Writing a Song Intro
As I write this article, I will write a song from scratch. It may not become a hit, however, it will contain all of the essential components. You may like it, you may not. That's why there are genre's and sub-genre's!
First off we need to discuss the elements to consider when writing a song. These elements are basic in their simplest form, and yet each are extremely important as they are combined cohesively to create an amazing work of art. There are very few instrumental "hits," so one of the first elements to build is the lyrical text for the singer to sing.
The vast majority of listeners seek out the lyrical content, and the quality of the vocal delivery. The rest is fluff, important fluff, however. With that in mind, lets dive into the elements that make up the most important aspect of hit song construction - WORDS!
But wait a second! Before we can get to the words, we need to build an introduction. That sounds like the best place to start.
Song Intro:
The intro, or introduction, creates an immediate and sustaining interest in the listener. The intro should be short enough to keep the listener interested, and yet long enough to create an almost immediate desire to hear what the singer has to say, or in the case of an instrumental, what the player has to play.
The song intro can consist of anything you can think of. Here are some examples:
1. Piano solo, to piano and strings, add a bass line, add some drum beats to lead up to the first verse.
2. Drum beats, add guitar chords, add bass, on last note of intro sustain for a few beats, begin verse
3. Whistle the hook, bring in soft acoustic guitar, start verse
4. 1-2-3 part harmony of root tone, electric piano, add bass line, drums, vocal
5. Clack the drum sticks 4 or 8 times - crank it out.
6. Searing lead guitar solo, when soloist gives queue, bass and drums kick in, start verse
7. Bass walk up an octave, guitar joins an octave up, keyboard enters and points to root tone, to verse
There are millions of ways to create an interesting introduction to your song. Before you settle on anything specific, try several different intros and ask someone else to have a listen. I'm sure you'll get some very interesting feedback!
Remember this: If it gives you goose-bumps ... it's a good intro! Look into a Songwriter's Success Kit to learn all you can about Writing a Hit Song!
Find out more go to: How To be a Hit Song Writer and How To Write A Hit Song
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