How To Write A Pop Rock Song?
Philip Martin
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How to compose a modern pop song
- Acquire an understanding of pop chord progressions.
- Get started on composing a chorus that is catchy.
- Listen to pop hooks.
- Take notes on some ideas you have for your own hooks.
- Create a narrative with your song’s lyrics.
- Create an introductory chord progression for your song.
- Compose introductory lyrics that are powerful.
- Educate yourself on the structure of popular songs.
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How is a pop song written?
Article Downloading Available Article Downloading Available Have you ever been listening to the radio and humming along to a popular song and thought to yourself, “I could compose one of those!”? You may start creating your own pop song in no time at all if you have a moderate musical skill, a little bit of imagination, and a passion for metaphors. 1 Look for a model or a source of inspiration. To communicate a concept is the purpose of writing a song. Take your time. This might be very straightforward or quite sophisticated, but it must have some origin and signify anything to you in order to be considered.
- Look around for a location that can fulfill all of your requirements. If you are looking for someone to talk to, you should go somewhere that is busy. Take a trip or find a quiet spot near the water if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.
- Spend some time engaging all of your senses in some way. Feel the surface of the table in front of you, look about to take in the many colors that are present, listen to the sounds that are going on around you, and smell the myriad of scents that are present.
- The thoughts that enter into your head do not always have to be complex or weighty in nature. Thoughts that are condensed, sugary, and cheery are very acceptable in pop music, in particular when it comes to songwriting.
2 Come up with a variety of diverse concepts. When you go out to look for inspiration, make sure to bring a piece of paper and a pencil or pen with you. Write down one or two words that best describe what you see, hear, touch, or smell whenever anything fascinating comes to your attention.
- When you go on trips, make sure to keep a travel diary in your pocket that is no bigger than 2 by 4 inches. You will always have something to jot an idea down on if you do it this way, and you will have a mechanism to keep all of your ideas organized and in one place.
- Put stars next to the words that are particularly significant to you, or highlight them. It’s possible that you’ll wish to center your songwriting on some of these phrases at some point in the future.
Advertisement 3 Concentrate your thoughts on a single subject at a time. You do not want to compose a song about love, loss, melancholy, working, dreams, or figuring out who you are. Any one of those will do just well, and using one of them will assist to concentrate the thoughts of your audience later on.
- Every one of these significant words ought to concentrate on a single subject. The ideas expressed in phrases such as “gravel, breeze, heading home, rough road, time, and wide space,” for instance, would revolve around the idea of “taking your own route in life.”
- Start making connections between the words and numbering them in the order that you want them to appear in your song. In reference to the earlier illustration, “1. open space, 2. breeze, 3. bumpy road, 4. coming home.” You feel the urge to get some fresh air, so you decide to take a drive. While you are riding in the automobile, you get to feel the fresh wind from the outside air. In spite of this, you start to get a sense of how difficult the road is, and as a result, you decide to head back home.
- It is essential that the subject you decide to discuss be one that everybody can relate to. The fact that this will be a pop song ensures that it will be well received by a large variety of listeners. For instance, a general audience could find it easier to relate to discussions about melancholy or yearning as opposed to depression.
INSIDER INSIGHT Since she was eight years old, Halle Payne has been penning original music. She has composed hundreds of songs for guitar and piano, some of which have been recorded and can be found on either her Soundcloud or her YouTube page. Most recently, Halle was a member of a group called the Skl Sisters, which consisted of 15 people and took place in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Halle Payn e Singer/Songwrite r Halle Payne, a singer and songwriter, shared the following with us: “Especially with pop music, you want to think about the brevity of the story you’re telling.
- Pop music, in contrast to folk or indie music, which could require a longer convoluted narrative, is frequently about brevity.
What exactly are you attempting to convey here?,and how exactly are you going about stating it in a different way? ” 4 Rephrase an old saying in a contemporary manner. Every conceivable subject has previously been the subject of a song, whether it be love, grief, happiness, yearning, hope, trustworthiness, or anything else you can think of.
