By. Catherine Navarette
Do you hum melodies out of nowhere? Perhaps, creating superb captions in your Instagram post? Maybe this is a sign to unleash your love of music and start writing your own song.
The best way to tone down your feelings is to write them down. Trust me! Once you wrote down your concerns and just letting your mind say what it wants to say, you will feel relax afterward.
Life is very simple. Just do what you want, and you’ll have no regrets. If you are one of us who likes to be a song composer, producer, or singer. Why not start now?
Where should I start?
In this blog, you will know the basics of writing a song. You don’t need to be an expert. Making music is not about experience, but your dedication to being creative.
Here are your basic guidelines for making a song. Following these steps will help you write a powerful song in no time!
1. Brainstorm
Write your ideas on a piece of paper or you can use a gadget if you like. The aim of this step is to have an outline, not to compose the WHOLE lyrics.
If you’re confused about what to write, try taking a walk, listen to other songs, talk to your loved ones, or watch videos online. Find an inspiration. In that way, you will keep your ideas on track!
2. Narrow it down
Since you have your ideas written down, decide what type of music you want to do.
What genre do you like to make? In this way, you would know what instruments you need. This is a great way to find the theme of your song composition.
Start making a title first.
It will be easier for you to write details about something if you already know the title. It’s better to write from experience to better enhance the words and thoughts to incorporate into your lyrics. For example:
Title: “Everyday motivation”
Ideas to put: What is a motivation for you? How do you feel about that? Any hardships maintaining your motivation? What keeps you going?
3. What musical instruments do I need?
When you’re just starting out. It is best to only have a few instruments to focus on. In that way, you can explore your preference and music style even more.
Don’t pressure yourself to other people’s musical instruments. If you are a beginner, we recommend buying a keyboard, acoustic guitar, or drum to start your career. These will provide the basics of a song.
If you want to keep it digital, a DJ controller could work. You can also use your phone to create your own music. Check out this blog to find out more.
After you found out your preference, try to practice using them every day to better familiarize yourself with its tempo. If you’re having a hard time, get a tutor or ask a friend to teach you, or YouTube it!
Take your time to explore and pick up some basic musical chords using your instrument.
4. Write the song structure from your brainstorming
This is where you edit! You can add or remove any lines in this process. Feel free to experiment on your own. Let your heart speak and it will lead you in the right way.
Writing an outline first would be a great way to get your ideas to organize and relate to each other.
5. Make sure it's coherent
Music sounds more ‘catchy’ if the end of each line is in rhyme with each other. Check out these free websites that you can use to find word options:
6. Incorporate Rhymes
Since you have your instrument with you already, use it to create a beat that matches your song’s mood and style.
If your music is pop, make your song with upbeat sounds. If you like an emotional and calm song, slower rhythms are easily achieved by acoustic guitars. Doing research and sampling other songs is a great step here.
Work out with basic keys on your instrument. Experiment on what tone would fit the best to your lyrics. After that, you’re ready to incorporate major scales to your lyrics to express different moods in one composition.
NOTE: You don’t have to stick to a single instrument!
Try exploring other alternatives around you. It will help you find the tones that would match your lyrics.
7. Build the chorus
This will be the main part of your song. Be creative and use the rhythm websites indicated in the previous step to help you make a catchy song.
Your chorus should give the main idea of your title and summarize your song.
Use your instruments to stand out and to make it more appealing to the ears.
8. Write other parts of your lyrics
Not all songs are created equal, and you don't have to follow the same structure as others, but there is a reason most songs follow the same basic structure. Your song should have the following parts to complete your musical composition.
- Intro
Intros usually have simple tunes and tempos. It should hook your audience’s expectations of what your music might be all about.
2. Verse
Unfold your feelings and write down the story of your music in this part. This is like the meat of a sandwich, so it's the focus your lyrical content here.
3. Pre-chorus
It's optional, but powerful to give your chorus a boost and give anticipation to your listeners. In a good, catchy, pop song, this is typically the indicator that the chorus is coming.
4. Chorus
The chorus is always the most recognizable part of a good song, and if you do it write, yours will be too. It truly is the make it or break it section. Whether you want to play it safe or take risks, make sure this accurately encapsulates what you want your song's lasting impression to be.
5. Bridge
Introduce new tempos and lyrics. It might be something about unexpected phenomena or outcomes. This is where the thrill of your story mingles.
6. Outro
You can repeat the chorus or the verse in this part but with a different tempo. The last part of the song usually ends in a calm and concluding sound. Some people experiment here, too, but that depends on whether you want to take the artistic risk.
9. Finalize your song
Take your time in finalizing the lyrics and melodies of your song. Start adding or removing some lines to better match the rhythm you made using your instrument. This is where you can add hidden vocals, basically making your song layered in composition.
10. Record/Sing it loud
Invite some friends and family members to ask them for suggestions. You can also record your voice singing your music and listen to it afterward.
After this step, you can decide on what part is lacking or need some modification.
After that, you’re good to go. Congrats on making your song! So, what’s next? Check out how to produce a song in our next blog!