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How to write a song: the ultimate guide

Songwriting is the art and craft of creating original songs by combining melodies, lyrics, and emotions to express thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a creative and meaningful way. It’s the meeting point of music and poetry. These two artistic disciplines fuse together in a song—part storytelling, part music composition .

Traditionally, a song comprises a lead vocal part with lyrics, often (but not necessarily) backed by an instrumental accompaniment. This intersection of music and lyrics is the essence of songwriting. When we think of a song today, we’re as much focused on the melodies, chords, and rhythms as any narrative in the words.

Writing songs is part of a grand, ancient oral tradition. A song can capture a memory or an energy specific to a certain moment in time, preserve it, and project it forwards for future listeners to appreciate.

This guide provides an entry-level introduction to songwriting and how to make a song from scratch. We’ll cover the basics of how to write a song, finding inspiration for music and lyrics, song structure and arrangement, as well as how to take advantage of hardware and software tools to improve your workflow. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to write your first lyrics or an experienced songwriter looking for fresh insights, this guide will inspire, educate, and empower you to create your own music.

Jump to these sections:

How do i start songwriting, why is songwriting so hard, how much does songwriting pay.

• Chord progressions
• Song structure
• Arrangement
• Recording, mixing, and mastering

Introduction to songwriting

The world is a melting pot of diverse styles, genres, and traditions of songwriting—every culture has its own music. Throughout history, songs have served as vehicles for individuals and groups to express themselves and pass down wisdom through the generations.

Songwriting is about personal experience. So take it in your own direction, pursue what drives and interests you. Anyone can learn how to write music—and with the aid of modern digital technology, composing, songwriting, and producing have never been more accessible.

To begin with, let’s address some of the most-asked questions around how to start writing songs.

Songwriting begins with inspiration . A tricky concept to pin down and define, it broadly means the sense of exciting possibility of creating something new.

A song begins with a nugget of an idea, a feeling or a detail of life experience that catches your attention as poignant, poetic, or in some other way remarkable. Above all, the best way to improve your songwriting is immersion, which involves a large degree of trial and error. It so often happens that THE idea comes out of left field and catches you by surprise while you’re busy focusing on something else.

Different songwriters work in their own ways. Some write at the piano, some with a guitar in hand, others with a fresh sheet of paper, or more recently, a recording in a voice notes app while out on the move.

Computer sequencers and DAWs offer a full suite of digital composition tools, including realtime playback, a visual piano roll, and chord automation. In the modern music landscape, the craft of songwriting is overlapping more and more with electronic music production. To learn more, check out 12 essential production tips .

It can be tough writing songs for beginners for a few reasons. Writing a song that is unique and stands out can be difficult. With countless songs already written, finding fresh ideas, melodies, and lyrics that resonate with people can be a daunting task.

Songs often aim to convey emotions and tell stories. Expressing complex emotions and experiences in a concise and relatable manner requires skill and the ability to connect with listeners.

Crafting a song with a cohesive structure , including verses, choruses, bridges, and pre-choruses, requires an understanding of musical arrangement. And harmonizing the melody with suitable chords and chord progressions without a solid understanding of music theory can also be challenging.

For serious artists and songwriters, music is a lifelong commitment and an obsession. There is no shortcut to mastery, it’s something you need to be regularly, persistently working at to improve.

The amount of money songwriters can earn varies greatly and depends on various factors. Music is a precarious and highly competitive industry. True, there’s big money and status to be won at the top, particularly with royalties and publishing deals.

Songwriters earn royalties when their songs are performed, recorded, streamed, or sold. Royalties can come from different sources, such as mechanical royalties (from the sale or streaming of recorded music), performance royalties (from live performances or radio play), synchronization royalties (from the use of music in TV, film, commercials), and more.

Songwriters can also make money through publishing deals. Songwriters may sign publishing deals with music publishers who handle the licensing and administration of their songs. These deals can involve advances (upfront payments) and royalty splits, where the publisher and the songwriter share the income generated by the songs. The terms of the publishing deal can greatly affect a songwriter’s earnings.

Most musicians exist in the middle ground, creating their work and sharing it with the audience around them, big or small. Many struggle to make a living from songwriting and performing alone, instead supporting their creative work with other sources of income. For more information on the industry side of things, head to our music publishing guide .

How to write a song

Learn how to write a song, from understanding basic song structure to creating chord progressions, writing melodies, and more.

Rhythm is the pattern of musical and lyrical accents, beats, and timing that gives a song its groove and sense of forward movement. It encompasses the way words and musical phrases are delivered and the overall pulse and feel of the song.

A catchy or memorable song owes as much to rhythm as the melodic hook or the lyrics.

A few aspects of rhythm in songwriting include:

Beat and meter : The beat is the underlying pulse or steady recurring pattern of accents in music. It provides the framework for rhythm. Meter refers to the organization of beats into regular groupings, typically measured in bars or measures. Common meters include 4/4 (four beats per measure), 3/4 (three beats per measure), and 6/8 (six beats per measure).

Groove and feel: The groove refers to the overall rhythmic feel or style of a song. It is influenced by elements such as the tempo, syncopation (accenting off-beats), the placement of accents, and the use of rhythmic devices like swings or shuffles.

Melodic rhythm: Melodic rhythm refers to the rhythmic patterns and durations of the melody itself. The way melodies are phrased and accented can greatly impact the overall rhythm of the song.

Lyrical rhythm: Lyrical rhythm refers to the rhythmic patterns created by the delivery of lyrics. It involves the placement of stressed and unstressed syllables, the use of repetition, rhyme schemes, and the alignment of lyrics with the musical beat. This is often critical to genres like rap music.

A song’s tempo and time signature are generally established early in the songwriting process, and we use these rhythmic aspects a lot to identify and categorize different genres and subgenres of music.

If you’re learning how to write music using a DAW, this is where songwriting crosses over with beat making and producing. Most DAW interfaces are laid out on a grid, so from the very outset we’re thinking about music in terms of the beat and rhythm.

2. Chord progressions

While a chord is a combination of notes played together to produce one sound, a chord progression is a sequence of chords, often repeating, which provides the main framework for the song. Chord progressions play a fundamental role in songwriting, providing the harmonic structure and foundation for melodies, lyrics, and overall musical expression.

The two most-used types of chords are major and minor. A major chord has a more resolute, optimistic tone, while minor chords are more serious and even mournful.

To hear this in action, listen to the piano part in “The Scientist” by Coldplay to get a sense of how major and minor chords sound in relation to one another. The song cleverly modulates between minor and major forms of the root chord, so the mood is sadder in the verses and more positive when we hit the chorus.

Chord progressions are inherently emotional and can help inform us of the emotions and mood of the song, from happy to sad, exciting to chilled-out, and everything in between.

For example, listen to the chord progression of ​​i – III – VII – iv in “Without Me” by Halsey and you’ll immediately feel the wistfulness and longing that the chord progression evokes.

To get started writing chord progressions, here are a few common chord progression examples to start:

• I-IV-V (1-4-5) : This progression is widely used in many genres, including rock, blues, and pop. It consists of the tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) chords.
• I-V-vi-IV (1-5-6-4) : This progression is often referred to as the “four-chord progression” and has been a staple in pop music.
• I-VI-IV-V (1-6-4-5) : This progression is frequently used in rock, folk, and country music. It has a straightforward and catchy sound.

For even more chord progression ideas, check out our guides on pop chord progressions and R&B chord progressions .

Melody in songwriting refers to a sequence of single notes played or sung in a deliberate and organized manner. It is the aspect of music that is most easily recognized and remembered by listeners.

Good melodies use repetition to establish memorable phrases and hooks that stick in the listener’s mind. And the topline melody generally takes center stage in a song, containing its main message and identity.

Of course, there are many different approaches to writing and using melodies in songwriting. At the root of a great melody, you will find a delicate balance of tension vs. release, complexity vs. simplicity, or a surprising direction change vs. what the listener expects to follow.

When writing your melodies, here are some other aspects to consider:

• Pitch and intervals : Melody is primarily concerned with the pitch, or the highness or lowness of a note. Melodies are created by arranging different pitches in a specific order. The intervals, or the distances between the pitches, contribute to the contour and movement of the melody.
• Rhythm and timing : Melodies are not only about pitch but also about timing. The rhythm and duration of each note within the melody contribute to its overall character. The placement of long and short notes, rests, and rhythmic patterns add rhythmic interest and dynamics to the melody.
• Harmony and accompaniment : Chords or harmonies provide harmonic context to the melody. The interaction between the melody and the accompanying chords influences the overall sound and emotional impact of the music.
• Repetition and variation : Repetition is a common technique used in melodies to create familiarity. Repeating melodic phrases or motifs can make a melody more memorable. Variation involves altering the melody slightly while retaining some recognizable elements, adding interest and development.

A great example of a repetitive, catchy, and powerful melody is Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”

Lyrics are the words or text that are sung or spoken in a song. They convey the message, story, emotions, and themes of a song.

Songwriters work with song lyrics in different ways. Common themes are love and human emotions, often depicted through descriptions of scenes and characters, using narrative to paint pictures with words. Lyrics are usually rhyming lines of poetry—rhyme can work together with melody to give each line an interesting shape and turn it into a catchy, memorable hook.

Some artists are equally famous for the lyrics in their songs as the music, for example Bob Dylan .

For others, lyrical meaning is less significant than how the words sound—using the human voice like an instrument.

In some cases, you may pen the lyrics first then later set them to music. On the other hand, it’s just as common for songwriters to use nonsense placeholder lyrics, or abstract hums and ahhs, before refining the words at a later stage.

Here are some quick tips for lyric writing to get you started:

• Write lyrics based on personal experiences, emotions, and observations
• Create a catchy and memorable line build your lyrics around
• Use imagery and metaphors to expand on your central idea
• Use contrasting repetition and variation in your lyrics to give your song movement and interest
• Keep your lyrics simple to convey your message in a way that is easy to understand
• Get feedback on your lyrics from friends or fellow songwriters

5. Song structure

Song structure refers to the organization and arrangement of different sections within a song. It provides a framework for how the various parts of a song fit together, creating a cohesive musical composition. A song’s structure is its overall shape, the journey it takes the listener on from start to finish.

Much like any story has a beginning, middle, and ending, song arrangements tend to be divided into familiar sections, each serving specific functions.

Some common song structures include:

• Verse-chorus (ABABCB) : The verse-chorus structure alternates from verses and choruses, with occasional bridges (C sections).
• Verse-pre-chorus-chorus (ABABCBB) : This expands the verse-chorus structure by adding a pre-chorus section between the verse and chorus.
• AABA : This consists of two verses (A sections) followed by a contrasting bridge (B section), and then a return to the initial verse (A section).
• ABAB : This structure features two contrasting sections, typically referred to as “A” and “B.”

Most songs (in modern western music, at least) follow a verse-chorus structure. A narrative in the lyrics evolves over multiple verses, intercut with a repeating chorus or refrain that is typically the peak energy of the song.

The intro often states the song’s main hook—an obvious example of this is “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes . Other times, the intro and outro are completely separate sections with unique musical material.

The bridge introduces a musical variation to a song’s main themes, usually occurring late in the track before the climactic final chorus. Listen out for the bridge here in Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” (starting at 2:54).

6. Arrangement

Arrangement in songwriting can refer to the organization and structure of the different sections, instruments, and elements within a song. In many music genres, the traditional song arrangement features a lead melody accompanied by a rhythm section. But of course, you are completely free to choose the instrumentation for your song, from a simple solo part to an elaborate orchestra.

Using a DAW and sampled sounds , it’s possible to build up an arrangement with a practically unlimited number of tracks. The sky’s the limit, but remember that simplicity often has more effectiveness and cut-through than something overly complicated. Our guide on electronic music production can help you dial in your sound if you’re looking for something more modern.

When choosing instruments to support your song, remember to consider the song’s genre and what instruments are typically used. For instance, you wouldn’t typically hear a flute in a country song unless it’s a deliberate choice to add that sort of timbre to the song.

Native Instruments has hundreds of high quality sounds and instruments to choose from. A great way to get started experimenting with your musical arrangement is by downloading KOMPLETE START , a free bundle of professional-grade instruments and synths to elevate your songs.

Download KOMPLETE START free

7. Recording, mixing, and mastering

After your song is written and arranged, it’s time to record your music for a demo or a professional recording.

How you choose to record a song will depend on whether you’re using live or electronic sounds. To record live instruments or vocals, you’ll need a microphone. These days, most people use a DAW as a recording device, giving you as many tracks as you need for different takes or overdubs. And using tools like MIDI controllers , keyboards , and recording equipment that connects to your computer can speed up the recording process and help refine your sound.

The traditional role of the songwriter that only writes songs without additional production work still exists, but with easy access to studio-grade equipment , it’s increasingly common to produce your own music. Learning production is within reach for most people, giving you total control and independence to build your platform as an artist.

On the production and processing side, iZotope Elements Suite provides everything you need to mix and master tracks to a professional standard.

Start writing songs

We hope this guide has given you a solid understanding of how to write catchy, memorable songs in an easy-to-understand way. Remember to find inspiration from various sources, keep your lyrics simple yet meaningful, utilize imagery and metaphors, and engage in the art of storytelling.

With dedication, practice, and an open mind, you can create songs that resonate with both yourself and your listeners.

For even more songwriting tips, check out our interview with professional songwriters in the industry. And get started writing your own songs using tools from Native Instruments, including the free KOMPLETE START bundle that gives you 16 pro-grade synths and sampled instruments, plus effects, loops, and samples.

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How to Write a Song

Techniques and tips for writing your own songs in the 21st century

Written By:

Last Updated: December 2023 | Article Details: 4509 words ( 24 – 26 minute read )

We may earn commissions from purchases made through our links. Learn More .

If you want to learn how to write songs, we’ll give you a step-by-step approach in this article.

We’re going to get into song lyrics, melody, story and more. We’ll also give you some tips on how you can write better songs below. Finally, we’ll have some resources you can use to improve your skills as a songwriter.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are many different approaches for how to write a song – the method we go over here is just one way to do it. But I’ve found it to be a very effective way to write, and many popular artists do something very similar when writing their songs.

Let’s get right into it…

Quick Note: We assume you know what it means when we use the terms “harmony,” “scales,” “chord progresisons,” “melody,” “bars,” and “beats.” If you’re not sure  check out our quick guide on music theory before you read on.

Article Table of Contents

• i Video Overview
• ii Audio Version of Article
• ii Writing a Song Step-by-Step
• iv Writing Songs vs. Writing Hits

1. Step-By-Step Process In-Depth

• 1.1 Song Structure
• 1.2 Chords and Beats
• 1.3 The All Important Topline
• 1.4 Choose Your Best Melodies
• 1.5 Writing Lyrics
• 1.6 First Draft + Re-Writing
• 1.7 Record Your Final Draft

2. Tips to Help You Learn to Write Better Songs

• 2.1 RE-WRITE YOUR SONGS!
• 2.2 Don’t Be Cliched or Obvious
• 2.3 Don’t Be Too Abstract
• 2.4 Melodies Really Are Everything

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 Final Thoughts & Additional Resources

Audio Version of Article

Listen to the entire article instead:

[COMING SOON]

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Learn the Secrets to Writing and Producing HIT SONGS

Writing a Song Step-By-Step

We’ll explain everything in this list in more detail in this post, but here’s an overview of the steps involved in writing your own song.

The first thing to do in writing a song is to find a mood/vibe that you like in the moment. You can start with a chord progression that speaks to you or find a full beat/instrumental online to write your song to.

The next step is to find the main melody of your song (the topline) by freestyling and recording ideas using gibberish words or random phrases that come to mind.

Now you will listen to your recordings and pick out your favorite melody ideas. You’ll also want to categorize each melody idea as a “verse,” “chorus,” “pre-chorus,” “bridge” melody.

Now that you have your melody ideas categorized, start coming up with lyric ideas that fit the sound of the melodies. Start with the chorus to come up with a summation of your story, then fill in context/detail in your verses and pre-choruses. Make sure you’re telling an overall story and that your lyrics vibe with the mood of the chords/beat.

Now come up with a rough arrangement of all your lyrics and melodies together – the basic structure should resemble something like Intro-Verse-PreChorus-Chorus-Verse-PreChorus-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro. Record a rough take so that you can listen to the gist of it as a “full” song.

Now it’s time to listen to your recording with a critical ear and refine and rewrite lyrics so they’re more impactful. Maybe you can refine the melody ideas or flow/rhythm of your delivery. Maybe you can think of better phrases/words to use. Rewrite your entire song to make it the best thing possible.

Now is the time to record a final draft of your re-written song. If you have music production skills or know someone that does, now is the perfect time to record a “demo” of your song with a bit more production work behind it (like a properly recorded vocal, etc.).

Now it’s important to remember – there’s no wrong way to write a song. The above process is just one single way to do it. It’s a pretty effective way, I’ve found, but it’s not gospel.

If a different songwriting process works better for you, lean into it. The idea is to just be able to write the best material possible. So don’t be afraid to do things differently when writing songs for yourself.

Writing Songs vs. Writing Hits

Before we move any further, it’s probably a good idea to get into the distinction between writing songs and hits.

You can write whatever you want to as a songwriter. Let your creativity and oddity run wild. But don’t expect it to resonate with the masses.

Writing hit songs is an art and a science in itself. There is a craft to it. And certain “rules” or “boundaries” that you usually have to follow to maximize your chances of success with it.

That’s just how it is.

If you don’t want to be constrained like that when writing a song, there’s nothing wrong with writing whatever you feel. Express your art. That’s one of the greatest things you can do.

Just don’t complain about it if the song’s not hitting and no one’s listening. If you want a hit, work within the “pop hit” framework. Otherwise, just do you and find contentment in the art.

Decide now what you’re trying to do with your songwriting: do you want to express yourself creatively or do you want mainstream success? Or maybe a bit of both?

Either way, accept the reality of whatever it is you’re trying to do. And always remember you don’t need to be a “hit songwriter” to have success in music. You can build a great career just doing you.

I say that to say… this isn’t an article about writing hit songs , it’s just about writing great songs in general.

How to Write Songs for Beginners – In Depth

Ok, so now let’s take a look at each of the steps involved in writing a song in a bit more depth. Because of the nature of sitting down to write a song, it will be tough to really explain how it’s done in detail, but let’s give it a shot.

The first thing you should know is that most songs have a few different sections:

• intros/outros,
• the chorus (same melody across choruses, lyrics sum up the song’s “story” in a catchy/hooky way),
• the verse (similar melodies across verse, lyrics gives more detail on the story),
• the pre-chorus (same melody across pre-choruses, lyrics add onto verse and build up into a climactic chorus section)
• a bridge or “departure” section (a new section with new melodies, new lyrics and sometimes even new harmony/chords).

