Saturday, March 7, 2009

Improving Your Song Craft, the Art and Science.

The Intro is key to recognizing your song. Make it Count.

The First Line of the Verse should be Good enough to get them to listen to the rest of the Verse and get into your story.

The Chorus must contain a memorable hook with a central message that is easy to remember but still interesting enough not to get annoying with repeated listens. Repetition is good as it instills familiarity which our ears love. Finding a balance between familiarity and annoying repetitiveness is the key to ensuring repeated listens and a long radio shelf life. Use contrast in your melody, lyrics, rhythmic phrasing to create dynamics and interest. The beat is the foundation and vital to the feel and success of your song. Make it groove with lots of "tap, nod & bounce" factor.

Then 2nd verse continues the rest of the story, it should contain similar structure to the 1st verse to maintain familiarity.

Now the Chorus kicks in for the 2nd time, if you get them to listen this far then the likability of the chorus determine whether this song is a hit or a miss. Now the bridge.

The bridge must a create a lift to the song with a new dimension and feel . It provides contrast and and release from the set frame work of what came before. It's a welcome momentary rest stop before getting back into the Chorus. The end of the bridge should build and grow with intensity creating anticipation for the last Chorus.


Key points to notes is the our brain only remembers only what's important. That usually means the hook, the 1st line of Verse, and the intro of a song.


For more info on songwriting, please check out
www.taxi.com/faq/songwriting

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