With the help of BMI\u2019s Nina Pacent, I\u2019ve put together a list of ten things for you to examine when critiquing your songs, in order to make them both lyrically and melodically stronger.<\/p>\n
The Lyric<\/p>\n
1. Do you have a strong opening line?<\/p>\n
The opening line of your song is the first and best chance to engage your listener in the story you\u2019re about to tell.\u00a0 Strong opening lines explain the where, what and who of your story and will eventually lead to the \u201cwhy\u201d the story is being told.\u00a0 Make sure your opening line is designed to start your listener down the road to getting involved in the story you\u2019re telling.<\/p>\n
2. Are you using concrete imagery?<\/p>\n
One of the best ways to put a listener immediately into the middle of your song\u2019s story is to use strong imagery.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also heard this imagery called \u201cfurniture.\u201d\u00a0 These images are the details in a lyric that give your listener things to remember and connect with.\u00a0 Generally speaking, imagery is reserved for the verses where the meat of your story is being told. Choruses are designed to state the main point or theme of your song.\u00a0 Another way to think about imagery is to \u201cshow \u2018em, not tell \u2018em.\u201d\u00a0 What that means is that it\u2019s less effective to say, for example, she was a seductive woman but she was bad news than it is to describe her as \u201ca black heart in a green dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Are your lyrics singable?<\/p>\n
By the way, it\u2019s not enough to tell a good story with your lyric.\u00a0 It\u2019s equally important to make sure that the words you use are easy to sing and phrase naturally.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also heard this put as making sure your lyric is \u201cconversational.\u201d Lyrics that are awkward or emphasize the wrong syllables pull a listener\u2019s ear in a bad way.\u00a0 There\u2019s a reason the word \u201cbaby\u201d is in almost every song ever written\u2014those long \u201ca\u201d and \u201ce\u201d sounds are great and easy to sing.\u00a0 Another way to put this is that you won\u2019t find the word \u201cNicaragua\u201d popping up in a lot of hit songs.<\/p>\n
4. How effective is your hook?<\/p>\n
By way of explanation, the main point and identifier of your song can be referred to as the hook.\u00a0 In other words, the part of the lyric that reaches out and grabs the listener.\u00a0 Make sure that along with the story you\u2019re telling, the hook is clear and doing its job.\u00a0 Often, the lyrical hook of the song is also its title.\u00a0 It\u2019s that important.<\/p>\n
5. Does your chorus have a strong last line?<\/p>\n
There are very few places in a song\u2019s lyric more important than the last line of the chorus.\u00a0 This is the place where everything you\u2019ve been leading up to in your verses and the first lines of your chorus pays off.\u00a0 It\u2019s often the place where the hook is and usually leaves the listener satisfied that they understand your message.\u00a0 One important way to make the last line of your chorus count is to set it up with some kind of rhyme in one of the earlier chorus lines.\u00a0 That way, not only are the words important but they complete a rhyme which adds extra emphasis.<\/p>\n
6. Does the overall idea of your song work?<\/p>\n
Often, when we\u2019ve worked on a lyric for a long time, it\u2019s easy to lose the forest for the trees.\u00a0 In other words, we get so wrapped up in making things rhyme and using imagery that the overall concept of the song loses some of its focus.\u00a0 Make sure after you\u2019ve finished your lyric that the overall message of the song is developed and supported in every line. While you, as the songwriter, already know your song\u2019s story, you need to make doubly sure that a listener who is hearing your song for the first time will know what you\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n
The Melody<\/p>\n
7. Is your verse melody interesting?<\/p>\n
Given that the melody of your song is one of the first things people hear and pay attention to (sorry lyricists but the words come waaaay later), you\u2019ll want to be sure that your verse melody is catchy and unique. This doesn\u2019t mean your melody should be bizarre or uncomfortable but, rather, that it should be distinctive and memorable.<\/p>\n
8. Does your chorus melody differ from your verse melody?<\/p>\n
So much of what we do as songwriters is about giving the listener clues as to what the most important parts of our songs are.\u00a0 By making sure that your chorus melody is not only strong but differentiates itself from the verse melody, you\u2019ll cue the listener in to the fact that you\u2019ve arrived at the main musical\u2014and lyrical\u2014moment in the song.<\/p>\n
9. Does your bridge add to the song?<\/p>\n
A bridge is really designed as a moment in the song where you step away from the verses and choruses to make an additional lyrical observation or melodic contribution.\u00a0 If your bridge melody sounds too much like your verse or chorus, even if the lyric is doing something new, the risk is that you\u2019ll miss an opportunity to add something of value to an already strong song.\u00a0 All this to say, be sure that if you have a bridge, it\u2019s musically apart from what you\u2019ve been doing in your song\u2019s other sections.<\/p>\n
10. Does your melody flow naturally throughout the song?<\/p>\n
Not only should the melody in each section of your song distinguish itself, but your overall melody should flow naturally from section to section.\u00a0 Be careful not to have a melody that is too repetitive.\u00a0 A little repetition is a good thing as it adds to the \u201chooky\u201d nature of your song, but too much repetition becomes distracting and a bit unpleasant from the listener\u2019s standpoint.\u00a0 Be sure that your melody sits comfortably over the chords you\u2019ve chosen as well.\u00a0 The harmonic\u2014chordal\u2014decisions you make can serve to either accentuate or hinder your melodic work.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/p>\n
Critiquing your own songs is never fun, and is often a time-consuming and somewhat frustrating experience.\u00a0 That being said, it\u2019s essential that you hold your songs up to the highest standard if you\u2019re hoping to have a better chance at commercial success.\u00a0 I do want to remind you, however, that your first\u2014and most important\u2014job is to write the song.\u00a0 Focusing on critiquing your song too early in the process might prevent you from writing something heartfelt and spontaneous.\u00a0 In my experience, it\u2019s always easier to get it all out first and invite your \u201ceditor\u201d to the party once you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n
Good luck!<\/p>\n