Writing Songs In 3D

©Dennis R. Sinnott

Some songwriters seem to think all they have to do to write a great song, is come up with a great melody, and a great lyric – and the rest will write itself. Nothing could be further from the truth. To me, there’s nothing worse than a wonderful melody and a super lyric inside a badly thought out song.

The difference between great and average songwriting, is knowing how and where the creative parts fit and work together, like a finely tuned engine.

You can always tell an inexperienced songwriter – especially when there’s a promising melody or lyric inside his/her song. Many will over use their “wonderful melody or lyric” so that by the time the song’s half over, the listener has already grown tired of it. Having a great melody and or lyric, is all about how and where to use it in the song.

Here’s a tip. When writing – think of the verse as a build up to the chorus. The verse should be very different in melody and chord structure to that of the chorus. Some songwriters think of the verse as playing the supportive role – while the chorus is the main event.

The verse, then, is like the build up so that when you arrive at the chorus – it’s like all the fireworks suddenly going off – the “big deal” part of the song – the part where the listener gets “hooked”. Other songwriters liken arriving at the chorus to being “smacked in the face by a wet fish” or the “3D” effect.

To make the differences stand out more – some writers have the verse written in a minor key – then change into a major or have a key change on the bridge just before the chorus. Having a key change on the last chorus can also give the song a “lifting effect,” especially if it’s a catchy melody.

The lyrics, too, should been written to reflect the mood of a song. For example, if the verse poses the question, make the chorus give the answer, or vice versa. Never have lyrics posing continuous questions on both lyrics and chorus.

From: Masters Of Songwriting