How to Compose a Song for a Band

It only takes one song to catch the attention of major recording studios and set your career on fire. When you write a song, you need to connect with the audience on some emotional level. You don't need to include lyrics when you write a song, but often a strong message helps gain attention for your band.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Create a Melody With a Piano or Chord Instrument

1. Start with a chord procession you like. You should understand basic chord theory to do this.

2. Stay within the scale and add one note per chord to create harmony.

3. Incorporate passing notes within the time frame you've established. Passing notes may step outside the scale, but you need to land on a note within the scale.

4. Add other chord processions and link them together. You may want to use your main chord procession and change the notes to maintain your melody while adding new tones.

5. Use dynamics to vary the sound.

Use Your Computer to Compose Songs

6. Download music composition software onto your computer. Look for a multi-track recorder and on that interfaces with audio to record instruments.

7. Layer different parts like the bass line and melody with your program.

8. Add a vocal line through the audio interface. You may want to create the music first and then add the lyrics.

Write Lyrics to a Song

9. Be familiar with your band's style of music. Often music relies on themes to convey messages; tap into the theme to write a song designed to connect with your audience.

10. Incorporate the different elements of a song which include the verse and chorus. You may want to include a bridge, or transitional phrase.

11. Write about your emotional response to things. Emotions like love, hate, anger and happiness all connect to your listener, especially when they have the same reaction to the stimulus that you do.

12. Get on your soapbox. Political issues like war and religious issues like redemption usually elicit an emotional response.

13. Learn how to rhyme words. Many people view lyrics as poetry set to music. When you do it well, rhyming words connect phrases together. If you do it poorly, though, your song comes across as amateurish.