Many creators are wary of learning how song actually works, as if knowing about the building blocks makes their music less genuine or “real.” We’d like to challenge that notion today; understanding why songs sound the way they do can give you valuable insights into your own writing process and help you communicate better with collaborators.
A song is a musical composition with vocals, often performed at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. It may be accompanied by an instrument or, as is common in popular music, by a solo singer or group of singers.
The simplest definition of a song is a combination of lyrics and melody, although some people use the term more broadly to include rhythm and harmony. Usually, a song will have a verse and a chorus, with a repetitive pattern in the form of repeated phrases or chords (similar to an aria or recitative in classical music). It can be sung a cappella, by a single voice accompanied by an instrument or by a small group, such as a duo or trio, or by an entire ensemble (orchestra).
Songs can be created for any purpose: to entertain, convince or persuade, express an emotion, encourage, tell a story, commemorate, etc. The style and intention of a song will affect the musical elements used to convey it, for example, changing the tempo or loudness can have different effects than a change in harmony or melody.