How To Write A Song

The best way a guitarist can express himself is with songwriting.  Songwriting is an art form that lasts a lifetime with plenty of rewards and difficulties along the way.  You can literally find inspiration from everything around you and discover ways to express your emotions, thoughts, beliefs, plus so much more through music.  If you're a guitar player who has always wanted to write his or her own music, then this advice is for you.  Here you will find different perspectives on songwriting, but know that these are just ideas and it is truly up to you to create your own music.

Guitarist songwriter

It's good to start with a basic overview of songwriting for those of you who are unfamiliar with the process and have questions about getting started.  Find a great introduction here at http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/songwriting__lyrics/so_you_want_to_write_a_song_part_1.html.

Hello, and welcome to the first of a series of lessons that are designed to give you some pointers on how to write your first song. But before we start, I’d like to emphasize the word pointers in the above statement. There is no “grand secret” of song writing, and this series, as well as any other resource you can find, cannot simply tell you “do this, than that, and you’ve got a song”. So, if you are reading this article thinking you are going to leave with some magical “secret of composition”, you may as well stop reading now, as you will be disappointed. But if you are able to face the facts about composition, and realize it’s probably going to be a long process, than you’ve already overcome one of the main obstacles of song writing (that was easy, wasn’t it?). So, in that case, let’s get start with part one of this series: the setup.

Misconceptions & Uncertainties:

Now, one of the most important things to do when you first start song writing is to clear up any and all uncertainties and misconceptions. So, here is a list of things you should realize before you even think about writing a song.

There is no secret formula!

I already covered this in the “intro” section, but I’d just like to remind you that there is NO ONE FORMULA FOR SONG WRITING. It’s pretty simple; there isn’t just one way of writing a good song.

First draft isn’t always final draft

Be prepared to comb over the same bars over and over again. Most of the time, the first draft of a song will not be the last, and changes in between drafts can be as little as a couple notes, and as large as an entire verse or chorus.

Don’t expect perfection

This one’s pretty simple: if you expect your song to be perfect, you will be disappointed, especially on your first attempt. And that’s not because of your abilities as a song writer either; if you are trying to construct the perfect song, you will always be unsatisfied with some aspect of the song. Besides, some memorable moments have come out of imperfections in songs, so don’t get overly stressed out!

Don’t throw it away!

Another important thing: never throw away a first draft of a song if you’re unhappy with it. When you write your first song, expect that the first draft will be far from perfect. Don’t ditch a song because the rhythm guitar in the verse is “iffy”; this is where our second point about final drafts comes in. You may absolutely love the main melody of your composition, but be absolutely disgusted by the instrumentation in the chorus. But don’t give up, simply try re-writing the chorus!

Feel free to experiment

One final point: experimentation isn’t wrong. Don’t feel like your song has to fit in a box with other songs of a certain style. Don’t feel limited by instrumentation, song structure, or genre. Maybe you want to write a song that doesn’t even have a chorus, or a song that’s played on a touch-tone keypad, or a song that blends hip-hop and blues; do whatever! Practically all genres of music started with experimentation, so go for it!

Preparations:

Before writing a song, there are a few things you should consider prior to the writing process, before you even start. Now, we’re going to start with the process of lyric writing first, simply because most people find it easier to write music to lyrics than to write lyrics to music. So, let’s go through a pre-lyric writing checklist before we start:

What is the song about?

Try not to sit down when you’re about to write a song and say “I’m going to write a song about… something.” Try to have at least a vague idea for a song topic before you even start. Maybe you’re really happy, and you want to write a song about skipping through a field of lilacs, or maybe you’re really mad, and you want to write a song about breaking stuff; it doesn’t really matter! You can write about a serious topic, or what you ate for dinner last night. The choice is yours; just make sure you have some ideas before you start!

What do you want it to sound like?

Now, although you might be able to get away with just writing lyrics, having no clue how they should be sung, it’s best to having some idea of what you want the vocals to sound like. Will it be a man or a woman singing? Will it be mostly low or high pitched? Will the words be enunciated very well, or will they be growled? Maybe the singer goes into falsetto in the third verse, or maybe the singer speeds up for the chorus. If you consider some of these things before you start writing, it will make the writing process go that much smoother.

