Success Music Studio

How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good - mic - What Makes a Barbershop Quartet a Special A Cappella Group?

How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good?

Facebook
Twitter

Estimated reading time 4 minutes

Table of Contents

Write a Song That Sounds Good: Step-By-Step Songwriting Process

“How do I write a song that actually sounds good?” Whether you’re a songwriter or a lyric writer, it’s a challenge to create a song that sounds good. However, the following songwriting tips and links will help you make a song that you’ll love. Keep reading to get the tips.

I’ve already talked about my step-by-step songwriting process in this post:

However, in today’s post, we’ll look at seven songwriting tips from famous songwriters. (The quotes come from Songwriter’s on Songwriting: Expanded Edition.)

This article uses music terms. For definitions and songwriter biographies, see the Glossary at the end of the post.

Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament - Recording Studio - Improvising vs Composing Music - How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good

Write a Song That Sounds Good: How Do You Write the Music?

Songwriting Tips #1: Learn Music Theory and an Instrument

If you want to write a song that sounds good, you’ll need to work on your craft.

Learning music theory and an instrument are both valuable for songwriters. For example, Paul Simon talks about this in relation to his father’s support:

He encouraged me… He’s the one that taught me that the rock and roll chords – the I VI minor-II minor-V. He said, “These songs all have the same chord structure. I’ll show them to you.” And he got a guitar teacher for me. (91)

For more information:

Songwriting Tips #2: Writing Process

Brian Wilson starts writing his songs this way:

…I’ll get a key first. Then after that I try to find a chord pattern… Then I play the chord pattern and I play in rhythm in a certain key, and I start thinking of these great, outrageous melodies. (127)

For more information:

songwriting - let her scream - coffee - writing well crafted songs - How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good

Write a Song That Sounds Good: Lyric Writers

Songwriting Tips #3: Advice for Lyric Writers

Bob Dylan has this tip for lyric writers:

That’s another way of writing a song, of course. Just talk to somebody that ain’t there. (79)

In other words, Dylan suggests you imagine a conversation to get your lyric writing going.

More tips for lyric writers:

Or you can make a song using this Dylan rhyming tip:

You get the rhymes first and work it back and then see if you can make it make sense in another kind of way. (81)

Namely, you find the words you want to rhyme and fill in the rest of the words later.

For more information:

Songwriting Tips #4: Verse-Chorus Form

Simon feels that a song needs more than just two sections. He goes on to critique his own song, Slip Slidin’ Away:

It’s too long. It doesn’t have another section. It’s just verse-chorus. And that verse-chorus thing, it numbs me.

I can’t keep hearing verse-chorus-verse-chorus because I know what’s going to happen… I always felt that the record and the song stayed on a plateau. It didn’t build. (115)

For more information:

Video: Slip Slidin' Away

Write a Song That Sounds Good: Producing Quality Songs in Quantity

Songwriting Tips #5: Write Lots of Songs

If you want to write a song that sounds good, write lots and lots of them. Wilson states:

I wrote 173 songs in a four-year period. We handpicked the songs we wanted. (125)

This averages out to be almost a song a week, about three songs per month, and 43 songs per year. Doing this allowed Wilson to pick the best-of-the-best of what he’d written.

Songwriting Tips #6: Writer’s Block

Carol King has this advice for unblocking writer’s block:

Another thing that I do is I might play someone else’s material that I really like and that sometimes unblocks a channel…

… if you’re a lyric writer, read something that you really like… Or sometimes I’ll play something of my own that I really like… (143)

For more tips:

Songwriting Tips #7: Writing a Hit Song

According to Tom Petty, the point is to make a song that sounds good – not to write a hit song.

… you just can’t anticipate a hit record, or a hit song. I think a hit song is a really good song… and that’s what I go for. To write a good song. (522)

Why Doesnt My Hands-Separate Piano Practice Help with Hands-Together Playing - Pianist - How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good

Write a Song That Sounds Good: Final Thoughts

Here’s a summary of How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good?

  1. Studying an instrument and music theory will make you a better songwriter.
  2. Be efficient by learning a writing process that allows you to make your own songs.
  3. Lyric writers should try Dylan’s writing suggestions.
  4. When you create a song, try to avoid a third verse, because that can make the song sound too long.
  5. Write lots of songs so you can pick the best ones.
  6. Try taking King’s advice for unblocking writer’s block.
  7. Make it your goal to write good songs, not hit songs.

Related Posts

© 2024 Geoffrey Keith

Newsletter Signup

Join me for online or in-person lessons today!

Back to The Craft of Songwriting Category Blogs page

Back to the Successful Music Student Blogs page

Glossary

Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano - Learn the Elements of Songwriting Construction - Songwriter at a Computer - after they can sight-read what’s left for musicians to learn - What is a Parallel Mode and How Does it Work - How Can I Learn the Basics of Music Theory

Learn the Elements of Songwriting Construction

Not sure about how to write a pre-chorus or a bridge? Are you confused about how to shape the form of your song? Look no further! Read more to learn the elements of songwriting construction. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.

Read More
How to Play Piano (Kid’s Color Coded Piano Hand Placement) - First Piano - Joy to the World (Song, Words, and Piano) - Best Music Program for Three-Year-Olds

How to Play Piano (Kid’s Color Coded Piano Hand Placement)

Does your child want to learn how to play the piano? Do you want to know the best way to teach piano hand placement? Finger placement on the piano keyboard is an important skill that should be taught at the earliest stages of learning. Keep reading “How to Play Piano (Kid’s Color Coded Piano Hand Placement)” to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Read More
How to Sing R-Controlled Vowels in English - Concert

How to Sing R-Controlled Vowels in English

Do you need help singing words with sustained “R” sounds? Did you know that “R” is actually a vowel? However, it’s very closed, so you need special techniques when producing R-controlled vowels. Keep reading “How to Sing R-Controlled Vowels in English” to have a guide to how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

Read More
Why is Classical Music Interpreted Differently from Pop Music - Ludwig van Beethoven Bust - Beethoven (Why Did He Keep Composing After Deafness) - Singing Beethoven’s Beautiful Ode to Joy

Why is Classical Music Interpreted Differently from Pop Music? Part 3

“Why is classical music interpreted differently from pop music?” Interpretation has a very important role in performing classical music. This doesn’t mean that interpretation can’t be important in pop music. However, classical artists seem to be very aware of the process of how to interpret a piece of music. You can be too. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

Read More