How to Write a Song
Songwriting or composing a song could be described as “generating an interesting combination of words, melody and a chord progression that convincingly convey some emotional sentiment”.
Assuming that you have no problem with the words or melody lets proceed. 99.99% of songwriters really don’t have a clue. They will start with G chord and pick chords that sound good i.e. that are from the key of G. The ear does this automatically; it will pick chords that are safe in relation with the first chord.
Just try telling someone they can’t write because everything they generate stays in the same key and
stand back…..look out for the fireworks.
A formula is what is required to generate a progression that sounds interesting. One songwriting technique is the mix of chords from major and minor keys. Sounds great, sounds simple; but just what does it mean?
A song may contain several sections (verse, chorus, bridge, middle8, solo etc).
They may function independently of each other.
Progressions (the contents of each section) relate in some way to the first chord like this;
Start with G and follow with any chord from G Major or any other G Mode i.e G Minor(Bb Major)
here’s Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana(transposed to G):
||G / C / |Bb / Eb / ||
the G and C are from G Major
the Bb and Eb are from G Minor(Bb Major)
This is an example of a progression generated form G Major and G Minor. Other sections could start with different chords and then proceed with other or similar techniques of generating the progression.
A big tip: if you are working with someone who is producing the words and melody and you think you can do better, then you must find someone else. Get someone who blows your socks off.
If you are the one who is producing the words and melody then do not write the chords. Get someone to bounce off your ideas. If you don’t like what they do ask others what they think…then move on.