{"id":2718,"date":"2016-08-10T16:38:20","date_gmt":"2016-08-10T20:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musikalessons.com\/blog\/?p=2718"},"modified":"2023-01-25T15:58:27","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T20:58:27","slug":"elements-of-a-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musikalessons.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/elements-of-a-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Elements of a Song"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even experienced songwriters and seasoned musicians listen to music without knowing exactly what is they\u2019re listening to sometimes. Elements of a song, like sections and instrumentation, often seamlessly blend together making the music difficult to pinpoint and decipher, and that\u2019s not such a bad thing. Good songwriters want their listeners to become immersed in the auditory experience they\u2019ve curated. But if you\u2019re interested in becoming a successful songwriter<\/a>, you\u2019ll have to learn about what goes into a song and how to put it all together.<\/p>\n

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Instrumentation <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Just a few decades ago, popular songs mostly featured some version of drums, bass, keys, guitars, and vocals. These days, it\u2019s a whole new ballgame. Cheap access to computers has meant quick and easy access to powerful recording technology<\/a> for songwriters of every background and skill level. Instrumentation options and production techniques that used to take weeks and cost thousands of dollars can now be performed in an instant for next to nothing\u2014if you have the right equipment.\"midi<\/p>\n

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Access to music editing software and powerful effects like reverb and delay can give songwriters a virtual endless list of options when it comes to creating or editing the layers of a song. Pair that with a list of thousands of synthesized sound options and you\u2019ll start to see that as songwriters we now have too many <\/em>choices when it comes to what sort of instrumentation we want to put in our songs. Want to write a pop song with an acoustic guitar and vocals? How about some hand drum percussion to accompany your track? Maybe a synthesized arpeggio with a tape delay would sound interesting during the choruses? How about a nice string section in the background? When you begin to incorporate production technology into your songwriting, you might find that all these elements of a song can get overwhelming. I find that it helps to group instrumentation into 4 categories: Percussion, Low End, Chords and Melody.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Chords<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"elements<\/p>\n

Chords are the first area I focus on when I write new music. In case you don\u2019t already know, chords feature two or more different tones played simultaneously. Different chords played together in succession are called chord progressions. The type of chords you choose and how you play them together will shape your song more than anything else. And when I say \u201cchords\u201d, don\u2019t just picture a guy strumming a full chord on the guitar. It sometimes makes sense to play an entire chord on guitar or piano, but it\u2019s often better to hint or reference chords with a riff or baseline. \u00a0Whether your chords are right up front or a little more subdued, they contain the genetic makeup of your song, so choose wisely, they\u2019re one of the more important elements of a song. If you\u2019re looking for ways to add more creativity to your song, consider using extended chords and different chord voicings. A simple choice to play a G6 instead of a G major could add a completely new and complex character to the music you\u2019re writing.<\/p>\n

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Low End<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The low end serves as the foundation of your song. It\u2019s responsible for establishing chords (usually by playing the root, but not always), and it helps the percussion section keep time. While a bass guitar used to be a song\u2019s low end section, us songwriters now have a myriad of options at our fingertips. Smart composers and songwriters know when to make their bass lines simple and transparent and when to make them winding and complex. A simple chord progression can be transformed into something catchy, emotional, and substantive with a smart bass line. The low end is one of those things that listeners won\u2019t notice right away, but is nonetheless one of the most important elements of a song.<\/p>\n

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Percussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The percussion section of a song is responsible for keeping time, holding tension, and adding a physical element to the music. A driving beat can turn an otherwise boring song into a captivating \"stickssonic experience for the listener. In popular music, percussion sections usually consist of some variation of a drum set (snare, hi-hat, toms, bass drum, and cymbals), but anything that makes a percussive sound can be used in a percussion section. A sweeping trend in EDM (electronic dance music) right now is the use of sampled pre-recorded material to create layers of percussion. Again, a major question a songwriter now faces is how to narrow down the thousands of instrumentation choices available into a few usable ideas.<\/p>\n

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Melody<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The melody section of popular music is the song\u2019s leading role; the part of the song that people remember. Your song won\u2019t go anywhere without a good melody, even if the rest of the sections are great. Think about it: when you remember your favorite songs, what comes to mind? It\u2019s probably the melody line sung during the chorus. Well-known popular songs like the Happy Birthday song and Jingle Bells are so popular that literally anyone can sing them. This is because they feature a simple, catchy melody that\u2019s easy to remember.<\/p>\n

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\"melodyMelodies are human and relatable, and they don\u2019t always have to be sung by a human voice. Melodies, hooks, and riffs are vehicles for songwriters to present engaging musical ideas that weave in and out of the song. In popular music, chords, low end instruments, and percussion are almost always present, but the lead melody isn\u2019t. This is because every melody tells some sort of story. As a songwriter, the type of story you\u2019re telling doesn\u2019t matter as long as you present it in a thoughtful, honest way. It\u2019s a good idea not to rush the melody-writing process, so take your time, try out lots of ideas, and you\u2019ll start to see what sticks and what doesn\u2019t. Things like good phrasing and interesting syncopation can help make melodies more memorable elements of a song, and creating music that\u2019s memorable should be the goal of any good songwriter. What good does a story do if the listener forgets it the minute it\u2019s done being told? Melodies have the power to haunt, thrill, and seduce the listener.<\/p>\n

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Lyrics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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There is some popular music that doesn\u2019t feature a vocalist, but not much. The band Explosions In The Sky is a good example of a well-known band that\u2019s found success in making music without words. Overall though, music lovers generally lean toward listening to music based around some sort of lyrical content. Even highly-produced dance songs usually feature a vocalist. The role of a song\u2019s lyrics is to create a narrative, showcase moods, and to add context to music. Smart songwriters are able to harness the creative and poetic power of lyricism to add depth, complexity, and meaning to their songs. Foster The People\u2019s 2011 breakout hit \u201cPumped Up Kicks\u201d features catchy, upbeat sounding music paired with cryptic lyrics that tell a chilling story from the viewpoint of a high school shooter. Carefree sounding songs don\u2019t always have to feature carefree-themed lyrics.<\/p>\n