Writing the first song is less complicated if you know how to write songs. We have gathered the top 9 practices for your reference. Click to read now! We have a thoughtful guide on how to write songs for those struggling to start writing music or even those who get stuck in half-completed pieces. Check it out now!

How To Write Songs: A 9-step Recipe for Any Beautiful Song!

Beginners’ guide on how to write a song (Unsplash)

Like any art, songwriting can be educated and practiced - by following the nine steps below:

#1. Decide On Your Song's Topic And Choose A Title

How to write any song at will? It is a common mistake of many composers that they try to cover many ideas or themes in a single song. As a result, the music might become disorganized, chaotic, and light-hearted in its meaning. You must determine a universal topic such as coming of age, family, falling in love, heartbreak, etc. Then, stay true to that single idea. Begin with a title. It usually contains one to six words that summarize the song's heart. Then, tell a story in the lyrics and melodies that illustrate the idea and keep your audience engaged.

#2. Write A Hook/Chorus On Your Main Instrument

The hook or chorus part can be a short instrumental section or a vocal refrain. This part will stick in the listeners' memory and be easily recalled when it comes around. We suggest you listen to as many famous songs as possible, focusing on the hook. Jazz, Opera, Classical, Progressive Rock, Hip-hop, or EDM instruments are commonly used. Try to discover why it is addictive and apply the techniques to your hook. Remember to refer, not copy!

#3. Determine A Song Structure

Most songs we know usually have the following structure: an introduction, a verse, a chorus, a bridge, a chorus, and an outro. You can also add a refrain, pre-chorus, breakdown, or lift between a verse and chorus, which helps build anticipation. Still, it is up to you to mix those parts altogether. You can start the song with a chorus or a verse without an intro. Just mind the length of each part and play the song, again and again, to find out the most natural mixture. Find out more about a song's structure here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBh9IsTDDrs

#4. Put Down The Verses

A verse is a repeated section of your song that tells the main story. If you listen to other songs, you can find verses grouped into a set of four or five lines. Your verses should also be that length. Concerning the content, you can borrow the poetry forms - particularly the iambic pentameter. This formula allows emphasizing specific syllables in a sentence. Here are some examples:

• "You gotta help me; I'm losing my mind" in History of 1Direction
• "So come on; let it go - just let it be" in Let It Go by James Bay
• "I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, sha-ake" - a Shakespeare style from Shake it off by Taylor Swift.

#5. Write A Bridge Or A Breakdown

The bridge, as its name implies, is the channel to connect sessions of your song - for instance, between the second chorus and the third verse. A good bridge provides contrast and can be completely surprising, using changes in lyrics, rhythm, melody, or chord progression. A breakdown is an alternative to a bridge, or we can call it a kind of bridge. It features solo parts of instruments such as the bass, drums, guitars, etc., breathing suspense and interest into the song.

#6. Write Lyrics

Lyrics - an integral part (Unsplash)

Once the chorus, the verse, and the bridge are done, you have almost completed the song by writing the lyrics to fit the melodies. This part might be hard for some songwriters, so they focus on music and collaborate with lyricists to help. However, it would be even fantastic if you could write it yourself to integrate the streamlined idea from the words to the melodies. There are no golden rules to the lyrics. Do not make it complicated. Just write down what you want to say, so it feels natural. Then, reread the lyrics and play them with the melodies. You might need to rework the song several times to create a natural and streamlined combination.

#7. Record A Demo Version

Also, record a demonstration and share it with others for feedback. Start with recording pieces of a chordal instrument, drums, and bass first so that you can focus on small parts and adjust them accordingly. If you do not play an instrument, you can use some software programs like LogicProX and GarageBand to create professional sounds.

#8. Add Other Instruments (Optional)

You can add some layers of instruments or background vocals to create attractive and surprising colors and textures. This makes your song fuller and more professional. However, this procedure involves a significant amount of artistry, or the song will end up messy and hard to enjoy.

#9. Repeat Listening to Improve

You might feel the song is lovely at one time, and it turns out to be weird at another time. Listen to it again, yet once after a day or two, to ensure that you have refreshed ears.  Make tweaks if needed.

Why Is Songwriting So Hard?

Songwriting is both born and taught (Unsplash)

Writing songs is indeed more challenging than it might look, thinking how to write a song has dampened many would-be artists' passion. No worries, dude! Our guide answers your question: How do beginners start songwriting? We confirm that songwriting is both born and taught. As long as you catch up on the basics and keep experimenting, your songs can spread among others. The most important thing is not to lose your heart. Commonly, you might be stuck on a line or be unhappy with the finished song. Just stay calm and keep working on your idea.

Ready for Your Next Songs

We hope that you already know how to write songs now and will apply the techniques to your very next songs. Take a seat and put down your beautiful ideas. Please share a link to your songs; we are ready to support them!