Songwriting a Complete Original Song

Paper and pencil for writing lyrics

A phone for recording the finished demo

Optional: a ukulele, keyboard, or guitar for accompaniment

Start with the emotional core. Ask: "What do you want your song to say? What feeling should listeners have?" Write a single sentence that captures it.

Write the chorus first — it's the heart of any song. The main idea, repeated throughout. 4-6 lines that are catchy, singable, and emotionally direct.

Write the first verse. This sets up the story, situation, or feeling that leads naturally into the chorus. 4-8 lines with a different melody than the chorus.

Write a second verse that deepens or develops the idea. Same melody as verse 1, new words.

Write a bridge — 2-4 lines with a completely different melody that adds a twist, a new perspective, or an emotional peak.

Map the final structure: Verse 1 → Chorus → Verse 2 → Chorus → Bridge → Final Chorus. This is standard pop song form.

Perform the whole song start to finish and record it as a rough demo on your phone. It doesn't need to be polished — it needs to exist.

"Write what you know" applies to songwriting too. Songs about real experiences, feelings, or observations are always more powerful than abstract ideas.

If melody creation feels hard, borrow a known melody to get the lyrics working first. Many songwriters write lyrics before melody or vice versa. Either approach works.

The bridge is optional but powerful. It's the section that says something the verse and chorus couldn't. Think of it as the plot twist.

Recording the demo is crucial. A song that exists only in memory fades. A recorded demo, even rough, is permanent and can be improved later.

Many professional songwriters say their first 50 songs weren't great. That's normal. The goal isn't perfection — it's the practice of creation.