How To Write A Killer Song -- Starting With Lyrics That People \u2018Connect\u2019 With and a Melody That Anyone Can Sing... By Shamir Rele \u00a9 All Rights Reserved
Why is it that some songs manage to capture the WORLD\u2019S ATTENTION and some songs just don\u2019t want to be heard? It\u2019s a combination of two things \u2013 and it\u2019s not difficult to figure out. Take a minute to think about the artists & bands that have sold millions of records throughout the world. (Go ahead, I\u2019ll wait \ue000) What do most (if not all) of their hit songs have in common? Yup, you guessed it \u2013 they all have STRONG LYRICS and a STRONG MELODY.
It\u2019s called \u2018the core of songwriting\u2019. It\u2019s the \u2018stuff\u of. It doesn\u2019t matter how the song is \u2018produced\u2019, it won\u2019t m without a strong tune and good lyrics.
Whether you\u2019re a writer who\u2019s just starting out, or one that\u2019s doing it a while, it\u2019s important to base your song on the strength of your lyrics and your melodies; \u2013 and ones which people can relate to.
This doesn\u2019t mean you have to write \u2018mushy\u2019 lyrics or \u2018 melodies. On the contrary; - you should be diverse in your writing but WITHOUT TRYING to be too different. That\u2019s the key. Having said that, if it\u2019s your wish to go \u2018mushy\u2019 than do so. I know that every once in a while I do end up writing a song typically about love, (and you\u2019ll get to actually hear this later on). The main thing is to not get stuck with it. Now there will be moments where you will just want to get writing straight away. Do be patient and read the WHOLE REPORT before you \u2018dive in\u2019 and start creating. It will be worth it.
Let\u2019s walk through the process of \u2018THE CORE OF SONGWRITING\u2
Create EMOTIONAL Lyrics Throughout the decades there have been a number of ways to write words in a song. So many in fact, that sometimes it can actually get confusing for some on how to begin creating them. Here, I\u2019m going to share with you the EASIEST ways for creating lyrics: Tell a Story in the Past Tense
Write about a situation that you were in, or perhaps your friends or your family were in. It could even be completely made up and totally fictional. Here are some ideas: \
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Write about your first crush When you grandfather died When your best friend stabbed you in the back When the girl you fancied ended up sleeping with your brother The time when you got shot Life in the military Growing up in your neighborhood A love affair that you\u2019ll never forget etc.
Writing about events that have ALREADY UNFOLDED makes it much easier as the foundation for the story is more or less already there. Tell a Story in the Present Tense
Write about a circumstance that you are involved in RIGHT NOW. Are you in some kind problem or predicament at the moment? Write about it! Maybe your friends or a member of your family are in a sticky situation. Write about it.
It can also be a ‘made up’ story in the present. Here are some ideas: Write about poverty The state of the world How a marriage is deteriorating How a relationship is blooming Your children’s view of the world A man cheating on his woman A boy/girl you fancy but can never say a word to Write about a night out in the town drinking – having fun, but not remembering only the things your friends told you had happen, etc.
Tell a Story in the Future Tense
Why not write about events that are GOING TO UNFOLD? This method of writing lyrics rarely hits the surface – not to mention its great way to create a bit of suspense in your song. You could either write about something that has happened in the present and then the POSSIBLE OUTCOME of that situation, or you could simply make up a story that is SET IN THE FUTURE. Here are some ideas: Write about the outcome of a wife committing adultery How you would see your children if they didn’t want to graduate What would happen if you lost your home What would you do if you won five million dollars Tell the story of a passionate night with your girlfriend Tell the story of what you would do if you were the president Tell the story of convicted man who will be released from prison and you feel he’ll commit the same crime over and over again Tell a story of how you would live in complete paradise,
etc
Now of course all of the above methods can be mixed and matched to suite your own individual song, and most songs actually are treated this way. There is NO ONE RULE that you must follow when it comes to creating lyrics. But by focusing on a particular ‘tense’ can make the process easy. This doesn’t mean that if you were writing about the present, you couldn’t have PAST REFRENCES. Or, it doesn’t mean that you couldn’t write words pertaining to the OUTCOME OF THE PRESENT. (Which is the future of course ). Let’s take a look at some sample lyrics. Here is a verse and a chorus of a simple pop ballad that I wrote a while ago.
