write the first verse
Where the songs story starts
Problem
- You’re not sure what content should be in the first verse
- You are unsure of how to differentiate the verse from other sections
- You’re struggling to make the verse flow
- You aren’t aware of your options on how to make your the first verse awesome
- You need to create a different feeling in the music when compared to other sections of your song
Prerequisites
You can dive right into writing verse one if you want to. We recommend that you gather the ingredients you will need first. If you have:
- Found a song idea
- Written a ten word summary of your key message
- Gathered sensory words to transport the listener
- and laid out your song structure…
…you should be well prepared to write the first verse
Method
The verses are the sections of the song where you tell the majority of the songs story. Most of the content lives here. That doesn’t mean that they have to be war and peace however. Brevity and natural, conversational language really helps songs connect with their audience in most cases.
Assembling a section of a song brings many things together. Rhythm, melody and harmony all play a role as well as rhyme, meter and structure. Here are the things you need to do. We find doing them in this order works, you may find a different order works for you.
- Find a rhythm for the basis of your melody
- Select a structure for your verses
- Select the meter(s) you will use
- Write a draft of the lines
- Find rhymes and rhyme scheme(s)
- Add pitches creating a melody
- Add chords, arpeggios or other voices to create harmony
Now you have a draft of your verse. You should now get out your song structure canvas and reflect on the choices you have made using the following tools.
Melody
- Lower or raise pitch in comparison to other sections
- Follow or avoid root notes of chords
- Change the melody shape
- Use varied chord tones
- Steps, skips, leaps and static motion
Rhythm
- Straight/syncopated
- Longer shorter notes
- Melody placement: before on or after downbeat
- More or less rest space
Harmony
- Exact repetition of harmony between sections
- Add/remove chord (or delay/elongate)
- Change harmonic rhythm
- Rearrange chords
Lyric
- Line length long/short
- Exact or internal rhyme
- Abstract metaphors vs direct conversational
- Catch your tenses and pronouns
Bonus things to consider
- Unexpected and borrowed chords
- Using Lists and Numbers in your lyrics
Now what?
Phew! Well done if you have a draft of your first verse in the can you can give yourself a pat on the back. You can now move onto other the chorus and then circle back to the pre-chorus.