Most pop songs follow this structure – Intro -> Verse -> Pre-Chorus -> Chorus -> Verse -> Pre-Chorus -> Chorus -> Bridge/Departure -> Chorus -> Outro.

Often times each song section is based on a multiple of 4 bars ( read this if you don’t understand what a bar is). A lot of verses, bridges and choruses clock in at 8 bars of music (sometimes 16). Pre-Choruses are often 4 or 8 bars in length.

Just keep all that in mind for now.

— Related Content: Song Structure Explained – Read Now —

Step 1: Chords and Beats for Your Song

A song isn’t just music. And music isn’t just sounds. Music (and thus a song) is the change in sound over time. So you need some sort of harmonic movement to really craft any song. And with any song it can really help to start with a chord progression ( learn more ) in the very least, instead of trying to come up with a melody and lyrics off jump.

Nowadays a lot of songwriters will search online on YouTube or sites like BeatStars for a pre-made instrumental to write to.

This is a great way to start writing a song ( learn more ), because you have a full production to start writing your song to. You can also try to find a local producer in your city to work with, but that’s much more involved.

When you’re starting out writing a song, all you really need is chord progression – whether you’re using a piano, a guitar or even just a midi pattern .

What to Do:

Start with something that’s either 4 or 8 bars/measures and loop it over and over. That’s the “bed” of your song.

Make sure it’s a vibe that matches however you’re feeling in the moment. What kind of song do you want to write? Happy? Melancholy? Angry? Make sure the feeling matches the chords/beat you’re using.

And just play it over and over and start to feel the vibe.

Close your eyes and feel the sounds. You’ll probably want to start humming along with it. That leads into the next step…

Step 2: The All Important Topline

Now that you’ve got a base for your song, it’s time to come up with a topline.

A topline is really just the MELODY of the song . The all-important song melody – the thing people will latch onto, resonate with and remember the most. Not the lyrics, JUST the melody.

This step is all about finding the shapes of your melodies for each part of your song.

Don’t underestimate the power of a great melody in a song. It’s everything – and nowadays, that’s true even if you’re writing a rap song (which is traditionally light on melody).

Set up a phone, laptop or portable recorder to record your voice along with the chords/beats playing in the background. It doesn’t have to be good quality or fancy. It just needs to record audio.

Loop your chord progression for 3 or so minutes if you can. If you’re playing it live with an instrument, just keep playing over and over. If you’re using a beat, just let it play through.

Now start humming along with the musical backing – hum out whatever melody ideas start coming to your mind. It DOESN’T MATTER IF THEY’RE GOOD OR NOT.

This is just brainstorming song melody ideas.

Also, words don’t matter at this stage. You can use gibberish to make up fake/nonsense words while trying to create the melodies, but just humming is fine too.

If you do use gibberish, different song lyric ideas may start to form. Keep them in mind, but don’t worry about finding the right words yet.

This is ALL ABOUT MELODY.

Do this at least 3 times, recording each take. Lots of songwriters use this approach.

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Step 3 – Choose Your Best Melodies

The next step is to choose your favorite melodies and categorize them. You’re going to be choosing the melodies you think are the most impactful for each separate section of your song.

Some things to keep in mind is that each song section (verse, chorus, etc) should be unique and distinct. You don’t want to use the EXACT same melody in every single section of the song or it will be boring.

A lot of times, verse melodies are more subdued than chorus melodies. Chorus melodies are often either really epic or very drawn down. The big thing is that the chorus melody is DISTINCT from the verse melody.

Verse melodies are often also more complex (not much, but a bit) than choruses. Chorus melodies tend to be the most simple and catchy parts of a song.

But again, these aren’t hard and fast rules. You can do whatever you feel like for your song.

Once you have 3 recorded takes of your melody/topline freestyles, play them back to yourself one at a time.

Pay attention for any melody ideas that immediately jump out to you. The kinds of melodies that make you go “oooh that’s dope!”

Categorize that melody – does it sound like it’d be better in the verse or the chorus? Maybe the bridge? Make a note of it.

Listen through every take you recorded and do that for every melody that perks up your ears.

This is where having some basic music production skills can help.

Categorizing audio clips like this is really easy in DAW (digital audio workstation) software.

By the time you’re done, you should have an overall structure of your song, complete with verse and chorus melodies (and a bridge melody if necessary).

Now, you need to record one more take of your melodies over top of your music – this time in the exact order of your song so far (i.e. verse, pre-chorus, chorus).

You’ll be working with this new recording of each melody you chose, in proper order, to tell the song’s full story.

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Step 4 – Writing the Song Lyrics

Now that you have the melody written for your song, it’s time to work on and write the lyrics ( learn more ). If you’re wondering why we recommend focusing on the melody first, there’s a couple of reasons:

• It’s easier (and more effective) to fit words into a melody than trying to fit a melody onto words
• The melody is always more important than the lyrics in a song. Lyrics are important, but melody is much more memorable and needs to be ON POINT first.

But again, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Do whatever is easiest for you as you write. If you work better by writing song lyrics first, do that. This is just what we find most effective.

Remember this: a song is a story – an emotional journey, in lyrics, melodies and musical backing. They all work together to tell a story and convey emotions.

Start by looping and playing a specific section of your new song recording. It’s normally best to start writing the chorus ( learn more ) lyrics first.

That’s because the chorus will be a “summation” or “climax” of the story – the main point or lesson or message the story is trying to tell. Start with the end in mind, and then work backwards to fill in the details and context

Usually the verses and pre-chorus will provide background and details on the story you’re trying to tell, and will build up to an eventual “payoff” in the chorus.

How do you do it?

If you used gibberish during the freestyling, there may have been some outlines of words that would work well in that melody. Try excavating an idea from that gibberish. What is the song’s melody “trying” to say when you listen to it? Write down whatever comes to mind.

Usually the song will tell you what it wants to be.

Just always remember that the song melody is all important. Lyrics you write should work WITH the melody, not the other way around. If the melody ends on an “ooh” sound more easily, try to use a word that does too.

Start to piece together your story with ideas and phrases and words that say what you and the song are trying to say. What’s the “summation” or “climax” of the story you’re telling? Write that as your chorus.

Once you’ve got the chorus, then go back and start thinking of lyrics that could fit the verse. The verse will add context to your story and give background and details. Write the story out in a way that leads to the climax/summation in the song chorus.

And then do the same as you write the pre-chorus (if you’re using one) – it should continue to build up the story to the ultimate payoff in the chorus.

Do this for each section of your song until you’ve got everything written. You’ll usually only have to write one chorus, one pre-chorus, one bridge and 2 or 3 verses.

Quick Tip: I highly recommend writing your lyrics down with pen and paper. There’s just something about being able to cross things out and the motion of actually writing your lyrics that helps make things stick.

Step 5 – Bring Your First Draft Together

This step is really straight forward.

Now that you have written a first draft of your song lyrics and melody. It’s time to record a rough take of everything you wrote.

Again, this doesn’t have to be high quality. Recording it on your phone is totally fine. Just record one whole run through, from beginning to end, of all you verses, pre’s, choruses and the bridge if you have one.

It’s ok if you screw up a bit here and there during the recording. It’s a rough take. Just something for you to listen to.

Once you’ve recorded this first take of the full song, step away. It’s time to take a break. Don’t move on to the next step until you’ve had time away. You need FRESH EARS for the rest of the steps. Come back later, or better yet the next day.

Step 6 – The All Important Song RE-WRITE

You may feel great about the song you wrote so far. You may think it’s the best thing you’ve ever done. But I can almost guarantee, your song is not as good as it could be.

And that’s where taking the time to perform this extra songwriting step is crucial to writing great songs .

Never underestimate the awesome power of rewriting your song .

Ernest Hemmingway once said something like “the first draft of anything is shit.” And that is the absolute truth.

Spend time refining the songs you write – re-write wherever necessary. That is what will set you apart as a songwriter from everyone else trying to do this thing.

Take the recording you created of your full song’s first draft, and just sit there and listen to it over and over.

Listen to the song at least 3 times – read your lyrics sheet while listening. Pay attention to the song melodies, the flow of the song sections and the transitions between sections you write.

Does anything feel off? Does anything feel jerky or not smooth and like it fits in it’s proper place?

Are the words you used for a particular line, really the best words/phrases you could use to convey that idea?

Would this particular melody sound better if it ended upwards vs. downwards?

While you’re listening to your song, ask yourself “how could this be better” for EVERYTHING.

And then try things out. Re-write and re-record things as you make edits. Does it sound better or worse? Compare the versions against each other.

Really sculpt away at the song until you have the absolute purest essence of what you’re trying to do. You can do as many re-writes as you think are necessary.

And once you learn more about the craft of songwriting over time, you’ll start to recognize these opportunities to improve more and more in all your songs.

Step 7 – Record Your Song’s Final Draft

Now that you’ve refined your song to it’s absolute best, it’s time to record a final draft of everything.

Do something similar to what you did in step 5, above – one full run through of the newly re-written song.

Again, it doesn’t have to be super high quality. A phone recording is perfectly acceptable right now.

But at this stage, if you have access to the equipment/skill, you can record a demo of the song. If you’re trying to pitch the song to other artists or labels, a well produced demo can go a long way.

Having said that, just remember that the SONG has to be there. A well produced but badly written song will go nowhere. That’s why I stress the re-write so much. It’s the only way to do things right.

But record a final draft that you can use for whatever purpose you’re writing for. If you’re the artist you’re writing for, you’ll eventually want to record your songs properly, with good equipment.

Having a full, final draft “scratch track” to work from, though, makes everything easier in the long-run. So just record something for now on your phone.

Tips to Help You Learn to Write Better Songs

And there you have it, y’all! You’re officially a songwriter. Congratulations.

That’s not all there is to it. Knowing how to write a great song is a deep and intricate craft. It takes years and years of work to master. Keep learning about the art of writing your own songs. There are so many great resources out there for you to work with.

But for now, here are some general tips to keep in mind when you’re pursuing this craft.

RE-WRITE YOUR SONGS!

I have to say it again, because it’s that important. Great songs are NOT written, they are RE-WRITTEN.

Always re-write your songs. They can always be better. They can always be more impactful, more emotional, more catchy.

When you’re listening through to your song’s first draft that you put together, pay attention to what it is each line is trying to say. Is there a better word/phrase to use that is more modern/unique/etc? Is the metaphor you’re using way too abstract so that no one listening will be able to get it?

Also pay attention to your song melodies! Is your verse melody cohesive and easy to follow or is it all over the place with no real motifs that listeners can latch on to? Are you using repetition and contrast effectively in your melodies?

RE-WRITE YOUR SONGS. Make them the best they can possibly be, because you’re competing with everyone out there in the world.

Don’t Be Cliched or Obvious

A cliché is an overused or very obvious and stereotypical idea. Saying something like “it’s always darkest before dawn” would be a cliché. You should avoid using these phrases and ideas that everyone out there already uses. You want to be interesting and unique in your lyricism.

Another thing is you don’t want to be too obvious in your lyrics. Saying “I love you more than everything” is the most obvious and boring and tired way to say what you’re trying to say. Try to find a unique and interesting way to say the same thing.

Say what you want to say, without saying it directly.

Want to sing better FAST? Try out a 14-day free trial of 30DaySinger below and improve your voice risk-free!

Don’t Be Too Abstract

Now the yang to the yin – even though you don’t want to be too obvious, you also don’t want to be too abstract where no one even understands what you’re trying to say.

Great writing is the balance between the two within a single song.

Don’t use phrases or slang that is personal or unknown in wider culture. Don’t intentionally try to be so artsy and poetic that it’s difficult to comprehend. And try not to make things so personal to yourself that others won’t be able to connect to it.

Melodies Really Are Everything

Your song’s main vocal melody ( learn more ) is SO important. It’s impossible to over-emphasize this. Everything in your song should serve the main melody.

Don’t believe me? Max Martin , arguably the most successful and prolific hit-making songwriter ever, is a strong believer in the power of melody. So much so, that he prefers using words and lyrics that don’t even make sense if it makes the melody of the line better.

Here are some tips for a great song melody:

• Keep it singable – stay within an octave and a half as much as you can
• Simplicity is key – make your melody easy to follow along with – not a bunch of complexity, not a lot of wild jumps in pitch, etc.
• Be balanced – a great melody will use a balanced combination of step-wise movement (note to next note in scale), and intervallic leaps (note to a higher/lower note in scale)
• Use repetition – motifs are small melodic phrases that repeat throughout a song. It heightens your song’s memorability and helps anchor your listener
• Keep it interesting – it’s also important to modify your motifs to keep things interesting and not monotonous/boring. Even slight changes like one different note in a repeated section can make a world of difference
• If you were to draw your melody out on a staff or in music software, it should look like a bunch of rolling hills (gradually moving upwards and then back down again)

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Song

The topic of the songs you write is often very personal to you. But you can write about literally anything. It’s important to keep in mind that there are certain universal ideas that will resonate with more people, more often. Those topics include love and relationships, loss and sorrow/pain, interesting stories, inspiration and living life and even introspection and philosophy. The most popular topic to write songs about is, of course, love and relationships.

Songwriting is a really personal thing. So you want to write wherever you’re most comfortable. Whether that’s a bedroom, a studio, the beach, whatever – you want to find a place that lets you be you without fear of judgement. As far as where to write your song lyrics, I prefer a pad of paper and a pen but using your notes app in your phone is totally fine too. Do whatever feels best to you. Coming up with melodies, however, is usually easiest when recording yourself freestyling.

When you’re first starting out and writing songs, it’s tempting to want to get your song out there. But just wait and focus on your craft. Your first 100 songs are PRACTICE. Once you’re a really good songwriter, you can try joining and reaching out to Performance Rights Organizations (like ASCAP/SOCAN/BMI/etc) and getting them to guide you along your songwriting career. It’s also a good idea to connect with artists and singers in your local city to write with or for them.

You don’t need to be a musician to write your own songs. If you don’t play any instruments or make your own beats you can do a couple different things. You can download full beats/instrumentals for your song from places like YouTube or BeatStars. That’s a great way to start with a full production behind your song. You can also use tools like Beat Building Blocks which contain pre-made, drag-and-drop patterns of chord progressions and drum grooves to easily build your own musical backing to the song you want to write.

Get Our Free Songwriting Course and Cheat Sheets!

Enter your name and email to instantly get access to cheat sheets for Songwriting Prompts, Song Structures and more, plus a 7 Day Course to Better Songwriting!

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Final Thoughts

When you’re first starting out writing your own songs, you’ll be bursting with ideas. And that’s a great thing – utilize it.

Write as many songs as you can as fast as you can. There’s no getting around it – your first songs are going to suck. It’s just how it is.

My recommendation is to get through your first 100 songs as quickly as possible. Just write, write, write.

Most of what you make will be bad. But after your first 100 songs you’ll likely have become a really skilled songwriter.

The first 100 is just practice. So get it out of the way as soon as possible.

If you really want to level up your songwriting skills, I highly recommend you join HitSongsDeconstructed – they’re the best resource on the internet I’ve found on how to write hit songs.

And there you have it – a complete guide on how to write a song for beginners. I hope you found this article helpful!

Additional Resources

Related Guides and Articles

• How to Write a Verse – Read More
• How to Write a Pre-Chorus – Read More

Tools for Songwriters (affiliate links)

• Uncover the Secrets of the Biggest Hit Songs in the World
• Make Your Own Beats Easily With Beat Building Blocks
• Release Unlimited Music to Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music and More
• Learn the Art of Songwriting with John Legend
• Learn How to Sing Better in 30 Days!
• Learn Songwriting and Production with Alicia Keys
• Berklee’s Guide to Writing Better Lyrics
• The Addiction Formula Songwriting Book
• Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting Book

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Songwriting Tips: How To Write Incredible Songs

Learn how to write a song with tips and tools from Soundtrap's in-house pros. In this article, we cover how to write chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics, and show you how to become a skilled songwriter in any genre.

Songwriting is the heart of music-making. It’s where the music creation process starts and ends, and is the most important factor in whether a song becomes a hit or flop. It’s also one of the most powerful art forms with the ability to express feelings, tell stories, influence politics, and connect people from around the world. 

For beginners and seasoned pros alike, the songwriting process is a fulfilling and challenging task. Not only does it require creativity and inspiration, but you must also master the right songwriting tools and techniques to bring a song to life. 

Whether you’re into writing rap songs, pop, country, or EDM, this blog post will guide you through the songwriting process, and provide tips and tactics for creating music that resonates with listeners.

What is songwriting?

Songwriting is the art of creating music through chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics. It also involves coming up with ideas for songs and working out a song structure, like how many verses to write, when should the chorus come in, etc.  

If you want to become a great songwriter, you need to find sources of inspiration , such as real-life events, strong emotions, or abstract concepts. Great songs resonate with the audience because the listener can relate to them. Your goal should be to come up with songwriting ideas that engage, move, and inspire listeners, and be vulnerable, personal, and universal at the same time.

Songwriting in different genres

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to songwriting. Depending on the genre and function of music-making, the methods will differ. Having said that, the basics still apply: You need a strong song idea, a moving melody, engaging lyrics, and a solid song structure. We’ve listed a few examples of songwriting and how they can differ depending on the genre.

Pop songwriting : Pop songs are designed to be catchy and easy to listen to. They attempt to draw the audience in with a standard song structure and a strong hook that’s easy to sing along to. Pop songs typically use simple chord progressions and cater to a broad audience.

Rock songwriting : Rock songs are often characterized by high energy, complex drum beats, and the use of electric guitars. Classic rock songs are usually personal and emotionally charged, covering topics such as love, rebellion, and social issues.

Hip-Hop & Rap songwriting : Hip-hop songs originally used spoken word poetry set to a beat. Today, blending singing and rapping is more common in mainstream Hip Hop. The lyrics are longer, typically divided into verses of 16 bars, and deal with issues such as social justice and inequality. Rags to riches, materialism, and drug use are also common topics in some sub-genres of Hip Hop. 

Electronic music songwriting : Electronic music focuses more on beats and sounds than lyrical content. It includes a wide range of styles, from House music and Experimental to Trance and Techno. Common instruments in Electronic songs are synthesizers and drum machines to create unique and innovative sounds.

Watch songwriter AmaZane write an RnB break-up song in Soundtrap.

Songwriting professions

Not only does songwriting vary depending on genres. Working as a songwriter can look very different depending on the individual. Here are some examples of popular songwriting professions: 

Artist songwriter - Many performing artists also write their own songs. This is a great way to have more creative control and also earn more royalties from both the recording and the publishing rights.

