Ways To Write Songs

This is the tool chest for writers who want ideas, not excuses. You can be the sort of person who waits for a lightning strike. You can also be the sort of person who designs tiny thunderstorms. Both produce songs. The trick is to have a stack of reliable methods you can pull from when the muse ghosts you, when your phone dies, or when your roommate eats your chorus line by accident.

Below you will find a buffet of concrete approaches to writing songs. Each approach includes a quick why it works, a how to do it right now exercise, a short example, and a real life scenario so you can picture yourself doing this while in line for coffee or in the middle of a late night Uber that suddenly smells like regret and barbecue sauce.

Why multiple ways matter

One way breaks when your brain is tired. Multiple ways let you choose the one that fits your day. If you are beat, the object prompt method will yield results. If you are wired, topline first can turn your adrenaline into a chorus. If you need to finish a song for a deadline, structured constraints give speed and clarity. Think of each method as a different wrench. Some work on stripped bolts. Some are for the delicate screws that hold your feelings together.

How to use this guide

Skim the list. Pick three methods that sound fun. Do one exercise from each method in three separate writing sessions over the next week. Record everything on your phone. Label files like "Chorus idea three" so you can find gold in the noise later. If you are allergic to discipline, set a two hour block and force the experiments. You will be surprised how many good ideas come when the pressure is friendly.

Start With One Line

Why it works

A single strong line can set tone, character, and title. It is small and portable. If it is vivid it will demand a story and a melody around it.

How to do it now

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
2. Write one sentence that could be a song title. Make it weird or obvious or cruelly honest.
3. Turn that sentence into three alternate versions that say the same thing with different verbs or images.
4. Pick the one that sings best out loud and make it your chorus seed.

Example

Seed line: My living room still knows your name.

Alternates: The couch still says your name. The plants whisper the syllables of you. The coffee cup keeps your lipstick like a note.

Real life scenario

You are on a bus and the guy in front is singing quietly with no shame. A line jumps into your head about the barista who used to write her name on every cup even when she left. You open your notes app and write that single line.

Title First

Why it works

A title is a promise. It tells the listener what they are about to sign up for. Starting here gives you clarity about the song s emotional anchor.

How to do it now

1. List 10 short titles that could be shouted in a club or texted at 2 AM.
2. Pick one and write the chorus in one paragraph. Do not worry about melody yet.
3. Find one specific image that proves the title. Put that image in the first verse.

Example

Title: Cancel Plans

Chorus paragraph: I cancel plans like I cancel my feelings. I pretend I am sick when really I am saving energy to miss you. I have a whole evening scheduled for not being lonely.

Real life scenario

Your friend cancels brunch with what they call an existential allergy. You laugh, then bottle the phrase. It becomes a title that feels like a tiny personality.

Hook First

Why it works

If you can write a hook people can sing back in an elevator, you are halfway home. Hooks are shareable and contagious.

How to do it now

1. Play two chords or a simple beat loop for 2 minutes.
2. Sing nonsense syllables on top until a phrase repeats naturally.
3. Replace the nonsense with ordinary language that fits the shape.

Example

Nonsense: Ooh la la la. Real line: Ooh call the time when you knew you were mine.

Real life scenario

You are on a cheap keyboard at your cousin s house. You hum something that fits the keys and it becomes the start of the chorus you will demo the next day.

Topline First

Explain the term

Topline means the melody plus the lyric that sits on top of a track. Many writers create the topline first and craft lyrics to match the melody s stress and rhythm.

Why it works

Melody rules the ear. If the melody is irresistible, lyrics can be bent to fit. Topline first ensures prosody is natural.

How to do it now

1. Load a simple instrumental or make a two chord loop in your DAW. DAW stands for digital audio workstation. It is the software you use to record music like Ableton, Logic, or FL Studio.
2. Sing on pure vowels for 3 minutes and record it.
3. Listen back and write words that match the rhythm and the stress you naturally used.

Example

Melody shape: leap then settle. Words: I learned to leave before you asked.

Real life scenario

You are using your laptop in a cafe and your DAW is just a free trial. The melody arrives during a rom com you are ignoring. You record it and label the file Next Heartbreak Demo.

Chords First

Why it works

A strong harmonic progression creates mood and direction. If the chords say heavy and slow, the melody will follow. If the chords say bright and fast, a chorus will want to lift.

