There is one major reason why songwriting might be difficult...
The Dreaded Writer’s Block!
If you work in the movie business, you’ll hear this phrase a lot. To put it another way, regardless of the number of times you’ve written a song, it’s still a notion that most artists find difficult. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it has happened to many of us.
You’ve recently begun a new project, and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. A slew of concerns and uncertainties arise…
I’m at a loss. Whether it’s in the drop or the entrance is up for debate. Sound design or drum programming should be my first port of call. However, nothing appears to work after you’ve finally decided where to begin. A blank file to a completed track seems like it will take you a long time.
But don’t get yourself all worked up just yet!
Even the finest songwriters, realize it or not, run into this issue on a regular basis. However, they’ve honed their skill to the point that they’re able to overcome writer’s block with ease.
As a result, they are able to produce amazing tunes FAR faster than the average person can even read this essay.
That’s because it’s something that ANYONE can do. There are simply a few easy methods that most producers don’t know about that may make a big difference.
With these skills under your belt, you’ll be creating amazing songs faster than you think!
So, how do songs actually work?
The framework of a song relates to how it is put together, employing a variety of parts. There are typically three sections in a standard song:
an introduction; a verse; a chorus; a bridge; and an outro. The ABABCB structure is used when the verse, chorus, and bridge are all in the same section.
It’s not uncommon for jam bands and experimental musicians to deviate from the formulaic structure of hit songs and pop songs. In order to recognize the most common song structures, our ears have become accustomed to hearing songs that sound like they’ve been around before. However, this does not negate the importance of variety.
A song is made up of six main components:
- Intro. When it comes to song introductions, it’s important to grab the listener’s attention. However, it should not overwhelm them in the process. Because of this, song intros tend to be a little more laid back and mellow. A song’s rhythm, speed, and melody must be established before the singer or vocalists may be introduced.
- Pre-chorus. A pre-chorus may enhance the impact of the chorus, although it is not required. Pre-chorus chord progressions are often based on the chord progressions in the verse or chorus. The pre-chorus is another opportunity to play with with alternative harmonies, for example, or to interrupt the song’s rhythm.
- Chorus. The chorus is the climax of your song’s major themes. This is why the song’s title is typically included in the chorus. It’s a synopsis of the song’s theme. The hook, or most memorable element of the song, is often found in the chorus. The song’s peak should be in the choruses. So, the chorus must mirror that release of tension that the verses and pre-chorus build up to.
- Bridge. In most songs, the bridge occurs just once, generally between the second and third choruses towards the conclusion of the song. A shift in pace in the song, both lyrically and musically, can be found in this line. So that the listener is jolted awake and reminded that this tune is more than simply repetitive noise. Switching keys in the same key signature (for example, from A Minor to C Major) or anything like a guitar solo may do this.
- Outro. The song comes to a finish here. A song’s outro should be a clear indicator to the listener that the song is ending. This may be done in a variety of ways, but the most common method is to slow things down—in other words, reverse the entrance. Many times, the last chorus is repeated and faded away in the outro.
What Are the Most Typical Song Forms?
- The AABA (32-bar-form). In the early part of the twentieth century, Tin Pan Alley greats like Bing Crosby and Cole Porter used this melodic arrangement to write hit songs. It has two eight-bar A sections, an eight-bar B section, and a final eight-bar A section that keeps the primary melody of the previous A-sections in the form of a three-part harmony. The verse-chorus structure quickly supplanted the 32-bar pattern in rock songs throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
- Chorus-verse form. When it comes to song structure, this is one of the most often employed types of songwriting. Because of its distinct rhythm and melody from the rest of the song, the chorus plays an important part in the verse-chorus structure.
- ABABCB. Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Chorus is another option. Verse-chorus form with a bridge is used in this song. The first three lines of a song are referred to as the verse, chorus, and bridge, respectively.
Tips for writing better songs
First Rule of Songwriting: Find Inspiration.
Look for new ideas.
This is the simplest and most direct method of coming up with fresh music ideas. Encouragement and inspiration is all around us. You just gotta look for it.
Nevertheless, the first step in finding inspiration is generally to look at the music of other people. Obviously, this isn’t a surprise. But, there’s a better method to get your creative juices flowing than just browsing through your SoundCloud playlists for ideas.
Rather, consider these suggestions for finding the motivation you seek:
- Try your hand at finding and sampling some vintage records. Instead of focusing on what’s hot right now, have a listen to some of the classic songs that were written years, if not decades, ago. For good reason, they’ve stood the test of time.
- Take a listen to a few of your favorite songs right now and keep an ear out for certain aspects. See if you can replicate the elements of the music that first drew you in.
- During a live performance, pay attention to how a particular song makes you feel. Once you’ve done that, try writing your own song based on the feelings you had. For many music producers, composing music is all about conveying an emotional message.