[Verse] Now you’ve found somebody new And I have found somebody too It’s funny, even though we’re worlds apart There’s still a place for you here in my heart And even now I can’t erase the vision of your smiling face It takes me back to all the days, we used to laugh in silly ways It’s all a distant memory, our love was like a melody [Chorus] I’ll always remember The love we shared together How can I forget the look in your eyes? Birds of a feather We flew in any weather Now I can recall when we said goodbye
The above is a clear example of a relationship that has ended, and he/she is looking back on it in a positive light.
Now remember, it doesn’t matter what style you are writing in. It could be pop, rock, R&B, country, etc. This is a method that can be used in ANY genre. I’ve used both past and present tenses. We can look at both parts below, I’ve colored the text of the present tense as red and the past tense as blue. Let’s break it down. Here’s the verse again…
Now you’ve found somebody new And I have found somebody too It’s funny, even though we’re worlds apart As you see, I’m writing about the situation RIGHT NOW – in the present tense. Here is the last part of the verse (sometimes called ‘B section’) which
And even now I can’t erase the vision of your smiling face It takes me back to all the days, we used to laugh in silly ways It’s all a distant memory, our love was like a melody… leads into the chorus… In the above part, I have gone FROM NOW (the present) to writing about the PAST EVENTS. I now lead this into the chorus…
I’ll always remember The love we shared together How can I forget the look in your eyes? Birds of a feather We flew in any weather Now I can recall when we said goodbye
The chorus is all in the past tense. You’re probably wondering what this actually ‘sounds’ like. Well, there is melody and of course this is just part of the whole song. You will get to hear it a little later on. For now, just look lyrically on how the tenses ‘flow’ to each other. I have gone from writing about what the situation is at present – ie. The verse, in which I talk about what’s happening and how I feel… ….To writing about the past - ie. The last part of the verse and the entire chorus, where I write about ‘remembering the love we used to share’. So now – how do you GRAB and SUSTAIN ATTENTION? This is all very much linked to the other elements of writing a song, (ie. melody, structure, etc) but having lyrics that are COMPELLING should be a priority. Whatever you write about, be sure to include one of the following factors to hold on to your listener: Drama, Pain, Sorrow, Despair, Anger, Bliss, Confusion, Desire, Regret, Unity, Memory, Liberty, Excitement.
RHYMING YOUR WORDS Do lyrics always have to rhyme? More often than so, yes. But it’s not a strict rule. Rhyming makes the lyrics more attractive. Performing a story in rhyming form will make listeners DISTICTIVELY REMEMBER your song. Let’s just take another quick look at the example lyrics we were following earlier…
1 - I’ll always remember 2 - The love we shared together 3 - How can I forget the look in your eyes? 4 - Birds of a feather 5 - We flew in any weather 6 - Now I can recall when we said goodbye
You can see that there are six ‘lines’ here. Clearly, I have chosen to rhyme 1st and 2nd line, and then the 4th and 5th line. Also, the lines ‘in-between’ are rhymed – the 3rd and 6th line. It’s worth noting that not all songs will have there lyrics rhyming ‘at the end’ of the line. Some will be in the middle, and some will be at the start. Many will be a combination. Now here, I’m going to SHARE a TACTIC that will help you with a Rhyming Scheme: Take an already existing song (preferably of) and listen to the lyrics carefully.
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Take note of the lyrical structure. This means, the rhyming scheme, how many lines there are in the verse/chorus and the rough syllable count.
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Use the ‘pattern’ of those lyrics; – copying the syllable each line FOR YOUR OWN writing and MATCH THE RHYMES on where they occur in the other song.
This doesn’t mean you copy their rhymes. You rhyme in the SAME PLACE as they have – with your own words. Do
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This method is COMMONLY USED by many songwriters from everywhere. Even I can’t stop using it! Use this method all you want – but there is something to consider though… Caution: Make sure when you do complete your lyrics (and eventually your song) that you DO NOT tell others where you drew your influence from. Otherwise, it will be ‘THAT SONG’ that will stay in their minds!
