Joel Toombs — 8 May 2014
Due to the nature of song writing being a fundamentally creative act, many people assume that there can be no science around it; but while there is no (at least there shouldn’t be) a blueprint for how to churn out hit after hit… there ARE things you can do to maximise their potential to be great, not just good.
It is a mixture of inspiration and perspiration. The balance between those two things is very personal - find your balance. Sometimes you DO have to grit your teeth and work at it. It’s only very occasionally when you can purely rely on inspiration.
You may wish to convey a story, an emotion or offer the listener an experience. Refining your songs will enable you to communicate more effectively and engage your audience.
Even if your song is about something very specific, aim for there to be space for the listener to identify in SOME way with what you are saying, even if it is just a sentiment. The best songs are ones the listener feels perfectly sums up or reflects THEIR OWN feelings. So ask yourself; Why do you write songs? What are you trying to communicate? What is the underlying sentiment of the song that other people can grasp? What gives your song PASSION? Is it understandable? How can people IDENTIFY with it?
These components are usually put together into a structure. There are rules in different genres of music which are worth learning …and then breaking where appropriate. Please note you need to have learned them before you will know how to break them without making a mess!
How do you approach songwriting? Which components come most naturally and where do you get stuck? What times and places are best for your writing? Where do you find inspiration? Are you humble enough to ask for help and feedback?!
There is no precise formula that makes a song successful however there are things that help its chances - these things have been used by countless people over countless centuries. Study classic songs and ones you love for common patterns or devices to help you understand the craft of songwriting. What’s your favourite song? How is it structured? Why does it work? Why is it memorable? What is original about it and what is common to a lot of songs?
What makes a song memorable? Memorability is often the fusion of predictability and originality. Most songs use the same 12 notes (often just 7) so it needs to be innovative - yet not so much that it doesn’t make musical sense. Typically each song will have only one or two elements that really stand out to make it memorable - these are called “hooks.”
Always aim to have a hook - ideally build the song around it as a starting point. A hook can be a catchy guitar or bass riff; a repeated melodic phrase; a sudden change in beat; a wordplay or even potentially a silence!
Songwriting has lots of variants to play with: time signatures, melody; words; supporting harmony and rhythm… Then theres the song’s structure; repetition; emphasis; semantics; imagery; authenticity and so on. On top there’s your articulation, tone and vocal range; instrument choices and production values and techniques which can also influence how the song is written… Find your own ‘voice’ with your writing - things you re-use in most of your songs (this is your ‘home ground’ where you are most comfortable and identifies you as you) but at the same time use it as a base to explore playing ‘away’ with lots of other components of song writing. Go exploring!
From a background in Architecture Joel spent a decade starting innovative charities and writing for magazines before moving into music. With an MA in Mentoring and Coaching, he is passionate about welcoming you into our family!