Writing for other artists - Probably the most common songwriting profession. It’s very common in pop music to have separate songwriters and artists on a song.

Film, TV, and commercials - Another popular job for songwriters is to write music for film and television. Considering how many TV shows and movies are produced these days, this profession can be a very lucrative business for songwriters.

Publishing - A songwriter working for a music publisher is like an artist working for a record label. Your job is to create songs that the publisher then licenses to record companies, TV & film, commercials, etc. This is a great way of getting your music in front of big artists and important industry players.

Tips on how to write a song in 10 Steps

Every songwriting journey is different, but these steps will give you a good insight into the different stages of writing a song.

1. Come up with a song idea

Every song starts with an idea and songwriting inspiration can really come from anywhere. A great way to come up with a topic for your song is to dig deep into yourself. What are some strong emotions that you have at the moment? Can you recall some memories that have affected your life? Any lost loves or old friendships that have impacted you? What is going on in the world?

Some of the best songs ever written are commentaries on social issues and the current zeitgeist. How you come up with a song idea is really individual and you need to figure out what works best for you.

Using songwriting prompts

A songwriting prompt is a great starting point that can help generate ideas. Some examples of songwriting prompts include picking an emotion or feeling, a location, a strong memory, or even a random word or phrase.

Start with any of these prompts and let your creativity flow. See where it takes you. Not every idea is going to be a hit song but using these songwriting techniques will give you good practice for becoming a better songwriter over time.

Soundtrap’s Studio App

Songwriting ideas usually come when you’re on the go. That’s why it’s super useful to have a music-making app on your phone. Soundtrap’s Studio App lets you create music on the go, recording song ideas directly on your phone.

So the next time you come up with some really awesome lyrics or a melody on your commute, just take out your phone and hit record.

With Soundtrap's Capture App, you can record song ideas on the go.

2. Give your song a name

Before you start working on any chords or lyrics, it’s a great idea to name your song. This gives you a clear framework to work around and helps you to stay on track. You should already have the song idea, so naming it should be the next step before you start crafting the actual building blocks of your song.

3. Create chord progressions

Once you have your song idea and name, it’s time to start creating the actual music. This usually starts with chord progressions. You can of course start composing chords without having a song idea or song name. Many songwriters do. But setting out with an idea of what you want to create is usually a great way to go if you’re a beginner in songwriting.

Read more: Chord Progressions Explained - How to Write a Song With Instruments

Using songwriting software and tools

To create compelling chord progressions, you should start by experimenting with different chord combinations. Set up your keyboard or guitar, or log in to the Soundtrap studio and open up the online piano or any other virtual instrument, and explore different keys. Combine them and discover what sounds good to you. Once you’ve laid out your chords over 2-4 bars, you should have a solid foundation for your song.

You can also take inspiration from other musicians or from songs you love. By developing an ear for chord progressions, songwriters can create one-of-a-kind progressions that lay the foundation for a unique and interesting sound.  

So, the key takeaways are that you need both an artistic vision and musical creativity, and professional songwriting tools like Soundtrap’s online DAW , in order to write chord progressions that stand out.

4. Write a melody to your chords

Melody writing is supposed to complement the chord progression. The melody is also, arguably, the most important element of a song. It’s what grabs the listeners and makes them remember the song. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head for a day or two? Yup, that’s probably thanks to a well-composed melody.  

Start by analyzing your basic chords to come up with a melody. You can try humming over your progression to come up with a melody that fits, or just play around with your instrument while your chord progression is playing in the background. Naturally, you should compose your melody in the same key and scale as your chord progression so that the two elements dance with each other, and don't compete.

Check out how Adam creates a melody with vocal chops in Soundtrap

5. Write a hook

Songwriting should start with a powerful hook, or chorus, that stands out from the rest of the song and has a memorable melody and lyrics. Keep it simple and repetitive. This way it’s easier for the listener to memorize the hook and appreciate it more. 

The melody of the hook should be distinctive while still fitting in with the overall feel and sound. The lyrics in the hook should convey the key message of the song, bringing everything together at the end of each verse. It’s usually smart to include the song name in the hook. 

By crafting a memorable and compelling hook, you can create a song that resonates with your audience and stays with them long after they hear to it.

6. Creating a song structure

Decide on a song structure that works best for the particular song you’re working on. For beginner songwriters, it can be helpful to follow a basic song structure to give the song a clear and straightforward feel. 

A common way to structure a song is verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus . This allows for the verses and bridges to build up to the choruses, which should be the climax of the song. When writing a rap song, for example, it’s common to have an intro, 3 verses, and repeating hooks in between each verse. 

Whichever structure your choose, the key is to create a sense of coherence and purpose in the song. It’s much like guiding the listener through a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. Keeping all this in mind will help you create a structure that resonates with the audience and keeps them coming back for more.

7. Write captivating verses

The verse is where you really flesh out the song and hone in on your lyrics writing skills. Verses are supposed to keep the listener engaged and interested between the choruses. Verses should also be longer than the choruses, and they should, in most cases, sound less busy than the hooks.

The purpose of this is to make the song dynamic and exciting. If the whole song was just the same loop on repeat, it wouldn’t be very engaging, unless maybe you’re writing electronic dance music. That’s why the song should have fewer things going on during the verses, to build up for a climactic chorus. With that said, the verses should of course be just as captivating as the chorus.

8. Create a song intro, outro, and bridges

No song would be complete without an intro and outro. Since music streaming services like Spotify entered the market, song intros have become significantly shorter. This is possibly due to the vast amount of songs available today. It’s harder than ever to hold the attention of today’s music listeners, and subsequently, intros have become shorter. 

A good rule of thumb is to keep your intro to under 10 seconds. If you want people to discover your music through streaming platforms, something interesting should happen within 10 seconds so that you don’t risk having your listeners skip to the next song. 

Outros can be longer, and they should close out the song beautifully. Try lowering the energy and amount of instruments playing after the last hook. You can also have the beginning of another verse playing as the outro, and then slowly fade out the volume. 

You might have guessed what a song bridge does. It’s really in the name. It’s the song passage between a verse and a chorus, often placed between the last verse and the last hook. The purpose of a bridge is to build up the suspense going into the chorus. Try taking out the drums, or maybe some other instrument during the bridge, to give the chorus a stronger impact when every instrument comes back in.

Recording a demo in Soundtrap is easy and gives you instant access to your project on any device.

9. Record a demo

Once you have put the melody, lyrics, and song structure together, it’s time to record a demo of your song. A demo is a song sketch, a project to build on as more ideas come to mind or after you’ve received feedback on the song. 

For recording a demo, or a finished song, you’ll need a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Soundtrap. A DAW lets you record, edit and mix your songs in studio software and gives you a clear overview of each element of your song. 

The beauty of Soundtrap is that your project is stored online and can be accessed from anywhere, on any device. This is particularly helpful when working on demos. You can easily share your project with anyone for feedback or collabs. Maybe you need someone to add a baseline or strings to your project. Just send them the link to your project and they can access the same demo and add their touch to it. 

And since Soundtrap is a multidevice DAW, you always have your latest demo projects right in your pocket, ready to be played at the next party or run-in with music industry A&Rs.

10. Revisit your song and make improvements

One thing you might notice as you go from beginner songwriter to more experienced is that your songs will never feel completely finished. Most songwriters always find something that they would like to change or improve in their songs, even years after the music has been released. 

The cool thing about the demo stage of songwriting is that you do in fact have the chance to go back and make improvements to your song. So take this opportunity to go back to the song every other day and listen for something missing in the song, or that tweak that can take it from average to banger!

The songwriting journey should be fun and challenging. Make sure you explore different paths.

Songwriting is arguably the most important part of music creation. It requires creativity, inspiration, and digital tools and techniques to make songs come alive. 

You need to master chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics, as well as idea generation and song structure. The art of songwriting varies depending on genres, each with different approaches and techniques, but the fundamentals of great songwriting stay the same. Hopefully, this article has given you some valuable tips and tricks on how to become a more skilled songwriter.

Follow us on social media for more day-to-day songwriting tips and don’t forget to share this blog post with other music lovers.

Try Soundtrap today! Your all-in-one DAW for music production on the go.

How to Write a Song and Produce Music: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let's explore the basics of music production and songwriting. we’ll talk about what goes into making a good song and how to produce it in a way that sounds professional., table of contents.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to write a song and produce your own music?

You've always been fascinated by the process but didn't know where to start?

It's not as hard as you think.

Producing your own songs and music can be a lot of work, but it can also be rewarding and deeply satisfying. It can provide an outlet for creativity in a digital age where so much of what we do is spent looking at screens rather than interacting with people or nature.

This article will explore the basics of music production and songwriting. We'll talk about what goes into making a good song and how to produce it in a way that sounds professional.

By the end of this article, you will have all the knowledge required to take musical ideas and turn them into a whole song.

You'll learn to start your creative process with raw material, work around a song's theme, and write memorable melodies.

So, if you're ready to learn, let's get started!

What is music production and what does it involve?

Music production is creating a piece of music, from start to finish.

It involves everything from writing the initial composition to arranging the instruments and recording the track. In many cases, music producers will also handle the mixing and mastering the final recording.

The role of a music producer is to oversee the entire production process and ensure that the final product meets the artist's vision — many producers are the artists themselves, the ones writing popular songs, and the best example is Kanye West.

Music producers often work closely with engineers and other technicians to ensure the highest quality of the recordings. Technology has recently played an increasingly important role in music production, with many producers using digital audio workstations and other software to create their tracks. However, at its core, music production is still about creating something beautiful out of nothing.

Let's first start with a question that is often asked.

🤨 What is the difference between music production and songwriting?

Songwriting is the process of writing music and song lyrics. Music has two main parts: melody and harmony. Melody is made up of notes, and harmony is composed of chords. After you create the music, you have to arrange it to sound good.

On the other hand, producing music involves sampling, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering. The process can be divided into two parts: pre-production and post-production. Pre-production is when you record a song that is already fully arranged. Post-production is when you mix all the different tracks and master the song.

In a home studio setting, you'll devote your time to composing, recording, and mixing music using a variety of electronic and acoustic instruments and then combining all the recorded elements into a digital audio workstation (DAW).

Isn't that awesome!

💾 What are the most common DAWs in 2022?

• Ableton Live
• Logic Pro X

There are no right or wrong answers here; it's a question of preference, budget and desire to learn. A great article from Music Radar outlines the Best DAWs of 2022 based on price, type of production, and more.

🏠 How can I start producing music from home?

Here at Craft Your Sound , we are dedicated to helping you develop your musical skills and overcoming any creative roadblocks that could stand in your way.

Thanks to technological advances, producing high-quality music from a home studio is now possible without spending a fortune on equipment.

The first step is to choose the right production software, as mentioned above.

Several options are available for a DAW, so it's essential to research and find the one that best suits your needs.

Once you've installed the software, it's time to start creating. The songwriting process can involve a lot of trial and error, but that's part of the fun.

🪜 How to produce a song

First, you'll need to come up with an idea for a song or piece of music. An idea can be something as simple as a melody stuck in your head, a general theme you want to communicate through your music, or you simply want to remake one of your favourite songs.

You want to capture that general idea and start working by either writing lyrics, coming up with chord progressions, or playing it through instruments and sounds.

The key here is to start small, experiment and see what sounds good based on your initial idea.

Once the basic idea is written, the next step in the songwriting process is building up the track by layering different sounds and instruments on top of each other.

Then, it's time to arrange the basic structure of the song. This process will give you direction and allow you to finish your song without writer's block.

Once the arrangement is complete, you'll need to mix and master the final mix.

We'll get into mixing and mastering in future posts.

As you can see, good songwriting and production seem like a lot of work initially, but it gets easy and becomes a lot of fun.

Step-by-step guide: How to write songs for beginners

Creating your own song can be daunting, especially if you've never done it before. However, anyone can do it with a little creativity and perseverance.

So, where do you start with the songwriting process?

First, take some time to listen to music and get an idea of what you like.

What genres do you enjoy? What emotions do you want to evoke with your music? How do you want people to feel when they hear your song?

Once you have a rough idea of what you want to say, it's time to put your thoughts into notes.

You don't need to be a trained musician to write music — anyone can do it.

Start with a few simple melodies and chord progressions, and see where your creativity takes you.

Don't worry if you don't know how to read music— there are plenty of online resources that can help you get started.

The most important thing is enjoying the process and letting your creativity flow. Who knows where your musical journey will take you?

🎼 Step 1: Start by writing a set of chords

Before you begin writing, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when you add chords together.

To start chords, you need to understand the concept of keys. Keys are any of the white and black notes on a keyboard, and there are only seven natural notes (white keys: A-B-C-D-E-F-G) and five sharps or flats (black key) that repeat up and down (octaves).

You need to decide what key you want to write in. This decision will determine the order of the notes in your chords.

Once you've decided on a key, you must familiarize yourself with the major and minor scales. These will be the foundation for the writing process of your chords. To create a chord, you simply take any two or three notes from the scale and play them together. For example, writing in the key of C, you could create a C chord by playing the notes C-E-G together. Try to aim for four-chord progressions, as many songs use a similar structure.

As you become more comfortable with chord theory, you'll be able to experiment with different combinations of notes to create unique sounding chords while staying true to the central theme of your song.

To write songs more quickly, listen to your favourite songs and check out Hook Theory to figure out that song's chords and chord progression. Then, you can use the same chord progression to start writing your own songs. You can experiment with new chords as you get better at writing songs.

There's no one right way to start writing a set of chords. It all depends on what you're hoping to achieve. If you're aiming for a certain mood or feel, start by thinking about the type of sound you want to create. Do you want something mellow and soothing or something upbeat and energizing?

Use a piano or guitar to help you find the right sound. Try playing around with different chord progressions until you find something that feels right. Once you have a general idea, begin experimenting with different combinations of notes.

🏗️ Step 2: Think about the song structure

The structure of a song is the skeletal framework that gives the track its shape and makes it easy to remember and sing.

Many popular songs follow a recognizable pattern, such as verse-chorus-break-verse-chorus, but there are endless possibilities for structuring and writing songs.

As a songwriter, you'll need to decide what form your song will take and how you'll transition between sections.

One way to start is by sketching out the main ideas, emotions, or images you want to convey in the song. Then, think about arranging these elements into a cohesive whole. There are no hard and fast rules, so don't be afraid to experiment.

The most important thing is that the structure of your song supports the overall message or feeling you're trying to convey and the genre of music you are making.

Remember that a strong song form is essential for a track to succeed (in the music industry). However, no music producer out there only creates hit songs, so don't overthink the structure and don't put yourself under that unnecessary pressure. Keep in mind that a "listenable" song requires at least a basic framework. That's all there is to it.

So make sure you have at least three of the four essential components of a song structure covered: the verse, the chorus, and the bridge.

The verse is where the story is told.

The chorus is where the melody is catchy and memorable.

The bridge is where the song changes tempo or direction, providing interest and variety.

A great song structure will keep listeners engaged and coming back for more. So when you write a song, think about how each section can contribute to the overall story you're trying to tell. Writing melodies should be memorable and easy to sing along to, so hooks are essential. And don't forget the power of a good old-fashioned sing-along— sometimes all a song needs is a catchy chorus that everyone can join in on.

As you can see, there's a lot that goes into songwriting. But don't let that intimidate you! Just start with a few basic elements and build from there. Experiment with different chord progressions, melodies, and structures until you find something that feels right. And most importantly, have fun!

🎸 Step 3: Write a verse with only instruments

When most people think of writing a verse, they think of using words. However, it is also possible to write a verse using only instruments.

This technique can greatly add musicality to your writing without worrying about finding the right words.

To write a verse with only instruments, start by adding your initial chords and layer the melody on top of those chords.

Once you are happy with the melody, you can subtract or keep the chords and add other embellishments to create interest and variation. As you're starting, use a simple melody that repeats throughout the verse. Later on, you can move towards something more complex.

You then need to choose the instruments that you want to use. A few examples here: you may want to use a combination of percussion, strings, and brass, or you may want to focus on one particular type of instrument.

You can also experiment with different rhythms to add more dynamics to your composition.

In addition, don't be afraid to experiment with different instrumentation. A well-crafted instrumental verse can be just as moving and compelling as using words.

🎙️ Step 4: Structure a melody for chorus and verse

When you're writing a song, it's important to consider the structure of the melody. Typical songs will have a chorus and verse, and each section will have its variation of melody.

The chorus melody is usually the most catchy part of the song, so it's essential to make sure that the melody is memorable and easy to sing along to.

The verse melody should be more lyrical (or instrumental), telling a story or conveying a message. The melody should support the lyrics and help convey the song's emotion.

When planning the structure of your melodies, it's helpful to think about which parts of the song will be most memorable and make sure those parts stand out.

One way to do this is to write a verse and chorus melody with a similar body. This will make it easier for people to remember the melody and sing along with the song.

You can also use the technique of call and response, where you repeat part of the melody after each line. This can help people to learn the melody more quickly.

Another thing to keep in mind is the length of the notes. Longer notes are usually easier to sing than shorter ones, so you may want to make the notes in the chorus slightly longer than those in verse.

By following these songwriting tips, you can create a catchy melody that people will remember long after hearing the song, just like all the memorable songs you sing along to.

🛤️ Step 5: Finish the entire song arrangement first

Most people think they need to get the song "sounding good" before they can start thinking about the arrangement.

That's wrong and will hurt you as a songwriter/producer in the future.

It's critical to finish the entire arrangemen t first. Even a rough version of the arrangement with the macro section is better than focusing on a single section.

Without finishing the arrangement, you don't have direction, and you will block. You cannot continue writing because you're focusing on the wrong things.

When starting, one simple trick is to use a reference track (one of your favourite songs) and reproduce the exact song structure. Then, break down the reference track by its macro section (intro-buildup-chorus-break-buildup-chorus2-outro) using a pen and paper or inside your DAW using midi clips.

Structure your song and build your arrangement to best support the verse/chorus and story you're trying to tell.

The best way to finish an entire song arrangement is to start with the basic melody and chord progression.

Then write the verse and chorus.

And lastly, outline your buildup and breaks.

Once the basic elements are in place, you can add more instrumentation and vocals. But it's important to resist the temptation to add too much too soon. Adding too many details can clutter the arrangement and make it sound muddy.

Instead, focus on creating a clear and concise arrangement that supports the song's melody and progression. With a little patience and attention to detail, you'll be able to craft a polished and professional-sounding song arrangement to take your music to the next level.

🥣 Step 6: Add bridges (buildups) and breaks as required

A musical bridge is a section of a song that helps to transition from one section to another, usually by increasing the level of intensity.

There are several ways to add a musical bridge to a song. One common technique is adding extra instruments or sound layers, gradually building up to the next section.

