How to Write a Song - Techniques From the Hits, Vol II

How to Write a Song Techniques From the Hits, Vol. II by Anthony Ceseri

This is a free report courtesy of Success For Your Songs. PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS! You are encouraged to attach this pdf to an email, (OR include the download link within the email – it’s provided below) and send it to all of your songwriting friends. You can also share the download link on all of your social media sites. The download link for this report is: http://successforyoursongs.com/freeoffer/how-to-write-a-song-volume-ii/ Thank you, and enjoy!

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………...………………… 3

Part 1: Lyrics Using Rhyme as an Accelerator, as Done by Neil Young..………………………................... 4

Part 2: Melody + Song Structure Using Contrasting Sections, as Done by REM………………………..………………............... 8

Bonus The Five P’s for Success as a Songwriter……………………………………………………..… 10

Final Word……………………………………………………………………...…...…..……… 12

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

Introduction Songwriting is an art. You can create anything you want, because there’s no right or wrong. However, there are tools and techniques you can use in your writing that can help improve your skill set. Learning these tools can be beneficial to you, if you’re trying to make money with your music, as a lot of these techniques have been used in songs on the radio, in film and on TV. But even if songwriting is just your hobby, learning these tools can give you some new ideas for presenting your ideas to your listeners. The more common techniques you learn, the better you’ll be able to express yourself. You can always choose to not use what you’ve learned, but it can never hurt to have knowledge. You’ll be learning some useful tools in this report. If you don’t already have Volume I, you can get it here, for free: http://successforyoursongs.com/freeoffer/how-to-write-a-song/. It contains a lot more great songwriting information and is a good supplement for the report you’re reading now. This book includes articles I have written for my website, covering some of the most important topics in writing songs. We’ll look at a couple of hit songs and the techniques they used to make them enjoyable listening experiences. Once you’re aware of these techniques, you’ll be able to apply them to you own songs, and see how they work for your music. If you enjoy the song analysis presented here, you can download How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits Vol. I. It looks at seven more hit songs and the techniques that made them successful.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

Part 1: Lyrics

Using Rhyme as an Accelerator, As Done by Neil Young When you write lyrics, they tend to work best when the meaning of your words is directly tied into what’s happening musically. When all the elements of your song are fused together this way, it’s called prosody. Rhyme can be an incredibly powerful tool for tying the meaning of your words to your music. One way to do this is to use rhyme as an accelerator. For example, let’s say you have a rhyme scheme that rhymes on every other line. We’ll call this an ABAB rhyme scheme. It might look like this: Now we’re gonna rhyme (A) It’ll be so fun (B) We’ll do it in four lines (A) Just like that, we’re done (B) In this ABAB scheme, the ‘A’ rhymes are the lines with the words “rhyme” and “lines” and the ‘B’ rhymes are “fun” and “done.” Once we’ve established this rhyme scheme in our song, it becomes what’s expected throughout the song. If we change it, it’ll change what the song makes us feel. For example. if we establish our lyric to be an ABAB rhyme scheme and then change it to an ABBB rhyme scheme the next time around, it’ll feel different. Check it out…

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

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Section 1 Now we’re gonna rhyme (A) It’ll be so fun (B) We’ll do it in four lines (A) Just like that, we’re done (B) Section 2 Now we’re gonna rhyme (A) It’ll be so fun (B) These lines are gonna run (B) Just like that, we’re done (B) Future Grammy-winning lyrics for sure. Okay, maybe not. But lame lyrics aside, how did the second section feel compared to the first? Did you notice the acceleration of the last three lines in the second section? One of the functions of rhyme is it can act as an accelerator, when you space your rhymes close together. In the example above we established our rhymes to happen at every other line, in section 1. Then we went against expectations in section 2 by increasing the frequency of the rhyme, which made the lines feel accelerated. “Heart of Gold” by Neil young Let’s check out a great example of this concept in action. Who better to learn from than Neil Young? Check out the first verse of the song “Heart of Gold:” I want to live, I want to give I've been a miner for a heart of gold It's these expressions I never give That keep me searching for a heart of gold And I'm getting old

