A Songwriting Guide: Building Your First Song on Guitar

Creating your first song on guitar can feel like a big step, but with a few simple techniques, you can start crafting music that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re inspired by a certain sound, a personal story, or a catchy riff, songwriting is one of the best ways to express yourself musically. And guess what? You don’t need advanced skills to get started! In this guide, we’ll walk you through building a basic song on guitar, covering chords, melodies, lyrics, and structure. So, grab your songwriting guitar and get ready to bring your ideas to life!

Understanding the Popular Song Form: Verse-Chorus Structure

The verse-chorus structure is one of the most popular and recognizable song forms across genres like pop, rock, and folk. It’s a go-to structure for many famous songs because it’s straightforward and creates a strong, memorable hook that listeners can sing along with. In a verse-chorus song, you typically have verses that tell a story or build a mood, followed by a chorus that emphasizes the song’s main idea or emotion. This structure often looks like this:

• Verse: Sets the scene, introduces the story, or expresses the initial feelings.

• Chorus: The central idea or “hook” of the song; often catchy and easy to remember.

• Verse: Adds to the story or emotion, giving more depth.

• Chorus: Repeats, reinforcing the main idea.

• Bridge: A new section that adds intrigue and variation

• Chorus: A final statement of the main idea that often repeats.

You can keep it simple with this verse-chorus-verse-chorus layout, or add a bridge for contrast before returning to the final chorus. This structure is effective because it gives listeners something familiar to latch onto (the chorus) while allowing you to explore your ideas in the verses. You can also add a “pre-chorus” between the verse and chorus to build excitement for the main idea. Sometimes there is an “instrumental solo” between the chorus and bridge, as well.

Choosing Chords Using Diatonic Chords in a Key

If you’re unsure where to start with chords, using diatonic chords is a fantastic way to find chords that sound natural together. Diatonic chords are the chords that naturally occur within a key, and they harmonize well because they’re based on the same scale. Starting with diatonic chords means you don’t have to worry about clashing notes. The diatonic chords include 3 major chords and 3 minor chords!

To make things easier, let’s look at one of the most common keys for beginners: C major. In C major, the diatonic chords are C, Dm, Em, F, G, and Am. With just these chords, you can play countless songs. Another popular key is G major, where the diatonic chords are G, Am, Bm, C, D, and Em.

A few common chord progressions to try include:

• I – V – vi – IV: In C major, this would be C – G – Am – F. It’s a progression used in many pop songs because it’s both uplifting and catchy.

• vi - IV - I - V: This is the minor version of the previous chord progression. In A minor, it would be Am - F - C - G

• I – IV – V: In G major, this would be G–C–D. This progression is common in rock and blues and has a classic, upbeat feel.

Experiment with these chords to see which combinations resonate with you. Try replacing some of the chords with others in the key to create your own chord progression. The beauty of diatonic chords is that they’ll sound good together no matter what order you play them in, so feel free to mix and match until you find a progression that feels right for your song.

Finding a Melody for Your Chord Progression

Now that you have a chord progression, it’s time to add a melody—the main tune that listeners will hum along with. Melodies are made by combining individual notes, often in a way that harmonizes with your chord progression. They can be simple or complex, but the best melodies are usually easy to remember and sing.

Start with simple, short phrases that match the rhythm of your strumming. Hum or sing over your chords until something clicks. The melody can follow the notes in the chords, or you can experiment with other notes from the major scale of your key. For example, if you’re in C major, use notes from the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B). This keeps the melody feeling harmonious with the chords.

Don’t worry if it takes time to find a melody that feels right. Melodies can evolve as you play, so let yourself explore different combinations until you find something that sounds natural and memorable.

Common Strumming Patterns for Songwriting

The right strumming pattern can bring your song to life, adding rhythm and energy that keeps it engaging. Strumming patterns are all about timing, and there are a few classic patterns that are easy to learn and work well in many songs. Here are two beginner-friendly strumming patterns:

• Down-down-up-up-down: This is a popular pattern that works great in pop and rock songs. It has a flowing feel that creates a nice groove. It is our simplest pattern.

• Down-up-down-up,    Up-down-up: A steady pattern that’s ideal for folk or acoustic pop. It’s simple but effective, giving a song a smooth, consistent rhythm with a skipped beat in the middle.

• Down-Up,  Up-Down-Up,  Up:  This familiar pattern creates a strong driving pulse. It can be thought of as a constantly repeating Up-Down-Up. Play it repeatedly and you will see what I mean!

Experiment with these patterns to see which one fits the mood of your song. For more dynamic playing, try adding variation between verse and chorus. For instance, you can strum softly during the verses and then play with more intensity in the chorus. Dynamics make your song more interesting and help emphasize the emotional high points.

Writing Lyrics: Starting with Lyrics vs. Starting with Melody/Chords

When it comes to lyrics, there’s no right or wrong way to start. Some songwriters begin with lyrics, while others prefer to create a melody or chord progression first. Here’s a look at both approaches:

• Starting with Lyrics First: If you have a specific story or emotion you want to express, writing the lyrics first can help set the theme for the song. Once you have your lyrics, match them to your chords and melody. This approach works well if the words are the focus of your song.

• Starting with Chords or Melody First: Many guitarists find it easier to play around with chords or a melody and then add lyrics that fit the music. This can be a fun way to let the music “speak” first, guiding the mood and structure. Once you have a chord progression and melody, you can write lyrics that match the feeling or rhythm of the music.

Lyric Tips for Beginners:

• Keep it simple and relatable. Focus on emotions, personal experiences, or specific images.

• Repetition is powerful! Using repeated phrases in the chorus can make your song memorable.

• If you’re stuck, try writing about something specific (a place, memory, or feeling) and let the words flow naturally.

Putting It All Together: Structuring Your Song

Now that you have your chords, melody, and lyrics, it’s time to structure everything into a complete song. Start with a verse-chorus-verse-chorus format. Here’s a simple breakdown of how you can structure your song:

• Verse 1: Introduce the main idea or theme of your song.

• Chorus: Bring in the main message or emotion, repeating this section each time it appears.

• Verse 2: Build on the story or theme introduced in Verse 1, adding new details or emotions.

• Chorus: Repeat the chorus to reinforce the main idea.

If you want to add variety, consider including a bridge—a short section that adds a contrasting melody or chord progression. The bridge typically comes after the second chorus and adds emotional depth to the song before returning to the final chorus.

Once you’ve structured your song, play through it a few times. Practice transitions between verses and choruses to keep the flow smooth, and don’t hesitate to tweak the melody or lyrics if something feels off. Songwriting is a creative process, so give yourself room to experiment and refine.

Final Tips for New Songwriters

Congratulations! You’ve just built your first song on guitar. Songwriting is a journey, and it’s normal for your first few songs to feel like experiments. Focus on enjoying the process rather than striving for perfection. Every song you write, whether simple or complex, is an expression of who you are as a musician.

Here are a few final tips:

• Keep it simple: Many great songs use just a few chords and a straightforward melody.

• Let your voice come through: Don’t worry about sounding like someone else; embrace your unique style.

• Write regularly: Songwriting is a skill that develops over time. The more you write, the more confident you’ll become.

So, grab your guitar and let the creativity flow. With these steps, you’re ready to start creating music that reflects your ideas and emotions. Each new song is a chance to learn, explore, and connect with others through music—happy songwriting!