In contrast, a break is a short section of music that interrupts the song's flow and helps create a sense of climax or tension. Breaks are often used in conjunction with bridges delivered by drum fill or a change in tempo to create a sense of anticipation before moving into the next section.

Adding bridges and breaks will create a more dynamic and exciting song that keeps your listeners engaged.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when adding bridges and breaks to a song:

• Make sure the bridge or break fits the song's overall tone and feel. If it doesn't, it will stick out like a sore thumb and disrupt the song's flow.
• Keep the length of the bridge or break in proportion to the rest of the song. If it's too short, it won't have enough impact; if it's too long, it will start to feel repetitive.
• Pay attention to the dynamics of the bridge or break. A good way to add interest is to start softly and build up to a more intense section.

By following these songwriting tips, you can add bridges and breaks to your own songs to enhance the overall arrangement and helps to keep listeners engaged.

👂 Step 7: Fine-tune and mix your tracks

Once you have the arrangement roughed out, it's time to go through and add all the final touches that will really bring the song to life.

• Make sure that the transitions between sections are smooth and logical. You don't want the listener to be jarred by a sudden change in tempo or feel.
• Add any embellishments or fills that will help to create interest and variety.
• Add any lyrical or vocal harmonies that you feel would enhance the song's overall effect.

Adding these final touches will ensure that your song is polished and ready for listeners to enjoy.

Now that you've recorded all your tracks, it's time to mix them together.

It's important to get a good balance between the different tracks.

Start by setting the levels of each track so that they're roughly in balance with each other. Then, start listening to the track as a whole and make adjustments as needed. If one instrument is too loud or soft, adjust its level accordingly. Remember to solo each track from time to time so that you can really focus on how it sounds in the mix.

Next, start thinking about EQ (equalization). This is the process of shaping the sound of each instrument so that it sits nicely in the mix. For example, if you have two tracks fighting for the same frequency range, you can use EQ to adjust one of them so that they don't clash.

Finally, add any effects that you feel would enhance the song's overall sound. This could include reverb, delay, or other time-based effects. Be careful not to overdo it with the effects, as too much can start to sound cluttered and muddy.

By taking the time to mix your tracks carefully, you'll ensure that they all work together to create a cohesive whole.

🏁 Bonus: End with a strong finish

The last thing you want is for your song to fizzle out at the end.

A strong finish will leave your listeners feeling satisfied and make them want to hear the song again.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure a strong finish:

• Ensure that the last chorus is the song's most significant and most powerful moment. Add extra instruments or sound layers to drive home the melody and lyrics.
• Pay attention to the tempo of the last chorus. A faster tempo can create a feeling of urgency and excitement, while a slower tempo can create a sense of reflection and contemplation.
• Make the last note strong. This could mean holding it for an extra beat or two or adding a final chord that resonates with listeners. By taking the time to craft a strong finish, you'll ensure that your song leaves a lasting impression on your listeners.

What goes into making a good song?

That's a tricky question simply because a good song is based on personal preference.

So let's assume and say a "good" song would be picked up by a record label or a song that ends up playing on the radio or in a club.

Some might say it's all about the melody, while others say the hook (chorus) is key. And then some believe that great songwriting is all about the song lyrics.

The truth is, it's probably a combination of all three. But if you're just starting out in music production, it can be helpful to focus on one area at a time. This doesn't mean leaving your tracks incomplete - it simply means that you should develop your skills in each area individually.

Here are some general songwriting tips that can help you write better music:

🎹 Have a strong melody or chord progression

This is what listeners will latch onto and remember the most. The melody should be singable and memorable, and the chords should sound pleasing to the ear.

If you're unsure where to start, try coming up with a simple chord progression first. Then, add in a melody that compliments the chords. Remember to keep it simple at first — you can always add more complexity later on.

Then you need a hook.

A hook is a catchy phrase in a song that makes it appealing to the listener.

The chorus is the main hook in most songs. It is often a short riff, passage, or phrase.

Every song needs a hook — something that sticks in the listener's mind long after the song is over. The hook could be a catchy melody, a memorable lyric, or even a short phrase repeated throughout the song.

Remember that the best songs have very catchy and memorable hooks.

🏢 Well-defined structure

A song should be easy to follow and not too repetitive. It should also have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

One way to achieve this is by using a verse-chorus-verse song structure. This means you'll have two or more verses that lead into a chorus or chorus melody repeated several times.

The arrangement is how all the different parts of the song fit together. Each section should have a purpose and contribute to the song's overall sound.

As for instrumentation, less is usually more. You don't want to clutter your song with too many instruments or sounds.

Stick to your song's main idea.

🔊 Consistent sound selection and production quality

Sound selection is one of the most important aspects to consider when making music. To make your track stand out from the rest, you must use high-quality sounds.

Good samples ensure a good fit between your different key elements and fit into your overall song blueprint effectively, which will help give it more cohesion than if any odd noises were thrown together at random. This includes samples and instruments, so be sure they're well suited for each other and fit into the overall tone of whatever song we are making here.

You should also balance out all the different parts, so no one section stands too prominently over another- if one part becomes too loud or quiet, then everything will start feeling off balance which can ruin a good vibe quickly (and no one wants THAT).

It's also essential to have a good mix. This means all the song's different parts should be balanced, and none should be too loud or too quiet.

Finally, the production quality should be high enough for listeners to appreciate the song's different elements. This means having a clean mix with no clipping or distortion and all the tracks sounding balanced.

The last few seconds of your song are just as important as the first few. You want to make sure the listener is left with a positive impression.

You can do a few things to make sure your song ends strong:

• Add extra instrumentation or sound effects to make the ending more impactful.
• Repeat the chorus one last time, or have a powerful riff.
• End on a strong note with the lead sound - give the end a tail

Whatever you do, make sure the ending is memorable and leaves the listener wanting more, and by taking the time to craft a strong finish, you'll ensure that your song leaves a lasting impression.

🎤 Great vocal melodies or lyrics

Most songs have good lyrics and vocal/chorus melodies. Great songs have incredibly catchy melodies and lyrics.

When writing melodies, you want to ensure that your lyrical ideas catch the ear and flow with the music. Most people can quickly tell if a vocal melody is catchy or not. A good vocal melody will be stuck in your head for days.

Lyrics that are meaningful and have something to say will connect with the listener on a personal level. The words have an emotional tone that should flow with the music and not sound forced.

There's no one formula for writing a hit song, but there are certainly some ingredients that can't be left out. Of course, a strong melody is essential, but the song lyrics are also crucial. After all, what's the point of singing a beautiful melody if the words don't mean anything? Too much wordiness can muddy the message and make it difficult for the listener to understand.

Sometimes less is more.

Remember that a good melody will make even the most mundane lyrics sound interesting. So, when writing lyrics, focus on making the vocal line catchy and memorable. The meaning will come through loud and clear.

One of the best ways to write meaningful lyrics is to tell a story. Whether a personal experience or a fictional tale, a song tells listeners something they can relate to. The best stories are usually universal; they deal with themes and emotions we can all empathize with. Love, loss, hope, fear, joy, and anger are all topics that make for great songs.

Now that you know the basics of songwriting and music production, you're ready to create your own songs. Remember to start with a simple idea and build from there. And don't be afraid to experiment– the best way to learn is by doing.

You must also be mindful of the 8 worst habits plaguing beginner songwriters and producers.

• Evaluating too soon and too often
• Not separating creation from the transformation process
• Lack of focus
• Being a perfectionist
• Doing too many things at once
• Working under pressure
• Overthinking things
• Procrastination

Takeaway notes

• If you have a computer, you can start writing music today
• Start with chords; keep it simple
• Write a catchy riff for your hook
• Finish the song structure and arrangement first
• Write with instruments before recording vocals
• Add your bridges and builds last
• Fine-tune your mix

Lastly, the quantity of finished projects is much better than the quality when you're starting out. If you don't learn how to finish your music, you will never be able to develop quality music that people will listen to.

With a bit of practice, you'll be writing and producing hits in no time.

Thanks for reading 👋

Is there a right way to write music?

There is no single right way to write music, as any musician knows. Some composers start with a melody or chord progression in mind, while others begin with an idea for the overall form or structure of the piece. Each composer's process is unique and personal. Therefore, there is no one right way to write music. Instead, each composer needs to find the best method for them. However, all composers should keep certain things in mind, such as the need for clarity and coherence. This means that a well-written piece of music will be easy to follow and understand, regardless of its style or genre.

How do I write my own song in minutes?

Everyone has a story to tell, and there is no better way to share your unique perspective than through song. Start by brainstorming some potential topics. Once you have a general idea, begin creating a melody. This can be done on an instrument or simply by humming a tune in your head. Once you have a melody that you like, start adding lyrics. The lyrics don’t need to be perfect, just get your ideas down on paper. After you have the basic framework of your song, start refining it. Experiment with different melodies and lyrics until you are happy with something. Then, start practicing! The more you play or sing your song, the better it will sound.

Can everyone write a song?

Anyone can write a song. All you need is a bit of creativity and a willingness to experiment. There's no need for formal training or expensive equipment; all you need is a voice and something to bang on. Of course, not everyone will be able to write a hit song that tops the charts. But everyone has the potential to create something that is meaningful to them. Songwriting is about finding your own voice and telling your story. So whether you're just starting out or you've been writing songs for years, remember that anyone can do it!

How do beginners write songs for free?

There are some free software programs that can help you get started quickly. Noteflight and Hookpad are both good for writing sheet music, while Audacity is a popular program for recording and editing audio. Once you have written and recorded your song, you can distribute it online for free on websites like SoundCloud and Bandcamp . If you want to make money from your music, you can sign up for a site like CD Baby . This site will help you sell your songs on iTunes and Amazon. You don't need to spend a lot of money to start writing and sharing your music. Lastly, if you're looking for an alternative starting point, you can always look at how to remix and give it a creative try there.

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Update: 8 Steps to Learning Basic Songwriting

Songwriting is a musical superpower. The ability to write and create marketable songs can transform your career. While original, authentic songs can catalyze your rise as an aspiring solo musician or band member , songwriting is also a venue for those who shy away from publicity or fame, preferring to make their living behind the scenes.

Most successful songwriters say they were born to write, and couldn’t stop writing songs if they wanted to. Even so, songwriting is a skillset, and it must be practiced and developed to evolve to the professional and commercial levels. And, while some songwriters begin their careers at a young age ( think Randy Newman ), others grow into their passion as they become more adept on their instrument(s).

The following tips will help novice composers find, hone, and develop their artistic voice.

1. Continue developing yourself as a musician

Don’t stop taking music lessons or developing your playing skills because you’ve started writing music. Doing so can actually detract from your songwriting potential because melodies and harmonies can get stuck at the level where you stopped learning and growing as a musician. It may be time to look for music teachers who also teach songwriting , tailoring lessons to your specific interests. That way, increased musicianship is reflected in your future songwriting.

Also, don’t forget about the power of improvisation . Your improvisational sessions, like musical doodling, may be the treasure box from which some of your best melodies or riffs emerge.

2. Start with a title and hook

Writing the title (or hook) first helps the process go smoothly. If you start working from chords or part of a melody, it’s challenging to fill in the lyrics later. Personal ideas and experiences deliver the insight needed for your music, so start with a title that engages the listeners’ curiosity and evokes an emotion .

Consider the song “ The Hook ” by Blues Traveler. Understanding the pertinent verse lyrics is difficult at first, but the excellent harmonica and addicting chorus made this a major hit in the mid ’90s. So, start with your idea first. Look for titles that will engage and intrigue listeners. The song will provide the answers they want.

3. Develop your theme

Once you’ve decided on a title, it’s time to flesh it out. For example, if you choose “Broken-down Shack” for a hook/title, think about words /phrases that complement and contrast the idea. Brainstorm on paper. Not all of the words and phrase you write down will make it into your song, but this step helps get the creativity flowing.

For instance, words that complement the title include rusty, ramshackle, dilapidated, rickety, decrepit, and similar adjectives. Contrasting phrases could be something like: strong against the wind, a fortress of safety, comfortable, clean, or unpolluted. Don’t stress over this part. It should be a free-association technique that supports your ideas and feelings about the title. The words and phrases you develop will be the basis for your chorus, verses, and bridge.

4. Ask yourself questions about the title/hook

The next learning step involves writing your lyrics. This can be done by answering questions about the title. With the imaginary “Broken-down Shack,” consider these ideas:

• What does the title mean to you?
• Does action take place?
• How do you feel about the meaning or action?
• Why did the action take place? Who’s involved?
• Do you have any hopes or fears about what might happen next?
• Can other people relate to the word images you create?

The last question isn’t as important as the others, because sometimes artists write songs that present a new experience to others. Also, when answering the questions, group your phrases into eight or ten words. That will make it easier to transform them into lyrics, but don’t worry about rhyming too much. That will come later.

5. Find your melody and chords

Chord progressions aren’t copyrighted , so finding the chords that support the melody is relatively easy. However, if you don’t already have an idea about the melody, speak the phrases you made out loud and listen to the cadence and inflection of your voice.

For example, say the phrases “How many times do I have to tell you?” and “How many times do I have to tell you!” to yourself. Do you hear the difference? By identifying the natural melodic structure of the phrases you want to use, you can help define the foundation of your melody. Start with the chorus, and be sure to include your hook/title.

6. Work on the parts of your song

A verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus structure is your best friend when learning to write songs. The verses and chorus contain the same melody and chords, but the bridge adds an emotional dynamic to the music.

Your chorus should include the most important answers to the questions you generated. Verses expand that theme. However, the bridge is where you include insight and/or a turning point.

7. Use technology and don’t get discouraged

There are many great songwriting tools available for budding writers. Noteflight is free and simple to use, and Apple's Garage Band is wonderful for creating original works quickly. Learning composition using notation software designed for that purpose removes some of the frustration.

8. Get lots of feedback from family, teachers, peers, etc.

While you can take it all with a grain of salt, sharing your songs with others and listening openly, and humbly to their feedback can really help you to grow. Knowing when it makes sense to edit a song, and when it’s time to stick to your guns, is also a learned skill. The best, timeless, and most lucrative songs are historically those that fit into current music trends while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of innovation and creativity.

Creating original songs is a great way to expand your musical abilities, so don’t get discouraged while learning. Most songs undergo a continuous evolution before settling into their final form, so be forgiving with the initial attempts. Your songwriting practice and patience will pay off.  When you are ready, check out our article, 5 Tips for Advanced Songwriting .

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Art of Composing

Let's learn to compose together.

How to Compose Music

What does it take to learn composition.

The fastest way to learn composition is to memorize small fragments of music, and then learn to change and combine those fragments in very specific ways.

The process of changing it, actually forces you to understand it.

When I started Art of Composing in 2011, I had a loose idea of the things I needed to learn. But it wasn’t very clear in my mind.

So I set out reading just about every music theory or composition book I could get my hands on. And I blogged about it at the same time.

What is your motivation for composing?

Since launching my original free composing course on youtube back in 2011, I’ve asked many of the 35,000 people who’ve taken it what their goals are for composing.

If any of these describe you, keep reading.

• You want to compose music that clearly expresses yourself and your emotions in a way that others understand.
• You want to create music mostly for yourself, but you’re interested in film, TV, and video games.
• You want to write down what you hear inside your head, and from that create longer works, hit songs, or just a good piece of music.
• You want to understand how music works, but your music theory is a little bit… shall we say… sketchy.

Your goals may be slightly different, but in the end, we all want some of the same things. To express ourselves, to bring joy to others through music, and to just simply create .

Learning composition is a process that will take time. There is a lot you don’t know, and that’s okay.

Composition is rewarding because there is no end to learning and growing.

You Already Have Listening Experience, and Background Knowledge

We all come to music with a lifetime of listening experiences. I grew up playing trumpet in wind bands and jazz bands.

Others may have had no experience playing at all.

We also learn little tidbits about music along the way. Confusing quotes like “Music is the space between the notes,” which happens to be simultaneously attributed to Miles Davis, Claude Debussy, and Mozart.

This is your background knowledge – everything you’ve learned about music until this very moment.

You then focus on one specific composition skill at a time. This could be something as small as writing a note correctly by hand or as big as a symphony.

Starting with small skills makes the whole process flow better.

A composition skill should be a repeatable process.

Harmony, melody, form – these are not skills. They are categories.

A composition skill should be repeatable, and have a clear goal.

So here is a goal for you. Compose a one note piece of music, right now.

Let’s accomplish this very basic composition skill together, and through this, I think I can show you how you’ll approach learning composition in general.

Grab a pencil, staff paper, and compose with me right now.

Download staff paper here. It will open in a new tab.

Step 1 – Set some restrictions for yourself

Let’s be deliberate about this. Your goal is to compose for me, a 1 note piece of music .

So let’s start with laying out the boundaries.

Restrictions will help to open up our creativity, because they filter out unnecessary ideas from your brain.

For instance, you can throw away any ideas you have that are two notes or longer.

Right now, I just want one note . But we’re going to make it a great note.

Pick each of these before we start sketching and write them down in the corner of the paper.

• The tempo .
• The time signature .
• The key signature .
• What instrument or instruments will be playing the note.

If you want, you can just watch me do it.

• I pick a slow tempo, about 60 beats per minute , also known as 1 beat per second.
• The time signature is, 4/4 . I don’t want to overcomplicate this.
• The key signature is C major . Because… it’s C major.
• The instrument I choose for this example is the violin .

Pretty simple right? Now that we have the boring stuff out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff.

Step 2 – The process of composing, in one note

Let’s imagine your note for a second. Now you don’t need to hear the note before hand in your mind. You can start to get closer to the note you want, without hearing.

Is it a high range note, middle range note, or low note?

Is it loud or soft?

How should the note change over time?

How long is the note?

Here’s what I can imagine.

I hear a note, it’s middle range. The note is… soft. Very soft. In fact, it is as soft as the violin player can play. Yes, I see the violin player. Heart pounding on stage. The conductor, about to give the upbeat. And the note begins. With the lightest touch of the bow, the string begins to just barely scratch out a sound. But as the second beat hits, the note gets louder. The player puts more pressure. It gets gritty. By the third beat, the note is very loud, and then suddenly without warning, the violinist accelerates the bow, to leave the ring of an open low G string.

Now, write that down. A low G, 3 beats long, starting very soft (pp), and getting very loud (fff).

Hopefully, you could see and hear in your mind what I just described to you.

It’s a little bit like a story, and you have the ability to imagine music in your head with the same clarity. It also develops and changes as you create it.

Now imagine doing this for more than just one note.

What do we mean when we say “compose music”?

It’s always helpful to have a clear definition when learning a new topic. Music composition is no different.

