HOW TO MAKE BETTER SONGS (USING SONG STRUCTURE)

What if I told you that something as simple as structuring your songs could improve their quality and get you more listeners?

No, this isn't a marketing gimmick or a cruel ploy to take more money out of your pocket; it's a belief that we have at COMP that says that the best way to market our songs and grow our audience is to create better, more-professional sounding music.

The idea of song structure is simple and easy for you to recreate. Once you know the different kinds of structure, you will be able to build momentum in your songs and create compelling tracks by introducing new elements and revisiting memorable melodies that hook your listeners. Firstly, let me explain some of the different ways you can structure your songs.

Song structure usually varies by genre, but there are two basic formulas for radio records that have remained the same for decades. I'll describe them like this:

HOOK LEAD -- HOOK, VERSE, HOOK, VERSE, HOOK

VERSE LEAD -- VERSE, HOOK, VERSE, HOOK, BRIDGE, HOOK

Now, I know you're like: "duh, Trey. I knew this. These are just alternated anyway. This isn't anything new!" You're right, if you turn on any song right now, you will hear one of these basic structures. But, this is the floor! I'm trying to take you to the ceiling, because there's much more you can do.

More often than not, our music is already built this way, but we don’t add any variation or flair. This makes our songs repetitive and dull. We don't all have the luxury of an audience right now, so we need to be different, compelling, and professional sounding to attract more listeners.

One way of doing this is adding a PRE-HOOK or a BREAK. You see, HOOKS are not just points in the song where you say the title of the song or you sing; these are points in the song that you have to build up to and sustain. Many popular musicians will do this in the instrumentation of their song AND in the lyrics and melodies. Here's a recent example of a PRE-HOOK and a BREAK w/ Kiss Me More by Doja Cat feat. SZA.

Let's listen and break down the lyrics:

PRE-HOOK

We hug and yes, we make love

And always just say "Goodnight" (la-la-la-la-la)

And we cuddle, sure I do love it

But I need your lips on mine

 HOOK

Can you kiss me more?

We're so young, boy

We ain't got nothin' to lose, oh, oh

It's just principle

Baby, hold me

'Cause I like the way you groove, oh, oh

 BREAK

Boy, you write your name, I can do the same

Ooh, I love the taste, la-la-la-la

All on my tongue, I want it (la-la-la-la)

Boy, you write your name, I can do the same

Ooh, I love the taste, la-la-la-la-la

All on my tongue, I want it

The PRE-HOOK is the build up into the HOOK. You notice that this build up is reflected in the instrumentation as well. The kick and snare are taken out and its just Doja Cat's vocal with the main guitar line. This builds anticipation for us as the listener. We know the "drop" is coming, and in this song's case, it’s a nice groove that makes this song compelling and popular.

The HOOK is the "drop", the moment we've been waiting for. You notice that the song title is here and the most memorable melodies in the song are present here as well? This, I'm certain, is what people are dancing to in their cars. Structuring the song in this way and building up to this moment instrumentally and vocally rewards the listener and keeps their attention. Every time they listen to this song, they are waiting with anticipation for this HOOK.

Now, the BREAK is a continuation of the groove in the HOOK. When you think about adding a BREAK, you have to consider the genre of music you're making. For this song, Doja Cat and the people who helped create this record were going for a groovy Pop vibe, so it makes sense for them to sustain that groove with a BREAK after the HOOK. People can continue their dancing with the BREAK being in this place, and it makes the song less abrupt.

The key takeaway is this: adding variation to your hook in your own way is what will make your song more unique and compelling. Consider your genre and play around with the addition of a pre-hook and/or a break. Add/subtract instrumentation to really build up to your hook so you can properly build anticipation and reward your listeners as they continue listening your track.

There are more ways to add structure to your song like adding a BRIDGE leading into your final HOOK, but this is all personal preference. If you're making an R&B record, it may be good to add a bridge, but the variation is the key to making better songs. Whether that variation is adding a PRE-HOOK or a BREAK, or singing the HOOK differently the second time around in the song, switching it up is what will keep your listener’s attention.

To be able to hear song structure and master our ability to recognize and recreate these formulas, turn on your favorite tracks, listen with intention to how the artist has broken up their song lyrically and instrumentally, and try to recreate it in your own way in your music!