How to Write a Country Song

You may not have to cry a tear in your beer to write a good country song, but it doesn't hurt to explore your angst to write a strong lyric. Country music songwriters know what makes the listeners tick, and it ain't all sunshine. Everyone likes a good story, and country songwriters know how to tell 'em. So grab your pen and jot down some ideas from successful country songwriters.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Explore some common themes for your country song. Here are some ideas: romantic failure, betrayal, religion, dying, the South or the West, and of course, drinking. Your song should appeal to a variety of people.

2. Respect your audience. They want a good story. Make them feel emotion and identify with your plight in your music.

3. Throw in some humor or a twist on a well-known phrase to make your song memorable, such as "I Got Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks.

4. Place your "hook" in the song within one minute. The most common place for the hook is in the chorus.

5. Change the time or the melody of the chorus to set it apart from the verses. The chorus is the most identifiable part of the song, the point in the song that will keep the listener from changing the dial.

6. Keep your lyric to one simple story, but add in description for depth. This is where your song will be set apart from the rest.

7. Take your time writing and rewriting. Many country songwriters spend hours coming up with songs, and then perfecting them through the editing process. The award-winning song scribbled on the back of a cocktail napkin can happen, but most likely success will be a result of diligence and luck.

Resources

• The Worsley School has an online country music writing exercise.
• The Songwriter's Resource Network website for aspiring country music writers.
• The Cluas website of topics for country music lyrics.
• The ASCAP website for aspiring country music writers.