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Guidelines for Writing Hit Songs
Would you like to be able to write hit songs?Don’t answer that. I’m sure that most of you want to possess the skill of a hit songwriter–I know I do.These guidelines will give you deeper focus when writing your songs. They will also provide you withthe necessary tools to start writing potential hits.First let’s begin with some useful definitions. Forget what you think 
 
a song is and what you think 
 
a hitsong is because most likely the definitions you have in mind won’t help you write a hit song. You needclear definitions, not something vague like “a hit song gets a lot of radio airplay and sells lots of records.” So scrap that and try out the definitions below to add some clarity to your understanding of what a song is.Definition of a
 song:
•
A song is a highly effective means of communicating emotion.Definition of a
hit song 
:
•
A hit song is one that communicates emotion to a LOT of people.
Why Hit Songs Are So Effective
Hit songs are incredibly effective for a reason. Be aware of that fact and keep these things in mindwhen writing:
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Hit songs invite listeners inside a private moment.
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Hit songs create a sense of forward momentum that makes the audience feel like they’re beingswept along on a wave of pure energy.
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All elements of a hit song work together to create that irresistible sense of forward momentumthat listeners get addicted to.
•
Songs are emotional roller coasters that effectively build and release tension. Listeners love thisfeeling and hit songs capitalize on it by inviting audiences back for the roller coaster ride timeafter time.
Give the Music Industry What it Wants
A primary goal of record companies is to get mainstream radio airplay.If you want to be a hit songwriter you need to write songs that appeal to the needs and wants of themusic industry. Give the music industry what it wants and labels/artists/executives will seek you out for your music.Spend some time studying hit songs and you’ll discover exactly what the music industry wants:
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Big, memorable, catchy hooks
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Plenty of contrast between song sections
•
Lots of forward momentum in the melody and lyrics
Lyric Worksheet
 
Sometimes starting your song is the hardest part. Use the title of your song as a guide to develop arough lyric and jot down the following:
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Related words, phrases, and images
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Contrasting words, phrases, and imagesAnswer the questions raised by your song title!Finding the right questions will help you stay focused. A good title suggests questions that need to beanswered in your lyric, such as…
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Why do you say that?
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What happened to make you feel that way?
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What will you do about it?
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What does that mean?
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Why is it important?
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Why did you do that?
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What does that look like?
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Why do you want that?
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Why are you doing that?
Writing Lyrics
In a song you only have a limited amount of space to communicate a clear message to your listeners.Song lyrics need to focus on moments that bring:
•
drama + insight + changeListeners live vicariously through songs so its important to write material that they can relate to. Appealto their emotions. Make the situations in your songs exciting for your listeners by creating bold maincharacters and dramatic situations.Dramatic elements to consider for your song:
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Who is involved?
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What will happen next?
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Who is doing what to whom?Every song raises questions that listeners want answered. If you don’t answer the fundamentalquestions that listeners have about your song you will lose their attention. Answering these questionswill keep listeners involved in your song:
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What led up to this situation?
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Who is involved?
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What motivates him/her?
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Why is the singer saying these things?
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Why does he or she feel this way?Writing hit songs is not easy. It takes creativity, passion, practice, focus,
lots
of rewriting, and plenty of other things you’ll figure out along the way. If you’re committed to your writing you
will 
see results.Keep working at it and someday you might just write that hit song that launches your songwriting
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