Musical composition is the process of making or forming a piece of music by combining the parts, or elements of music.

Composing isn’t about being totally unique. The search for ever more novelty has lead to a lot of incomprehensible music.

It’s also not about just copying the past.

What Composers Actually Do

We create music based on our past experience and shared musical vocabularies.

Composers don’t create something out of nothing .

Take for example, this very famous piece, Pachabel’s Canon in D.

This chord progression and melody, are actually a commonly used chord progression called the Romanesca .

Here it is being used by Mozart in The Magic Flute” .

This is just one of many examples of composer’s learning from, and borrowing from other composers.

Our goal is to eventually create something new and unique, but not before we master that which has come before us.

How then, do we go about learning to compose music?

The Unique Challenges and Goals of Learning to Compose

Composing has some unique challenges, and it’s important to understand what you’re up against. Many of these will probably be familiar to you:

• There is too much to learn, not enough time to learn it, and it’s hard to understand on it’s own.
• Endless possibilities make starting pieces easy, but finishing them difficult.
• It’s difficult to compose without inspiration, which doesn’t always strike.
• You can’t accurately transcribe what you hear in your head, which means your music sounds different than you imagine.
• Your music theory knowledge is weak and you’re not sure how to apply it.
• You waste a lot of time trying to put together a coherent path to understanding composition.
• Finally, it’s really difficult to see how it all this can come together.

Too Much to Learn, Not Enough Time to Learn It, And It’s All Connected

At a basic level, learning to compose is overwhelming because there is a lot you need to know for things to click into place, and work together.

For instance, in order to harmonize a melody, you need to understand how harmony works. But in order to understand how harmony works, you need to understand how melody effects it.

The simple way around this is to give you very specific exercises which only require specific decisions to be made. For instance, how to write a melody over a chord progression that you already have. Once you can do that, you learn to write chord progressions alone. And then you combine the two skills.

Two separate composing skills become one.

Endless Possibilities Make Starting Easy and Finishing Hard

Endless possibilities make expressing your emotions in an original way challenging. Combine this with a small dose of perfectionism, and you’re stuck worrying about following rules, never finishing pieces.

There are so many great composers creating unique and interesting things. This in itself can be overwhelming.

This amount of freedom also makes it difficult to judge your own work and progress.

Once again, there are specific ways to address this so that you finish pieces. Namely very specific restrictions or boundaries that you choose not to cross. More on these later.

Inspiration Doesn’t Always Strike

When inspiration strikes, new composers usually don’t have a problem coming up with ideas. It’s committing to ideas and using them logically.

The problem is, inspiration doesn’t always strike.

It’s important to save your ideas when it does strike, but the real skill is knowing how to use those ideas to create finished pieces.

You Can’t Accurately Transcribe What You Hear In Your Head

But let’s be honest.

Occasionally inspiration strikes, you’re motivated to write, but you can’t take full advantage of it.

To express what you hear in your head, you have to be able to identify what you hear first. It’s not enough to just get close.

Ear training isn’t exactly fun though, and it isn’t really enough either. You want what you write down to actually sound like what you wanted to write down.

To do this you need a reliable process for hearing and experimenting with your ideas.

Your Music Theory is Weak, and You’re Not Sure How to Apply It

Music theory may not be your strongest point.

But you still want to fill in the gaps in your knowledge and learn how to apply the theory to actually writing music that expresses your emotions.

Theory is really just people trying to explain how music works.

So if the theory has good explanatory power, I like to learn it and use it. That’s the kind of theory you’ll learn here.

Music theory is not limited to college textbooks

A lot of music theory is boring, confusing, and doesn’t really help you to compose.

I basically skip that stuff.

Some music theory is extremely valuable for understanding why the music has the emotional effect that it does, by focusing on the critical elements of the music:

• Melody – the effect of the single line and how composers have tended to handle the problems of writing melodies.
• Harmony – how notes and lines sound together at the same time.
• Form – how any section of your piece can sound like a beginning, middle, or end, and therefore how you can organize it in unique ways to tell your unique musical story.

There is obviously much more to it, but that’s for later on.

Your Wasting Time Trying Finding Good Composition Lessons

Many composers endlessly fish youtube for self-learning resources, trying to figuring out what to study and how to organize it.

But without clear explanations of how composers actually work, the random bits of information seem to fall flat.

I have specifically designed courses to help you put all your random bits of composing knowledge into relationship to each other.

You Have Trouble Seeing How Musical Ideas Work and Should Fit Together

For your ideas to flow effortlessly from your mind to the paper, you need to understand why your ideas work, and how to best use them in order to turn those ideas into finished pieces.

How to Learn Composition

The first step in learning to compose, is realizing that you are just beginning, and not to place too heavy a burden on yourself.

Our job as composers is not to create masterpieces, but instead, piece together a master.

The Grammar of Music

So we begin by learning fundamentals, the grammar of music. For anyone serious about learning composition, it is key to learn the language.

You need to be able to read music notation.

There are many resources for learning to read music out there, and a quick google search should point you in the right direction. You’ll quickly find there isn’t all that much to reading music. The challenge lies more in becoming fluent, than becoming familiar.

But also part of the fundamentals are the basics of music theory. Things such as scales, triads, and seventh chords. These are your building blocks. If music notation the alphabet, these are your words. And much like a child, you probably already have an aural knowledge of these “words”. You know what a major chord sounds like, or what a minor chord sounds like. But as a composer, your knowledge needs to go beyond the aural and superficial level. You need to understand exactly what they are.

If you can read, the next step for you should be to sign up for my free beginner’s composing course, which explains in about the fastest way possible, what all of these basics of music theory are, and how to use them in composition. You’ll receive one email a day, with guidelines, worksheets, and a video.

The Logic of Music

Once you can read and write in music notation, and you know the basics of theory, such as scales, and triads, the next step is to learn how these combine to create small scale, simple music. That is in fact exactly what my free course. The Vocabulary of Composition teaches.

Music’s apparent logic, comes from the fact that most of the music we hear follows the same guidelines. These guidelines become ingrained in our ears, and we expect to hear them. These expectations are built into the music.

The logic is in understanding how to use these expectations.

Start Composing Now by Following My Journey

This series of articles was written for the beginner composer in mind. Where do you begin to learn music composition? What kinds of stuff do you need to have? Do you need a computer, a piano, or a pad of sheet music?

• The Composing Mindset – The Composing Mindset. Music composition first starts in the mind, and having a clear mind and an acceptance of who you are is key to clearing your conscience for creativity.
• Setting Up a Basic Composing Space – The Home Composing Studio Setup. Once you’ve got the right mindset, it is important to create a space for yourself to get away and compose. You may also be interested in this article about having a composing sanctuary .
• Should You Start With The Melody or Harmony First – Melody or Harmony First? The age old question of the chicken or the egg, just rehashed. The answer may not be what you think.
• Start Composing Now! – Now that you’ve read all about music composition, it’s time to start. With all this talk about theory, and fundamentals, the most important thing you can do to become a better composer is… actually compose something.
• Simple Musical Form for Composing – Are you looking for some direction in your compositions? The place to start is musical form. Definition: Musical Form is an emergent feature of music that happens over time when you combine the separate elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo and texture.
• Simple Functional Harmony – Tired of C, F, and G chords? So am I. Learn how to harness harmony.
• Unlocking the Secret to Diatonic Harmony .

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Reader Interactions

April 12, 2024 at 11:01 am

Really great practical advice for music composition. Love how you went through the unique challenges (aka excuses) for not doing it. From my perspective, learning music theory and composition gives you a set of tools to work with. It allows you to unlock deeper possibilities with songwriting in general because you have this vast fabric of theory to work with and draw from.

So, instead of just hearing the songs in your head and wanting to create them, you have the building blocks and the process of creation becomes a matter of putting them together with your own form of expression.

A lot of it comes down to… just get started!

March 17, 2023 at 6:18 am

Hey! Thank you so much for this post. I actually have written songs and the music is all done … just in my mind. I mean I can sing the song and you will feel like it’s completely done. The only problem I don’t know how to compose music and also I am unaware of the music theory. Just the thought of composing the music of my own song used to scare me, but thanks to you I think I can pull this off with practice. Lastly, I want to know about your YouTube channel pls.

June 7, 2022 at 5:49 am

Hey Jon, I just wanted to say thanks for putting all this stuff together. After a long time of avoiding pursuing my musical talents (I went the finance/MBA/corporate grind 60-80 hour week route instead), I recently restarted my journey by enrolling at Berklee.

Most of the time, the way my composition instructors teach just doesn’t click in my head, and I find myself having to find alternative resources to fill in the gaps in my understanding. Your website has become one of them.

Thanks again!

October 7, 2020 at 12:19 pm

Hey Jon I have just come across this site from checking out your podcast i checked out the first 7 epesodes today, I have been a dj in the electronic world for 27 years and have been very lucky to travel the world, I also had a radio show on the BBC Radio1 for several years, I have wanted to get into composition for a very long time but have been very intimidated as i don’t have any music theory or a grasp of composition, I just wanted to say this site looks amazing and congratulation on pushing forward with it 😉

October 7, 2020 at 3:54 pm

August 30, 2020 at 11:23 pm

Hi, Thanks for this demonstration, I was hoping you would give an example for a vocal voice as well, you know like just plain vocal-rhythm,body,lyricss etc. I would like you to try giving me an example. Thank You!

May 23, 2020 at 1:29 pm

Hi First of all congratulations to you for this initiative. I wanted to know what is the best machine/software out there to deconstruct instruments involved in any song being played. For example, if I’m listening to a song, I want that the guitar piece should get separated , picked out and recorded/ written seperately in my computer. Thank you

August 11, 2020 at 10:05 am

Your brain, your ears, a keyboard, and transcription software like anytune . If you are talking about separating audio, maybe audionamix https://audionamix.com/ .

May 16, 2020 at 11:14 am

Hi! Thanks for the content. I play guitar and started writing lyrics on my own for a someone I love and can sing them A-Capella but soon I wanted to accompany music too. So just tryna learn all music theory I can and learning about composing

February 25, 2020 at 10:05 am

I returned yet again. As a former music grad, I decided I wanted to pick up composition as I had a taste of it while in college. I had a taste of being a conductor, playing several different instruments, studying pedagogy, and majoring on bassoon. I haven’t quite decided my process yet. I concluded that I would try writing melody and harmoney simultaneously after I establish a rhythm I like. I’m going to try that. I might be back. Lol

March 2, 2020 at 7:25 am

February 7, 2020 at 8:21 am

I started composing after my retirement 6 years ago. Even though I have no musical training but a considerable passion for classical music, I started with my iPhone and garageband and just went for it. I tried to go the Theme and Variations route and found my self fully committed and passionately involved with making music. I also read your guidance and found it to be very helpful in getting the major technical aspects of composing. To my surprise, I found my self to be very prodigious and continued to improve the more I was composing. I got so involved that after five years I decided to learn how to play the piano. If you are interested in listening to my latest work see: paulcaracristi.bandcamp.com

January 24, 2020 at 6:23 am

I’m very new to composing (as in, I’m writing my first piece). I’m trying to write a slow air/ballad. I’ve realised I’ve accidentally switched from 3/4 to 4/4 when I pick up the tempo. Is this allowed? Or should I be changing it so that the time signature stays the same the whole way through?

Sorry for such a stupid question.

February 4, 2020 at 1:45 pm

You can change meter if it feels right. Sometimes you can also try to write it as both 3/4 and 4/4 and see which one works best.

January 23, 2020 at 9:42 pm

Thank you so much for creating this website. It’s been my dream to compose as a kid. I never had access to musical training, now that I have the resources and this website I’m able to work towards my music career and goals.

January 4, 2020 at 9:52 am

Thank you for great tips and providing straightforward and practical advice in musical composition. Well written article, and looking forward to reading more. Thanks again!

January 1, 2020 at 12:29 pm

Hi Jon, I’m from Guatemala, I start to compose music 4 years ago. First, I write instrumental music with a big focus on electric guitar. Actually, I’m trying to compose with vocals and experimental electronic audio effects. I graduated from University with a degree in electronic engineering. In my thesis, I create new audio effects, VST, based on nonlinear mathematical models. At this moment, I want to study my Master’s in something that joins both things. In my country, there are not too many possibilities so I’m thinking to go outside. I took so many composition advice from your web page and you are incredible. Do you know of a master ‘s degree, with the characteristics indicated before, or some keywords to tried to find it in Interner? My principal intention is to join my engineering studies with my true love music to express myself, in a better way, and find a place where I can develop working in this way, playing and sharing new sounds and compositions.

January 8, 2020 at 3:43 pm

I am not too familiar with programs like that. My recommendation would be to look for specific people to study with instead of just picking an institution by name. With music, your mentors are critical and someone who understands your goals and is able to help you guide your career choices will be very important.

September 17, 2019 at 6:55 am

I am a piano teacher and exclusively teach individuals with autism spectrum. Many of my students are musically gifted, but unfortunately with gifted students they seem to always want to play by ear instead of learning to read notes and integrating their aural and sight-reading skills. I have a 15 year old who knows his notes, keys, scales, modes,etc. He composes on the fly, but cannot notate what he plays. In your opinion, should I start with a beginning composition course for him, or listen with him and teach him how to notate what’s in his brain?

September 23, 2019 at 12:55 pm

I don’t know enough about autism to say what the best path forward would be. Generally, I recommend learning to read and notate for anyone learning to compose, as it gives you a very handy way to remember your music by sketching it. Writing by hand has also been shown to engage different parts of the brain than playing or using a keyboard and mouse, so there is benefit there as well.

You could possibly mix in the reading and writing aspect with playing. Like have them write a few notes, and then improvise a piece based on those notes. It’s more flexible than having to write complete finished compositions.

You could also introduce lead sheets, which are inherently improvisation based, as you have to add the supporting bass line and accompaniment.

September 12, 2019 at 11:13 pm

I don’t play an instrument. But I have a lot of catchy and sometimes beautiful chords in my head. Should I learn an instrument first?

September 13, 2019 at 5:51 am

I would learn a little piano.

It doesn’t require any special skills to make it sound right. You can hear harmony clearly, and as a beginner, playing a single line melody is relatively easy compared to say a string or woodwind (because its just harder to make a good sound.)

Ultimately, I recommend learning a instrument well, but it shouldn’t stop you from also learning to compose.

September 11, 2019 at 9:06 am

Hi Jon, I’ve been playing music for over 40 years now. I can play most instruments I lay my hand on. I’m a self taught musician throughout my life. I have always played other musician scores in different band I’ve played with. I find it a lot easier to write an instrumental piece, but I have a big problem with lyrics. I have these ideas all bugling in my brain but I just can’t start to writing it down. I understand a lot about musical theory and I even teach children how to read and play sheet music. I bought me a 32 channel tascam compact home studio with the idea of laying down some original tracks. What you said about trying to learn through YouTube is very true. I’m bogged down with confused information and it’s getting me no where. I set some limitations when it comes to trying to learn from those YouTube lessons, and the pressure just disappeared. Help me out here Jon. Give me some more specific instructions please. There is a river that runs in front of my house and it has been polluted by a mega company a few kilometers up stream. Something that neve happens before. I want to bring awareness to my government and people by composing a song that will resonate around the country and the world about protecting the environment. I have many harmonically ideas but like I said, lyrics is my big problem. See news5Belize.com for information about our river. Called The New River. Thanks for taking time out to read my message.

September 13, 2019 at 10:26 am

I am sorry to hear about the river. My recommendation is to go through my free course , read my articles , listen to the podcast , and watch the old symposiums .

At some point, you’ll know if you want to take the full Fundamentals Course , and then move further on to the Sonata Form course .

August 30, 2019 at 7:09 am

I want to write music. But I’s can’t play and an instrument or read music. Please let me kmow if it’s hopeless

Thank you for your time..

September 4, 2019 at 6:02 am

Not hopeless. I would start learning the basics of reading music, and a little piano though.

September 12, 2019 at 11:15 pm

Thank you for your quick reply.

August 28, 2019 at 8:26 pm

Hi Jon I live in Australia, years ago did my grades and have my Associate in Music (pianoforte) AMusA (AMEB), and have taught many students over the years. I love the old psalms and hymns and regularly play them in church. We have lots of organ music available, but limited variations around the psalms and hymns for piano. I enjoy making up variations etc at home, but prefer to play from music when in public. I’ve been wanting to write music, but don’t particularly want to sit down and ‘hand write’ it all. Do you have any suggestions as to what I need … eg programs (I’ve heard of Sibelius etc) … and do I need an electric keyboard to somehow input what I play into written music — if you know what I mean. I’m hoping that with all the technology around there is something that will allow me to play on a keyboard (though I much prefer my own piano :)) and then transfer what I’ve played into the program. If I’ve rambled, my apologies. I hope the above makes sense? Looking forward to your response. Kind regards, Rosanne

August 29, 2019 at 6:00 am

If you are interested in notation, you can start with Musescore which is free. I use Sibelius and Dorico.

You can also use a DAW but the concept is around recording audio more than notation.

Garageband is free on mac, and reaper as well. Windows has some other free ones. I use Digital Performer.

A midi controller is really necessary for inputting notes without wasting a ton of time, although Sibelius and Dorico do have fast notation entry from a regular typing keyboard.

August 8, 2019 at 4:58 am

Hi jon, i don’t really know how to start what i have in my mind. Its that i love music i have been going through ample of apps for so long that would really help me create music, no i don’t have any kind of access to any software. My very first question is about the chords, i have zero knowledge about them and i don’t really know where to start and learn then. I have ideas, i can play music in my mind, i have written few lines (say). Nothing is really helping yet. Wanna learn i can learn but i don’t know where to have a good pack of knowledge that would help me.

August 16, 2019 at 6:41 am

Start with my free course https://courses.artofcomposing.com/courses/the-vocabulary-of-composition .

August 8, 2019 at 12:44 am

Really Inspired…. Very practical and real.

July 17, 2019 at 3:42 pm

Despite your emphasis that music need not be learned / is not solely learned from college textbooks… I have a textbook question of sorts. Hopefully what I’m getting at here makes sense: What is a good “textbook curriculum” I can make for myself? Obviously (and I know full well that), not everything can be learned from just the textbooks, but let’s assume I’m already prepared to do all the work falling outside the textbooks. What is a good set of books to cover (and their proper reading order) basically everything book-related that a typical undergrad music program (along the lines of composition, I suppose) would cover? Theory, harmony, aural skills, counterpoint, orchestration, a music history sequence and a few other book/course titles pop up a lot, but are there any big ones I’m missing? Do any of those overlap? (e.g., it seems that many theory and harmony textbooks cover similar ground, so if I get a book entitled “Music Theory” and another entitled “Harmony,” am I just wasting my money to get the same info rehashed, or are they legitimately different fields/courses?) And what is the proper order to cover these courses (i.e., read these books)? For example, does orchestration build on counterpoint, or vice versa, or can I study them simultaneously? So if anyone who’s gone through an undergrad music composition program could leave me a list of courses they covered and the textbooks they used for each, I think you’d be giving me just what I need and I would be very, very thankful.

