Nowadays, country music is extremely popular.
Country music has long thrived in live music venues, including arenas, neighborhood pubs, county fairs, and everything in between; nevertheless, the genre has been sluggish in adapting to technological improvements.
During the pandemic, live music abruptly stopped, leaving professionals in the country music industry with a lot of catching up to do. Social media and streaming services, welcomed by other genres like pop and hip-hop, account for 80% of today’s music industry revenue.
The pandemic resulted in positive change, and record streaming data suggest that country music is currently thriving.
We’ll show you how to write a country song lyrics.
What Makes A Great Country Song?
Song Lyrics Come First
Folk and country music have something in common: both are significantly affected by lyrics. Because listeners are more interested in the story and the pure emotions represented in the music than in swaying to the song’s speed, the musical backing is not complicated.
A great country song typically tells a story and engages the listener by being honest or speaking directly to them. Because composition is so vital in this genre, creating well-thought-out lyrics is critical.
Despite the fact that country music frequently reflects or is melancholy, it may also be hilarious or communicate a wide range of emotions. The writing in country music draws listeners in, regardless of the mood of the tune.
See also: How to Write a Love Song | Step-by-Step Guide, Examples, & Free Templates
Vulnerability
Mastering the art of vulnerability is the most crucial thing you can learn while writing a country song. While not all country songs use cutting-edge production techniques, you can always bank on the speaker or singer to be authentic.
In the country genre, it is not uncommon for musicians to write their own songs, even if they are co-writing with another musician. This is because raw lyrics are easier for listeners to relate to, which is why country musicians can form such strong bonds with their audience. When writing country songs lyrics, show how the story is unfolding.
While other music genres don’t always take that risk, country songs do by portraying the good, bad, and ugly. Successful country music singers write from their hearts.
Lifestyle Influence
Writing a country song these days is difficult to do without referring to the way of life that helped shape the genre into what it is today. The genre first emerged in the rural southern areas of America, and it draws inspiration from American folk music’s storytelling elements, cowboy culture, and gospel spirituals.
Even if you weren’t born into a southern American household, you can still be in contemporary country music because honest songwriting remains the most important component of a country hit. Many country songs feature themes of faith, family, love, and happy times spent on the farm, and while new ideas are always welcome, these themes are still present.
Keith Urban, one of the most well-known singers in the nation, was actually born in New Zealand! It just goes to show how explorable the country market is. Even if you weren’t raised in a rural context, there are still plenty of different methods to connect your artistic identity.
See also: How to Write a Horror Story: 12 Tips for Writing a Horror Story
Vivid Imagery
Country musicians use their words to create a rural setting, which keeps the audience captivated even in their corny tunes. They use a variety of literary devices, such as metaphors and hyperbole, to make their point.
Musical Style
Country music has some of the most-catchy tunes, and the writers of this genre are typically superb musicians and poets in their own right. Contemporary country music may have a more pop vibe depending on the performer, but each artist is unique.
Simple chord progressions are common in country music, which helps the audience focus on the song’s lyrics.
How to Write a Country Song with lyrics
1.A memorable melody
Although lyric-driven country music has always been the norm, it’s becoming increasingly clear that melody comes first because it’s what draws listeners to the song’s lyrics in the first place.
Country music often follows pop trends with a 5-year lag. Pop music is primarily driven by melody and rhythm, which are more important than ever in country music.
So, start with a great melody.
See also: How to Write a Prologue That Hooks Your Readers: Essential Tips and Examples for Every Genre
2.A little bit of rule-breaking
Country music has always had a sense of rebellion; as a songwriter, you can be one as well; just figure out where you can and cannot take chances.
For example, you can play with the song’s structure by starting with the chorus or a hook before the chorus. Post-choruses are another new trend emerging in pop music.
Make your verses memorable, quick, and uncomplicated. As the old saying goes, “Don’t bore us; get to the chorus!” has some truth to it, but lyrics are still crucial. Even small verses should be well-written, develop the plot, and add something to the music, so don’t shortchange them.
A pre-chorus can help break up short verses, and as they approach the chorus, they increase the suspense and deliver an emotional payoff.
Be cautious not to do too much at once, especially at first. I recommend that you start with this simple song structure and work your way up to more complex ones as you gain confidence.
Verse 1
Pre-chorus
Verse 2
Pre-chorus
Chorus
Solo or instrumental section
Final chorus
Though your big hook will most likely feature in the chorus at least once, remember that your hook(s) could appear elsewhere.
3.The rules that matter
These days, hit country songs are generally between 3 to 3-1/2 minutes long.
Make sure to use the title throughout each chorus.
Write the title in the first line of your chorus rather than the last.
The majority of contemporary hit songs lack a bridge or have a very brief one, while 74% of recent singles contain two verses, at least three choruses, and a brief bridge.
