How to Write a Song

Whether it’s a pod of young enthusiastic dolphin bulls putting on an elaborate show for potential mates, or the trilled croon of a colorful rainbow finch conveying its gratitude to the Sun, a song can take many forms. Regardless of how they differ though, all songs have one thing in common; they’re all made up of rhythmic repetitions that can elicit emotion and create a sense of harmony.

Often, the first step in writing a song is finding inspiration. This can be from any number of sources including literature, movies, other songs, food, places, or anything else that moves a person. Once a writer has the concept for a song, they can start creating it by working out the lyric and musical elements. Some writers might begin with the title and a few lyrical lines, while others may play around with chord progressions and melodies. There is no right or wrong way to go about writing a song, but whatever method works for the individual writer will most likely lead to success.

This article is part of WikiProject Songs, an area for focused collaboration on improving articles about songs and music. For more information about this project, visit its home page. This article has been archived.