A song is a music composition intended to be played by the entire human voice. This can be done in varying and constant pitches with varying patterns of silence and sound. A song should never repeat itself; it should build upon itself subtly and in a way that listeners will find pleasing. Songs also include different types, including those incorporating the repetitive and change of musical sections. The lyrics of a song can convey a message or show a story.
In order to categorize music as well as songs, artists and composers have used different styles of writing. Many types of music, including folk, blues, rock, classical, rap, hip hop, ballad, and even jazz, are categorized into songs that express specific feelings or talk about a general topic. When making a song, whether it is for personal enjoyment or as a composition for someone else’s entertainment, it is important to understand the basics of song writing.
Songwriting is an ensemble activity that involves all members of a band or group. There are four basic elements to song writing: the melody, the harmony, the main line, and the accompaniment. The melody is what makes the song appealing to the listener. The harmony is the language of the song, which can be either smooth and mellow or rough and fast. The main line is the topic or main point of the song, while the accompaniment is any additional instruments that enhance or complement the main line or refrain.
Music has many faces and, depending on the type of genre, there are different ways of categorizing and presenting music. Classical music is characterized by a slow tempo and strong rhythmic and melodic lines. As you may not know, many classical songs were written to illustrate certain philosophical or scientific theories. These songs are known as being “epic.”
On the other hand, folk songs are popular because they have been around for generations and, more importantly, because their melodies and lines have resonated with the listener for decades. Many older songs are known as “folk classics.” They often share a central theme, a subject or even a cast of characters. Examples include” Molly Blue” by Johnny Cash, “Don’t Take Me Alive” by Eric Clapton, “Goodbye, Goodbye” by Eric Clapton, and” suitcase full of dreams” by The Who. Today, folk songs are as much an influence on modern music as the more conventional “classical” songs.
Art songs are popular because the listeners usually understand the message that the artist wishes to convey. Unlike popular songs, art songs deal with emotions, thoughts, and concepts. For instance, a song about the death of a parent would probably fall under the category of art song. On the flip side, an antibacterial song about a sore throat most likely would not. Most artists who write or perform any type of art song usually write from the heart and base the piece on real experiences or themes.