor. Across a crowded room. Or, crying on your boyfriends sheets. (Hopefully not!) lol For time puposes, I will only do one Verse here...But, you can do more than one If you want!) Here Is an example of a set-up, or a verse:
Day by day
Our love grows stronger
Girl you know just
How I feel
I never knew that someone
Could get beyond
My heart to find
Out what's real
- Next we have what Is called a "Bridge". It's exactly what you think It might be used for: To get from one place to another. So, In this Instance, we want a smooth transition from the "Verse" Into the "Chorus". (More on the "Chorus" In a second) I don't want to jump straight into the "Chorus." I want to introduce a little distance, or tension within the relationship. Experience tells me that a relationshp has a lot "ups and downs." It's not all Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows! Oh no! lol So for "Find A Way", we'll do something like this:
But lately
It seems the world
Has Been
On your shoulders
You can't hide
From the pain Inside
Just remember I'll
Always be there for you
To see you thru
And I want you
To know that...
- Finally, we will write a "Chorus". Or, it's commonly refered to as the "Hook" It's what hooks your listener In so that they will want to hear more. So much so, that they will want to buy it:) The Chorus Is the heart of the song. It's what "Everyone" will go around singing. At work. At their job. In their car, or In the shower! So It's vital that you spend some time thinking about your Chorus, or your hook. Think about ALL the songs that you currently know. Chances are, you are singing the "Hook" of the actual song. The Chorus Is the resolution of the build up of your "Verse", and "Bridge."So for our last example for "Find A Way", we will write the chorus something like this.
I don't hear
What they Say
I don't care
What they do
No matter the cost
I'm still In love
With you
Tommorow's too late
Gotta tell you
Today
With love on
Our side
We'll find a
Way
So there you have It!
You have just figured out how to write a song! Not too hard, right? Remember, this Is one of an infinite number of ways to write a song. Just keep In mind to write about what you feel. And relate those feelings to how other people around you feel. Most likely, they will relate in the same way. We are all human. We have emotions. We are happy one moment, then we are sad the next. We feel inspired one day, and depressed the following day. But it's ALL part of the journey of life! And last but not least, you must PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!! Oh, did I mention you must PRACTICE? lol Okay, well that will wrap up this session. Have fun writing:) Til next time: M5 living the...
Steemit-Life:)