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

This is essentially an ABABB rhyme scheme, in five lines. Technically, in lines one through four, they’re not rhymes, but identities, since it’s the same word being repeated (“give” and “gold”). But that’s beside the point for right now. Let’s treat them as typical rhymes. With the ABAB rhyme scheme that’s established in the first four lines, there has been a certain rhyme pace that’s become expected. So when the fifth line comes in with another ‘B’ rhyme, it’s a surprise that accelerates that line. Mixing Meaning With Your Rhymes “So what?” you ask. “The fifth line accelerates... Big deal.” Fair point. Here’s why it’s cool. This acceleration happens on the line “And I’m getting old.” The implication of a line like “And I’m getting old” is “I’m getting old, quickly.” Except he doesn’t have to say “quickly” because that was implied with how the line was written. The acceleration due to two lines of rhyme back to back (after establishing a slower rhyme pattern previously) really helps us FEEL the aging process happening fast for him. It’s the meaning of the lyric tied into the rest of the song. In my opinion, it works very well. If you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself. This pattern continues throughout the song, but you’ll get the gist after the first verse. So just listen to the first verse, through about 1:15 into the song. Here’s a link to the song: Heart of Gold. If you’ve printed this out, you can just do a search for “Heart of Gold – Neil Young” on YouTube to listen to it. Other Factors With moves like this, rhyme is always the most obvious contributor, because it stands out so clearly when we hear it. It can’t be mistaken. But when you’re using rhyme to highlight one of your ideas, it usually works best when combined with other tools. In the case of our line “and I’m getting old,” a second tool being used is a change of line length.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

If you check out the first four lines of the verse, you’ll notice they’re longer than the last line, “and I’m getting old.” This helps drive home the idea about “I’m getting old quickly.” When you establish a longer line length in previous lines, and then shorten it, it’ll feel quicker. It’s a second contributor to the same idea. And it contributes nicely. Use It Experiment with this idea. If your lyrics give you a reason to accelerate (or decelerate), try supporting that meaning with rhyme, and even line length, if possible. See if you like the results you get compared to what you would have done beforehand.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

Part 2: Melody + Song Structure

Using Contrasting Sections, As Done by REM A great way to keep your songs interesting is to use contrast between your verses and choruses as a way to get them to sound different from one another. This is an important topic in songwriting. Keeping true to what was discussed in Part 1, we’ll also look at how to have the meaning of your lyrics tie into your contrasting sections, to really ramp up your song’s idea. Remember that scene in Tommy Boy where Chris Farley and David Spade are singing along to “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by REM? Then they hit a point in the lyrics where they just start rambling because they don’t know the rest of the words and they can’t keep up with the lines? That makes me laugh every time. Especially since I’ve done that myself plenty of times. The funny thing about that song is we’re always impressed by our one friend who can actually sing the whole verse… without looking at the lyrics. So what’s happening there? Why are we in such amazement when our one friend can actually pull this song off? Aren’t songs meant to be singable? First let’s take a listen. At least to the first verse and chorus. You can even try to sing along (if you dare). It’s here: It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine). If you printed this, you can just do a search for “It’s the End of the World as We Know It – REM” on YouTube to hear it. The first thing you probably notice about this song is the fast pace, and craziness of the verses. That’s this song’s “thing.” That’s who it is. It’s a big ball of chaos. Well, in its verses, anyway. The chorus (starting at “It’s the End of the World…”) is slow, and drawn out. At least compared to the verses.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

Contrast between sections is the way we distinguish one section from another. One of the many ways to achieve such contrast is to change the rhythm and length of your phrases in your melody between sections. This is the main strategy this song uses to achieve contrast between its verses and chorus. The melody in the verses is super quick and choppy, while the melody in the chorus is comparatively drawn out. It’s an effectively strategy. If the lyrics in the verses actually hold any meaning, they seem to be about chaos. And if there is no actual meaning, then by definition that still makes them chaotic. So the verses are really about chaos, which of course ties back to the whole “End of the World” idea. When the chorus hits, it simply proclaims “It’s the end of the world as we know it” three times as a summation of what’s happening in the verses. But the coolest part happens on the fourth line of the Chorus, in the line “and I feel fine.” After a crazy, fast paced melody in the verse, which gets summed up by the first three lines of the chorus, the melody of the phrase “I feel fine” is the most drawn out, with the longest notes of anything we’ve heard so far. What we hear is “and I feel fine,” while the mood of the melody is the most relaxed compared to everything else we’ve heard in this song. It’s a strategic use of lyrics married to their meaning. Not only do the verses imply chaos through their words, but they also do so with how the melody makes us feel, from section to section. In a contrasting way, the chorus slows down and feels more subdued, which is perfectly fitting by the time “I feel fine” kicks in on the last line. It makes us feel fine, when we’re otherwise surrounded by all this chaos. So take a lesson from REM and continue to contrast the feel of your verses and choruses with your melodies. You’ve got a new way to try that out, by changing rhythms and lengths of your phrases between sections, like what’s done in “It’s the End of the World as We Know it (And I Feel Fine).”

