There’s no rule when it comes to writing a new song. Just search for the name of the song followed by the word “chords.” Look up the chords to one of your favorite Pop songs now and write them down. The posts on this website are based on my songwriting books. So it can be hard to pin down any specific sound as being “pop.”, Basically, a Pop song is one that a lot of people currently enjoy listening to and want to hear again. Or you can work on melody first, singing dummy lyrics or just “la la” and fill in the lyrics later. Yearning? DECIDE WHAT YOU’LL WRITE ABOUT. Sad? Find out more about writing for your listener. Choose what kind of song you want to write. Paint a picture with these metaphors. Try going to a higher note range for the chorus and give it a peak note – the highest of the song – before coming back down and resolving at the end. Have an honest, focused message to deliver. Please let us know below. Here’s a post with a list of themes and song titles you can use. Almost all Pop hits feature a solid, steady rhythm groove. You need some open space so you go on a car ride. This can always change as you’re writing it but... 2. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You’ll find more chord progressions here. Have the peak notes of your song fall within the chorus, such as extreme high notes and/or long notes. ‘Baby’ will be your staple filler for pop and rock songs. For example, topics like sadness or longing might be more relatable to a general audience than depression. If you’re not familiar with hit song structure, this is a good time to listen to a few Pop songs and learn to identify the sections. If your verse has a lot words and a busy, choppy melody, consider smoothing and stretching out the melody in your chorus so listeners can really hear the difference. Structure your pop song. The first verse will introduce your listener to the story. Not every pop song is a hit, as many artists write hundreds in a year while only publishing eight to ten. CODA / OUTRO 11. That doesn’t mean they all stick slavishly to it; there are a lot of ways you can play with it creatively to make it your own. Do the same with action words. Give your audience a clue – something they can really hear – that lets them know where they are in the song. If you like her old songs better, then try this: Pick a general topic, for example, "Can't Blame a Girl For Trying," and read through the lyrics. Be judicious in your use of simple rhyming schemes. BRIDGE 7. Try replacing these with words and images that have plenty of emotional associations that fit your theme. Most pop-punk songs are simple -- … It’s a great technique to learn and it will be essential when writing Pop choruses. In most pop songs, the intro consists of a small musical element that fades right into the first verse of the song. Most hit Pop songs revolve around the singer or the singer and another person. You could do natural sounds such as claps, hums or sighs. For tips on how to create the music for your song, keep reading! 9. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can also use Amadeus Code to write a melody for your pop song. Here’s a helpful tip: Check out some recent Pop hits that you like and notice the pattern of repetition and variation in the chorus melody. The simplest option is to pick the line you remember most in your chorus. Most pop songs will never appear on the radio. It’s literally popular. Find out how songs by Elton John, Amy Winehouse and the Beach Boys are put together. Find a chart of a pop song you like. Whether you want to pitch your songs to established artists in the Pop field or sing them yourself, writing a contemporary, commercial Pop song with hit-single appeal means writing a song that listeners can identify with and radio will want to play. You’ll find more chord progressions here. Start writing a song with just one good guitar riff. This is how songs connect with listeners in a physical way. Or break a line into two short phrases. Here’s a fun idea: If you don’t have a theme handy and want to get started writing, you can look for ideas in TV shows and movies. If you have too many ideas, break them apart and write a different song for each idea that you have instead of trying to pile too much into one song. Dear songwriters, What are your best tips for writing a Pop Song? Rough out a lyric based on the hit song structure above. COLLISION 10. The chorus has to be the same every time you sing it in order for the listener to latch on to the song. Take your time. The entry to this song immediately gets the audience hooked. – Use dialogue. End your verse on a line that leads the listener into your chorus. Some of the best places people seek inspiration are at coffee shops, where lovers and/or friends meet up, talk, kiss, and interact. Now we just have to apply it to what is called “The Song Structure”. Talk about the way it dives, eats, sleeps, breathes, etc. Do it in a way that keeps listeners involved and interested. You pro players can use some of these ideas to get started on a song, then follow up on your own gear. How To Write A Pop Song. Pop songs balance repetition and new musical ideas. A rhythmic groove also expresses the attitude or energy of your song. Try to think of a catchy phrase or idea to revolve your song around. You can also end your song on an instrumental, however, this is usually an artistic license allotted to bands which already have names for themselves. For example, if your song is about depression, but you never explicitly say it in the song, your title should reflect it. Once you have the first line of a melody, try repeating it for the second line. Most recently, Halle was a part of a 15-person collaboration in Stockholm, Sweden, called the Skål Sisters. Try to beat what you already have. NOTE: The lyrics will often change even though the melody repeats. The melody in your verse should ascend towards and lead seamlessly into your chorus. SUGGESTION: As you work on your song, don’t let yourself get bogged down. Change the melody for the third line, and then come back to the original melody for the fourth. Pop Song Structure | How to Write & Structure a Pop Song [9 Steps] 1. Writing a catchy song depends on factors such as the length of your phrases, repetition, rhyme schemes, and song sections. This is how songs connect with... 3. There are 28 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Listen to your recording and pick up where you left off. How would I come up with everything, and catch up with all the items and ideas? You can then use this detail as a metaphor for the way your life is going, i.e. Once you have figured out what chords you would like, you can go back and attach it to the rhythm and melody. Then, brainstorm ideas by writing down words that come to mind, such as "feathers" and "echo" if you hear a bird calling in the woods. Write your lyric like a script for a movie.