Sarah Godden's tips to follow when writing a song.

Sarah Godden

21 May 2010

We thought we'd share something a little different with you today. With thanks to Sarah Godden, who will be joining us at this year's workshops, here are 5 tips to follow when you're writing a song.

For those of you who may not have met Sarah before (she was with us last year) Sarah has worked with some of the most successful acts, labels and artists in Australia. With a list of credits from Australian Idol winners to platinum selling artists Andrea Bocelli, Delta Goodrem and Vanessa Amorosi, she is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, engineer and producer. Equally at home writing country tinged ballads or earthy folk as she is creating pieces for film and tv or infectious tween rock songs, there are no genre limitations for her when it comes to creating a marketable piece of pop.

Five Tips to follow when you're writing a song.

1.  Don't be afraid!  

No idea is a bad idea - even the simplest line or word can start you off onto something great.  The best thing, especially when co-writing is to get your ideas out there into the mix.  It helps the creative banter to flow and makes the other person feel comfortable too.  And you never know what small thing might spark an amazing idea from your collaborator! 

2.  Play by the rules.  

As much as I would say that every hit song has that special 'something' about it or certain 'x' factor you have never heard before, most pop songs (and by that I mean anything played on the radio or actually purchased by a large number of people) do stick to a certain formula that takes the listener on a journey that they feel comfortable with.  Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus may be one of the most common and this can definitely be chopped and changed a bit but it’s a great way to make sure you are coming up with distinct melodies and little chapters that really take your song to the right places.  For example, I see the first verse as an introduction (melodically and lyrically), the pre-chorus is a great way of expanding and building on those initial ideas and the chorus is the star of the show!  It’s where you let what you want to say shine and it should be the most memorable part of the song (generally). 

3.  Say the same old thing in a new way.  

There is nothing wrong with writing about love or relationships (most songs do), but the best way to make a lyric cut through and sound really fresh and exciting is to try and put a new spin on it!  An interesting turn of phrase, a strange word or really personal emotion can really draw a listener in and make them want to keep listening, to find out what your story is.

4.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  

The biggest problem I come across when songwriters are just starting out is the inability to cull or edit an idea.  Melodically and lyrically, short is often sweeter!  By this I mean not letting a melody thread go on and onto another one and yet another endlessly.  Repetition is a great way to make a good idea effective so don't be afraid to use it.  Especially in a chorus, which is usually a simpler and more anthemic display of what you want to say in your song.  

5.  Show off your best assets.  

This one goes for singer-songwriters mainly, but think about where in your (vocal) register you are writing.  Generally the chorus needs to lift and stand out and you certainly can't make that happen as a performer if you are down in your boots.  This doesn't mean you have to go all Jimmy Barnes every chorus, but it can be a good tool to really feature certain parts of your song, to have some highs and lows.  Also, though not always, a  chorus melody that sits higher than the verse makes sense as it helps the listener get nice and intimate in the verse, when you want them to really hear about the story and then really give a sense of occasion when you get to your main act - the chorus!  If you write a song and it feels like it's in the wrong key, don't be afraid to play around to get the best out your voice when you sing it.