Most songs start on a guitar or at a piano, so songwriting is often learned alongside one of the two. Bring whatever you have: a finished song, a verse without a chorus, a riff, or a page of lyrics.
Song form
Most songs are built from a few recurring sections:
| Section | Job |
|---|---|
| Verse | Moves the story forward; the melody repeats while the lyrics change each time |
| Pre-chorus | A short section that builds tension and leads into the chorus |
| Chorus | Carries the main idea, usually the title and the hook; lyrics and melody return unchanged |
| Bridge | Contrast: new chords, melody or angle, usually heard once, late in the song |
Common forms include verse-chorus, the AABA form (four eight-bar sections, the third one contrasting) found in many older popular songs and jazz standards, and the twelve-bar blues. Knowing the forms gives a writer a plan for where a new idea belongs.
Chord progressions and keys
A key is a song's home: one note and chord that the music returns to. The chords built from the notes of a key are numbered with Roman numerals, upper case for major and lower case for minor. I–IV–V is the backbone of much blues, folk and rock; adding the minor vi chord opens up many more progressions. A writer learns which chords pull toward home and which pull away, and how a borrowed chord or a key change adds color.
Choosing the key is also practical. The right key puts the melody where the singer's voice sits comfortably, and on guitar a capo moves a progression into a new key without changing the chord shapes.
Melody against lyrics
The stressed syllables of the lyric should fall on the strong beats of the melody; when they do not, words sound mispronounced. Lines that sit in the same place in each verse need similar syllable counts, so the verse melody can repeat.
Rhyme ties lines together. A perfect rhyme matches the vowel and the final consonants; a slant rhyme matches only part of the sound and gives the writer more choices. The rhyme scheme, such as every line or every second line, sets how strongly a section resolves. Many choruses also sit higher in the singer's range than the verses, which helps them stand out.
Arranging parts
Arranging decides who plays what: the bass line, the rhythm part, a counter-melody, the intro and the ending, and where the band drops out to leave room for the voice.
Demos and performing
A demo is a simple recording that captures the form, chords, melody and lyrics clearly enough for someone else to learn the song. Students can record at the studio.
When a song is finished, Bill, who plays open mics himself, helps you get it ready for an audience. For acoustic singer-songwriter material, see folk and acoustic.
Questions
Do I need to play an instrument to take songwriting lessons?
It helps to play a little guitar or piano, because that is how you hear the chords under a melody. Beginners can learn the instrument and the craft side by side.
Do I need to know music theory to write songs?
No. Plenty of good songs were written by ear. Theory shortens the trial and error: it explains why a chord change works, so you can find the next one faster.
What do songwriting lessons cost?
$35 per weekly half hour.
