How do I write a pop song? How do I write music?

Question

I play the trombone. I thought hey wouldn't it be cool if I tried to write some songs. So, I downloaded Finale Notepad. It's free and pretty good. One problem? How do I write a pop song?

Now, I know it is not a simple question. But really whats with the chords? Is there a normal structure to a pop song like an essay (intro with thesis, body paragraphs, conclusion)? Are there some notes that sound better together? Does working parts out on a piano work?

Answer 1

First of all, that's an incredibly difficult question to answer. Sort of like, "How do I paint like Rembrandt?"

But here goes:

Most pop songs have structures similar to:

Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus

or

Verse
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus

or Verse
Chorus
Verse
Bridge
Chorus

What makes a good song better than a so-so or bad song? Lots of things. Lyrical interest. Harmonic dissonance, suspension and resolution. Finely crafted melody.

You've already found that having the right tools is only a small part of composing music. What may be a better beginning for you is to listen and study good songwriting.

Listen to these artists:

The Beatles
Stevie Wonder
Early Motown

There is a good primer to what can be accomplished in good songwriting. Other lesser known examples can be found:

Crowded House (especially, their Woodface album)
early Marshall Crenshaw
Elvis Costello
Steely Dan (although they might just get you confused)


More fundamentally, do the hard work and learn about music theory. Your question, "what's with the chords?" implies you could benefit from some structured theory starting with fundamental I-IV-V structures, where they appear and how they are used, as well as more arcane II-V-I and their minor permutations.

I know this may not help you much...but the question you've asked is so incredibly difficult to answer in a short space like this.

Answer 2

You have to study pop music with a passion.You have to see the chord structure is really different between songs.There aren't many rules either.It would be like looking for similarities between the Rolling Stones "I can't get no satisfaction" and the Beatles "I want to hold your hand".Some say it is easy to write a pop song but I have never seen them do it.Some have music composition for genius only.You could compose if you never stopped trying.Where do the ideas come from?Where do the notes come from?

Answer 3

Well think of somthing u really think is speacil or somthing about ur life,once u got the topic just start making a bigining sentance then ryhme the last word of the sentance with the nexy line fdor example

Slowly ur time with us is ticking away
I would do anything to make u stay
But death has finnaly won this war
And now my eyes are worn a sore
U mine from the start
But death has done its promising part

Answer 4

my limited knowledge...
you need verses, chorus, and most importnatly a hook.
a catchy underbeat is a good start, find some good baselines an dplay wiht them, if you want more of a west coast death row style add harmonics, a little nod to dre for popularizing that. make the song easy to rememebr, and add something about love, sex or drugs. you can find chord progressions on the piano if you want and expand that to other instruments if you are able to visual in that way

Answer 5

writing a song is basically just writing a poem and adding music to it. try that, dont think of music at all when writing. the poem doesn't have to rhyme it just has to sound good.

Answer 6

their is no tempate for writing, jam for hours, find a riff you like and build off of that, then write lyrics about something,
and you're good! sorry i can't really break it down for you

Answer 7

think of something ur goin though like if u like a girl its like writing a story and singing it just think of something ur goin though its easy

Answer 8

let you inner talent go out of you, when you have natural skills you don't need to aks, just look for inspiration and do it.

Answer 9

why would you want to write a pop song?!?!?!?! pop is fo rgay people and....well thats about it. i suggest metal

Answer 10

think of a saying like junp the gun ??!!