7 Main Rules of Songwriting to Create a Masterpiece

An artist composing music
An artist composing music

Many people believe that you need to study music or be a professional songwriter to create a masterpiece, but many others would disagree. Everyone can write their own songs without needing to study music or go through intense training before. Although creating a masterpiece is difficult, as success is chased by many professional songwriters, creativity and ingenuity can be on your side and you can write an amazing song.

There are a few guidelines and main rules of songwriting that could help you stick to a topic and write incredible lyrics that are loved by the public. However, keep in mind that you do not have to take these rules word by word and follow them exactly. Sometimes, breaking the rules can spice your song and make it even more likable. So, which are the seven main rules of songwriting to create a masterpiece?

1. Choose Your Title

Many would suggest you do this after you write the lyrics. If an idea struck you and you know how the lyrics sound, then you could start with writing them. But many new musicians and songwriters go away from their topic and create a chaotic song when they do this. A song needs to have a theme, a topic around which the entire song is created.

The song title is often found in the lyrics too and it can help songwriters to focus on their song topic and stay on track. But how to choose a title for your song? Well, you need to keep in mind that it needs to be short and catchy so that people will remember it.

You can read books, magazines, and newspapers, go to museums, and search for inspiration for your song title in your inner world. Maybe go in the woods or a park, as they are among the most inspirational places for peaceful writing and finding inspiration.

2. Start Writing the Lyrics

If you already have your title, then all you need is to start writing your lyrics. Many beginner songwriters see this process as similar to an essay writing one. But for a student, they are a little bit different. You can buy university assignments online here and get the help of professional writers. While a hired writer can offer writing help to students and encourage them to write their first draft without judging their ideas, songwriting can be approached differently. You can start by noting down ideas, phrases, words related to your topic.

Maybe not all will be included in the lyrics of your song, but at least you have something to start with. And then, you can start developing the lyrics. Many songwriters stumble upon details such as rhyme and rhythm. While it is important for lyrics to rhyme, this is not mandatory.

And instead of creating lyrics that are not natural, just let your ideas pour on paper, and creativity run wild. This is your first draft; they can be edited afterward if you do not like how they sound. You need to write lyrics for the chorus, bridge, and verses.

3. Note Down Your Spontaneous Ideas

Writer’s block is something common and it happens even to popular songwriters. Sometimes, you may feel that there is no idea flowing through your mind, and creating a masterpiece might seem a far-fetched goal. However, there are many other moments when ideas could suddenly strike you. It is important to note down all your spontaneous ideas because otherwise, you will forget them. And they can be the basis of a great song.

4. Create a Catchy Chorus

The chorus is the part of the song that listeners will remember first. This is because the chorus usually appears two or three times in a song. It helps you highlight the message of your song more and if you want to create a masterpiece, you need to create a catchy and consistent chorus. So, make it memorable, easy to be recognized, and easy to be sung.

5. Finding a Melody

The next rule you need to follow is to start reading your lyrics out loud. This will also help you notice any mistakes you’ve made, but also switch some words or replace them with others. At the same time, speaking the lyrics you wrote will allow you to find the rhythm. Even though it may sound strange, math is an essential part of music. How you choose your rhythm and the beats will create an atmosphere, will enrich the meaning of the lyrics, and add the catchy element.

6. Be Patient

Great masterpieces are not created in an hour. They require time, creativity, inspiration, and a peaceful place to unleash them. Even though there are cases in the history of music when songs were created out of a spontaneous creativity boost, you need to give yourself the time and space you need to create a masterpiece. Be patient with yourself.

7. Collaborate with Artists

This is one of the main rules of songwriting to create a masterpiece. For your song to be liked by the public, it needs to be catchy, memorable, and meet their expectations. Collaborating with other artists can help you learn more about the music industry, about what music fans desire nowadays, and how to meet them. This is also a nice way to boost your creativity, as you may experience a creative block.

Conclusion

Songwriting is not as easy as it seems, nor as difficult. Indeed, it is challenging to create a memorable and catchy song that will become viral, but you do not need any academic experience to do it. Follow these main rules that will help you create a masterpiece, but break them when you think it is right for the songwriting process.

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