How to do it now

1. Pick a chord progression that feels emotional. For example try I V vi IV in a key you sing in. That is a common progression that supports many stories.
2. Play the progression for 5 minutes and hum melodies until one sticks.
3. Write a verse that moves the story forward underneath that progression.

Explain the chord code

I V vi IV means start on the tonic chord then move to the fifth then the relative minor then the fourth. These numbers are roman numerals used by songwriters to talk about function without naming specific keys.

Real life scenario

You are at band practice and your guitarist plays a loop. The room hums and the lyric shows up like a neon sign. Somebody says that chorus line in a loud voice and it cements.

Beat First

Why it works

Many modern songs are rhythm first. Beats give space for lyrics to breathe and for hooks to land as punches.

How to do it now

1. Open a drum machine or sample pack in your DAW.
2. Create a two bar groove and bounce it to mp3 so you can carry it on your phone.
3. Sing lines that sit like a percussion instrument inside the groove

Example

Beat groove: snap on two and four. Hook: Call me when the lights go out and the city forgets to breathe.

Real life scenario

You make a beat on public transit using an iPad app and the rhythm reminds you of a late night you do not want to revisit. A chorus writes itself between stops.

Story First

Why it works

People love to listen to a person. Writing a song as a short story keeps you honest and gives verses purpose.

How to do it now

1. Write a 200 word scene like you are writing a short story. Keep it specific and cinematic.
2. Extract three images from that scene to form verse one, verse two, and the bridge.
3. Make a chorus that states the emotional lesson of the scene in plain speech.

Example

Scene: She leaves a note on the counter that says Sorry I tried. The kettle whistles like a small betrayal. Her keys are on the floor and the cat hisses at the silence.

Real life scenario

You are on a weekend away and watch a couple argue at a diner. The whole song is waiting in the tray of fries.

Mood First

Why it works

Sometimes you want a vibe more than a narrative. Mood first is great for instrumental led songs and tracks for sync to video.

How to do it now

1. Pick three adjectives that define the mood you want. For example cinematic, hopeful, lonely.
2. Choose instruments and a tempo that match those adjectives.
3. Let the melody be sparse and repeatable. Add one lyrical image that amplifies the mood.

Example

Mood: rainy, soft, resolute. Image: the umbrella left open in the hallway like a memory you cannot fold.

Real life scenario

You are creating a demo for a small indie film and the director asks for a piece that feels like the rainy half of a breakup. Mood first is the fastest way to get on set.

Constraint Writing

Why it works

Constraints turn decision fatigue into a creative advantage. If you limit your palette you force smarter choices and faster finishing.

How to do it now

1. Pick one constraint from the list below and commit to it for 30 minutes.
2. Write until the timer ends.

• Only use three chords.
• All lines must be under eight syllables.
• No proper nouns allowed.
• Use only objects found in your room as props.

Example

Constraint: three chords. Result: a tight chorus that leans on rhythm and words because harmony is minimal.

Real life scenario

You have a deadline and two hours of studio booked. You impose the constraint and leave with a finished rough that is clean and focused.

Cut Up Method

Why it works

This is a surrealist method that produces unexpected images and fresh phrasing. It is blunt force novelty.

How to do it now

1. Write a page of phrases and cut them into strips. Mix them in a hat and pull three at random.
2. Use those three lines as the basis for a chorus or a verse.
3. Or do this digitally by copying phrases into a randomizer or an app.

Example

Pulled lines: fluorescent coffee, late train confession, your name on the mirror. Combine into a chorus that feels oddly specific and strange.

Real life scenario

You are stuck in a hotel room and all your best lines sound like Instagram captions. Cut up the lines and the weirdness forces a new angle.

Stream of Consciousness

Why it works

This method is raw and fast. It lets your subconscious speak without the editor. You will get weird gold and some total garbage. Keep the gold.

How to do it now

1. Set a timer for 15 minutes and write without stopping.
2. Do not correct spelling or punctuation. Let imagery spill out.
3. After the timer, highlight any lines that feel true and build a chorus around them.

Example

Result lines: the streetlight is a judge, your sweater smells like summer, I learned to wait for trains and for apologies. Pull one line as the chorus hook.

Real life scenario

You are hungover and the editor voice is low. Stream of consciousness is perfect because editing gets to go on holiday for a while.

