{"id":20892,"date":"2025-05-07T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T19:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=20892"},"modified":"2025-07-31T10:22:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T14:22:01","slug":"how-to-write-a-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-song\/","title":{"rendered":"How to write a song: Make a song in 7 steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Illustration:<\/strong> Nhung L\u00ea<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wanted to learn how to write a song?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ask any number of accomplished songwriters how they do it, and they\u2019ll likely all tell you something completely different. This is because there\u2019s no single correct way when it comes to navigating how to write a song; like any creative process, it varies greatly from one artist to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, if you\u2019re completely lost and aren\u2019t even sure where to start, we\u2019ve put together seven simple steps for making a song that you can follow. Use them as a starting point\u2014try writing a few songs using this process and you\u2019ll quickly be able to tell whether it\u2019s working for you or if you need to adapt it to fit your own unique style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to write a song: Table of contents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s take a look at how to write a song with these seven steps\u2014feel free to click on a specific step to easily navigate to the section:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Gather ideas for your song<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Experiment with instruments<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Set the song structure<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Fill in the blanks in your songwriting<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Develop the arrangement<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Edit the song<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Finish the song<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Feeling ready? Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Gather ideas for your song<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Every great song starts with an idea. This may be a title, a concept, a lyric, or a melodic phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Though you\u2019ll sometimes want to sit down and intentionally brainstorm ideas, many songwriters share that their best ideas seem to emerge when they least expect them<\/a>\u2014in the middle of a conversation, while doing the dishes, or in the shower, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ideas can come from anywhere\u2014something you hear, read, see, remember, or experience. The key is to always be ready to record the idea when it strikes you. Keep a notebook with you at all times or use a notes app on your phone to jot down song titles or lyrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you finally sit down to make a song, there\u2019s no guarantee that you\u2019ll be inspired to write, but with this approach you\u2019ll always have a bank of ideas to flip through. And while they may not all be song-worthy, there\u2019s bound to be a gem in there somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you haven\u2019t had a chance to gather any ideas naturally, or nothing has come to mind, try a songwriting challenge or use a prompt.<\/a> These will provide specific parameters for you to work within; without them, the infinite number of directions your song can take might simply overwhelm you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are a few songwriting prompts you can try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n