When you practice this method often, you will do it subconsciously! There have been many songwriters in history that use rhyming schemes on almost a daily bases. Don’t underestimate the power of it. It could quite easily unlock the door to some amazing songs.
Write Words That Connect With Other People What is the point of having the most clever, thought-out, deep and poetic lyrics if nobody can relate to them? Well, there isn’t much point. If you want a song that people can ‘connect’ with, then keep the lyrics simple. Even the most experienced songwriters will come back to this point over and over again – keep the lyrics simple.
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This doesn’t mean that you have to write the obvious ‘catch phrases’, what it DOES mean, it that DON’T LET YOUR LYRICS GET TOO COMPLICATED so that nobody can understand what you’re trying to say! While I certainly wouldn’t disagree with using metaphors, simile, and poetic phrases, I wouldn’t use them exclusively. There is no need to and to get too fancy. ;-)
WHAT TO DO NOW: If you have already got an idea and you want to start DO IT NOW! It doesn’t matter how simple the idea is, just get it down on paper. If you DON’T have an idea, USE THE TACTICS above brainstorm. You don’t have to get too clever about this! Write whatever comes to your mind. At this point, try to think ‘lyrically’. If you DO have floating around in your head, than by all means, use it along with your words – BUT DON’T STOP writing lyrics because you cant think of a melody! Use the RHYMING DICTIONARY that’s available in ‘Songwriters Tools’ section to boost your rhyming skills. If you DON’T have a melody, don’t force just yet. STAY WITH THE WORDS FOR NOW
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with writing lyrics first and then writing the melody later on. Try this out and you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.
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Creation Of Melodies Moving on to the second half of the ‘core’ of songwriting – the melody. There are literally millions of melodies that you can create. So how would you know where to start? This doesn’t have to be so complicated. In fact, it doesn’t have to be difficult at all. You could actually start creating a tune RIGHT NOW if you wanted, by simply humming a tune on WHATEVER comes to your mind. But stay with me for a bit, before you go on your melodious journey.
Not All Melodies That You Create Will Be Totally Original – And Here’s Why You Should Use This To Your Advantage… The moment that people create a melody which they feel is great, many think it already sounds like another song. This is common, and I suffered from this many times. What you’ve got to understand is that ALL SONGS are RECYCLED MELODIES. Every song has a ‘portion’ of the tune which will be the same as another. So don’t worry if you feel your song sounds like another. What’s important to know here is that if your melody is a familiar one, then that’s a GOOD THING. I’m not talking about a ‘rip off’ here, I’m talking about a part(s) of your melody that sounds like another song(s). Why is it a good thing? Because it means PEOPLE RELATE TO THE MELODY even more. They will want to listen to your song because of the familiarity. Remember, most people aren’t songwriters. So chances are, most people won’t even realize where it may or may not have been inspired from.
And what if they do? Well… ultimately, as a whole, it will be your own words, your own tune and eventually with your own music. So it will be YOUR SONG. So don’t fret. Far too many songwriters get caught up in whether or not their songs sound original enough. Sure, while it’s important to NOT to copy other people’s material, it’s equally as important not to drive yourself insane over whether all your song are 10000% unique. Trust me, it’s not worth going there. Here, I’ll Share Methods That Will Jumpstart The Process Of Creating A Melody: Pick a song that you like and know quite well, and are NOT listening to it, hum the tune of the song. DON’T’ SING THE WORDS, just hum the melody. This way, you will think ‘melodically’.
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Eventually, you should force yourself to sing certain variations of the melody (ie. completely mess around with the tune ). If you play an instrument (it doesn’t matter which or you are at) try and figure out the melody of another song on the instrument.
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If you figure it out easily, then mess around and CHANGE certain parts of it. Then SING (hum, la, etc) this CHANGED MELODY out aloud. If you can’t figure it out, then forget about it! CREATE A MELODY YOU FEEL IS CORRECT! Grab a song that you DON’T KNOW AT ALL. Listen to song once, and then listen to it again. The second time around, sing along to it. More than likely, you won’t remember the tune.
This is normal! What do you do now? Yup. You guessed it. MAKE UP YOUR OWN MELODY to this obscure song.