Find you comfort zone

Now that you’ve got some of the planning out of the way, it’s time to find a good spot to actually start writing. Trust me, the more comfortable you are, the easier you will find it to write. So think about it for a while, “where are you most comfortable?” Maybe you feel most comfortable in your favourite chair, or outside on your front porch. Maybe you feel most comfortable in front of the computer, and you want to type up your lyrics on MS Word. Once you think you’ve found a good spot, get a pen and a couple pieces of paper (unless you’re using your computer), and simply sit in that spot for a minute or two. Maybe you have a preferred method of doing things, like some sort of personal ritual. For example, Beethoven used to pour cold water over his head before composition, believing that it stimulated his brain’s creative processes, and he was damn good at what he did. I personally tack pieces of paper onto my wall, and pace around the room, muttering under my breath and scribbling down lyrics when they come to me (now that I think about, I must seem schizophrenic when I write!) Once you think your prepared to start writing, than grab a firm hold of that pen (or keyboard) and brace yourself for the magical adventure that is about to bestow upon your mind (okay, slight exaggeration).

It’s time…

Now, you’ve cleared up any uncertainties surrounding song writing, and you’ve prepared yourself for the process of lyric writing that lies ahead. And as you slowly move the pen closer towards the page, you know the time is right… the time is now.

Songwriting

Obviously, there is plenty more about writing songs out there.  So far I have only covered a small part of songwriting.  Lyrics are a HUGE part of every song.  Typically the lyrics are what most audience members listen for as they are a perfect opportunity for them to connect with the messages the song presents.  Therefore I thought it would be important to take a break from guitar talk and focus on the song lyrics.  Also, keep in mind that many guitarists choose collaboration with lyricists, so they can concentrate on the music alone.  Find an introduction to lyric writing here at http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/songwriting__lyrics/so_you_want_to_write_a_song_part_2.html.

Hello, and welcome to part two of the So You Want to Write a Song series! Still holding that pose? Excellent! Today, we will start the actual song writing process. Now, before we start, it is recommended you read part one of this series, The Setup. Once you’ve read about “the setup”, you are ready to continue on to part two of the song writing process: the lyrics.

Now, this is going to be a big step if this is your first time ever writing any kind of lyrics. Hopefully, if you have gone through the setup, you have some idea of what you want to do. However, just knowing what you want to do doesn’t get the job done! You have the plan, now you just need to properly execute it. So, let’s start by looking at some things you should know for the lyrics writing process.

Ideas, Ideas…

Know, as you probably know, every song, like any other piece of art, starts with an idea. So, to write lyrics, you need to have some kind of idea already premeditated. But where should you derive these ideas from? Well, ideas can be derived from virtual anyone, anywhere, or anything, but I will give you a few suggestions below.

Personal experiences or emotions

Probably the easiest place to get an idea and write a song from is your own personal experiences and emotions. People usually find it easiest to write about personal opinions, because they are as informed as possible on that topic (because the topic is you!). Maybe you’re really angry at somebody? Someone once told me “you get charged for literally beating somebody up. But feel free to kick the crap out of them in your songs as much as you want.” So, just go for it. Whatever you feel, just start writing!

Indirect events

Another option for getting an idea is to think about current events that don’t necessarily affect you directly. Anything in the current media is fair game for a song topic. If you ever can’t think of a topic for a song, try flipping through a newspaper, or some other media outlet, and find a topic you find interesting.

Fictional works

Another possibility is to write a song about some sort of fictional work, such as your favourite movie or book. A good example is the song The Union Forever by The White Stripes. This song is based on Orson Welles 1941 film Citizen Kane, and even pays homage to the movie, when halfway through the song, singer Jack White performs a song sung by the main character of the movie, without any instrumental backing. So, if you have a favourite fictional work, now’s your time to show the world your undying love for it!

Anatomy of a song:

Another important thing you should know during the lyric writing process is the different parts of the song. So, let’s start quickly go over each part, just to be sure you fully understand the difference between a verse and a chorus, or a pre-chorus and a bridge.

Introduction

The introduction of a song is, in simplest terms, the beginning portion of the song. It is a short portion of the piece, which is often instrumental, to start the piece off. It is usually built around the tonic chord of the song (we’ll get into that for part three of the series), or the main chord progression of the song.

Verse

The verse of a song is a portion of the piece that is often used to tell the main story or message of the song, or to build up to the chorus. Verses typically follow one rhyme pattern. A song usually has more than one verse. Each verse will typically have similar, if not identical, rhythms and instrumentation.

Pre-chorus

A pre-chorus is occasionally used in song to help smooth the transition between the verse and the chorus. Another use for the pre-chorus is to, in the case that the verse and chorus share the same instrumental rhythm, temporarily introduce a new instrumental rhythm in order to make the repeated rhythm in the chorus sound fresh. The pre-chorus can be either instrumental or lyrical. The pre-chorus is practically a more specific bridge.