Reverse Engineering a Hit

Why it works

Learning from existing songs teaches craft faster than pure instinct. You can borrow structure, lyrical moves, or melodic gestures and make them your own.

How to do it now

1. Pick a song that feels close to what you want. It should not be identical to your style but close enough to study.
2. Break down its structure, chord movement, lyrical turns, and melody contour.
3. Recreate the engine while changing the language, the title, and the lead instrument.

Example

Take a pop hit with a repeating post chorus. Keep the post chorus mechanics but change the words and the rhythmic placement.

Real life scenario

You have to pitch a song to a playlist curator who is curating for a mood. Reverse engineer a compatible hit and make a fresh version for your voice.

Cover and Flip

Why it works

Covers teach you about arrangement and lyric interpretation. If you change the setting you can find new meaning in the same words.

How to do it now

1. Choose a song you love and perform it in a radically different style. Turn a ballad into a trap beat or a pop song into a torch song.
2. Note the lines that shifted meaning when you changed tempo or instrumentation.
3. Write a new song using those lines as inspiration.

Example

You turn an upbeat song into a slow acoustic version and a line that was playful becomes devastating. That twist becomes your new chorus idea.

Real life scenario

You have an open mic and you only have 3 minutes. You perform a cover that makes people cry. You then write a song that uses that feeling as a seed.

Sample and Flip

Why it works

Sampling breathes new life into old textures. A small loop can create a mood and a groove that feeds a topline instantly.

How to do it now

1. Find a short sample from a royalty free pack or a public domain source.
2. Chop it into a pattern and build drums and bass under it.
3. Write a hook that sits like a counter melody to the sample.

Explain copyright basics

Do not use copyrighted samples in releases unless you clear them. For demos and practice use royalty free samples or record your own audio clips with your phone.

Real life scenario

You stumble on a field recording cassette at a flea market and turn the crackle into a lead sound for a song about leaving a small town.

Phone Voice Memo Workflow

Why it works

Your phone is the single most powerful songwriting tool you own. It records, stores, and lets you revisit ideas in the humidity of a commute.

How to do it now

1. Record everything that sounds interesting as a voice memo. No judgment. No editing.
2. Label memos with a short note like chorus idea or beat idea and the date.
3. Once a week review your memos and pick three to expand into rough demos.

Example

A shaky voice memo of you singing a chorus while washing dishes becomes a hook after you transcribe the stressed words and put them on a beat.

Real life scenario

You are falling asleep on a couch. Your phone lights up and you mumble a line into the dark. Three months later that line opens a song.

Co Writing Sessions

Why it works

Two brains can be exponentially more productive than one if you choose collaborators who add skill rather than drag politics.

How to do it now

1. Agree on a clear goal before you meet. For example finish a chorus, or write a verse and a pre chorus.
2. Set a time limit for the session and a rule that each person must produce three usable lines.
3. Record the session and assign tasks for after the session.

Real life scenario

You sit across from another writer in a coffee shop. You both have 90 minutes. You split tasks and leave with a demo recorded on a laptop that sounds convincing enough to pitch.

Writing For Sync or Brief

Explain the term

Sync means licensing music to visuals like TV shows, ads, or films. A brief is a set of requirements from a music supervisor asking for mood, tempo, and lyrical content.

Why it works

Writing to a brief gives constraints and a clear audience. It also forces clarity in lyrics and structure.

How to do it now

1. Read a sample brief online or mock one up describing a mood, scene, and tempo.
2. Write a short 60 second piece that delivers the required mood and main lyric hook.
3. Produce a simple stereo mix and include an instrumental version for easier placement.

Real life scenario

You get an email from a small indie film and write a 60 second piece about leaving that fits the final scene perfectly. The film uses it and your music gets a credit that leads to more work.

Use Prompts and Micro Prompts

Why it works

Prompts shrink the idea space so you can create fast. Micro prompts are tiny triggers that produce single lines or motifs.

How to do it now

• Object prompt: Use a random object near you. Write five lines where the object performs an action.
• Emotion prompt: Pick a specific feeling and write three metaphors for it.
• Dialogue prompt: Write two lines as a text message exchange that hints at a story.

Example

Object: a mismatched sock. Lines: the sock hides secrets, the sock smells like weekend freedom.