- For instance, you may have seen the way the feathers of a bird move when it is exposed to wind. The ebb and flow of your life may therefore be interpreted via the lens of this particular fact, which you can utilize as a metaphor. You utilize a metaphor to illustrate your thoughts rather than simply stating “up and down,” which would be more straightforward.
- Use these analogies to illustrate what you mean. Do not link together a huge number of them in an arbitrary manner. For example, if you are referring to a bird as a metaphor, you should continue to use the bird. Discuss the many behaviors of the creature, such as how it swims, feeds, sleeps, and breathes. The listeners of your song will have their minds captivated by the rich images you provide.
5 Create a basic structure for your lyric outline. It’s not as important to care about rhyming as it is to write your lyrics in entire phrases right now. Start with your most significant words and construct the rest of your sentence around them using dynamic verbs, adjectives, and so on.
- A verse, a pre-chorus, a chorus, another verse, another chorus, an interlude, and another chorus make up the fundamental framework of a pop song. There are two groups of verses that you may use to fully flesh out the details of your narrative. Your audience will get familiar with the plot of the song after hearing the first verse. Either the same feeling as the first verse should be repeated in the second stanza, or the path your tale should go should be altered.
- If you want the listener to remember the song, you need to keep the chorus consistent no matter how many times you sing it. This section of the song should unmistakably convey the core message that the rest of the song is trying to convey. Tell the listener that you are going home if your song is about returning there, either overtly (I’m heading home) or covertly (I’m going back to the location where it all started).
- Keep in mind that the title of your song will most likely be taken from the chorus in some form.
Advertisement 1 Accompany your lyrics that have been outlined with a beat groove. It is important to have a broad idea of the beat of your music before you start making changes or modifications to the words. Even if there are no lyrics in your song, the listeners will be able to identify the mood from the beat.
- Notes should be written above each individual word in full, half, or quarter size. This will give you an idea of how long you should sing each each syllable. The majority of full notes may be found in sad songs, as opposed to cheerful songs, which are often full of quarter notes and occasionally even eighth notes.
- The beat of the chorus will remain the same throughout the whole song, regardless of whether the pop music is happy or sad. When compared to happy music, sorrowful songs contain verses that are written in a more unstructured way. They may go more slowly or more quickly, and they can switch things around in between. It’s important for upbeat songs to have chorus lines and verses that stay the same the whole way through.
2 Make sure you start your song with a catchy hook. This section of a pop song is, without a doubt, the most significant. Due to the short amount of time that pop songs are aired on the radio, there is a limited opportunity to “hook” the listener. They are drawn in and maintained in their interest by the catchy hook of your music.
- “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of a riff. The opening of this song almost instantly captures the attention of the listener.
- It is important to keep in mind that the riff does not necessarily need to have the same melody or rhythm as the song. The hook may be utilized just at the beginning of the presentation to pique the interest of the audience, or it may be utilized throughout the presentation while remaining in the background.
- In a song like “Satisfaction,” the riff is used throughout the entirety of the song, however in “Train, Train” by Blackfoot, the harmonica riff is only used at the very beginning of the song.
3 Select a tune to use for your song’s melody. Due to the fact that every song ever composed has a distinctive melody, there is no foolproof method for doing this. Pop songs, on the other hand, typically use a combination of repeating phrases and changing things up in order to make the song easier to recall.
- Listening to other pop songs might serve as a source of creative ideas for composing a tune. You may discover a tune that someone else has used and then construct a version on top of that melody.
- When you have a melody thought out for the first line of a verse, you should apply it to the second line of the verse as well. Alter the melody on the third line, and then on the fourth line, go back to the music that you were using before. This is a prevalent structure seen in pop songs, and it results in a degree of repetition that appeals to the tastes of the general public (1, 1, 2, 1).