Chorus

The chorus of a song is usually where the main idea of the song is displayed. It is the central part of the piece, and often regarded as one of the most important part. It can have a different rhythm, rhyming pattern, or even key than the verse. The chorus usually has some kind of lyrical hook (the catchy part of the song you hum on your way to work), and sometimes the title of a song is derived in some way from the chorus.

Bridge

A musical bridge is used to create a smoother connection between two different portions of the song; much like a literal bridge connects two different land masses. Examples would be using a bridge to change the key or tempo of a song. It is an instrumental portion much of the time.

Instrumental Solo

An instrumental solo is a part of the song that is used to showcase one specific instrument. For example, a lot of rock songs will have a guitar solo, which is obviously used to showcase the guitar. However, any instruments can have solos, such as bass, drums, keyboard, trumpet, etc. The singer can even have a solo, usually using an improvisational vocal technique such as scatting.

Outro

The outro of a song is practically the same as an intro as far as definition goes. The only major difference is that while an intro is used to “open” a song, an outro is used to “close” a song. In simplest terms, an outro is the ending to a song.

To rhyme or not to rhyme?

Now, another important aspect of writing lyrics is the rhyming. When most people think “lyrics”, they think “rhyme”. It’s almost common knowledge that lyrics follow rhyming scheme. But, do they really have to?

Free verse

Although the most common method of lyrical writing involves the lines following some kind of rhyme pattern, it’s not “wrong” to have lyrics that simply don’t rhyme at all. This is typically called free verse writing. Free verse writing is typically easier to write, as most people find writing rhymes a lot harder than not. Now, if you chose to write in free verse, don’t think you’re cheating, or that you are less talented of a writer than the guy who is writing in rhyme, as free verse lyrics can make just as good of a song as rhyming lyrics. For example, let’s look at a portion of arguably the most well-known song by the band Slayer, entitled Raining Blood:

Trapped in purgatory
A lifeless object, alive
Awaiting reprisal
Death will be their acquittance
The sky is turning red
Return to power draws near
Fall into me, the sky's crimson tears
Abolish the rules made of stone

Obviously a relatively successful song, which goes to show that free verse writing can be just as good as rhyming lyrics. However, if you chose to write rhyming lyrics, you need to consider the following…

Rhyme pattern

Now, if you chose to write your lyrics in rhyme, you should understand the concept of rhyme patterns. This is a really simple concept, as it is just a series of letters to express the pattern the rhymes of a song follow. For example, a very common rhyme pattern is ABAB. In this sequence, each letter represents one line of lyric, and the corresponding letters are rhyming lines. So, in the ABAB pattern, the first line would rhyme with the third, and the second line with the fourth, like this:

I saw a man today
He kept following me
He wouldn’t go away
‘till I began to flee

Now, this is simply one common rhyme pattern. There are loads more, involving more than four lines, and more than two letters. Maybe you have a rhyming pattern that goes AABCCB. Or maybe only some of the lines rhyme, like AABAAC. The possibilities are endless. Also, feel free to change the rhyming pattern between verse and chorus, or between other significant shifts. However, don’t overuse it, as changing the rhyming pattern multiple times in a single verse or chorus can make the verse seems sloppy, and the rhyming random.

Singer songwriter
performing on stage

Okay let's get back to songwriting on the guitar.  You may have noticed that most guitarists that perform their own songs on stage usually play rhythm guitar while they sing.  It's extremely important to establish a rhythmic figure for the song.  Regardless of what part you end up playing in the band, or if you are writing for another band, there needs to be rhythm in the song.  Check out this article with some rhythmic figures for your songwriting at http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/general_music/introduction_to_rhythm_theory.html.

Ever since our roots of human kind, we've had rhythm... We had bongo drums, we would clap and stomp our feet and shake our bodies, and thrash our heads. We even have a heart beat...

Music also has a heart beat. If you listen closely, you can hear the "pulse" of a song. Obviously, rhythm must be one of the KEY aspects of music. Because what is music without rhythm?

Rhythm is, however, one of the most over-looked, under-developed, least planned, and least discussed in the general pop-world of music. Not to say that it's not taken into account while writing a song, but it's sort of just, there... boring. Same-old same old... Repetitive!

I know some of you are saying, “Wow this guy has no clue what he’s talking about.”
How many songs do you know have the EXACT same rhythm? I’m not talking about strumming pattern, I mean, a pulse. Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Maybe you’re saying, “Rhythm supposed to be a repetitive beat! That what the whole "heart" concept of a song means!”