- Look for inspiration in the visual — It’s simple to turn visual art into audio art since it may readily evoke the same feelings as music.
- Take a break from your job and go for a walk in the woods or on a nature walk. Bring a recorder with you if you’d like to jot down your thoughts.
- Go to the movies or watch a new film you haven’t seen before. Using their audio and visual material, you could find some cool ideas for your own projects.
The Second Songwriting Tip:
Become Familiar with Your Programs
Another way to properly prepare for songwriting is to get acquainted with any program that you use on a daily basis. Because your software is the primary tool you use in the manufacturing process, this will be advantageous to you.
And the more familiar you are with your DAW, the simpler it will be to pull ideas from your mind and put them into practice. Regardless of the DAW you use, there are a few things you can do to improve your productivity.
Examine the Reference Manual for your program.
Some may find this tiresome at first, but you’ll be glad you did it in the long run. To get the most out of your device, read the instructions thoroughly. You’ll likely uncover capabilities you didn’t even know existed.
If nothing else, it will train you how to get the most out of the program’s features and help you operate more efficiently.
Even if you just use your DAW, following these steps will be a huge assistance.
To unleash your full songwriting ability, follow these same techniques to every additional software plugin or VST you use with your DAW.
Songwriting Tip #3 -
Don't Limit Yourself to the Traditional Format
If nothing else makes sense, why not attempt something irrational?
Here are a few unconventional ways to come up with fresh song ideas:
- Play a variety of songs at the same time over various speakers.
- Decide on an end date and time.
Take advantage of a time crunch to get things done. Consider setting a timer for 15 minutes to complete a descent. You’re almost certainly going to finish it, and then all you have to do is polish it!
- To scrawl notes, use the sketch tool in your digital audio workstation.
How to Make Your Songs Unforgettable
- Get creative and write a memorable riff.
The identical three- and four-chord progressions may be found in many tunes. What is it about some tunes that gets stuck in our minds so much? It’s possible that the melody holds the key to the solution. The melody is the most vital component of songwriting if you want to create an earworm. Many of the most popular melodies are composed in a stepwise fashion, with just a few huge jumps in between (up or down any larger interval). A high note in a melodic passage that serves as an anchor for the remainder of the melody line is a common feature of these compositions.
- Use a wide variety of chords in your compositions.
You’ll be limiting the span of your musical ideas if you simply use a few chords. For a more intriguing and diverse sound, try writing songs using a variety of chords, such as major, minor, dominant, reduced, and augmented.
- Make a rhythmic pattern that people will remember.
Numerous successful songs—from country successes to hip hop classics—are remembered due to a rhythmic pattern. Consider how a funky or syncopated melody or background track may be catchiest in your favorite songs, and then be creative with the rhythm of your own compositions based on this observation.
- Create a song around a riff.
Even if you’re not a musician in any other capacity, you can still write catchy riffs that serve as the foundation of an entire song.
- Publish a song that you may perform in the open air.
Musicians may now compose digital symphonies in their own living rooms with the help of modern music production tools. As a musician, you should think about how you can play your songs live while using digital audio workstation (DAW) software. Live performances are an important part of a record company’s evaluation of a musician’s ability to connect with a crowd.
- Take a break from your instrument.
You should create music while sitting at a piano or holding a guitar, according to common sense. However, this might lead to a composition slump if you fall back on the same old songwriting clichés. Take a break from the instrument and go for a walk to come up with some ideas for songs in your thoughts instead. Make a voice recorder on your smartphone if you have any excellent ideas. Then, go back to your instrument and learn how to play them in a more traditional fashion.
- Strive for more complexity in the song’s structure.
An entrance, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, instrumental solos, and an outro or coda may be found in almost every song. A song that doesn’t only switch between verses and choruses should be your goal. If nothing else, at the very least, give the well-known song structure a whirl. This structure may be seen in many of today’s top pop songs.
- Structure and spontaneity go hand in hand while creating lyrics.
It’s difficult to write lyrics. Keep an open mind when it comes to your lyric-writing process. Instead of forcing lyrics into your head before they come to you, learn to let them flow from inside you, much as a poet does when they write their best work. You could be swayed by the consonance and assonance of certain words to particular lines.
- Use rhyming to your advantage.
Song lyrics may be memorable, coherent, and simple to remember if they use a rhyming pattern. There are times when rhyming isn’t required by songwriters. Follow the concept rather than the rhyming pattern when you can’t convey your thoughts in rhyme.
- Learn how to get past your writer’s block.
Writer’s block may be fought by varying your creative method. Normally, do you begin with the words and then go on to the music? Try it in the other direction. Strumming chords and then improvising a tune on top of them is a common practice, right? Start with a melody or riff without the guitar. Make an effort to write a song using a new instrument or a new genre. To stimulate your imagination, try new things and push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Now get to work and start making music!
Leave any other songwriting suggestions you may have in the comments blow.