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NOTE: This one may work better if you bought a CD of backing tracks that have no guide vocals on the songs. This way, you HAVE TO make up your own melody to a track that’s already playing. Just make sure you DON’T KNOW the songs.
Keeping The Melody Simple Ah, I bet you knew this one was coming. As with the lyrics, I put the same principle on creating melody as well. There is absolutely no point in making a melody that’s ‘musically clever’. You’re not trying to impress musicians here. What you want is to create a melody that’s SIMPLE yet INTERESTING. So how do you do this? Well, melodies often re-occur several times in a song. In fact, the verses and choruses alone will often have the tune repeating itself. IF THE MELODY SOUNDS WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE REPEATED, THEN YOU’RE ON TO SOMETHING.
To give you a real example, let’s go back to the sample song we were looking at earlier. [Bear in mind that you can follow this method for ANY GENRE.] Here, we can listen to the verse. Side note: The voice on this song isn’t my own.
ow you’ve found somebody new And I have found somebody too It’s funny, even though we’re worlds apart There’s still a place for you here in my heart… N
Click Here To Listen (new window will open)
You can hear that the melodies of the first two lines are repeated on the last two lines. Nothing complicated at all. Here is the last part (or the ‘pre-chorus’) of the verse, which leads into the chorus…
And even now I can’t erase the vision of your smiling face It takes me back to all the days, we used to laugh in silly ways It’s all a distant memory, our love was like a melody… Click Here To Listen (new window will open) Again, you can hear that melodies are being repeated again. Let’s not leave out that all important chorus…
I’ll always remember The love we shared together How can I forget the look in your eyes? Birds of a feather We flew in any weather Now I can recall when we said goodbye Click Here To Listen (new window will open) In the chorus, you can hear that the first three lines have the same melody as the last three lines. It simple, but it works. I mentioned earlier that melodies that sound like another songs create familiarity in the listeners mind. This is also true when using reoccurring melodies.
Do incorporate this in your writing but do bear in mind that before you decide to repeat the melody, YOU MUST FIRST DECIDE if it’s pleasant enough to repeat! In other words, sing it to yourself and make sure it sounds good. The best way to test it out is to record yourself and hear it back. This brings me on to my final point…
‘Put Down’ Your Idea’s On Tape Recording your melody is the best way to gauge the strength of it. This means either singing or humming it into a recording device. Now you don’t need a producer or any expensive recording equipment to do this. At this point, you are only interested in the making of your song, not the production or the musical arrangement. Here are two options: a) A Tape Recorder b) A Dictaphone
Both devices basically do exactly the same thing and are extremely easy to use. The main difference between the two is that a Dictaphone is a lot smaller in size, (it holds a ‘micro cassette’ as oppose to a normal sized one) making it more mobile. This means you can carry it around with you anywhere you go. On the bus, as work, at a party, etc. Nowadays you can buy a digital dictaphone too, altogether cutting out the need for a tape. Whenever you get an idea, you can record it on the Dictaphone. Click here to see examples of Tape Recorders Click here to see examples of Dictaphones
Personally, I believe that a Dictaphone is a songwriter’s best friend. If you already have a tape recorder at home, than you may not want to buy a Dictaphone. However, you will find that you will often come out with ideas when you are in the strangest places, (ie. in the car, at a restaurant, etc) and you won’t have anything to record them on! So do consider it. WHAT TO DO NOW: If you have NO LYRICS, use the above methods and START CREATING a melody for your song. It doesn’t matter how simple the melody is, just record what you have and build on that! If you have already written lyrics, creating a melody for those words.
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Melodies will often dictate a certain ‘mood’ – so as you it may ‘sound’ like the lyrics SHOULD BE about a particular subject. DON’T BE BLIND to this! Try to follow the mood of the melody to work hand in hand with writing the lyrics, especially if you have only partly written the words.
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A Final Word You will find moments where the song is shaping up beautifully. Everything will fall into place and you’ll be on your way writing the next song. On the other hand, at times you may find that the song isn’t piecing itself together like you’d hoped. REMEMBER: You can change whatever part of the melody, and whatever part of the words at ANY TIME YOU LIKE. There are no rules that suggest that you can’t tamper with what you have created.
Editing and modifying your own song IS PART OF THE PROCESS. So don’t be afraid to edit and modify.
