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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.
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:
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)
Write a Song That Sounds Good: Final Thoughts
Here’s a summary of How Do I Write a Song That Actually Sounds Good?
- Studying an instrument and music theory will make you a better songwriter.
- Be efficient by learning a writing process that allows you to make your own songs.
- Lyric writers should try Dylan’s writing suggestions.
- When you create a song, try to avoid a third verse, because that can make the song sound too long.
- Write lots of songs so you can pick the best ones.
- Try taking King’s advice for unblocking writer’s block.
- Make it your goal to write good songs, not hit songs.
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© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
- Bob Dylan (Songwriter)
- Brian Wilson (Songwriter)
- Carol King (Songwriter)
- Chord
- Chord pattern
- Chord structure
- Chorus
- Key
- Lyrics
- Melody
- Music theory
- Paul Simon (Songwriter)
- Rhyme
- Rhyme scheme
- Rhythm
- Song form
- Songwriter
- Songwriter’s on Songwriting (Book)
- Tom Petty (Songwriter)
- Verse
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