July 19, 2019 at 7:40 am

It’s hard to say what an ideal textbook curriculum would be. You can start by looking at some of the books that cover the topic overall in this way, like The Complete Musician . It integrates all of those subjects. Books like this can be tedious to go through on your own though.

I originally learned in college from Harmony and Voice Leading by Aldwell and Schacter . It’s a decent book on Harmony and Voice Leading and goes into the basics of Species counterpoint.

As far as history, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Richard Taruskins 5 volume series .

As a way of bringing things together though, I would recommend copying scores, reading scores, and transcribing music by ear. It can be any music in fact, but whatever your composition goals are will really dictate what you’re transcribing.

July 8, 2019 at 2:36 pm

I am also trying to learn the piano by following the course which was recommended to me by my husband this one. https://musicgny.com/piano-for-all-review/ I don’t know will I be able to learn it or not but I am really trying because I love the instrument. I will be really grateful if you share some piano learning tips for adults like me which can make piano learning easy.

July 15, 2019 at 7:09 am

Thanks Elena. I’ll look at writing some stuff about piano as well.

June 13, 2019 at 12:01 pm

To what degree should I be able to read music notation before I start the Vocabulary course?

June 18, 2019 at 6:14 am

It helps to be able to say the notes and rhythms in your mind, in both treble and bass clef, without having to reference a chart. You don’t need to be extremely fast, because you’ll practice your reading as you write, analyze, copy, and so on.

You can pause the videos, replay sections, and even slow down the player in the course.

Re-listening to the examples and then applying the concepts is critical to getting it.

Sometimes with denser passages, you need to work slowly at the keyboard, playing through the examples one note at a time until there is a clear understanding of the elements involved. This is actually a critical part of the process, at any stage.

I like to copy scores by hand, because the only way to do it correctly is note by note. Otherwise you tend to assume too much, and make a mistake. The benefit is that the whole time, you brain is still trying to fill in the gaps, on a note to note level. Combine this with listening to a recording (especially on something that slows it down like AnyTune ), and playing it on a keyboard while you write – well you’ve got yourself a musical genius stew right there.

June 5, 2019 at 3:47 pm

I don’t know if you’ve had occasion to check out PowerTracks Pro Audio, but they have what I would call a hybrid notation/piano roll function which allows you to enter notes as you would on the staff, but gives you control of duration and velocity and represents your choices by lines above the note (velocity) and to the right of the note (duration). I found this to be the easiest way to compose using midi. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support the Roland Integra-7 synthesizer.

Are you aware of any similar programs that would fit the bill?

June 7, 2019 at 6:46 am

There are many DAWs out there. I haven’t used Powertracks, but I have used Band in a Box, so I am familiar with the program. You can also look at Cubase, Logic, Digital Performer, Studio One, and Reaper. I use Digital Performer.

Studio one integrates with notion which has this capability.

Dorico has this capability as well.

February 28, 2020 at 11:53 am

Musescore, a free software for writing music, has the possibility of midi input as well. From my memory, you have to tell Musescore how it should interpret the input (e.g. note values (pitch) from a midikeyboard, duration from some other keys, for instance if the midikeyboard has a drumpad or from a computer keyboard). https://musescore.org/en/handbook/note-input#midi-keyboard

May 11, 2019 at 2:05 pm

Jon, it is 2019 and I am wondering what software or plugins I would need to: 1) Compose music and transcribe for other instruments, classical-style music, from medieval through present eras. Sibelius? Logic Pro? or? 2) have the playback to sound realistic. 3) allow the input format to be saved so that I will to be able to apply my work using “better” instruments as technology progresses. It should be versatile to use with more than one playback software/plugins, if possible.

I have the ideas and know theory well enough for what I am planning. I just want the software for input via note-by-note notation or to play it into the score with an instrument and best virtual instruments for playback. If it is VSL – that is probably out of my budget right now. Thank you.

May 12, 2019 at 5:30 am

The big difference in music composition software is between notation software and DAWs. Notation software is getting better at playback, and Dorico looks particularly promising for the future, as they are adding DAW capabilities, but you are still limited by their playback engine which writes most of the midi data.

A DAW is really performance software. DAWs allow you to perform in your music, and manipulate that midi data in many different ways. This allows you to craft the sound of your pieces. Think of MIDI as the language that all the sampled instruments and synthesizers to use to trigger the sounds.

DAWs usually have weaker notation capabilities and so score creation more difficult. I also personally prefer to work out my music in notation form, so I will usually write in notation, and then move to the DAW when I am ready to get a performance version of the piece.

As far as what makes it sound realistic – that is a mix of the quality of the sample libraries you use and your ability to perform with them. Each sample library has quirks, and you will get used to them as you go. I like the Spitfire libraries, the orchestral tools libraries, but there are many others.

There are a lot of sample libraries now. Here is a good place to learn more about libraries https://www.samplelibraryreview.com/ .

VSL is just another library, although VSL has something called VE Pro which allows you to use any libraries on multiple computers streaming the audio back to your main computer, saving a ton of CPU and RAM on that main computer.

My personal setup right now:

Notation – Sibelius and Dorico (I’ve been learning to use Dorico recently and really like it, but it is expensive. Sibelius has a cheaper renting option) DAW – Digital Performer

Digital Performer, Logic, Cubase, Studio One… they are all very good at this point, and it becomes about your own preferences.

May 13, 2019 at 12:12 pm

Thank you, Jon. This is encouraging. It is helpful to see your approach with both Notation software and the DAW, using each for what it is best suited. I was hoping for an all-in-one but I see how knowing both are important. So, if you write parts for cello, viola and two violins in Sibelius or Dorico, when you are ready to get a performance version in the DAW, you are “performing” them into it with a midi-based controller or through a microphone, direct in, etc.; then, use the sample libraries for the ultimate sound output. Is there a format you save in, whether in Sibelius or a DAW that allows you to use it with other notation software or other DAWS later, or is that not a concern? Thanks!

May 13, 2019 at 1:51 pm

Usually I use midi to go between them. From DAW to Notation I will quantize the midi so it’s easier to make sense of in the notation software. Also in general, I’ve found that light quantizing of the midi actually makes the performance a little better because the spitfire libraries have a little character to them.

I haven’t had great results exporting the midi from the notation software and then getting good playback in the DAW. I usually perform it in from the individual parts. The exception is drum parts, which for the most part are pretty straight forward. A little manipulating of the midi data brings a human touch, and you can always still re-perform it in.

The other thing that helps, is to perform small chunks at a time. A don’t be afraid to do a bunch of takes. You can get good at doing 2, 4 or 8 measure sections quickly.

May 16, 2019 at 8:22 am

Thanks so much for your advice by way of sharing your approach. Once I dive into it, hopefully this summer, I may get back to you. I have not started delving into your lessons, etc,., but from what I have seen they all look interesting; so, little by little!

May 16, 2019 at 3:10 pm

Glad you like it.

December 25, 2016 at 11:54 pm

Okay Jon, please give me some advice for this. I’m on lesson three and the video is simply overwhelming. I know how to read music, I’ve been playing for eight years, and I understand intervals, but the chords confuse me. I know we kind of went through how to build a chord, but now there are new ones we talk about that use sevenths and don’t follow the rules of thirds like they did before.

I guess what I’m asking for is some clarification. First, I know we went through inversions, but what do “1st” and “2nd inversion” mean. And the second lesson seemed to say that it inversion meant to move the notes up the octave, but in the third lesson a note that is in “1st inversion” only gets moved up a third (4:19 in that video). And was there ever an explanation of “dominant” and “tonic” and the differences between those? I’ll probably have more questions as the lessons go along, but maybe getting the answer to these can make me more informed for the future.

In no way am I trying to insult the program. While it does move rather fast and can be hard to follow just because music theory was never my thing, it is fairly informative. I just want to write some music for fun, but I want it to sound like I know what I’m doing too. Being able to play with more chords would give me more freedom while writing, but I need to know what those chords are. Thanks.

April 17, 2017 at 9:37 am

Inversions effectively mean the bass note changes to a different chord member.

Here is a post in my forum about 7th chord inversions. https://www.artofcomposing.com/question/why-v65-v43-v42

I do think I discuss in one of the early videos about tonic and dominant, but you can also check out my article on diatonic harmony. https://www.artofcomposing.com/08-diatonic-harmony

December 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm

If you just started wanting to compose but have always had a passion for music where do you start when writing music? I have been in band for almost 4 years now. I can kinda play the piano. I just don’t where to even start.

December 12, 2016 at 11:19 am

Alicia, I would start with a solid understanding of how composition works. The best place is at my Start Here page on the site.

From there, you can sign up for the free course which should take you through the process in a gentle way.

December 5, 2016 at 12:45 pm

Are there any books to learn music theory like fundamentals of scales,chords,chord progression etc?

December 12, 2016 at 11:18 am

My courses teach how scales, chords, progressions, melody, harmony, and form all work together so you can compose. If you need to learn to read music, I suggest starting by looking around youtube.

November 16, 2016 at 2:57 am

It is generally acknowledged that most, if not all, classical and other ‘serious’ music is the creation of one person – the composer, who presents his work on musical manuscript, whereupon skilled musicians and the conductor combine to interpret the score in their own inimitable way.

It seems to me, however, that beginning round January 1955 when Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock first hit the charts, the same could be said for vast numbers of popular and rock releases.

It is customary, or was until not too long ago, to think of the average rock band as 3 guitars and a drum, expertly manipulating 3 chords to create what on the surface sounded like standard outpourings of music that would quickly and easily be replaced with just another catchy tune.

Add to this the portrayal of the musicians as drug induced, womanising layabouts who just happen to be able to knock out a good tune, but underneath the façade of projecting themselves with carefully designed images, the actual creation of the recordings that have gone on sale to the general public are very serious, very businesslike and very skilfully composed and orchestrated works of art, and is why so many recordings have endured over the decades.

Take for example Adam Faith’s ‘What do you want?’ which was released back in the 60s, see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkODancaf6E

How about that? Faith has an orchestral accompaniment, a string orchestra no less which is reading from a score that has been composed and orchestrated.

Listen to the enormous output of the Beatles for example. Each recording is actually a work of art, and while Lennon and McCartney are undoubtedly hugely talented and creative, I think the real genius behind them was someone with the skills of a classical composer because so many of their recordings feature little bits of genius that only a real composer could deliver. I guess George Martin filled that role.

It seems to me that few if any bands or groups have ever hit the big time without having classical composers behind the scenes brushing up the scores, though it’s possible that singer/songwriters like Axl Rose of Guns and Roses for example possess that talent, and that underneath his, let’s say, outgoing stage persona, was a highly gifted and original composer and arranger. Perhaps all the members of the group were more than just instrumentalists.

November 25, 2016 at 10:38 am

True. George Martin with a genius and a big reason why the Beatles were successful.

November 5, 2016 at 6:53 pm

What is the importance of a song’s arrangement then, if totally unaddressed in this composition article. Is this regarding the notion that the original composition is structurally devoid of any flaws requiring arrangement (as in re-arrangement, remixing context)?

I apologize if that is a fundamentally basic question, but the context in which arrangement is used around me and by me in my life is not relating to remixing. I refer to arrangement when I speak of the song’s unique structural characteristics (instrumentally).

November 14, 2016 at 10:23 am

Arrangement is a term that is somewhat ambiguous. Arrangement can refer to the form, it can also refer to the orchestration, and it can also refer generally to what instrumentation is used, and not how they are used (orchestration). Obviously all of those are important, and they are addressed in other articles, and podcasts throughout the site. I recommend listening to the podcast episodes on orchestration, and form specifically.

September 10, 2016 at 9:54 am

July 16, 2016 at 10:16 am

When writing a pop tune, if you want an instrumental break do you write the accompianment or leave it to the performer to fill in and just fill in the melody with no words. I know if someone adds/changes more than 8 bars they can lay claim to writers credits (and copyrights?) But I also have no idea what instruments a performer will use, or even if (s)he will change the music style. You’ve heard ballads made uptempo and vice-versa.

July 21, 2016 at 12:16 pm

These are all very context specific questions. When I write a tune, I usually write a lead sheet. If I want to make an arrangement of that tune, I will go more in depth on parts, but depending on the band and players, it can be just chords, or it can be intricately written out.

Copyright is much more complicated than the number of bars. I recommend reading around the internet on trusted sources for the subject to get a better grasp.

June 19, 2016 at 6:34 am

Hello, I am interested in music and i can sing some movie songs……I wanted to compose song myself …I’m stuck where how to compose and produce it ..i need someone’s help plz trying helping me. Thank you.

June 20, 2016 at 11:03 pm

Bob, I recommend signing up for the free course . It should get you started in the right direction.

June 16, 2016 at 1:38 pm

that is a great thing therd…i am young boy of 18 year old and i want to be in music with all my life…

June 12, 2016 at 7:40 am

Thank you so much for this encouragement via the lesson. In fact, I have been shying away from composing because I thought it was pretty difficult. But now, I have carefully understood the basic and I’m sure it is worth venturing into. I have a request. getting a music software to score the idea could be pretty difficult. I am aware of Sibelius and Finale. it is possible sir to send a copy of Finale via my mail, at least the setup so I can try my hand on it? thanks

June 12, 2016 at 7:55 am

You can download the free finale notepad to try out the software. It works the same, but with limitations. https://www.finalemusic.com/products/finale-notepad/

You can also try musescore, which is the most popular free notation software.

https://musescore.org/

May 27, 2016 at 12:16 am

Hi, I am 25 years old and Right now I am very fond of Music though thats something late to know my interest, now I am learning Piano with a great zeal and love for it. My dream is to compose a song, how long does it take to reach there and I am very confused as whether its too late to enter into music field.

May 31, 2016 at 6:17 am

You can learn the basics relatively quickly. But it will take time to master. It is hard to say how long, but it is never too late to learn.

April 26, 2016 at 7:26 am

Hello! First of all, I am impressed with this page yours. In my native language, which is Spanish, there is nothing like it. I write because I am very depressed about my condition, a composer, who does not sing or play any instrument. I feel that I have, already arrived where I wanted. That is, I feel, because, I get songs like those, who always dreamed of composing. I can compose a song, every week. The fact is, that since, I have many and I want to give them away. I own MIDI, audio and RETURN LEAD. My fear is having some artistic value, such as Paul McCartney’s Yesterday. I was born with a rare genetic condition that can determine the exact pitch of the notes that make up a chord. Moreover, since I am a child, hear, all singers, detune. I does not happen with musical instruments but I find them a default tuning, that is, that with my whistle, there paddling. Then I was finding logic, cúales are those tunings, against which my whistle, produces paddling. It is interesting, that with tensions {1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11} of the fundamental chord {I, II, IV, V}, my whistle, NOT PRODUCE PADDLING, which are the musical instruments . Anyway, I have no way to motivate me to release my songs. Perhaps it is because I am very lonely. I only know that because, I have 50 years and 15 years have elapsed since leaving me songs that give me the feeling, that are nice … very nice! I understand, which is my subjective judgment. Anyway, do you want them? Starting, I have prepared a 45. They sound like Yesterday, Paul McCartney. That is the style of melody and harmony. The tempo is extremely variable. I gave them finished with orchestration, rock all. Of course, they sound different textures. My email is [email protected] . I also possess the power, if that, I, I would propose, compose, for 15 days, 15 songs. I finish exhausted and must rest a month sleeping 12 hours a day. But I can do it … if somebody motivate me some words of encouragement. I know automotivar but not enough to release my songs and especially all my ALGORITHMS composition (something like artificial intelligence, to harmonize, develop melodies and tune in 12-edo, so that the “psychoacoustics, is the exact pitch not heated … that, that sounds in my head because of my rare genetic condition “). Regards!

April 26, 2016 at 7:49 am

I think the best thing for you would be to get yourself out there, and start getting your music performed. Try to find people that can sing or play an instrument that would be interested in having someone else write a song for them to play. I would also recommend, if not being able to play an instrument is making you feel bad, then learn to play an instrument. The process is not that daunting. I play several instruments myself (trumpet, piano, guitar, saxophone, a little clarinet). It just takes effort and patience.

April 14, 2016 at 10:29 am

Hi! Thanks for all your tips on music composition 🙂 I wondered if you could give some advice (all of us comment-leavers pleading for help 🙂 ). I am intermediate pianist, I only took 4 yrs. of lessons from a private teacher. I did not learn a lot about music “theory” at all. I live with my family of 9 so I don’t get any quiet, practice time on piano. Also I do NOT have an artistic, passionate personality…just music talent 🙂 So do you have any advice 1) as far as me composing music? 2) working in such a hectic environment? 🙂 Thanks– help would be appreciated!

April 15, 2016 at 7:41 am

To be honest, I am not exactly sure what you are asking. As far as composing advice, I have written many articles on this site about both the theoretical and practical side, and the mental aspects of composing. I would recommend taking a glance at the archives and just clicking through the blog a bit.

You can get some work done in a hectic environment, but I would recommend finding a quite place that you can go to get away when you compose. If you need an instrument to check pitch, then you could start real simple with a pitch pipe, or try to find a place like a school that will allow you to use a piano. There is also a lot of benefit in learning to compose without an instrument. Try writing down ideas, and then checking them later at a piano or using notation software. You will improve over time.

But it sounds like to me, that you don’t know what you want to do. You say you have talent, but you are not an artistic, passionate personality. You don’t have to be crazy and “artistic” in the romantic sense of the word in order to compose. But you do need the desire to compose. Sometimes composing is a lot of work… difficult work. If you don’t have the desire, it is all to tempting to just quit.

April 15, 2016 at 3:04 pm

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I am a little undecided–guess that’s obvious! I do love music greatly, I’m just trying to figure out how I can work with it in the future. And even if I don’t compose something now, maybe later on! So thanks for your time 🙂

April 7, 2016 at 2:17 pm

Hello, I appreciate your efforts on making us learn more and more about composing music. I have also been playing piano for so long but i have been wondering how i could come up with some compositions and failing. This is so helpful!

April 7, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Glad to help.

March 23, 2016 at 2:40 pm

Thank you very much for your reply. I am a university grad, and I’m planning to go back to school for this. I’ve only recently decided to pursue this passion, as I’ve been too afraid in the past. Part of the reason was that I wasn’t brought up with an education in music, and wasn’t particularly musically inclined until my teens. I felt too old as an adult.