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

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Bonus Section

The Five P’s for Success as a Songwriter As difficult as it may seem at times, achieving your goals as a songwriter is very possible. There are a few crucial things to be aware of that can help you succeed in reaching your goals. We’ll talk about them here. 1. Purpose It’s important to know what you want to achieve as a songwriter or performer in order for you to get there. That may sound obvious, but it’s often neglected. A lot of times amateur songwriters walk around with the mindset of simply hoping “something’s” going to happen for them, without knowing what that something is. Whether you want to become a chart-topping performing songwriter, be on a songwriting staff in Nashville, or simply enjoy songwriting as a hobby, you need to define that for yourself. Knowing your purpose is the first step to getting there. 2. Planning Once you know your purpose, you need to know HOW you’re going to get there. Planning is crucial to achieving your goals. A lot of songwriters go around hoping that “someone will discover them.” That’s not a plan. With that mindset, you can also plan to win the lottery. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Instead, come up with clearly defined plans to achieve your goals. Keep your overall purpose, in mind when you lay out your goals. It’s important to put dates on your goals, so they’re not open ended. You’re much more likely to reach your goals if you put an achievable timeframe on them.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

I’d recommend laying out plans for the short, mid and long term. It’s okay to modify your goals as you move along, so long as you always have a plan for achieving them in place. 3. Persistence As crucial as planning is, it’s important to realize that occasionally your plans aren’t going to work out the way you hoped. That’s okay. It happens to every successful person. When this happens you’ll need to be persistent. Persistence sets those who succeed apart from those who fail. Keep modifying your plans, until you find one that works. Most people give up at the first sign of failure, and as a result never achieve the success they’ve hoped for. 4. Passion This one’s pretty easy for most songwriters. I don’t think I’ve ever met a songwriter who doesn’t love his/her craft, but it’s important to talk about anyway. Your passion for what you do is the fuel that’s going to carry you through everything else we’ve talked about so far. When times get hard, and you need to be persistent, your passion will keep you going. That’s why it’s so important to love what you do, if you want to be truly successful at it. As Napoleon Hill says in the classic success book, Think and Grow Rich, “Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire brings a small amount of heat.” Love what you do, so when things get tough, you can still power on to move forward. 5. Practice As important as the previously mentioned points are, they won’t do you any good if you don’t practice your craft. As a performing songwriter, this includes practicing your instruments (vocals, guitar, piano, etc), practicing your performances, and even practicing your songwriting.

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How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits, Volume II

Click here to download Volume I for free!

As strong as your will to succeed is, you’ve got to be damn good at what you do to achieve your goals. And you can absolutely get there with practice. In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell points out that natural talent will only get you so far. No matter how much talent you have, you will never reach your full potential without consistent practicing. He makes the argument that it takes 10,000 of practice to become a master in your field. So get cracking. Practice consists of education and experience. Learn your craft, apply what you’ve learned, and repeat. Constantly continue this loop and you can only improve.

Final Word For more songwriting information, you can download Vol. I of this report for free, here: How to Write a Song: Techniques from the Hits Vol. I Hopefully after reading this book, you’ll start listening to how songs are written with a more careful ear. Listen to what’s going on in the songs you hear on the radio, and try to apply what you hear to your own music. You don’t always have to follow the “rules” of songwriting, but you do have to know what those rules are before you can break them. You now have some cool tools to try out in your music. Always test, refine and repeat what you learn for the best results. And always be on the lookout for new information to help you improve. Volume I of this report analyzes seven more hit songs, so you can apply their techniques to your own songwriting as well. You can get it for free, here: http://successforyoursongs.com/freeoffer/how-to-write-a-song/ I hope you got a lot out of this report. Since this report is free, in return for what you learned here, it would be great if you shared this report by attaching it to an email, (or include the download link within the email body) and sending it to all of your songwriting friends. You can also share the download link on all of your social media sites. The download link for this report is here: http://successforyoursongs.com/freeoffer/how-to-write-a-song-volume-ii/