There are many different approaches used when writing songs, and there are no hard and fast rules on how to go about the task. Some writers start with a melody first, chords later, some the other way around. Or how about a combination of both?
To help things along for beginners, it's a good idea to get to know and recognize simple song structures. A typical 3 minute pop-song would look something like this:
"The Blah Blah Song"
- Intro
- Verse 1
- Chorus 1
- Verse 2
- Chorus 2
- Bridge
- Verse 3
- Chorus 3
- End
- Verse 1
It's good to start taking apart songs you hear and like in this way - it's sometimes known as the song's Format. If you can take great songs apart, you can start building 'em yourself!
A good way to get started writing your own tune, would be to play and repeat a few of your favorite chords on an instrument in a cycle, and sing or hum a melody on top of them. Use nonsense words if you don't have lyrics at first. Keep fooling around with it until you hear something you like. Write a verse down in some simple form or other, and move on to the next bit. Keep notes of chords and lyric ideas as you go, and also a tape-recorder can be a very handy tool to use here as a type of audio sketch-pad. Don't be too judgmental at this early stage and make sure to write everything down!
Separate the song into it's main pieces and work on one piece at a time...eg. Verse/Chorus/Middle 8/ etc. You can start where you like when writing a song.
It's important to realize that in many of the best songs ever written, only a few chords were needed and used - simple can be truly magical.
See you in Song-writing Tips 2 where we'll be looking at some more ideas to reach your Creative Muse!
- Regards
- David
David Ø |
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