The answer is yes...and no... but mostly no. I’m going to explain why this is so.
You see, there IS a way to make rhythm just JUMP out at you and be amazingly powerful in the music you write, and can turn a less interesting song into a masterpiece. This is what I have discovered after a very long time of studying and writing music myself.

What I am about to explain is also called Asymmetrical Meter Signatures... It’s a concept that is sometimes used in music, but I’m going to bring it to another level.

This is very simple actually. Take your standard 8/8 measure (4/4 works too, but 8/8 is better)

Now, how many ways can you divide those 8 eighth notes? (Answer = infinite)

Here’s a few:

Key
O = accented 8th note
o = unaccented 8th note
[ ] = grouping of notes
x = empty space (no note played)

[O o o ][O o o ][O o ]
[O o o o ][O o o o ]
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]

okay, that’s enough for our example.

Okay, now that you've got a few ways of dividing some 8th notes... let's think about something else:

Blues. Have you ever heard of the "call and response" technique? This is very infamously used in blues music, and is probably another one of the most powerful concepts of music.

We will now be MIXING "call and response" with rhythm. This is where the real fun begins:

Take two of your permutations of 8th notes:

[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]

Alternating between these two rhythm patterns, repeating them only ONCE before changing to the other pattern, will give your music a very progressive feel.

Songwriter in home

This doesn’t mean, however, that this can only be applied to progressive music. In fact, EVERY SINGLE GENRE OF MUSIC can use this. Not just blues, not just jazz, not just fusion, not just rock, not just metal. Everything. Even reggae!

Here's another example:

[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]

Notice how simple this technique is. But it’s so rare to hear this in music! I’m truly amazed.

I am sure that some of you are thinking: well, this is just a load of crap. It’s not really that great, it’s not going to work unless you are doing a specific genre in a specific way. It really CAN’T be applied to all music.

I tell you that it can.

Here is the NEXT part of the process:

DONT REPEAT YOURSELF! (okay, you can. But just, try not to make an entire song around ONE SINGLE RHYTHM. Please excuse my “arrogance” but, believe me, anybody that is paying attention to the rhythm will think that’s just so boring!)

Find different ways to make the beat interesting. This will keep the listener on edge. BUT this is not complex rhythms, so it's not HARSH on the ears! It's in fact VERY soothing to listen to this structure of music...

Here's what I mean:

You can make verses sound the same. Otherwise, what’s the point of music? It should have some good repetition.

But I would strongly suggest against making verse 1, 2, 3, AND 4 to be the exact same! Make 2 and 4 slightly different!

Here’s an example, using what we have seen so far:

Verse 1:
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
 
Verse 2:
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
 
Chorus:
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
 
Verse 3:
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
 
Verse 4:
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
 
Chorus:
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
 
Bridge:
[o x x o ][O x O x ]
[o x x o ][O x O x ]
 
Verse 5:
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
[o o o ][o o o ][o o ]
[o o o o ][o o o o ]
 
Verse 6:
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
[o x o x ][o x o x ]
[o o x o ][o o x o ]
 
Chorus:
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
 
Chorus:
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[o O o o ][O x o x ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]
[O x o x ][O x o o ]

ALL of these rhythm patterns are in 4/4. They are not in any strange meter. This is really simple, and really cool, and it’s possible to use this anywhere.

The worst thing you could do right now is nothing.

TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED HERE, and start USING it!!!! Seriously, your music will be KILLER from this day forth if you follow what I'm saying. (and if you know what I mean)

Don’t think that I’m saying all of this to try and sound BETTER than you. This is NOT my intention, I do NOT want you to think that. I’m only trying to help you see music in a new way.

Not only does this help make music sound really great, but it also helps to make music much easier!

Try to make something like this in guitar pro... sound it out... hear it for yourself!

I found an awesome video that should help you get started writing songs right now.  Most of the time it takes guitarists a little push to put pen to paper, myself definitely included.  So check out this video lesson for some great insight at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDJCtz3wta0&feature=channel_video_title.

Now to wrap up this article, I thought I would find some tips on songwriting that should get rid of any "rules" you think might exist.  What's true is that songwriting can take any turn and you can find inspiration from anything.  Find some more insight on songwriting here at http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/junkyard/songwriting_tips_the_others_are_afraid_to_admit.html.

So I've been reading some of the songwriting lessons on here and I feel like I have something to add...so here it is:

First of all, songwriting is easy. If you're struggling and hating life then maybe you're not a writer...maybe itd be better for you to join a band and ADD to the existing songs. Not saying that its not hard work, its actually very hard to put together words, music, rhythm, phrasing and all of it. But if you're not having fun writing then you need to have fun with music in different ways.

