Songwriting Format of Hits

Songwriting format is critical in successful songwriting. There is one format used in about 50% of current #1 songs. There are five other song forms but if you want to write a hit, this is you best bet.

Start by setting your tempo for your song above 120 beats per minute. Its true "up tempos" and "mid tempos" are more likely to be hits. I'm not saying ballads don't make it, I'm saying they are the smaller percentage of hits. Most hits are told in first person and have story or conversation and deal with humour or heartfelt subjects.

Most hit songs these days are in 4/4 time. Before you start writing your next song set the tempo to above 120 in 4/4 time. If you don't have a metronome or computer program to keep time, consider getting one. They are great songwriting tools.

Your absolutely should keep your intro between 10 and 15 seconds if you want you song to fall into the same category as most hit songs. There are always exceptions, but you will be playing against the odds. Sometimes people win on lone odds, but usually not.

The melody or guitar riff you use in your hook should also be in your intro. Limit you song to only one unique concept. If you come up with another great concept, put it in a different song. Here the most popular songwriting format.

Verse - set up the story and make each line set up the chorus. Make you melody catchy and give yourself somewhere to go in the chorus. If you have a lot to say, make you melody simple. Too much melody kills a song, people will never remember.

Paint pictures with unique nouns, names of people places and things and time them together with as many action verbs as you can. Be consistent with rhyme schemes between verses.

Chorus- make you song soar into the chorus. Think of Celine Deon and take listeners to a whole new feeling and section of the song. Use very catchy melody and repeat it, repeat it, repeat it, repeat it!

Put you "killer lyrical and melodic hook" in the first or last line of the chorus. Make your central statement and have it stand out and shine in this songwriting format.

Verse - Each verse should make the chorus should feel like it has deeper meaning than the one before. It must contain new information and depth of feeling or a different angle that will make the next chorus take on a new meaning. it should have more emotional depth. Again every line has to relate directly to the chorus.

Chorus - Again needs to feel like home to the listener. A place they want to get back to. Repeat the hook. They have to be able to sing along on the second chorus.

Bridge - needs to take the listener musically and lyrically where they haven't been yet in the song. Look at what you done and make sure the bridge is different. Bridges are usually shorter than verses or chorus.

Verse, chorus, verse, chorus builds tension. The bridge releases tension (tension equals your listener is starting to lose interest) Bridge must also relate to chorus and take you back to the chorus.

Final Chorus- concludes the song, finishes the story you started both lyrically and melodically. You can repeat all or parts of it, don't overdo it. You can also repeat your intro instrumental riff as you outro. This songwriting format is tried and true, You usually will never go wrong using it.

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Go to Color The Chorus - page 3
Go to Sectional Differences - page 4
Go to Write a Song That Sells - page 5
Go to Ralph Murphy TAXI Interview - page 6
Go to Writing Song by Ralph Murphy's List - page 7
Go to Compose Song For Women - page 8
Go to Song Writing Skill - Invite Listeners - page 9
Go to Greatest Song Writing 6 Structures - page 10
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