Everyone’s definition of a ‘perfect song’ is subjective. It depends on what you grew up listening to, what kind of person you are, and what resonates with you.

The true essence of a song is never dependent on one factor. It’s a sweet blend of lyrics that tug at your heartstrings, a winning composition, clever use of instruments, and of course, the quality of the mixing, production, and mastering.

But whether you look at Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean or Coldplay’s Fix You, none of these songs appeared out of thin air. The final product you hear is the culmination of hours of brainstorming, lots of trial and error, repeatedly rewriting lyrics, sheer dedication, and irrevocable love for the art.

If you want to join this league and make a name for yourself as a hit music producer, here’s a guide.

1. Create a story

If you want your audience to relate to the song and feel what you’re trying to convey, then it’s essential to have a story. Songs with powerful music are great at live shows and on long drives; but it takes a genuine, heartfelt story for a listener to share the song in their social circle or even dedicate it to the person they love.

Music has a unique ability to talk to people. You get to write your story in a way that speaks to the millions who listen to it.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a tragic incident either. Amazing songs run the gamut themes, talking about everything from structural racism to Friday night parties.

The key to writing a story-based song is having an engaging beginning. Your listener should have an idea of what you’re going to sing about. They should be left yearning for more. Use lyrics that are easily comprehensible. Listeners only relate to songs that have language that is understandable.

2. Don’t focus too much on negative elements

Songs which are depressing and portray negative feelings are not as successful with listeners as ones which make them feel good about themselves. When you sit down to write a song, keep your target audience in mind, while also keeping in mind the types of songs you’ve been producing in the past.

There has to be a combining element which establishes your unique identity as an individual artist. If you’ve been making happy and lively songs in the past, you can’t jump to a depressing theme and make fans think that you’ve gone off track.

People tend to re-listen to songs which are exciting, help them celebrate, and make life seem easy and care-free. Try and include vivid imagery. Even if you’re stressing on the happy elements, make sure your listeners are able to ‘see’ what they hear.

3. Having a winning composition

Even the most powerful lyrics won’t ever get to see the light of the day if there’s no right blend of instruments and chord progression to give life to them. Listeners tend to associate memories with both the lyrics and the melody. You need to figure out the right melody and the chords which will help you express your story better. Neither of the two can exist on their own to create a hit song.

Music Jotter is online music notation software which helps you create, compose, and playback your own music in real-time. You can give life to the best of your music composing capabilities and craft your song easily from the comfort of your bedroom. To buy Music Jotter, contact us online.