I can read music, but there is a lack of connection between the notes and the sounds. That is something I’m going to have to work on.

As far as the keyboard goes, is a 88 key keyboard necessary? Or a 61 should do?

I am quite serious about pursing an education, if not a career. It is something I’m going to live with if I end up not doing anything about it. I’ve had several ideas but have not written them down, but one of the most revealing clues I had in terms of where my passion lies was when I had dreams with music I believe I composed. After I finish the beginner’s course, I’ll look into the other packages. Do you recommend I brush up my piano skills before taking 101?

Thank you again for your answers!

March 29, 2016 at 9:27 am

I have a 49 key keyboard. I would make sure though, that it is a midi controller, with a modulation wheel. You can take the 101 course without brushing up on your keyboard skills, because most of the exercises are done on paper or in notation software.

March 23, 2016 at 3:11 am

First of all thank you for the information you have provided here. I have a few questions regarding an education in film scoring.

I have no formal training, and have had very little writing experience. I am a mediocre pianist at best, and have no means of accessing the instrument right now. I do have a guitar at home, but have left it to rust. I barely know how to pluck a chord. Long story short – I’ve got a passion, but I lack the proficiency in an instrument and formal training in music theory. I would like to know how I could best prepare for an audition at an music college or university offering a degree in composition for film/TV. I know this is something I want to pursue, but I am simply overwhelmed by the daunting task of diving into the unknown (so far). I have the following questions for you:

1. Should I be a maestro at any instrument? Or is a certain level of profiency required at least (in my case piano)? 2. Is pursuing a degree productive if I want to pursue a career in film scoring? If so, does the institution matter? 3. Is originality or complexity more important when it comes to the compositions for the audition? Or is that more relevant to the style/genre?

Any practical advice would be most appreaciated! Thank you again!

March 23, 2016 at 9:49 am

I am not going to sugarcoat it, you have a long road ahead of you if you want to pursue film/TV composition. However, if you are in highschool, then you are still in a good position to pursue, but it will take time and patience.

My recommendation would be to learn piano/keyboard first. And not just chords, and pop songs. You need to learn to read music. While it is true that some film composers have been able to make a career without the ability to read music notation, they are the exception. You do not have to be an excellent pianist, but you will need the ability to play in your music into a digital audio workstation (DAW).

Once you can read music, you should also learn about the fundamentals of music theory and composition. That is what Music Composition 101 is all about – the fundamentals. But you need to be able to read both treble and bass clef first in order to understand the course.

Then it is a matter of practice. Compose as much as you can. Don’t worry about getting fancy sample libraries, or expensive software. You can do a lot with free resources on the internet.

As far as a degree is concerned, that is a very deep question, because a lot of factors come into play – money, time, where you go to school, who you study with there, what your goals are, how serious you are about film scoring as a career.

Finally, as far as originality, I wouldn’t worry about that until you have a lot of experience composing. I would first try to emulate your favorite composers, and listen to as much music as possible. Originality will come later.

Keep an eye out on the blog, because I am going to write an article about this.

January 29, 2016 at 10:58 am

Am having hard time in compose my music, expecially rythms pleas help me out…

January 31, 2016 at 8:27 am

I recommend going through the free course and the free articles on the site. https://www.artofcomposing.com/courses/free-beginners-composing-course

February 5, 2016 at 12:42 am

Try vigorously studying rhythmic dictations. (Listening to a rhythm and trying to write it down by ear.) once you have mastered this then you will be able to think in terms of rhythm. Musictheory.net Is a great place to start.

January 25, 2016 at 9:24 am

Thank you for sharing <3

January 25, 2016 at 7:17 pm

December 1, 2015 at 5:57 pm

I am focusing on composing music in Beethoven/Tchaikovsky style: loud, forced, and strong. The first piece I am starting on is the choral symphony “SYMPHONY OF THE LORD”, also known as the Symphony No. 1 in D major. I will be using text from the Bible as part of this piece. At this beginning point, I am very confused on what keys for the soloists to sing and as I am composing pieces for classical orchestra (not the large current orchestra), I am unsure on how many instruments would be suitable. If you composed any choral works in classical style, could you maybe give me some handy tips on how to compose a perfect choral symphony? Thanks.

December 2, 2015 at 9:42 am

Podcast 009: My Principles of Orchestration.

January 26, 2016 at 8:07 am

it s strong and loud espesially the quantus Tremor est futurus part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcscOz8hDJc

January 26, 2016 at 8:12 am

if you want to compose in that style listen to this piece look after dies irae by jean baptiste lully

December 1, 2015 at 9:24 am

please I like your introduction to this topic on composition of music and I will like to follow you through.

December 2, 2015 at 9:36 am

Feel free to signup for the free beginner’s course and read through all the articles on the site. You can sign up for my free beginner’s composing course at https://www.artofcomposing.com/free .

October 22, 2015 at 8:45 pm

Greetings from Boston! I am a composer in my senior year of High School applying to and already attending conservatories in Bsoton and composition is a part of what I will do! For my senior project I am composing a piece for our HighSchool band which is small and contains no string instruments aside from a bass guitar. My style and love is classical so would you believe concert band instruments would work fine? Also, challenging music is what I love and how I compose as well, finishing Chopin Ballade no. 1 in fact, and that sort of sound is what I’m looking to achieve, what do you suggest I do to get amazing sound quality like in Rachmaninoff Concertos without string instruments and without writing difficult music as it’s my first time away from just piano? How should I approach this?

October 26, 2015 at 11:57 pm

I think it is great you have some composers that you are aspiring to sound like, but I would recommend starting simpler. Generally things such as Rachmaninoff Concertos and Chopin Ballades have very intense intricate writing, and they are written from the perspective of virtuoso pianists. My suggestion is to listen to good wind band music, and try to find something you like out of it. Here is a list to get you started http://www.naxos.com/series/wind_band_classics.htm .

If you can get your hands on any scores, to see how they are put together, that is also good. IMSLP is a great resource for scores, and here is the wind band category http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Scores_featuring_wind_band .

Generally I would approach step by step. Start with creating a simple theme, and then expanding that theme into a longer piece, followed by orchestrating it. If you start with orchestration from the beginning without a plan, or without much experience, you can easily get lost in the details and find trouble finishing.

I recommend taking the free course, and reading more on the site, as well as listening to the podcast.

December 10, 2015 at 9:24 pm

Is there a way I can show you a sample? I have to submit two solo piano works to a college. One of which is done, I’d be great to have some feedback. Thanks.

October 20, 2015 at 4:16 am

I do play the keyboard and piano very well,do listen to and play some good classical songs….i’ve been composing a classical song with 1st progression I-I-IV-I….my movements have been good as told to me by choirmasters…but i’m stuck right now because i want to create a real masterpiece..it’s my 1st time of composing a classical song-comprises of both solo and choir..can u help?

i really need help

October 27, 2015 at 12:00 am

I recommend focusing on the fundamentals and creating smaller pieces that you understand. We do not really get to dictate what will or won’t be a masterpiece when we set out to compose. The best we can do is learn our craft, and create from a place of honesty.

As far as logging in, make sure you check your email for your login credentials. If you haven’t signed up, you can sign up here: artofcomposing.com/free

October 2, 2015 at 5:00 am

I am using a french online tool called flat.io to have all my classroom collaborate on the same music score to compose something. It is actually working and we got impressive results – how to start is explained here: http://sharetoclassroom.org/2015/10/02/flat-io/ Having all my students composing a new music altogether is really a positive experience and a source of many discussions. Maybe other tools exists to do the same but I really recommend teachers of any grade to try something similar with your students.

October 2, 2015 at 8:25 am

Looks cool, thanks.

September 29, 2015 at 2:28 pm

Being a piano teacher, I have always wanted to know how to get music published. I have asked people who have gotten music published successfully, and they look at me like I’m crazy. I started to compose my own method for my students, who seem to get excited when I write music for them! But how to get published is still a big mystery to me. Do I need an editor? Your course, looks really interesting, and something I might enjoy doing….. If you could send me an email on this topic, I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your time,

Sincerely, Holly Zendels.

I am not too familiar with the process of being published, but here is a good place to start. http://www.mpa.org/directory-of-music-publishers/ It is a link to the Music Publishers Association directory. I would probably say the best way is to call up several publishers and ask them. My focus has really been on film scoring, and less on concert music so I am not that familiar with the ins and outs of that world.

As a general point, I would say to get published your music must differentiate itself in some way. I would think modern publishers are looking for unique composers with interesting viewpoints on the world. So as with anything else, master your craft, and publishing will eventually come.

September 25, 2015 at 5:32 pm

Hey Jon- I’ve been enjoying your website for some time and have enjoyed doing the free composer workouts. I went back to try one today that has been particularly helpful and couldn’t access it- has that recently changed? Is there any way to access that still, if I’ve used it before? Thanks, Laura Harper

September 26, 2015 at 8:31 am

I haven’t changed any workouts from free to paid in a long time, so if it was free before, it should be. Make sure you are logged in. Let me know which lesson it was, and I’ll double check to see if it is still free.

September 14, 2015 at 2:14 pm

I have been a student of Indian Classical music as a kid & played on a harmonium for years. I tried but I have never been able to read or write music. I composed(?) several melodies with lyrics & had been appreciated as a teenager but eventually did not pursue. Melodies flow into my head & I sync it with lyrics – very few remembered & many forgotten. Lately I hum & record the melody. But I want to do better, I want to write and compose songs & today I found your site. Can you tell me what I should do? Thanks a lot

September 15, 2015 at 9:16 am

Moushumi, I would recommend signing up for my free beginner’s composing course at https://www.artofcomposing.com/free . This short course explains my philosophy towards composing. If you like the course, then you can sign up for the full paid academy. Beyond that, I have a lot of articles on the site that cover the craft of composition.

July 18, 2015 at 3:25 am

can u tell me what is chamber music?

July 20, 2015 at 9:09 am

Chamber music generally implies the music is of a smaller scale than orchestral music. So it could be anything from solo piano, string quartet, or even a chamber orchestra, which generally has one of each instrument (not absolute, but generally). Beyond that, you are getting into the realm of symphony orchestra which has much larger groups to work with.

June 16, 2015 at 1:42 am

Hi Jon, I’ve loved music my whole life. I learned to play piano at a young age even though I kind of fell off of it in high school. I can sit down and just play and enjoy it. I’ve always wanted to take the next step in composing, finding myself enthralled with countless great movie scores and compositions. I have a Mac with Logic Pro X. Any other tips that I might have not already heard to get the ball rolling farther? I’m sure there’s a lot of work to put in, I just want to get to the point where the work produces unique sound inspired by the many great score composers I’ve heard and possibly produce my own in the future.

June 17, 2015 at 8:20 am

For film scoring, the rabbit hole goes quite deep, because you are required not just to compose, but to deliver a well-mixed final product. However, I will start with composition:

It is important that you area able to compose quickly, and efficiently. Most film scores are tonal, so having a solid grasp of tonal composing in the late romantic style is the most useful. It also helps though to be familiar with as many styles and genres as possible because you will frequently be called upon to do many different styles.

Get good at transcribing. A big issue to constantly deal with is the temp track. You have to be able to listen to what you hear, digest it, and do something that sounds similar but unique. It’s tricky.

Learn to orchestrate. This takes a while, but start small. Learn just one instrument at a time. The range, characteristic styles of playing, and how to combine it with other instruments in it’s own family.

Read scores. Whatever composers you like, you can probably get their scores. Some are easier to find that others, just start by googling, or going to worldcat to find in a local library.

As far as sample libraries and software go, there are many choices out there. If you want to dabble, but don’t want to make a huge investment, Spitfire Albion 1 is a great sounding library. It is basically simple patches like high strings, low strings, high brass, low brass, etc. But you can still do a lot with that. From there, you could look at getting more libraries. You can also check out http://www.try-sound.com/index.asp/en , which is a little old at this point, but still allows you to try out some libraries, how they play and so on.

I don’t use logic, but I know many that do. It is adequate. The most important thing is learning to use it efficiently, so it is not a creative roadblock. The software should be an extension of you, not a thing that you have to always fuss with. It will end up hurting your creativity if you constantly have to refer to the manual to get things done.

Good luck. Film scoring is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of work. So be prepared.

June 12, 2015 at 9:05 am

Hi Jon. I have a very nice singing voice and when I sing other people’s music,my listeners gets crazy but I can not be able to compose my own, when I happen two compose one it doesn’t sounds good two me,wat can I do two have my own music?

June 17, 2015 at 8:06 am

Humphrey, I would recommend going through the free beginner’s composing course, and then deciding from there. One of the best ways to get better is also transcribing music by ear, and then writing it down. You’ll get good at hearing something and then being able to reproduce.

June 5, 2015 at 10:53 am

Hi, how do I know that the melody that I composed doesn’t already exist somewhere?

June 7, 2015 at 1:13 pm

Rosy, that’s a tough one. There are some search engine’s like this one http://www.peachnote.com/ but they are a little tough to use, and I can’t imagine they have everything.

The best defense against this is to listen to a lot of different styles of music, that way, you end up blending them together, and avoiding copying one specific composer.

May 27, 2015 at 10:58 am

Hi Jon How can I apply for the one year membership. I went through ur website and could find only the monthly membership option.

May 27, 2015 at 11:32 am

You can purchase an annual subscription here: Purchase Annual subscription .

July 4, 2015 at 6:03 am

Is there also an option to purchase access to the course itself, as you have with the 101 class? Many thanks!

May 10, 2015 at 9:27 am

Thank you very much

May 11, 2015 at 9:00 am

My pleasure.

May 7, 2015 at 1:47 pm

how long should the beginners course take?

May 7, 2015 at 2:00 pm

If you are talking about the free beginner’s course, it is about an hours worth of video to watch. How long it takes to do the exercises is up to you, but you could easily spend a week on it, or more.

The Academy Music Composition 101 course usually takes a few months for people.

April 28, 2015 at 11:58 am

Thanks Jon for helping.

April 29, 2015 at 11:59 am

No problem.

March 21, 2015 at 8:24 am

Hi! I just started composing. I’m done with the lyrics & the melody, but the thing is I don’t know what chords is in my song. I really wanted to play it with my guitar. Is there any way to solve this? Please.

March 21, 2015 at 10:30 am

What you are really looking to do is harmonize your melody. Generally, if you start with basic I, IV, and V chords, you can generally get a decent harmonization, and then from there start to add additional functional chords. Depending on how “out there” you want to sound, you can get pretty crazy with harmonization. This is a very long topic through. I suggest reading my harmony articles, and taking my free course.

March 1, 2015 at 6:33 am

This has to be my 2nd favourite piece in the week, i can’t let you know the top, it might offend you!

January 2, 2015 at 6:48 pm

Hi Jon, I’ve recently began studying orchestral composition, especially film scoring. I’ve closely been studying the work of John Williams and Hans Zimmer. I don’t have much of a grasp on composing for orchestras, any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

December 31, 2014 at 1:38 pm

Hi Jon, I’m really interested in Film Scoring for large scale orchestras, like John Williams. I’m not sure where to start. Thanks.

January 4, 2015 at 10:23 am

Film scoring requires a firm grasp of the fundamentals of composition, regardless of the style you choose. But if you want to compose like John Williams, then I suggest really getting in depth on harmony, counterpoint, form, melody, and orchestration. John Williams is a master of all of these. Just listen to the Jaws score, in which he wrote a very impressive fugue.

December 20, 2014 at 7:11 pm

I have been composing songs using MIDI piano software. My problem is I don’t know how to arrange…all I have are the notes for the lyrics. Can’t play the real piano. Don’t have formal training in music, either. Took inspiration from the late Lionel Bart who could compose, but not arrange. I tried a musical arrangement software, but the staff diagrams looked too intimidating to understand.

December 23, 2014 at 2:43 pm

Arranging and orchestration are somewhat of a different skill set from composition. At the highest levels they merge, but for beginner’s it definitely helps to break them apart. Try mapping out your arrangement by describing it first, and then orchestrating to meet those descriptions. It could be vague descriptions first, and then you can refine them as you go. Something like “Ethereal with high strings” for a section, and then “big build up with full orchestra”. Once you have it mapped out, then orchestrating is a matter of finding good models to copy and copying them.

I am planning on adding orchestration and arranging courses to the academy in the future.

November 24, 2014 at 3:57 pm

Understanding and listening natural harmonic help, so I did a website to help me, it may help you with little effor : http://www.bachmonic.com

December 9, 2014 at 10:12 am

Very cool site. Thanks for sharing.

November 16, 2014 at 2:04 am

you said on the comment that people can get started once they know how to read music. do you mean by that like reading sheets and being able to play them? like i’m not really good at piano or guitar but at least i can read the sheets and know most of the symbols in it

November 17, 2014 at 11:08 am

Most of the examples and explanations I give require that you are able to read, at least on a basic level, traditional music notation. You do not have to be able to play piano, although as a composer, piano is an extremely useful instrument. You just need to be able to look at a note, and understand what it means.

October 29, 2014 at 4:59 pm

I want to be a music composer,but what can i do?

October 30, 2014 at 9:18 am

Saidu, there are many things you can do. I recommend at a basic level, learn to read music and play an instrument. In particular, if you can read music, you’ll be ready to take my free course. You can sign up, on this page.

September 28, 2014 at 7:51 pm

I have a project for my music composition class. I have to create a song using the B flat scale using Logic Pro. I just don’t know where to start. Can you help me?

September 29, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Ari, I recommend going through the free course.

September 8, 2014 at 7:54 am

I am the very beginner in music but i listening from 13 year how wana learn how to make music compose music and from were to begin

regards alikhan

September 8, 2014 at 11:37 am

Well you’ve come to the right place.

August 16, 2014 at 4:10 am

What about if I would like to learn something more towards jazz (but not in its pure form, which I don’t like) to then incorporate this knowledge to writing full tracks of a more contemporary nature. Would you give me an advice?

August 16, 2014 at 8:20 am

Learning the fundamentals of music composition will apply to any style you want. Straight ahead jazz tends to work within the guidelines of traditional tonal music, with some obvious freedoms taken. Modern modal jazz is a little different, but improving your process of composing will carry over no matter what genre you write in.

August 16, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Hey, thanks for you answer. Do you think I could start from your sonata book? I’m not sure how advanced it is. I don’t enjoy classical music too much but I sooo don’t understand the logic behind planning a composition and building on top of an idea (motive?), but it seems this book could help, possibly.

I’ve learned scales and modes, I can play through some of them (just up and down). I know how to build most not very complex chords; although, can’t really improvise with them, that’d be just too quick for me to be able to orient myself. So I know just the basics. Also, reading notes is quite a slow process for me.