Real life scenario

You are waiting for your laundry and you write a chorus about socks and loyalty. It sounds ridiculous until it becomes a metaphor for choosing yourself.

Tools and Apps That Speed Results

Why it matters

Good tools are not a substitute for craft. They make finishing easier. Use them like power tools not training wheels.

Popular tools

• DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and FL Studio
• Phone apps like Voice Memos and GarageBand
• Lyric and rhyme tools like RhymeZone and MasterWriter
• Beat makers and sample packs from Splice or Loopmasters

Explain acronyms

BPM means beats per minute and tells you tempo. EQ stands for equalization and is used to shape tone. MIDI is a protocol that sends musical information between devices like notes and velocity.

Real life scenario

You use a phone app to sketch a beat on the subway then import it into your DAW to finish. The first idea was the hook and the production was the body.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Problem: Too many ideas in one song

Fix: Choose a single emotional promise and delete anything that does not support it.

Problem: Chorus that sounds like a chorus in every song

Fix: Add a small twist. A surprising image, a different rhyme, or a melodic tag that only appears in the last chorus.

Problem: Lyrics that feel forced on the melody

Fix: Do a prosody check. Speak the lines in normal conversation and align stressed syllables with strong beats. Rewrite lines where stress and rhythm fight each other.

Problem: You never finish a song

Fix: Impose a finish ritual. After the demo you are allowed one day of tweaking. Then label the file as final and move on. Finishing breeds finishing muscle.

Weekly Practice Routines That Actually Work

Routine one

1. Monday morning 20 minute melody practice on vowels.
2. Tuesday 30 minute lyric micro prompts session with three separate prompts.
3. Thursday 60 minute co writing or production focus.
4. Sunday review of voice memos for 30 minutes and expand one idea.

Routine two for writers with day jobs

1. Two sessions of 25 minutes each using the Pomodoro method to force focus.
2. One demo recorded on the weekend that turns an idea into a playable file.
3. A playback ritual where you listen the next day and circle the lines that make you pause.

How to Turn a Short Idea into a Full Song

Step 1: Capture the kernel

Keep a single file for the idea. Add a short note about what it means to you.

Step 2: Expand the world

Write verse one with a specific time and place. Verses should add detail not restate the chorus.

Step 3: Make the pre chorus a pressure valve

The pre chorus should raise energy and point to the chorus but not give it away.

Step 4: Build contrast in arrangement

Change the instrumentation or the harmonic color between verse and chorus to make the chorus pop.

Step 5: Finish with a simple demo

Record a clean vocal and a simple bed. Do not let production be the reason you never finish.

Action Plan You Can Use Today

1. Open your notes app and write five title ideas in five minutes.
2. Pick one title and write a one paragraph chorus in 10 minutes.
3. Make a two chord loop and sing the chorus for 5 minutes until it feels singable.
4. Record a quick voice memo demo and label it with the date.
5. Schedule a 60 minute session this week to expand the idea into verse one and a pre chorus.

FAQ About Writing Songs

Below is a quick reference for common questions that block writers. If you are stuck pick one of these fixes and try it now.

How long should a songwriting session be

There is no single answer. Many writers find two focused sessions of 25 minutes each more productive than a marathon that ends in scrolling. The key is consistent practice and the habit of finishing small pieces often.

Is melody or lyric more important

Both matter and it depends on your goals. For radio pop melody often wins. For singer songwriter storytelling lyrics can be the anchor. Ideally craft both until they serve the same emotional purpose.

How do I stop writing the same song over and over

Change your constraints. Use a new instrument. Write in a different key. Collaborate with someone who challenges you. Reverse engineer a genre you do not normally touch. Discomfort creates variety.

What if I cannot sing in tune

Singing in tune is a skill you can practice. Start with small intervals and slow scales. Use pitch correction as a learning tool not a crutch. You can also write for other singers and focus on songwriting craft while your voice improves.

How do I choose between keeping an idea or trashing it

Keep everything for a while. Return after a week. If an idea still makes you feel something it is worth expanding. If it feels flat then delete without drama. Creative storage is cheap. Sentimental hoarding is expensive.

Can AI help me write songs

Yes and no. AI can generate prompts and help with rhyme and phrasing. Use it like a collaborator that throws fast ideas at you. Always edit with your own voice and avoid copying AI output verbatim. A human perspective makes an AI idea human.