How To Write A Great Song: The Songwriting Formula

[ImageCandy]

Why is a guitar talking in your vid?

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@ImageCandy I answered this in a previous comment....

[2bExact13]

this is really helpful

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@2bExact13 Cool... I'm glad you found it useful! :^)

[mcgyvr2009i]

What's the difference between chorus and Refrain?

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@mcgyvr2009i There really is no difference... they're the same thing but just named differently. The refrain is a chorus melody.

[mcgyvr2009i]

@HowToWriteAGreatSong thanks

[cookiemonsterr318318]

This is by far the best....!.!! It really shows yu wat u need to do....thnks

[TATP98]

thanks so much for putting this up bro

[TATP98]

damn this helped me alot it kept me from going off topic and shit haha

[librazone]

Otis Reddings Dock of the Bay is the perfect song for explaining this format.

[MyHairyBreasts]

one baby to another says i'm lucky to have met you

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@MyHairyBreasts That's a GREAT example of an opening line for a song... this can also set the mood for the rest of the story. Rock on.

[scootergreen3]

This is the best songwriting video I've seen. I learned valuable info. from you. Thanks. How do I think of a bridge to my song. I have a song with good verses, choruses and lead guitar but I'm not good at thinking of a tune for a bridge. I can probable think of words but not chords to a bridge. Mike

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@scootergreen3 Hey Mike, The bridge just needs to be a different riff or chords progression so when you go back into the last chorus, it seems familiar. Check out tablature on some really good songs and you'll see what kind of chord changes they use for a bridge and then take it from there.

[smokencoke1]

thanks buddy, youre doing a beautiful thing, id love to hear some of your originals

[AndrewMackenOfficial]

@howtowriteagreatsong oh right, nice idea



[AndrewMackenOfficial]

Why ya hiding???

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@AndrewMackenOfficial I wanted people to focus on the "songwriting" formula and not my pretty face. It's that simple.

[theBESTskater100]

sick guitar bro

[writesongs4you]

Songwriting by numbers. Anyone can do this.

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@writesongs4you So true... too bad its often overlooked.

[PlaceSoFarAway]

@HowToWriteAGreatSong I grew up in a world where most of these rules held true, and I thought they had a certain constant appeal. Amazingly, I hear alot of songs - POPULAR ones - that seem to have no discernable hook (melodiesand if there is one, it's pretty dull and generic). I also hear lots of rmamby-pamby nebulous verse melodies which are TOTALLY lacking in character... it boggles my mind...

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@PlaceSoFarAway This isn't the final rule to why a song gets popular on mainstream radio... there's luck, deep pockets, and other factors. But if you play by their rules and add a pinch of your unique touch you'll see a surge in excitement for your originals.

[SkipJohnson777]

You have described one of the three basic formats employed in Western Music for the past 150 years. The other two include:

AABA format

Verse.Verse.Verse

That with the Verse.Chorus, with its additions and embelishments, are the three basic lyric formats.

Keep writing.

[cybertrancer]

Thanks bro! <:

[Goshie18]

i think the most common structure is A,A,B,A meaning verse, verse, chorus, verse etc. but w/e i think people who need this info obv dont know how to play an instrument anyhow coz this is basic stuff u know just from learning an instrument, i would suggest doing that before writing a song but oh well.

[Surrealfaz]

These formulas for great songs are so important. Thanks for the video. I use something called Hit Song Science. It is by uplaya.com. They give awards for Hit songs. I have four platinum and one gold. Have a look. Check it out!

[135970211]

this is a very good instruction video!

[135970211]

awsomeness.

[shortbusheros4]

Who doesn't know this structure??

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@shortbusheros4 You would be surprised!

[aotaphs]

@HowToWriteAGreatSong i AM surprised lol

[Pyraclipse]

Cool, a talking guitar.

[josquine]

wheres the refrain?>

[aortaik]

lol watch?v=R02tbrZSO3I

[freedomsk8er1]

epic!

thanks dude , this helped me a lot!

[JustCallMeChrissie]

OMG! This is the best video on how to have a great song formula I've ever watched! I really hope this helps me with my song writing because I've never been able to write an entire song...! Thanks sooooo much!! ;D

[rudebwoybassplayer]

to mr. wallow7, if you are not using structure...you're not being original, you are creating noise and chaos. if you are a real musician you should know how to be original in style and delivery and not reinventing the.n

[Byrds1967]

Yeah....great job explaining the formula. Great and needed video for all to hear!!

[MrWallow7]

Dude this is good but I just hope people don't get hooked on this structure... the problem is that people then can't escape this formula, and never get original.. ..

[LedWilde]

@MrWallow7 I agree. I think it's a good formula to know but really, ultimately, you should have an ear on how a particular song should flow without going by what the "norm" is,

[VitoStudiosXD]

Way too much reverb on the inro music if that was yours

[LUNCHBOXCLAY]

I'll give it a shot! Thanks

[SeilWeiss]

3:50 Lol, my name is Seil. 

[golluba]

thank you sooo much man!! i really appreciate this video! it opens my eyes to soo much!!

[hellgirl2897]

thanks a lot

[joelrflip]

what about if you do first Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Veres

[HowToWriteAGreatSong]

@joelrflip Well, the Chorus is that is the "hook" of the song. The repeated line, so in the case of basic songwriters formula it kind of goes better in sequence. But there are some hit songs where it is, Chorus - V - C - V - C - B - C... usually doing the first chorus in Acappella or a unique way that the chorus is done, that is not performed again in the same way. Generally you can write a song any way you want, but the simple V-C-V-C-B-C can get you writing good structured songs quickly...

[MoreMellow]

Thanks a lot!

[rauooma]

OOh now I get it! about the chorus and verse .. thanks :)

[judlimixnofake]

thankyou man it helped me alot