At its core, a song is composed of a melody, lyrics, a groove and the music that accompanies all of these components. Most people focus on lyrics and music, however, your melody is what will separate your song from sounding like someone else’s. You’ll also want to make sure your song has a groove, or rhythmic movement so there’s something to get those arms in the air, iPhones up and swaying!

To create the storyline or message of your song, you’ll use some additional elements that may, or may not include: verses, a pre-chorus, a chorus, a bridge, a hook, an instrumental hook or a refrain. These are options you’ll consider as you build your song.

This is the undercurrent of your song, set against the accompaniment (chords for a guitar player). Think of it like the water in a creek running over the rocks between the creek banks. It carries everything to your destination (or message) of the song.

The melody line should be interesting, but not bizarre. Your goal is always to be memorable. The melody is the thing that is “catchy” and ends up being an earworm. For example, once you hear Pharrell sing “Because I’m happy” the melody line immediately pops into your head. You can hear which notes to sing with the lyric, above the rhythm and accompaniment of the instruments.

Melody is the part of a song that carries the message through a changing series of notes that stands above all the rest. The notes of the melody line are heard as you sing your lyrics.

Your lyrics probably have a natural tempo that will help guide your melody and music. So let’s find it!
Start saying your lyrics out loud, and listen to the cadence of your words. What do you hear?

You’ll probably start to hear up-tempo, or maybe a ballad. And then you will hear how the spaces between the words and the syllables of the words start to have a flow. Sometimes they speed up or slow down. You get the idea.

The groove of the song is the “swing” between the beats. I know that sounds a little odd, but for an Americana singer/songwriter, it’s your strumming pattern, your fingerpicking style, or the strum and slap that creates a feel within the song as you accompany the lyrics.

There are some key elements to a lyric: verse, chorus, bridge. But there is also the rhythm of the words. The wordplay that gives a song memorable lines. A story. So while the standard “parts” are important, be sure to focus on the quality and craft of your lyrics.

Is responsible for keeping the listener engaged. A verse should help the listener move them through the story line or idea, get them to the chorus in a logical way, and contrast with the bridge (if you have one). A verse shouldn’t be a simple chronology, but a presentation of information in a unique way using the meter of the language to naturally flow into the next element (a chorus, another verse, pre-chorus or bridge). Listeners know a verse is telling them something that will move the story forward, so they naturally listen for a story or message to get them back to the chorus.

This is what your song’s about. As the “big moment,” the chorus should create a focus on the meaning of the song. If it’s a strong chorus, it should have a slightly different meaning each time it shows up, using the verse just prior to colour the interpretation. A great example of this is Beth Nielsen Chapman’s “Child of Mine.” Listeners know a chorus is a big moment they can sing along to and it will repeat several times, so use this to your advantage in your song.

While not mandatory, this can be a great device for ramping up into your chorus. The tempo and the nature of the song (e.g., a ballad may not be appropriate because it makes the song too long) will help determine if you should use a pre-chorus. You should use a pre-chorus to build additional tension for a big release in the chorus. This is sometimes called “the lift” in a song.

While often used to fill space, don’t be tempted! A strong bridge is a great “ah-ha!” moment in a song. It can be a compelling contrast to your chorus, and help deliver the hook of the song in a completely different, and larger than life way in the chorus which follows it. Keep in mind – you don’t always need one. A bridge can be a powerful tool for a songwriter, but much like maple syrup, you don’t need it on everything. Use sparingly and when it makes sense.

I love a good refrain. It’s a line or group of lines that is repeated at regular intervals in a song, usually at the end of a verse. And, you will forgo a chorus.

Why do I love it? It’s a powerful tool to create a connection across your song. It also can be used to hyper-focus the listener on the larger song idea because the repetition builds and by it’s nature intensifies over the course of the song.

Yes! Your title should be memorable and tie back to your song. Genres have different approaches when it comes to song titles, and with streaming, short seems to be the trend (for tiny screens and right scrolling). But, in general, in country music, you “write to the title.” That means your hook is often the title of your song and the lyrics focus on reinforcing that hook – or title.

When writing for the Americana and Western genres you have a bit more latitude however you still want it to be at a key position in your lyrics, like the end of a verse as a refrain, or highlight at the beginning, middle or end of a chorus with your melody and musical accompaniment.