Songwriting
Inspiration
The first step to writing any song is inspiration. You can approach this several different ways: lyrically, rhythmically, or melodically. Choose a style or feeling that you can relate to and can convey to people. Any successful songwriter is able to connect with their audience through the message of their music whether it through words or the notes themselves.
I prefer to begin lyrically. You can write a song about anything: social issues, romance, life experiences as well as countless others. After you decide on a topic, put down on paper what thoughts come to mind when you think of your subject. The simple who, what, when, where and why are a good places to start and you can elaborate from there. When you expand on these, be descriptive. Using metaphors and comparisons are a great way to bring the listener closer.
However, if this does not work for you, try attacking it from the musical end first. Start with a rhythm, melody or chord progression that intrigues you and add lyrics later. However this, like lyrics, will take time and creating the "perfect" product does not happen instantaneously
Developing the Song
Once you have come across a set of lyrics, notes and chords that you feel work well together, the next step is to assemble the pieces of the puzzle. In the same way there are different techniques to find inspiration for a song; there are also various ways to construct a song. For example:
Intro, Chorus, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Verse 3, Chorus, Chorus
Intro, Verse 1, Verse 2, Chorus, Verse 3, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Chorus
Intro, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Chorus, Outro
Varying the order of your verses, choruses and bridge allows for a wider array of songs and reduces the risk of redundancy. You can also adjust the tempo of the lyrics and chords, even after you have chosen a musical format, to expand your options even further.
Musical Balance
To attain musical fluency, a common rule of thumb is to arrange instruments within the frequency spectrum. This avoids one part fighting with another to be heard and consents to a more pleasing song. However, in instances of harmonizing or playing in unison, exceptions can be made. Putting thought into frequency ranges can assist when searching for precision or an added boost at a fitting moment and can ultimately lend a hand when you intentionally want to baffle the listener with the sound.
Space
A sense of space within an arrangement is also a significant component of music. At times, this can be difficult to accomplish, particularly when creating a piece with a number of instruments. Make an effort to center your arrangement on one instrument and once the song is finished, eliminate the lead and bring together the rest. Removing the lead is expected to leave the song sounding empty if the song is already airy and gives you the opportunity to work on parts that require more attention.
- R. Wilkins