How to Write the Perfect Song in 10 Minutes — or Maybe a Little More
In the last year I’ve written and recorded over 100 songs using a simple formula that makes songwriting easy for anyone. You can hear them on my Changemakers Music YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrBSzvO2YX5zp6dHOieR6g). There are other formats for songwriting — but this is a fast and easy guide, and I’ve used it to dash off the lyrics for songs in about 10 minutes — plus a little polishing later, and then the singer/composer I work with writes the music, records the songs, and I’ve posted them on YouTube.
Here’s how it works. The basic formula I use is writing a chorus ©, which is repeated three times; two or three verses (V), which tell the story; and a bridge (B), which sums up the story or suggests a solution to a problem or issue raised by the story. Sometimes the chorus starts off the song, or sometimes it follows the first verse, then it gets repeated after a verse or bridge and concludes the song. Typically, I write the song by hand and type up and polish my first version later.
A typical song would look like this: CVCVBC or VCVCBC. If there’s a third verse, the formula would look like this: CVCVVBC or VCVCVBC.
Then, using this structure, a first step is to decide what you want to say. Start with your main idea — whether it’s a new approach to a story about love or a comment on everyday life. Then, like you are writing a poem, write out 4 to 6 lines to express your thoughts about that subject or begin telling your story.
In writing each chorus, verse, or bridge, use an even number of lines, and think in terms of shot lines with three to five strong beats. Use a rhyming scheme in which there are two or four rhymes. Typically, if you are using one rhyme, rhyme the second and fourth line, or if two rhymes, rhyme the first and second line, and then the third and fourth line. Use the same rhyme scheme for the verses, though you can use a different rhyme scheme for the bridge and for the chorus.
Aside from rhyming, write each line like you are having a conversation with someone or telling or story, so the lyric flows naturally, but the number of beats is consistent for the lines in different verses. For example, the number of beats in line one in each verse should be the same, and that should be true for each line in each verse. That’s become the melody is the same for each verse when it’s sung.
If you find it hard to find a rhyme for one line, think of a different way to say something, so the rhyme occurs.
Often, I find it easier to start with the chorus, since this presents the main theme or summary for the story. Then, I do two or three verses, and finally the bridge. After that I decide if I want to start with the chorus or the first verse, and it’s done.
When I type up my handwritten first version, I polish up the lines and even change some of the copy for a better fit. After that, I get feedback from the singer/composer on how well different lines sing, so I do more editing and polishing based on that — and occasionally, there may be two or three rounds of feedback, until the song is ready for a recording.
To illustrate, here’s a draft of my latest song, which was inspired by the difficulty of knowing what’s true or false in the news and social media these days: What If What You Think Is True Is a Lie? The chorus states the basic problem; the verses tell a story which features examples of the problem, and the bridge offers a solution. The song uses the single rhyme scheme with the rhyme in lines two and four.
CHORUS What if what you think is true is a lie?
What if someone tells you something false is true?
Would you believe it or think the truth is false?
What would you want to know? What will you do?
VERSE There are so many examples of lies in the news.
The media runs false stories, so you think they are real.
Then later retractions may give the falsehoods away.
Yet it’s easy to by a story’s current appeal.
CHORUS What if what you think is true is a lie?
What if someone tells you something false is true?
Would you believe it or think the truth is false?
What would you want to know? What will you do?
VERSE Politicians lie to say what they think voters want.
They don’t try to check or deny what is false.
Instead, they often use lies to build their case.
They’re like dancers who dance in the liars’ world waltz.
BRIDGE So what can we do to know what is true?
How can we know when conspiracies are just fiction?
We need critical thinking and facts more than ever.
And we need to take time to make a good true decision.
CHORUS What if what you think is true is a lie?
What if someone tells you something false is true?
Would you believe it or think the truth is false?
What would you want to know? What will you do?
These are almost the final lyrics, and next I’ll do a final polish, with input from the singer/composer I work with. Once the song is finalized, he’ll record it. Then, to turn the recording into a video, I’ll create a cover image for it and add credits and contact information. Finally, I’ll post it on the Changemakers Music and Changemakers Publishing channels on YouTube, as well as on my Changemakers Music website.
So now that you have the basic structure for creating a song, go try it. And if you aren’t a singer/composer or working with one, you can recite your song like a poem and record it with your phone or computer.
The author is internationally published author and film producer, Gini Graham Scott, PhD, who has published over 200 books, 50 for traditional publishers and 150 for her own company Changemakers Publishing, specializing in books on self-help, popular business, and social issues. She writes frequently about personal growth, success, social trends, and everyday life. Besides What Type of Dog Are You?, her recent books include: The New American Middle Ages and Turning Your Books or Scripts into Films. She has written and executive produced 14 feature films and documentaries, featured on the www.changemakersproductionsfilms.com website. She has written over 100 songs featured on her website at www.changemakersmusic.com. She also writes books and scripts for clients. Her website for writing is at www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com.
For more information or to set up an interview, contact: my assistant at:
Karen Andrews
Executive Assistant
Changemakers Publishing and Writing
Lafayette, CA 94549 . (925) 385–0608