How to Write Gospel Songs

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By Diane Cass, eHow Member

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Write Gospel Songs

You can write Gospel Songs if you have a passion for God and a good sense of poetry and melody. Some of the most memorable Gospel Songs have been written by ordinary people, not professional musicians. Give your hand a try at writing gospel songs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Pencil and paper
Manuscript paper
Voice recorder

Step 1

Write Gospel Songs

MAKE THE MESSAGE CLEAR: I have been writing and singing gospel songs for many years. It started out of a love for God, then poetry and finally music. When all of those things came together, it came out in the form of gospel songs. The most important aspect of gospel songs is the message. The songs are a vehicle to declare praise to God, to encourage fellow believers in the faith, or to persuade an unbeliever to join God's family. To me, the message is the most important thing. If it's not saying something, it is just pretty music. Use your passion for your faith to help you produce a vital message in your music.
Step 2

Write Gospel Songs

USE POETIC RHYME: Gospel songs are usually simple rhyming poetry. Most gospel songs use a repetition of patterns in the syllables of the words written. For instance, in Amazing Grace, the verses are made up of a simple syllabic pattern of 8-6-8-6. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound (8), that saved a wretch like me (6), I once was lost but now I'm found (8), was blind, but now I see (6). You can choose a different pattern, but remember that repetition is pleasing to ear. What the ear likes, it wants to hear more of.
Step 3

Write Gospel Songs

UNDERSTAND THE MUSIC: The same thing about repetition applies to the music. Longer musical ideas (lasting more than one measure) are called phrases. These can be arranged in various manners, but the most successful use some sort of repetition. In the much loved Hymn, Rock of Ages, the phrases are 4 bars (measures) in length. Each phrase can be identified with a pattern name, A, B, C, etc... The arrangement of the phrases make up the song. AABA is a common one. In the case of Rock of Ages, it is ABCCAB. Rock of Ages cleft for me (A), let me hide myself in Thee (B), let he water and the blood (C), from Thy wounded side which flowed (C), be of sin the double cure (A), save from wrath and make me pure (B). Use the melody to carry the message of the words, to emphasize their importance and convey their feeling.
Step 4

KNOW WHICH TO WRITE FIRST, MUSIC OR LYRICS: I have done it both ways. Sometimes I get a tune stuck in my head and just have to put words to it. Sometimes I get the words first and have to work out the melody. Most of the time, they come together. I hear the tune in my head as the words are coming out on the page.
Step 5

Write Gospel Songs

WRITE IT DOWN: If you can read music, you can write it down on manuscript paper. Using a piano can help you pick out the right notes. If you can't read music or write it down in notation, use a voice recorder to sing it. That way you can save the melody in the recorder, and the words on paper.