Songwriting
Songwriting is a special type of profession that requires creativity, patience, commitment, and a knack for rhythm and rhyme. While songs can be as short as a lullaby or as long as a full musical story, adding a tune to a well-crafted lyrics is incredibly challenging for any songwriter. To master the art of songwriting, one must first come to terms with its basic elements. You may also see writing templates & examples.
What Do You Need to Know about Songwriting?
Songwriting isn’t as easy it seems. While many artists have managed to come out with hit after hit for every single or album released, there’s a thorough process in songwriting that’s a far cry from what music fans expect. Apart from having a way with words to form a poetic masterpiece, there are different aspects of a song that writers must pay attention to. You may also like formal writing examples & samples.
1. The Structure
Every song ever written is composed of different parts that form its structure. While the structure may differ per song, especially with the difference in length and style, there are certain patterns that many songs have in common. These standard parts are as follows:
- Intro – If you’re a music-enthusiast, then you may have noticed how most intros begin with a soft piano or some finger picking on a guitar. The intro usually gives listeners a glimpse of the song’s mood, which then slowly transitions to the first verse of the piece. You may also see essay writing examples & samples.
- Verse – There are different ways to combine music and text creatively to connect with listeners. While there are different arrangements for such, writers must concentrate on creating verses that build the anticipation towards the chorus of the song. You may also like what is writing used for?
- Bridge – This part of a song is usually instrumental. It connects the verse to the chorus by creating some sort of a pause that will allow the listener to reflect on the earlier portions of the song.
- Chorus – A chorus is typically repeated after every verse. While this part isn’t completely necessary, it does help shift the tempo of the material and deliver some intense quality of music. You may also check out writing examples in pdf.
- Solo – Notice how some songs have solo parts to highlight the instrumental talent of certain musicians. These type of songs sound great when heard live, as it allows listeners to witness a unique arrangement specially made for the given song. If present, this part may be found after the second chorus. You might be interested in what do you mean by writing skills?
- Outro – Traditionally, an outro was a simple fade out of a song. But these days, composers like to create songs that end abruptly. As the last chords slowly ring out, the musical arrangement indicates the end of a song.
2. The Verse and the Lyrics
When it comes to combining words with music, lyrics and chord progressions are the essential components of a good song. Instead of just focusing on the lyrics and the chords individually, as a songwriter, you must find the right balance between the two to create a richer harmony. You may also see free writing examples.
Example:
Verse 1:
Darling, you gotta let me know (8 syllables)
Should I stay or should I go? (7 syllables)
If you say that you are mine (7 syllables)
I’ll be here ’til the end of time (8 syllables)
So you got to let me know (7 syllables)
Should I stay or should I go? (7 syllables)
— “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash
Notice how the song above follows a specific pattern in each verse. Each line consists of a particular number of syllables that are then carried over to the succeeding verse. Not only does this create a smooth flow of words for each verse, but it also gives the song a stable form. You may also like article writing examples & samples.
3. The Chorus and the Hook
A chorus is defined as a term being used to describe a repetitive part of a song that is sung multiple times between verses. Many pop songs rely on a chorus and hook to entice listeners, given how it possesses the ability to make a song sound catchier than usual. This can often be found after the second verse, or before the first verse in certain cases. You may also check out writing examples in doc.
Example:
Pre-Chorus:
And they say
She’s in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since 18
But lately, her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
Chorus:
‘Cause she’s just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple of grams
And she don’t want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It’s too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
— “A Team” by Ed Sheeran
If you sang along to the example above, then you know how catchy the chorus of the song can be. The rhythm and harmony created by the clever use of words and chords have helped make the song sound interesting rather than monotonous. You might be interested in application writing examples & samples.
Singers, You Didn’t Know Were Songwriters
Writing, composing, and performing your own musical material is a rewarding experience. Songwriting is no easy craft, so being able to accomplish the art of writing music is something that an individual should be proud of. You may also see abstract writing examples & samples.
While it’s no secret that not every artist in the music industry writes their own material, there are some artists who are talented enough to write theirs owns hits, while creating hits for other musicians as well. So here are some examples of the industry’s most prominent singers, in no particular order, you probably didn’t were songwriters:
1. Bruno Mars
Apart from earning worldwide fame thanks to chart-topping albums like Doo-Wops & Hooligans and 24K Magic, Bruno Mars (real name: Peter Gene Hernandez) is one of the geniuses behind other popular hits like Adele’s heart-wrenching ballad “All I Ask” and Mike Posner’s “Bow Chicka Wow Wow”. He has even worked with some of the most famous musicians in the industry including Far East Movement, Sean Kingston, The Vamps, Cobra Starship, and Adam Lambert on singles for their respective albums. You may also like tips for writing an effective essay.
Due to his hard work and exceptional talent, Bruno Mars was named the sixth best songwriter of 2013.
2. Ryan Tedder
We all recognize Ryan Tedder as the front man for American pop rock band One Republic, but little do people know that this lead vocalist also has multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and songwriter printed his résumé.
Some of Ryan Tedder’s most notable masterpieces include “Apologize”, performed by his own band One Republic, “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, and “Halo” by the Queen B herself, Beyoncé — all of which have been deemed as best-selling singles of all time. Apart from the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter’s already established musical hits, Ryan Tedder is also known for working with a multitude of artists on their own material, with over a hundred released songs to his name. From Taylor Swift to Maroon 5, Natasha Bedingfield to One Direction, there’s no doubt that Ryan Tedder and his musical collaborations will continue to bless our ears with mesmerizing music in the years to come. You may also check out script writing examples & samples.
3. Sia
The soaring, uplifting chorus of a song by Sia is definitely hard to miss, not to mention her outrageous wigs and costumes that make her a certified head-turner. Though her own albums have shed the spotlight towards her solo career, not many people seem to talk about how the “Chandelier” singer has become one of pop music’s most in-demand songwriters of the decade. Though releasing an album filled with songs that never made the cut was her way of handling rejection creatively, the singer and songwriter are still known for working with stars like Britney Spears and Katy Perry on their musical ventures. You might be interested in informative writing examples & samples.
From “Flashlight” by Jessie J — which also happens to be a soundtrack for comedy-musical film Pitch Perfect 2, by the way — to “Expertease (Ready, Set, Go)” by Jennifer Lopez, Sia’s impressive discography contains a unique mix of tunes from different genres that not many artists and songwriters can boast about.
4. Ed Sheeran
Though English singer Ed Sheeran has always been known for writing his own music, the “Perfect” singer, songwriter, and musical genius has a long list of hits performed by other artists as well. You may also see memo writing examples & samples.
In the past five years of his career, Ed Sheeran has lent his songwriting skills to some of the biggest hits of our time. Songs you probably didn’t know were written by the industry’s favorite ginger-head include Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself”, One Direction’s “Little Things”, Hilary Duff’s “Tattoo”, and The Weeknd’s “Dark Times.”
5. Kesha
Despite being in the midst of a serious legal battle with ex-producer Dr. Luke, Kesha (otherwise known as Ke$ha) still managed to stay under the limelight by writing killer tunes for artists like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Alice Cooper, and Australian pop duo The Veronicas. Unlike most songwriters who create songs that are then recorded by other artists, Kesha dedicates her time and resources to writing songs with a recipient already in mind. This has helped the “Tik Tok” singer tailor certain tunes according to the musical style and personality of a particular artist. You may also like minutes writing examples & samples.
At the end of the day, songwriting is about creating music that speaks to a person. It’s not about winning awards or topping charts, but it’s about sending a message that people can relate to through the language of music. After all, having good writing skills is one thing, but putting this to good use is another.
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