I divide the methods into two categories.

All the methods below are tested and proven that

they can help you to write a song. Some of them work extremely well. Some of the methods
are effective even for those who don’t really learn the music theory and notation.

No musical skill required:

If you never took music lesson or don’t know how to read notes, don’t worry. Practice these 3
methods and you might get your original songs just like other educated song writer.

1. Hum the melody – It will be extra helpful to always have your mp3 recorder with you.
Most handheld electronic devices now come with the “record” function. Whenever you are
inspired, sing or hum the melody line and record it. Most of the time, I find it easier to write
the chorus melody part before the verses. If you reverse it, usually you will find it hard to
write a more intense chorus than the verse.

2. Phrase the lyrics with melody line – always ready with some meaningful and inspiring
lyrics. Some lyricist write lyrics only and they need melody writer to complete the songs.
Great lyrics inspire great melody. Beautiful lyrical rhymes are very helpful in phrasing the
melody line. Try singing the lyrics with melody line. Some languages like Chinese and
Vietnamese are trickier, than Japanese and English. The latter is more flexible when sing with
melody line. In Chinese language, there are simple intonation differences even in their normal
speech. There are words with the same pronunciation. Slight difference in pronunciation
relative pitch might give the other meaning.

3. Sing your own melody on karaoke track – this is probably the easiest way. The karaoke
track will guide you on the song structure, rhythms, chord progression and other musical
sense. You might find it hard to create an all new songs on the karaoke track of your favorite
song, because you are so familiar with it! The original song melody just keeps ringing in your
head. Therefore, don’t use the karaoke track of the songs you know. I tried it with Japanese
and Korean karaoke song and it works great!

Musical skill required:

In song writing, musical skills are not required. But if you have great musical skills, it is a big
plus with many advantages. Now, it instantly opened up extra seven methods on how to write
a melody!

4. Create a rhythm loop before writing the melody – this method is mostly used in up
tempo songs, such as in hip hop, dance, trance and funk. The song-writer programs a rhythm
loop with basic drum track, percussion, bass and some other essential loop elements. Then he
can loop the music and write the melody from there.

5. Play a chord progression on the piano as accompaniment – I like to use this method
because I play the piano the best. Start with any comfortable keys and use the chord
progression you like. Some widely used chord progressions are:

I vi IV V

I V vi IV
I V vi iii IV I IV V (chord progression used in the famous classical piece – Canon)

Play Canon

[audio:http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/drive/yax72/pachelbel/pachelbel41.mp3]

6. Strum a rhythm pattern on the guitar and sing along – Rockers use this method most
often. This method sound like method no. 5 but it gives you different inspiration when you
use different instruments to play the accompaniment. Piano and guitar are the most frequently
used music instruments in the pop music scene. Guitar is more efficient in rhythm creation
compared to the piano. Press a chord with your left hand finger and strum with your right
hand on the guitar, you instantly get a rhythm. But for the piano, there are much more works
to do. When you are occupied with the piano rhythm pattern, most probably your focus is
already distracted from melody creation.

7. Push the “record” button, start improvising – This is the most productive method. You
just spend 30 minutes improvising on your instrument, experimenting with difference kind of
sounds, rhythm, chord progression. But make sure you hit the “record” button so that you can
refer to what you have done! After the recording session, I will play it back and chop out the
parts that I like and elaborate from there to a full complete song. Refer my previous post
about how I do this: Original song: Speak 说话

8. Create a short motif or catchy melody line, elaborate from there – this method is hard
to master but most songs that top the pop chart are written with certain strong and catchy
pattern or motif. It definitely pays off to get a great line first before you venture further to
complete a renounced piece of music.

9. Co-write for more inspiration – There are unlimited knowledge to learn from others. This
applies in song writing too. Playing and jamming with other musician will get you inspired
further. Sometimes it is hard when it comes to decide which line or whose line to be used in
the song. Mutual respect is highly required to co-writing a song.

10. Write down a melody line using notation method according to theory – It might create
some surprise for you if you don’t have sight singing ability. However, it makes no difference
for classically trained and highly skilled musician with sight singing skills. For the master like
Beethoven and Mozart, they wrote down what they hear in their mind. Writing down the
music in notation is the only way for them to record their music at that time. Try it if you just
went through a few music theory lessons. You will be amazed by what you might get!

My favorite methods are no.2, 5, 7. What’s the method you use in song writing? Please tell
me in the comment.

Recommended reading:

References:

Notes On Songwriting

How I Write Songs

Writing an Effective Melody

MELODY WRITING MELODY

Writing Melody

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Komuso Tokugawa May 1, 2007 at 10:59 am

Nice article.
Try this too -> http://www.palette-mct.com/

Reply

Child of Light December 20, 2009 at 11:49 pm

#10- I write using a method that is a vocal line above the lyrics to show the pitch and
hairpins to show dynamics. I already hear multiple melodies in every song, even when
the music is not playing. Sometimes I get hooks to imaginary songs never created
stuck in my head as if someone else put it there, the major major problem is which
melodies to choose, which is the best. We all know that no melody is better than
another, it all comes down to personal taste. I did find that this man who was a cajon
player named “Chocolate” used to even walk in rhythm so I sometimes walk in
rhythm too, I feel rhythm is often forgot about in singing and modern music is based
off harmony and rhythm/meter, not melody so make sure to incorporate that into your
music. Also try using an anacrusis in writing or a lag in the begining phrase, works
well. Piano is awesome, being left handed is awesome, playing piano left handed like
Chopin=priceless.

Tyler March 1, 2011 at 12:25 pm

I must say that one melody CAN be better than another. Some melodies sound too
unoriginal, or monotonous. There’s too much to be said about writing effective
melodies for the scope of a response, but one thing that would surely improve one’s
melody writing is to start, end, and accent notes of the Root, third, or fifth of the chord
that is being played. Example: If there is a continuous E major chord being played,
pay more attention to E, G, and B.

Reply

Kelly April 3, 2010 at 10:15 pm

I’m a writer, I write some of the most beautiful lyrics but I suck at melody writing, I
know my way around the piano and not once did I ever think to pluck out the melody
to the tracks producers give me….THANK YOU!!!!