Song Structures in Modern Popular Music
You song's structure may depend on a lot of things: how much you have to say, how long you want the song to be, the genre, etc. However, most songs on the charts follow a structure like these:
Verse 1 / Chorus / Verse 2 / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus
Verse 1 / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Verse 2 / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Bridge / Pre-Chorus /Chorus
There are some variations. For example, when writing song lyrics, some songwriters include an intro or an outro. Sometimes these are not even sung but spoken. You can also leave out a pre-chorus or two. Or add a third verse after the bridge. Or write a kind of reprise, a section at the end of the song, which has either a different melody or different lyrics than the other sections.
Don't put too many or long verses or choruses next to each other. The best songs contain a lot of contrasts. If your listeners have to listen to one kind of section for a long time, you'll lose them pretty quickly.
Where & How To Get Lyric Ideas
When you're writing song lyrics, the most important thing is that you carry with you some kind of a notebook at all times. It can be digital if you want. When you start writing songs regularly, you'll notice that titles and lyric ideas just start to pop up in your head in unexpected places. You'll always think that you'll still remember the words when you get home but 90% of the time you'll forget them, no matter how great they were. That's just the way it is. So trust me, carry a notebook or dictaphone with you.
When you're writing song lyrics, the most important thing is that you carry with you some kind of a notebook at all times. It can be digital if you want. When you start writing songs regularly, you'll notice that titles and lyric ideas just start to pop up in your head in unexpected places. You'll always think that you'll still remember the words when you get home but 90% of the time you'll forget them, no matter how great they were. That's just the way it is. So trust me, carry a notebook or dictaphone with you.
If you need a great idea for a song, you don't have to go far. Before writing song lyrics, watch films and TV shows, read newspapers, news sites and books. While you're watching, try to catch a phrase or two that could make a good title.
When you are writing song lyrics, you can also try to coin some unexpected words together to make a theme or title. Either open a dictionary or go to a website like SongName.net which automatically generates song titles. Some don't make any sense but others are surprisingly good. Some examples it has just come up with: "Eternal Stories", "Kill You With Imitations" and "Circus of Regrets".
Theme
Most songs on the charts are about love. I guess about 99%. The songs deal with all aspects of love, from falling in love, through jealousy to break-up. If you want to get on the charts, you'll increase your chances with a love song. When writing song lyrics, try to pick a theme then find an angle that no-one has ever though of. The next most important thing is that you write from your heart. That way you'll make sure that you'll create something truly unique that nobody else could have written. But if there is a theme other than love that you are interested in, don't hold back. There are some popular songs about social issues, motivation, family relationships, religion, etc.
Title
A title should summarize what the song is about. It should also be unique, convey an unusual image or action. The best titles don't say it all though. When you hear them, they make you think about what the song could be about. Let's take Born This Way by Lady Gaga as an example. This title raises a lot of questions, like "born what way?" "born in a good or in a bad way"?
A title should summarize what the song is about. It should also be unique, convey an unusual image or action. The best titles don't say it all though. When you hear them, they make you think about what the song could be about. Let's take Born This Way by Lady Gaga as an example. This title raises a lot of questions, like "born what way?" "born in a good or in a bad way"?
Titles that contain only one word can be especially powerful. But most consist of 2 to 5 words. More than that is too long. Don't worry if you choose a title that someone else has probably already chosen. Titles usually can't be copyrighted so if you write a completely different song from the other one with the same title, you'll be fine.
Make a Sketch
When you're writing song lyrics, a sketch will make your job much easier.
When you're writing song lyrics, a sketch will make your job much easier.
Once you have a great title and you know what the song is going to be about, it's advisable to make a sketch of your song. Decide what section you would like to include: verses, pre-choruses, choruses, bridge. Then take some notes about what every section should be about. This way you won't find yourself having written the whole story in the first verse and nothing to say in the second verse, the chorus and the bridge. A simple example for a sketch like this could be:
Verse 1: we see a man entering the bar, being lonely
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Verse 2: he starts up a conversation with a woman who doesn't want to talk to him
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Bridge: he can't take this anymore, he knows he has to change his life
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
You could also make a list of the expressions you might use in your song. Brainstorm some words and phrases then brainstorm even more that are somehow connected to those. This way you'll have a good list of words and phrases ready when you're working on the details.Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Verse 2: he starts up a conversation with a woman who doesn't want to talk to him
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Bridge: he can't take this anymore, he knows he has to change his life
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Verse
The Verses (2 or 3 in most cases) tell you a story. In Verse 1 you usually introduce the scene, the characters and the vibe. Verse 2 (and maybe 3) then go on developing the situation. In each Verse, we get more and more new information. The Verses usually don't get repeated.
The Verses (2 or 3 in most cases) tell you a story. In Verse 1 you usually introduce the scene, the characters and the vibe. Verse 2 (and maybe 3) then go on developing the situation. In each Verse, we get more and more new information. The Verses usually don't get repeated.
Pre-Chorus
The Pre-Chorus is basically a transition from the verses to the bridge. It's very popular nowadays, you can find it in almost all songs on the charts. Lyrically, the Pre-Chorus takes the listener from the verse into the Chorus.
The Pre-Chorus is basically a transition from the verses to the bridge. It's very popular nowadays, you can find it in almost all songs on the charts. Lyrically, the Pre-Chorus takes the listener from the verse into the Chorus.
Chorus
The Chorus is the section which is repeated several times (usually at least 3 times) throughout the song. In most cases, it stays the same. Sometimes there are little variations. The Chorus usually contains the title of the song, which is often repeated more than once. In most cases, the title is either at the beginning or at the end of the Chorus. This section summarizes the consequences or emotions of the song. It's the part your listeners are going to sing along to most often.
Bridge
The Bridge is often the most emotional part of the song. It usually introduces a different angle, an intense emotion or a punchline. The lyrics and the melody are different from any other section of the song. The Bridge doesn't get repeated.
Hook
Songwriting Hooks are images or phrases in your song (usually in the chorus) that immediately catch your attention the first time you hear them (if they're working well). It's the part the listeners will most easily recall.
Rhyme
In most popular songs, there are plenty of rhymes. They are usually not perfect rhymes but that's not a problem. This way they sound more natural. Rhymes help listeners remember the song. They also give them a feeling of satisfaction. They are usually at the end of the lines but sometimes in the middle. How much rhyming you include in your song is your call. There can be too little or too much of them. When you find when your writing song lyrics that most of your lines end in some kind of a line, you can't go wrong.
Number of Syllables
Some songwriters take syllable-counting very seriously. For example, if the first line of their verse consists of 7 syllables, it has to be true for all lines. But most songwriters don't take it that seriously. You can even play with the number of syllables to make your song more interesting-sounding. The last line of the verse could be half the number of syllables as the other lines.
Images, Action Words and Phrases
When you are writing song lyrics, include several images, action words and phrases. Just describing a scene - as it is - is boring. Nobody wants to listen to a song which says "then the guy went up to the girl, he said he loved her, then the girl rejected him". It's essential that when writing song lyrics, you use some images, acton words or phrases in your title and lyrics to make them more attention grabbing. Think about titles like Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet". It's not only a great phrase but she also twisted it in an interesting way. Another great example could be from Christina Perri's song: "… running 'round leaving scars, collecting your jar of hearts…" How great does that sound?
How To Write Rap Lyrics
The information above is true about most genres of music. However, if you'd like to write rap lyrics, there are some differences you should be aware of. Click here to learn how to write rap lyrics.
The more of these little tricks you apply when writing song lyrics, the better chances your song has to get on the charts.
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