- Keep in mind that there will be a shift in the melodies as you move from the verses to the chorus lines. Pop songs typically include catchy chorus melodies that give the performer the opportunity to shout it out and get passionate (either happy or sad). Make sure that the chorus contains the most prominent notes in your song, such as extremely high notes or sounds that are particularly lengthy.
4 Make a chord progression for the song. Chord progressions in pop songs are often made up of three or four notes. If you type the name of any music followed by the term “chord” into Google, the search engine will tell you what chords were used in the song.
- You are free to utilize the chord progressions from other songs, but not the melodies or lyrics of other songs. You are, however, allowed to alter or add to any of the notes in order to get the sound that you want for your song.
- If you perform a chord sequence more than once, try switching the scale you use to play it. This results in a certain amount of contrast being created between the verse, the pre-chorus, and the chorus. For illustration purposes, the opening stanza of “Firework” features a consistent low chord progression. The pre-chorus progresses from a low to high point, while the chorus maintains a high point throughout its entirety.
- You’ll be able to return to the rhythm and melody once you’ve decided on the chords you want to use after you’ve worked out the chords you like. As you piece together the rhythm, melody, and chords, you might want to change some of the words in your lyrics or add some new ones.
5 Insert a bridge or an intermission into the song. This often happens between the second and third times that you sing the chorus. It comes before the third time. It might be a guitar solo or a piano solo. It’s possible that the vocalist should try belting out big notes while using a variety of modulations in their voice.
- For instance, you can expand on notes that are already present in chorus lines. When you sing the chorus for the first time, sing the notes more slowly than you normally would. Sing them for a longer period of time the second time, elongating the phrases. After that, you may immediately transition into a bridge, which gives you the opportunity to sing the same notes for as long as you like throughout the bridge.
- Mix things up. Many pop songs begin an interlude with notes that are yelled out for an extended period of time, and then the song moves into a piano or guitar solo. The possibilities are practically limitless.
- Bring the interlude to a close so that you may go on to the next section of the song. Keep in mind that you want there to be distinct lines between each of the separate portions.
Advertisement 1. Put an end to your song. The chorus line of the song is typically looped several times until the music fades out, which is a frequent technique for ending pop songs. This fading movement is utilized extensively in a great number of Aerosmith songs, including “Love in an Elevator.” It works particularly well for harsh chorus lines that are rhythmic and loud.
- You can also choose to conclude your song with an instrumental, although this is typically considered an artistic license reserved for bands who have already established a reputation for themselves in the music industry. For instance, the conclusion of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” features instrumental music that lasts for more than five minutes.
- You should, however, consider playing your fundamental riff a couple of times towards the end of your song in order to ask the listener to repeat and play again.
2 Edit and proofread both your lyrics and your notes. After you have done incorporating the music into your lyrics, the next step is to return to the beginning and insert the rhymes. There is a greater degree of “free-styling” when it comes to the lyrics of current pop songs, yet the songs still adhere to a fundamental rhyme structure.
- In the Google search bar, type a word, then type “rhymes with” next to it. You will see a selection of possible terms, which will assist you in selecting the one that works the best.
- It’s possible that you’ll need to go back and alter parts of the melody or rhythm depending on the specific word selections you choose. This is a procedure that involves going back and forth, giving and taking.
3 Work together with your loved ones, close friends, or business associates. Make use of the talents of the people around you in order to improve the music that you are working on. Find out whether someone you know plays an instrument by inquiring about it.
- It’s possible that other friends or family members can offer their voices to your work and harmonize with the music that you’ve created.
- You should also consider asking people you know whether they know anyone who has connections in the music industry. It is possible that your song might receive airplay on the radio if it was submitted by a person who has previous experience recording an album or working with a record label.
4 I would want to hear your music. Make a recording of it using either your computer or your stereo. Replay what you just heard and see if you can understand it. The words should have a sharp and clear ring to them because millions of people will be memorizing them through listening to hit songs.
- Songs of any genre, even pop, seldom reach their full potential on the first try. The song should be rerecorded until it is perfect in every way.