– Write short phrases the use images and action words to describe a feeling. Use your most emotional or strongest lyric line to start your chorus. Let the groove guide you into your song by suggesting words that match the mood or attitude. Do not get discouraged if you have a hard time getting people to publish your album. You can do this as well, but if you can start with a lyric approach, it may help construct the song. A list of words will pop up and help you decide on which word best fits. Happy songs should have both consistent chorus lines and verses respectively throughout. Those monster radio hits often add a section between the verse and chorus called the pre-chorus. What Is a chorus A chorus is a piece of a song that typically repeats a lyric, idea or passage in between each verse. But above all else, it’s about starting with a great central idea for your song. Choosing the right genre to write about is very important. You may want to add/delete words in your lyrics as join together the rhythm, melody, and chords. Pop songs have strong chorus melodies which allow the singer to belt out and become emotional (either happy or sad). It. % of people told us that this article helped them. However, feel free to add or change one of the notes to suit your song best. This is the best and quickest way to begin learning new songwriting habits and giving yourself fresh choices when you’re writing. If it's a poem that someone else wrote, yes, that's plagiarism. Move listeners on an emotional level or just make them feel like dancing. It could be something that happened to you or, if you based your idea on a scene, imagine you’re one of the characters. CREATE THE MELODY. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. The central idea of a song is called a “song seed.” When writing song lyrics, you will grow and support the main idea of your song – your seed. How to write a song: 1. Whether it’s a melodic hook you have in your head or a cool chord progression on your guitar, your inspiration is what will set your song on the right path. How do I know if I have a song or a really long poem? The Intro is the part at the start of the song. The second verse can either repeat the same sentiment of the first verse, or change the direction of your story. This way you will have a way to keep your ideas contained together, and always have something to write an idea down on. Exaggerate those until you have a melody, then experiment until it feels good to you. Remember, some part of the chorus will likely become the title of your song. This is where the music producer gets to show off his or her chops. Here’s a list of 10 tips with links to more info if you need it. The pre-chorus ranges from low to high, and the chorus is a steady high chorus progression. It doesn’t stay there. By using the song structure above, your song will be headed in a commercial, radio-ready direction right from the start. Consider moving them so they start a little earlier or later. Just grab a pencil and a sheet of paper and start watching your favorite TV shows. Popular music, in particular, often uses a number of common structural song parts.The common building blocks are: 1. Try not to be critical of work in progress. The goal of a song is to express an idea. Learn and write pop chord progressions. Here’s more info on rhyming in today’s hit songs. Learn about the building blocks of a song. How to Start a Song: Titles, Themes, Chords & More, How to Write a Song If You Don't Play an Instrument. What do you like about it? Alternative lyrics used to be extremely social. 1. Before you go into the actual writing process, find some similarities in the writing styles of Adele and Tori Kelly from their songs. For a pop song, use the base in the drum kit and an electric guitar for the instruments and to find out the good music to go with the lyrics, say every word using different instruments with a different timing and different pitch/range and see what works best. You absolutely can, if you have some good ideas for lyrics in your head, you should definitely write them down first, then work on the music later. 7. Someone who has already recorded an album, or who has worked with a record company, might be able to get your song some radio air time. This article was co-authored by Halle Payne, a trusted member of wikiHow's community. You can use chord progressions from other songs, just not lyrics or melodies. 3. Spend some time using all of your sensory abilities. Here are more ideas for rewriting your melody to make it contemporary and memorable. Some add a short section called a “pre-chorus” or “lift” between the verse and chorus to build anticipation. Then connect your verse and chorus sections. Begin to connect and number the words in the order you want them in your song. Happy? Then come back later with fresh ears. DECIDE WHAT YOU’LL WRITE ABOUTListeners like songs they can understand and identify with. You can keep working on your verses and chorus this way until your song begins to take on an overall shape. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. (e.g., if a song is about an apple, don't write about an orange). Listening to pop music will help you to learn more about song structure. Instead, you’ll be blending these new techniques with your own style to create something fresh and original that still works for today’s radio and an audience that loves current Pop hits! For example an 8 bar verse, 4 bar chorus 8 bar middle eight and so on. Once you decide on the basic idea for your song, write out three or four lines that describe  who’s involved, what’s happening, and how it feels. You should also make sure that your lyrics are memorable, while being relatable to the general public. What can I do if I do not have an instrument? You won’t be copying these songs. Each verse typically changes each time it pops up in your song. If you can learn to push past writer's block, you’ll be able to focus on writing the best lyrics for your song. Then go somewhere else for the third line and come back to your original to wrap it up. Seek inspiration or influence. If you're talking about a poem that you wrote, no. list of themes and song titles you can use. Notice the natural up and down motion and the rhythm of your spoken words. Especially when it comes to pop songs, short, sweet, and upbeat thoughts are especially welcome. "I loved this article and a tip would be to make sure you keep practising if you don't get it the first time. )Many of today’s biggest hits are built on the same basic song structure. If a song does these three things, then listeners will usually want to hear it again and that’s what drives a song’s success. Borrow motifs and themes commonly used in your genre, but don’t over-rely on them. When you have a chord progression you like, try playing it with a rhythm groove, then develop a lyric or melody idea as I described above. So, let’s write a Pop song! GET THE GROOVE GOINGAlmost all Pop hits feature a solid, steady rhythm groove. Using the guidelines above as a template, there are some final things to consider when trying to write a pop rock song. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Write-a-Pop-Song-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-a-Pop-Song-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Write-a-Pop-Song-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid460274-v4-728px-Write-a-Pop-Song-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"