How to make a song: from the first idea to a finished track
Making a song is two jobs: writing it (chords, melody, lyrics, structure) and producing it (the arrangement, recording, mix and master). Here is the order that gets a first song finished, with the guide for each step.
Making a song is two jobs. Writing it gives you the chords, the melody, the lyrics and the structure. Producing it turns that into a recording: the arrangement and sounds, the vocal, the mix and the master. You can start with either, but finishing a first song is mostly about keeping each step small and moving on.
1. Start from one idea
A chord loop, a melody you hum, a beat or a single line of lyric is enough. Record it the moment you have it, on your phone if that is all you have, and build the rest around it.
2. Write the chords
Pick a key and loop three or four chords. A short progression repeated through a section is enough to write over. The chord progressions guide lists common, sad, pop, R&B and trap progressions in every key.
3. Find the hook
The hook is the short phrase, sung or played, that stands out and keeps coming back. It is sometimes the title or key lyric line, and often sits in the chorus. Sing melodies over the chord loop until one sticks, and build the chorus around it.
4. Write the lyrics
The chorus states the song's main idea and usually keeps the same lyrics each time it returns. The verses share a melody but change their lyrics, carrying the story and the details that make the chorus land.
5. Put the sections in order
Intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, chorus and an outro is a common order. The intro usually builds anticipation, the pre-chorus leads into the chorus, and the bridge is a contrasting section that breaks up the repetition before the last chorus. For rap and beat-led songs, start from the grooves in drum patterns.
6. Produce it
- The beat and sounds. Drums, bass and the instruments that play your chords: drum patterns and synth bass. Kiln Synthesizer's 624 factory presets are a fast way to find a sound to start from.
- The vocal. Record several takes and keep the best lines, then follow how to mix vocals. Burnish Vocal Chain puts tuning, cleanup, compression and space for a vocal in one window.
- The mix. Balance everything with faders first: how to mix a song.
- The master. Set the final loudness and true peak for streaming: LUFS targets.
Questions
Should I write the lyrics or the music first?
Either works. Some songs start from a chord loop or a beat with the melody found over it, others from a line of lyric. Start from whatever you have.
How long should a song be?
As long as its sections need. Count the sections in the order above and listen for where it starts to repeat itself without adding anything.
Can I make a song on my computer?
Yes: a computer with a DAW, headphones and a microphone (USB, or with an audio interface) is enough to write, record, mix and master a song. See what music production is.
