How to Write a Hit Song

FIND YOUR SUBJECT

CHOOSE A KEY & TEMPO

• If you want the mood to be sad, a minor key might be best. Happy? Try an upbeat song in a major key.
• FUN FACT: Most chart-toppers are in the key of C major, and they are between 117bpm and 122bpm.

CHOOSE A CHORD PROGRESSION

• If you haven’t already, learn the I-IV-V-vi chords.
• Play the chords in different orders until you find a progression that works with the mood of your song.

Write down EVERYTHING. The lyric you just thought of might seem silly now, but you might think differently tomorrow.

BUILD THE BRIDGE OF THE SONG

• The bridge is the most powerful moment of the whole song, the climax.
• One way to start building your bridge is to play only the fourth and second chords, or only the sixth and fifth chords, with two beats each.

Make sure your chorus and bridge sound different from each other, as well as different from the verse. The whole point of having different sections of your song is to make each part unique and diverse, making the whole song more interesting.

BE SPECIFIC

When you are done writing make sure to EDIT. Not everything will be perfect on the first draft.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Resources:
9 Steps for Writing a Hit Song on the Piano by Heather L.
You Can Write Better Lyrics by Mark Winkler
Creating A Standout Chorus by Danny Arena
Behind the music: How to write a hit song by Helienne Lindvall