What do you think? I’m not very interested in super complex stuff, which music conservatory books will offer and it seems like nowadays you can get away without it anyways, unless you’re a very traditional musician.

August 12, 2014 at 11:50 am

Thanks very much and i want to receive more Lessons from you

August 6, 2014 at 10:36 pm

Hey! Your music is awesome! What program do you use to write/record/produce your music personally? I would it if you would give me your email I also have other questions regarding how you write your music. I love composing as well but am having a hard time starting out as I don’t know anyone who composes, let me know any tips you have in regards to a beginner 🙂 Thanks

August 7, 2014 at 11:10 am

My process is usually like this. I get my initial ideas by composing on paper with a pencil, usually at the piano, although I am trying more and more to compose away from instruments.

Depending on what I plan on doing with the idea I will then move to either Sibelius (when I plan on having sheet music and trying to get it played by real people) or Digital Performer (when I am going to create an elaborate mockup on my own).

I recommend you go through my beginner’s course, and read through my articles. They will probably answer a lot of questions (and hopefully raise new ones). You can email me through the contact form .

August 2, 2014 at 7:27 pm

Hey, im spanish. Does your program help people in ALL genres? (Like salsa or merengue etc). Im extremely intrested.

August 2, 2014 at 11:05 pm

Cesar, the course is based in the fundamentals of music composition, so it will apply. The specifics are geared towards classical composition, but understanding how the phrasing, harmonic movement, and form of larger classical pieces work will spill over to other styles. None the less, I recommend signing up for the free course and checking it out.

January 4, 2014 at 8:23 pm

So, I’ve started a song on my electric piano but I don’t know where to go from there; it’s a minor and dramatic one person duet kinda thing. I can play long intricate tunes when someone else has written it down but I can’t seem to make my own. So I pretty much just have an intro to a song that could very well never get finished. How do you turn something into a complete piece of music? I’m using the chords g with g# and a#, and c with d# and e with a recorded tune. ALL MINOR

January 7, 2014 at 9:02 am

I recommend going though the free beginner’s course, and following a specific form, like small ternary form. It will allow you to develop the piece in a logical way. Once you get good at following the form, the process of developing a piece will become ingrained in you and you can start to create your own forms.

March 4, 2014 at 8:29 pm

You could try writing a fugue with the tune.

November 30, 2013 at 12:41 pm

I have found your website, Jon, and hope to learn much from you and fellow-composers therein, as well as making useful contributions, myself

November 29, 2013 at 10:29 pm

I’ve just finished studying your lesson one in “Composition 101” I had long in mind,composing a piece based on the acronym FACE, which of course, is meant to help one remember where the notes are in the treble clef.I tried out various combinations, and the one that pleased me most was the melody C-A-F-E.

I had every intention of carrying out your advice to write a second bar, inverting the opening 4-note theme; that theme,however, although I liked it as far as it went, sounded incomplete to me, so I addled a couple of twiddly -bits, namely two A sharps in succession. . I then started the inversion motif, but found, to make it sound right to my ear, I had to depart from the original theme, “returning” as it were with Bflat-A-Aflat-A-F-C . I like what i have so far, and, already, I can hear in my head, somewhat of a natural progression, which I will follow up apart from the 101 course, which I look forward to continuing

I doubt that you will be much miffed by my departing from my ‘homework assignment’, indeed, I hope that you will feel gratified at providing the base for launching an opus that I I am excited at creating, using your methods of inversion; retrograde; and inverted retrograde.

All sorts of ideas spring from your writings, Sir,and I look forward to sharing musical ideas and experiences with fellow composers, when your website is ready, meanwhile, perhaps I can join in the discussions within your blog, if you will kindly direct me to it?

Best wishes,

George Garrett.

October 19, 2013 at 4:46 am

Could you please comment to the new music composition software AthTek DigiBand? http://www.athtek.com/digiband.html

December 3, 2013 at 9:49 pm

Click on this link which promotes the app, and which includes an “independent” (?) review. I, personally, am not impressed by the description of this program which actually boasts that “It does the dirty work (of composing) for you”. To me, that’s like saying, if you want to bark, then get a dog {:-D

Musescore looks much more to my taste.

September 22, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Hi Jon’

please help me find the worksheet that You mentioned in the video posted on youtube.

September 23, 2013 at 6:26 am

Just below the main article on this page, there is a red box with a sign up form. Put in your email, and then click the sign up button. After that, you will receive an email asking to confirm your registration. After that one, you’ll receive your email with the link to the course hub page.

October 5, 2014 at 12:29 am

Earlier in September I completed the sign-up form for the free beginners composition course and confirmed with the email that followed. I have received nothing since except the announcements of the Academy’s opening. Please review and let me know what has happened, or if there is something else I am to do. Thank you /Danny W

October 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm

Danny i’ll look into it.

September 13, 2013 at 12:12 pm

would you pls tell me how to subscribe for videos aftr lesson 8 on youtube?

September 13, 2013 at 12:36 pm

Just below the main article on this page, there is a red sign up box. Just enter your information, and you’ll receive and email for the course. As of right now, there are only 7 videos, but I am working on an updated series soon.

August 25, 2013 at 9:02 am

Hello, I have an extensive background in music. Sometimes, i get “stuck”- where do i go next? Do you address this? Thanks

September 5, 2013 at 7:03 am

Hey Roland. Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I’ve been working construction on an island the last few weeks and have not had a lot of time. Getting stuck is a problem we all face. These are the best ways I’ve found around it.

• Understanding exactly where you are form-wise in your piece. This doesn’t necessarily have to be any type of classical form, but all pieces have some kind of form or shape. Step back, and look at what you want the music to do overall in the point your stuck. Do you want it to increase intensity? Maintain intensity? Does it need to repeat? Develop the original ideas? Add new ideas? Close out old ideas? These are all different formal functions and just learning those gets you a long way.
• Try taking your original ideas, break them down as small as possible and then modify them separate from the rest of the composition. This allows you to basically chop up and destroy small chunks and not have the internal pressure of having to “develop” your piece. Your just playing with an idea. This normally generates new ideas. Try changing the rhythm, or the harmony or flip things around or over.
• Go on a run or exercise. This is the #1 thing. This always rejuvenates me, and I recommend it for everyone. If you can’t exercise for some reason, meditate. Just clear your mind. Listen to some good classical music.

Hope this helps.

September 13, 2013 at 12:13 pm

would you pls help out to find how to sign up for the courses??

August 1, 2013 at 7:05 pm

I just wanted to “Thank you” , and “Thank you again” for your hard work, time, and effort . I’ve have been struggle for years as a beginning piano player, and trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, and what sounds good. I know ultimately that decision lies with me, but this SO helpful and I am extremely grateful.

May 9, 2013 at 8:30 pm

Hello. So I was wondering if you could put something out like, step by step for composing something. I mean like if you want to compose then do this and this and then this. Thank you!

May 10, 2013 at 8:16 am

Kathleen, funny enough, I already have two things similar to that. I highly recommend signing up for my free beginners composing course. The sign up form is just above the comment section on this page, and at the bottom of each article on the site.

After you go through that, if you want to compose a longer piece in sonata form, I have an ebook called, “Composing Music in Sonata Form” which takes you through step by step from basic idea to completed piece. You can find a link to that book in the menu bar under “Sonata Form Book” or just go to http://www.sonataform.net .

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How to Write Song Lyrics

If you don’t know how to write song lyrics, it can be overwhelming to imagine where to start. I often hear from my online students how relieving it is to bring structure and tools into the mix as we delve into lyric writing. Within the first four weeks, most students have much greater clarity about what makes a good lyric, and how to craft one.

I’ll outline a few ideas here to get us started, and suggest the online courses Lyric Writing: Writing from the Title , Commercial Songwriting Techniques , and Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies for further study. Here are five tips for writing song lyrics:

1. Start with what you want to say.

The first tip when learning how to write lyrics for a song is get familiar with journaling and using your senses. Taste, touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement are descriptors that help bring your listener into an experience of a small moment. A small moment is a snapshot of life, a scene where your song is set within.

We hear these small moments all over in songwriting—the singer’s bedroom at 2 AM, driving down Santa Monica Boulevard, or hot-wiring a stolen car. It’s these moments that place the listener in the heat of the moment. Try choosing a small moment and writing about it using your senses of taste, touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. Don’t try to rhyme, and don’t write with a particular rhythmic pattern. Just write.

2. Read lyrics from other artists (don’t listen to the songs!).

Notice how much repetition, simple language, and how clean and clear is the main message in the chorus. What message do you want your listener to walk away from the song knowing? This is your chorus. What small moment shows a great example of that main message? This is your first verse.

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3. Notice the conversational quality.

The third tip for writing song lyrics is write like you speak. We speak English, we write English, we tell stories from our lives, and have meaningful conversations with friends. But for some reason as soon as we start lyric writing, we believe those skills are not enough.

We get obscenely abstract and poetic, contorting the language to get our rhymes to fall at the ends of the lines even when the content no longer makes sense. We forget what we’re really trying to say in the first place, trying to give the song a breadth and meaning that DaVinci himself couldn’t capture in the expression on Mona Lisa. Why? Because we almost failed high school English class? Perhaps. But keep in mind that the most important quality of a great lyric is authenticity. Write like you would if you were relaying the story to a small group of people who care about you and what you have to say.

4. Lengthy lyrics compound problems.

Try writing a simple verse (such as four or six lines) moving into a chorus with lots of repetition. Or, try starting a song with the chorus. Simplicity is hard to master, but worth pursuing. The longer a lyric becomes, the greater the potential for confusion.

5. Collaborate as frequently as possible with good lyricists.

Soak up some of that good lyric writing energy, and you’ll soon realize that you have good ideas too. You’ll also soon realize how closely linked lyric rhythm is to melodic rhythm, opening up a whole new area for your melodies and lyrics alike.

Learn more about studying songwriting online with Berklee.

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How to Write Music: Easy Songwriting Tips & Song Structure Ideas

Author: Caleb J. Murphy

Last updated: Jul 1, 2022

Reads: 2,418

Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter/producer based in Richmond, VA, whose music has been on ABC, NBC, NPR, and in hundreds of indie film projects. His advice for musicians has been featured by Digital Music News, Bandzoogle, BMI, and ASCAP. He also sends a twice-monthly newsletter called 5 Things To Help You Keep Going that features five resources from the internet that will help indie musicians. FULL BIO

Table of Contents

• Introduction

What Is the Format of a Song?

Brainstorm song titles, sing gibberish words, use someone else’s chord progression, but change it, write a 5-note melody, find a song title in whatever you’re reading, focus on the intro, pay attention to variation, dynamics, and contrast, don’t make it too long, make music that makes you feel something.

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People also ask

How do beginners start songwriting?

Can you teach yourself to write music?

Is it easy to write music?

Please don’t get overwhelmed.

You may not be sure how to write music as a beginner, but you totally can.

In this post, I want to walk you through how to do that.

Here’s how to write music:

• Learn the basic elements of music

Learn the Basic Elements of Music

Before you start making music , it’s helpful to know the basic elements you’re working with. To simplify things, I’ll organize this list into six basic elements. 1

You already know about melody. It’s the thing that makes a song memorable. It’s the series of notes that give the song character and most of its emotion.

This series of notes we call melody works within the boxes of pitch and rhythm (which we’ll cover next). There might be just one melody that runs through the entire song, but most likely there are multiple melodies (verses, chorus, bridge, etc).

Related to melody is pitch. The pitch of a sound has to do with the frequency of its vibrations and the size and shape of the thing causing the vibrations.

• Low pitches come from slower vibrations and bigger objects (upright bass, kick drum, tuba, etc.)
• Higher pitches come from faster vibrations and smaller objects (small strings on a guitar, high-hat, triangle, etc.)

Melody works within the confines of pitch.

Rhythm is the pattern of beats in your song — a pattern that fits within the time signature and tempo of your music.

In other words, rhythm is the groove of your track.

Tempo is the speed at which you play your song. Not to be confused with Beats Per Minute (BPM), which is how the tempo is represented in numbers.

Dynamics refer to the volume and intensity of your song throughout its duration. Dynamics are the ebb and flow of a tune, the big moments contrasted with the quieter moments.

It can be affected by many things, like the number of instruments, how loud they each are, and your production choices.

You can think of harmony as another melody that’s different from the main melody but one that matches it in rhythm and scale. Harmony and melody work together even though they’re each a different series of notes.

How do you format or structure a song? Where do you start, how do you end it, and what happens in between?

Song structure is how you order the different parts of your song. To make the whole process easier, there are names for each of the basic parts of a song : verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge.

You can technically arrange these any way you want. But there are some very common song structures, which include:

• Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus
• Verse – Chorus – Verse – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus
• Verse – Pre-Chorus – Chorus – Verse – Pre-Chorus – Chorus
• Verse – Verse – Bridge – Verse

Most of the hit songs you know fall into one of these song structures. Why? Because, for some reason, these structures feel the most natural to most songwriters.

To learn more about how you can use these formats, read our guide on song structures.

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How Do You Write a Song (for Beginners)?

Now that we’ve covered all the elements of music and how you can structure a song, where do you start? What element do you begin with?

Short answer: start however the heck you want. Songwriting and music-making have no rules.

Longer answer…

There are some methods you can use to grease the tracks of your creative process. These aren’t guaranteed to work for every person, but they can at least get you started.

So here are three of my favorite ways to start off a song.

There are many ways to write a song, but this process works well for beginners: 1) pick a song topic, 2) write 10 possible song titles and choose the most interesting one, 3) determine the song structure , 4) write the chorus melody then lyrics, 5) write the verse melody and lyrics based on the chorus, 6) edit, revise, and finalize.

Brainstorming is a powerful tool for creativity. This is where you let down your filters and allow whatever’s in your brain to flush out onto the page.

Try this: brainstorm three songs titles a day. Don’t edit yourself. Just jot down the first three titles that pop into your brain.

Most of them may be unusable. But eventually, you’ll come across some that stick.

One of the most common ways I write a song is by singing nonsense.

Here’s how I do it: I come up with the chord progression and the melody, often at the same time.

To help me settle on an interesting series of chords and melody, I’ll sing gibberish lyrics. I sing whatever words come into my head. They could be fake words, real words, or a phrase that makes no logical sense whatsoever.

This helps me decide on a rhythm, the lyrical phrasing, and the notes I’ll be singing.

Another helpful way to start a song is to use someone else’s chord progression as your starting-off point.

You can reverse it, play every other chord, or randomly jumble them and see what you get.

For example, you could start with the chord progression Passenger’s “Let Her Go” (one of the most popular songs 2 on Ultimate Guitar): Am – F – G – Em (verse) / F – C – G – Am (chorus).

Then you could play it backward: Em – G – F – Am (verse) / Am – G – C – F (chorus).

Boom. You’ve got your own chord progression that you can write your own melody to.

Music is all about feeling and vibe, so yes you can teach yourself how to write music. If you can write a song that makes you feel something, you don’t need a traditional classroom. However, it’s smart to learn from songwriters you love and respect. Pay attention to how they write melodies, tell stories, and structure their songs. So you’re teaching yourself how to write songs by studying the songwriting legends.

Limitations can be good for your creativity. It can force you to be more creative.

So try writing a melody with no more than five notes. And don’t veer outside of that window for the entire song.

You might be surprised at how catchy your melody becomes.

Starting with your song title has a lot of benefits. It helps you focus on what the song is about, and it also gives you a solid place to start.

So try this: scroll to a random part of this blog post and quickly point to a random part of the screen. The words under your finger are now your song title.

You can also do this with any book, magazine, or even text message conversation.

Making It Interesting

At this point, you might be thinking, “I’m not so worried about starting my song. But how can I make my music more interesting?”

If that’s you, here are some ways to spice up your song.

The intro to your song is the first impression the listener gets. Roughly 35% of listeners will skip a song within the first 30 seconds. And about half of listeners skip a song before it’s over 3 .

That’s why you’ve got to make the intro as interesting as possible.

Play the song for other people, see how they react within the first 30 seconds, and see how you feel during that time. Playing your song for someone else often gives you a good idea of how you can…

Another super important aspect of interesting music is variation, dynamics, and contrast. These might sound synonymous, but there are slight nuances to them.

Variation has to do with The Rule of Three, which is about establishing a pattern and then breaking it 4 .

Composer Ryan Leach uses the great example of The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four.” The lyrics go “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?”

“These are not groundbreaking lyrics that are changing the face of literature,” Leach writes. “But they are catchy and memorable. We have a topic [‘Will you still need me?’], the establishment of a pattern [‘Will you still feed me?’] and then a break in the pattern to move the song forward [‘When I’m Sixty-Four’].”

For the purpose of this post, you can think of dynamics to be more about the different frequencies in your song. Think about the different instruments, whether they have higher, lower, or in-between sounds, and if they’re stepping on each other.

Also, how your song flows has to do with dynamics. You don’t want your chorus to be at the same energy level as your verses. It has to be either more or less, not the same. The listener will get bored.

Related to that is contrast . It’s a powerful tool for Songwriters and Producers because it has an element of surprise. If your verse is reserved and your chorus is big and bold, that contrast will be a pleasant surprise for the listener (if you do it well).

Listeners have short attention spans (that includes us, too). Even if the song is interesting, it can get old if it goes on for too long.

And I’m talking about listening to a song, not watching someone perform it. Watching a performance, whether in a video or live, is a completely different experience and a performed song can go on for a long time without losing the audience.

But for streaming music, try to keep your song on the shorter end. It’s not wrong to record a 8-minute track, but you may want to make that an outlier.

The shorter and more interesting a song is, the more people will listen and re-listen to it.

If you’re not sure how to write music as a beginner, just make music that makes you feel something. This is true for all music-makers at every level.

Your song can make you feel sad, happy, nostalgic, bittersweet, or any number and combination of emotions. As long as you feel something .

Because if your song makes you feel something, it will probably make other people feel it too.

No. If you want to write music you’re proud of that makes the listener feel strong emotions, it will take work to get there. It’s not easy to write that type of music, especially if you aspire for your music to reach the level of your favorite artists. It’s not easy to write songs, but it is rewarding.

• 1 Multiple authors. "Elements of Music" . Wikipedia. published: 15 January 2020. retrieved on: 18 May 2020
• 2 . "Let Her Go Chords by Passenger" . Ultimate Guitar. published: 23 January 2020. retrieved on: 18 May 2020
• 3 Lamere, Paul. "The Skip" . Music Machinery. published: 2 May 2014. retrieved on: 18 May 2020
• 4 Leach, Ryan. "The Rule of Three and Music" . Envato. published: 4 June 2012. retrieved on: 18 May 2020

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