Country music follows the trend used in pop music, however, it is not yet ready for high-energy lyrics and broken-down, lower-energy choruses, so make your choruses more intense.
See also: How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay: Examples and Tips
4.Classic country music themes
Your goal is to reach out to your audience where they are, and they will be able to relate to you if you write songs that reflect what they are truly going through and experiencing in real life.
Feel-good themes are currently popular in country music, as the audience seeks an escape from the stresses and negativity of everyday life.
Determine the objective of each song you write.
Soccer moms who listen to the radio in their cars do not want their children to be exposed to adult content. You can write about sexual and other challenging topics without being too argumentative or out of control; just remember to keep it clean and avoid using profane language.
As always, keep up with the latest trends; themes like morals, love, and partying are always appropriate.
5. An unforgettable hook
Your country song’s hook, or hooks, should be basic, memorable, and catchy. Think of it as the key component of your music that people will remember most.
The final line of your chorus or the title of your song—basically, the idea of your song—is typically your primary hook. However, a hook is more than just a sentence.
A hook is any identifiable, repetitive feature of music, such as a rhythm, riff, motif, vocal line, or any other distinguishing element. A song can contain more than one hook, but one to three hooks are plenty, so don’t overdo it.
6.The right chord progressions
Chord progressions have the ability to elicit specific emotions, and it is the job of songwriters to be aware of this and choose chord progressions that elicit the emotions you want your audience to feel. Think of your chord progression choices as the emotional foundation of your composition.
As you can see, the bulk of popular songs are written in major keys.
That ties back to the premise that happy songs are chosen by audiences nowadays over depressing ones, which doesn’t imply you can’t write songs in minor keys; you just won’t get as many #1 hits.
Thus, learn and apply common chord progressions.
Avoid using strange chords in general; three or four chords should suffice.
Three hugely popular chord progressions in Hit country radio today include:
IV I vi V – “Somewhere in My Car” by Keith Urban
IV I V vi – “Tequila” by Dan + Shay
vi V IV I – “Chasin’ You” by Morgan Wallen
See also: How To Write A Song Title in an Essay: 7 Rules to Remember
7.Pop, rock, and R&B elements
Many composers consider writing a crossover success to be the Holy Grail, and modern country music frequently draws inspiration from other genres. Many country songs, in fact, could easily pass for pop if they added just a little bit of country twang. These have the potential to be crossover hits.
Despite the fact that pop elements are prevalent in country music hits, the general idea is that these songs frequently follow pop trends by five years. Influences from pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B are all accepted.
Hip-hop and country music are linked, with hip-hop authors sharing similar life experiences and growing up in the same towns. When a country band performs and the girls dance, hip-hop is played between the breaks. Hip-hop is all around us.
8.Co-writers
Over the last few decades, the music industry has revolutionized. The process of perfecting an artist’s craft used to take two to three albums; today, it is purposely accelerated.
Because of streaming, artists are under increasing pressure to release new songs on a regular basis; realistically, this is more than one person can handle alone, but it is possible with collaboration.
When you collaborate with other songwriters, you can focus on honing your talents in other areas of songwriting while leveraging your strengths in lyric writing, and vice versa. This exemplifies both specialization and the idea that two minds are better than one.
Recent hits typically feature three or more writers.
Although many well-known songs credit a large number of writers, not all of them are equally involved. Samples or “lyrical fragments” from other songs are a typical feature in music, and the number of writers may be exaggerated when those songwriters receive full acknowledgement.
Nonetheless, cowriting is more popular than ever. Frequently, one or two writers will receive the majority of the credit, while other writers who contribute critical elements will receive a smaller, unequal portion (for example, a writer who writes a riff or fill may only receive 1% of the credit).
An oversupply of writers might give the sense that some are fighting for readers’ attention while others’ contributions may be lost in the shuffle. In most cases, three or four co-writers are sufficient.
9.Authenticity
Lyrics have always been the primary focus of country music, and they are one of the essential features that distinguish it from other genres. Audiences want songs that are genuine and true.
One of the most effective ways to “write what you know” is to keep a close eye on others and record information, especially during conversations, as if it were a time-lapsed snapshot.
Furthermore, encourage yourself to use all of your senses while writing descriptions; instead of only describing what others see or say, consider expressing the experience of a friend’s touch, a smell that takes you back home, or a certain food that tastes like summer.
See also: How to Write in First Person Point of View (POV): Dos and Don’ts, Tips and Examples
Conclusion
Country music is life! Learn how to write one and compose a country sound you can play around with. You may even open a YouTube channel for your songs to become an internet sensation.
References
- Mastered – how to write a country song lyrics on guitar
- Better songs – how to write a country song
