A song is a piece of music with lyrics that convey a story or emotion. Generally, songs are written and performed by a singer, and can be sung unaccompanied (a cappella) or with instruments. A song may be a single song, or multiple songs sung in harmony (duets or trios). Songs are also commonly used as the basis for parody art, such as the work of Weird Al Yankovic, where the words of the original song are changed to create a new humorous point.
To write a song, start by finding a melody or riff that speaks to you and that you can connect with emotionally. Then, try to fit that riff or melody into a chord progression and beat, so you can start building the foundation for your song. It can help to listen to a lot of different music and take notes while you do it, even if it’s just on your phone or a scrap of paper. This will give you a chance to see how other songwriters have structured their songs, and can help inspire your own.
Once you have your basic framework, you can start to think about the lyrics for your song and how you want to tell a story with them. Your song’s main vocal melody is key, and everything you do should serve to build up to the climax or summation of your story in the chorus. Most pop songs are built around a verse, pre-chorus, and chorus, and often these sections clock in at 4 bars of music or so (read this if you don’t know what a bar is). If you have a hard time coming up with ideas, it can be helpful to go on a walk or visit a different place. The change in scenery and different sounds can often inspire creative ideas that weren’t coming to you before.