- Take mental notes on how you are feeling as the song plays. If you are able to experience the feelings that you are attempting to portray via the music, then you have created an excellent pop song.
5 Think of a name for your song and write it down. This may be anything at all that you want it to be, but it should relate in some way to the topic that you’re going to be discussing. The choruses of pop songs are frequently sampled for their inclusion in the song’s name. For instance, if your song is about depression but you never specify that depression is the topic directly throughout the song, then the title should reflect that. Advertisement Please enter a new question.
- Question How do I compose songs that are as good as those performed by Adele and Tori Kelly? Find some parallels between Adele’s and Tori Kelly’s writing approaches by listening to their songs and comparing them to your own before you begin the real process of composing. What is it that makes their songs so amazing and stand out from others? When creating your own music, try implementing these techniques.
- Question Is it possible for me to finish writing the lyrics first and then choose appropriate music to accompany them? You should certainly write them down first, then work on the music afterwards if you have some decent ideas for lyrics floating around in your brain. This is something that you can totally accomplish.
- Question What if I can’t think of an appropriate title to give this? Response from the Gamingboy616 Community Utilize a word or a few words from a stand out line in your song, also known as a vocal hook, that you repeat several times. If your music already has such a line, use it. The choice that is easiest for you to make is the line in your chorus you can recite the best.
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- Be sure to keep your song nice and succinct. The average length of a pop song is close to three minutes.
- If you want to feel inspired, you should visit new areas that you have never been before. When you go on vacation to a remote location, be sure to bring along your pocket journal.
- Try to think of something different. It is preferable to have a song that may be described as “edgy” rather than one that is calm, conventional, or average.
Show Further Suggestions We appreciate you sending in a suggestion for our consideration. Advertisement The majority of songs that are considered pop will never be played on the radio. The music business is notorious for being notoriously difficult to get into due to its high level of complexity.
How do you structure a rock song?
3. Decide on a Song Framework Now that you have some fundamental concepts for your rock song, it’s time to start shaping the clay a little bit more and providing the song with a structure. Rock songs don’t need to be constrained to a specific formula, but having a basic understanding of where different components fall may be immensely beneficial in the process of writing rock music.
The verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge format is perhaps the one used in rock songs more often than any other. One of the defining elements of rock songs is the presence of a solo part, which can double as the bridge in some songs. You might also choose to use other conventional forms, such as verse-chorus-verse-chorus, or you could experiment with ideas of your own.
After you’ve decided on a structure, the next step is to see how your initial ideas for brainstorming may be incorporated into the framework you’ve chosen. You can rearrange your sections and make adjustments to what you’ve composed until you feel that the transition from your second verse to your second chorus and so on is smooth and natural.
How do you start off a pop song?
Compose a first verse lyric that describes the vocalist or the circumstance, and presents it to the audience. Put a sentence at the end of your verse that transitions the listener into your chorus. Begin your chorus with the phrase in your lyrics that evokes the greatest emotion or is the most powerful. While you are developing a melody, play the chords for the chorus and sing the lyrics.
What makes a song appealing?
The fact that they were so connected to their fans made the music that much more enticing. According to Barsom, there are two different ways in which repetition may make a song difficult to forget. ‘If you have a hook in the song, which is a brief appealing phrase or line, and if you repeat that hook a lot, it may be enough to get the job done.
What chords are used in pop songs?
Major or minor scale? – The keys of C major and G major, together with their related minor equivalents of A minor and E minor, are frequently thought to be the greatest keys and scales for Pop music. You have the option of using either Major or Minor scales.
How many bars are in a pop song?
The typical length of a pop song is somewhere about 80 bars, and it is typically broken up into several sections, each of which is typically 8 or multiples of 8 bars long.
What makes a rock song rock?
The term “rock and rock-oriented music” was given its official definition by the government of Canada as “music that is characterized by a powerful beat, the employment of blues forms, and the use of rock instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, electric organ, or electric piano.” According to this, the assumption is that rock music may be distinguished from other types of music in a formal sense.