Why do I think songwriting is easy? Because I make it easy on myself.

1) Learn Covers- The easiest and most efficient way to learn to write songs is to play other people's. I havent even seen this mentioned in any other articles because its so simple that most people won't even bother. Covers provide structure, lyrical content and phrasing, chord progressions, etc. Master painters learn by copying former masters. Its the same with songwriters. Think how Dylan recorded all those classic bluegrass and Celtic songs. Would you call him a cover artist? Some people think they're too cool to play covers but, in reality, maybe theyre too lazy or just not good enough. I"m not saying to play covers and pass them off as your own, but study the songs. Why do you like the songs you like? Why do the songs "work"? What about them makes them memorable? Play them and find out.

2) Dont Judge - When I write songs, I write them. I dont judge them. That comes later. Get out what you need to say, however you need to say it. Many writers start to falter and stagnate when they get hung up on one particular part. Skip it and move on. If the lyrics aren't perfect, thats ok, your lyrics aren't done the first time you write them. If the chords sound cliche thats ok, your song isn't done the first time you play it. Just write. And get it all out of you. Then go back and....

3) Re-write...Re-write...Re-write- I rewrite my songs, sometimes for months and years. Switch around the structure, move around the verses. Throw in a key change, think up some backup vocals. Perfect your lyrics, write a solo. Play the chord progression backwards. Emphasize different words. I'd say at least 75% of my songs are not "done".

Sure they're all written out, chords, lyrics structure, but are they ready to be played in front of people? No. Are all the lyrics how I want them? No. But thats art. Its only done when you're happy with it. And you shouldn't be happy with the song's first draft. The best is when you come back to a song after months or years and inspiration re-writes it yet again, bringing a once dead song to life. Never give up on a song and, when starting out, try to play all your songs at least once a week and play them different ways.

4) Copy Songs - Ok, heres where people will get all upset and call it "uncreative", "boring" and "amatuer" but too bad. Write a song with the same chords as a favorite song, but with new lyrics. Write a song with the same lyrical phrasing as your favorite song but with new chords. Write a song with the same structure as one of your favorite songs, but new chords and lyrics. The possibilities are endless here. And the best part is, when the songs is all said and done, it probably won't sound like the original song. Its YOUR voice, YOUR playing and YOUR creativity that broke free from the original. I use this to break out of writer's block. Remember, good writers borrow, great writers steal. You can sit around and complain about this fact of art or you can use it to your advantage.

5) Original Structure is Overrated - Don't get me wrong. I love me some prog rock. But unless you're a virtuoso, its gonna sound like crap. Start with the most basic song structure AAAAAAAA. Then move onto verses and choruses ABABABA, really change it up here AABA or AAAB or BAAA. Then add a bridge AABCAABCAABC. Once you reach three parts you are pretty much up to par with most songwriters on the planet. Rearrange the three parts various ways and you have a lot of options there. Personally, I write the skeleton of the song, lyrics, chords structure, THEN add solos, harmonies, intros, outros, etc. Songwriting is like your body: theres the skeleton (basic song) and the flesh and clothing (solos, harmonies, chord flair). Most pop songs follow the same structure (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus). Why? Because it works. It creates tension and release. Its classic and you shouldnt shy away from things that work. Instead of ignoring the classic structures, chord progressions, etc use them to YOUR advantage.

Using these methods, paying special attention to the "Don't Judge" part, I've written about 100 songs in four years. Thats two a month. Am I happy with all of them? No. But thats why I rewrite the bejesus out of them. Even if 10% are good, thats 10 good songs. This gotten me to the point where I"m recording an album and playing out a few times a week.

From playing covers and copying those covers I can keep up with just about anyone during a jam session.

Hopefully this helps some people out. You're your own worse critic. Some of the songs I think are my worst, turn out to be crowd favorites. Don't be so hard on yourself and simply express yourself. Then go back and rewrite with that critical eye. Play covers and copy songs. Realize that good songwriting takes time and a love for it. If you're not having fun...do something else.

Songwriting is a great tool for making music.  Don't be afraid to express yourself in your music and find ways for your music to be exposed to audiences worldwide.  Also make sure to take critique in a positive way and learn from people that have opinions of your songs.  It's through them that you will find encouragement and motivation to play guitar.

Remember Mike's Guitar Talk for all your questions on the world of guitar.  Feel free to leave comments; any and all critique is welcome.

Have fun and stay tuned!

Mike