5 Proven Strategies to Write Engaging and Unforgettable Songs

As a songwriter, it’s vital to understand essential songwriting tips. Even in the new “AI world”, writing good songs takes more than just tying together a few chords, or using an automated tool to do it for you.

In an earlier article, we looked at the “3 Essential Elements of a Great Song Structure” and discussed melody, harmony, and rhythm. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the 5 core components that make up an intriguing song structure.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been writing songs for years, these tips will help you elevate your craft and create compositions that leave a lasting impression. Let's look at 5 proven strategies to write engaging and unforgettable songs.

I believe there’s value in a song when the listener “Feels” something. Different chord progressions can cause a person to feel happy, sad, energetic, restful, or a variety of the different “Feels”. In the same way, lyrics can lead people to feel differently depending on the words or story they hear. I often write my intros with just enough information to make them feel curious. Then, throughout the story, they get more info to keep them listening.

For me, I stick to one or two people so the listener can avoid confusion by the who’s who?

Your verses should paint a vivid picture, using evocative imagery and relatable lyrics to draw the listener into the world of your song. If situations or groups of people affect them, I explain the situations, but for groups, I use something like “others”. The one or two people affected, own more real estate in the song than the “others”.

How can you describe the main characters, their experiences and emotions? Create lyrics so the listener feels and understands what the character feels and why. Only give what’s needed to lead them toward the next part, where they get more information.

As I noted, it’s not just the lyrics that make a great verse - the musical elements are just as important. You want to maintain a steady rhythm and chord progression that provides a solid foundation for your storytelling. Explore patterns and variations to keep things interesting, but avoid straying too far from that central beat. The verses need to feel grounded and familiar, even as the narrative unfolds. Each verse and part of the song should lead the listener to the next part.

A great chorus is all about creating a memorable, repetitive melody that reinforces the central theme or message of your song. Think about the choruses of your favorite tracks - chances are they feature a simple, catchy tune that gets stuck in your head for days. That’s the effect you want to achieve with your own songs.

When I’m writing a chorus, I always try to keep things melodic and singable. To do that, I often use smaller sentences (but not always), since they are easier to remember and sing.

A longer sentence can sometimes work if I change the structure from other parts of the song. For example, I wrote a country song called, “The Words I Wished I Said”. The first line of the chorus includes brief pauses and a melody shift.

“The words I wished I said [pause] they now [pause] haunt me.”

This subconsciously tells the listener that something new was coming with the chorus.

Note: Click HERE to hear the song, or the song image (above).

The chorus is where you drive home the central theme or message of your song. Use powerful, emotive language that elicits feeling from the listener. It might be a call to action, a declaration of love, or a subtle statement about the human experience. Whatever it is, make sure it resonates on a deeper level.

When you’re creating your chorus, don’t be afraid to dig deep and be vulnerable. The more authentically you can tap into universal human experiences, the more your listeners will connect with your music on a personal level.

Now that you’ve hooked the listener with your attention-grabbing intro and drawn them into the story with your compelling verses, it’s time to shake things up with the bridge. This is where you get to introduce a new musical element, and shift the perspective or tone of the song to build anticipation for the return to the chorus.

A well-written bridge is like finding an unexpected road with a beautiful view. It provides a refreshing contrast to the rest of the song and keeps things feeling dynamic and unpredictable.

Maybe you’ll shift to a different key, experiment with a more complex chord progression, or throw in an unexpected rhythm. Whatever you do, the goal is to create a sense of tension and excitement that leaves the listener yearning for the familiar comfort of the chorus.

When I first began songwriting, I didn’t know what a song bridge was or how to create one. It seemed like the safe thing to do was write something that looked like another verse. I was wrong.

After studying and deconstructing good songs, I found the best bridges are the ones that take the song in a new direction. They challenge the listener and keep them engaged, rather than boring them to the end of the song.

One way to shift direction is to shift the point of view within the story. By now you’ve seen that I use the words song and story interchangeably. Great songs are, in fact, stories that take the listener through an engaging narrative.

And finally, we arrive at the outro - the last section of your song that will stick around in the listener’s mind long after the music has faded. This is your opportunity to provide a sense of resolution and closure, emphasizing the core message or emotion that you’ve been exploring throughout the story.

A great outro can make or break a song. It’s the last thing the listener hears, so you want to make sure it leaves a lasting impression.

You could introduce a new melodic hook, strip the instrumentation down to just a simple piano or guitar, or bring back a lyrical concept from earlier in the song. Whatever approach you take, the key is to create a sense of finality and completion.

Of course, your outro will depend on the overall tone and theme of your song. If you crafted an upbeat, feel-good song, you might choose to end on a high note, leaving the listener energized and inspired. If your story addresses a heavier, emotional theme, a more somber, reflective outro could be the way to go.

The most important thing is to make sure your outro feels intentional and coherent with the rest of the song. It shouldn’t just be an afterthought or a random assortment of leftover musical ideas. Your outro should link to the path of the story.

With the entire song, each element should point toward and work together with the next section until you reach the outro. By making the path of the story consistent, you create a sense of closure and leave a lasting impression on the listener.

Take the time to write something special and don’t be afraid to explore new topics and structures. In songwriting, you’ll find you learn something new with each song and you’re on your way to writing songs that captivate audiences from start to finish.

About Me…

Anthony M. Davis is an Author, Artist, ASCAP Songwriter/Publisher, and Certified Leadership, Success and Stress Coach.He is also a clinically trained Board Certified Hypnotherapist.

He has earned a national reputation for his Transformative Life Centering work with clients from across the nation. As a 2x stroke survivor, his unique approach helps clients remove underlying fears and triggers, and then, through coaching, helps them pursue and accomplish life and career goals.

If you have challenges and are ready to move past them, Contact him Here to create the life change you desire.

To hear his growing repertoire of songs, visit his YouTube Channel.

Related Topics:

Attention-grabbing openings, chord progressions, catchy hooks, emotional songwriting, lyrical techniques, melody writing, musical contrast, musical form, resolution and closure, song composition, song structure, songwriting fundamentals, verse-chorus-bridge.