I agree with Charlie and Mike among others.

As Charlie stated, the key ingredients of a memorable song include a location and a story line and a dramatic arc.

Where are we?
What's going on?
Why does it matter?
What's the conflict or tension?

Next, what are we going to do about that conflict and tension??

This usually occurs in the chorus. Or if we're not going to do something we just tell you what we think about that.

The last line of this Chorus is typically the title of the song.

V

I was standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
There's a girl my Lord in a flatbed Ford
Slowing down to take a look at me

Ch

Hmmmmmm.

Anyway, insofar is melodies are concerned, I am like Mike in that I write 90% of my stuff in the car. I don't have to think about the story structure because that's kind of in my bloodstream and I wouldn't imagine writing the lyrics to a song without having a story structure, or at least something compelling to say (a hook) if there is not a story line or location per se.

These lines just kind of pop out of my head. I carry stacks of index cards around and write song titles and chorus ideas down constantly, everywhere I go, every day, all day, 7 days a week. Even in church. At a restaurant. Everywhere.

But those melodies: I usually get them while I'm driving along in the car and they fly by my brain like a bluebird and I make sure that I have my telephone recording app within reaching distance so if I start humming or saying something out loud I can capture it.

Because if I wait until I get home I forgot what I was singing and then I want to shoot myself.

For inspiration, I create a bunch of chord progressions in the keys that I like to sing in with different styles in band in a box and have them on my phone as MP3s, in different grooves.

Like some are ballads, some are mid tempo, some are up-tempo etc.

If I'm feeling in a ballad mood I'll just press the trigger and start listening to something with no lyrics as I'm driving along and then start mumbling some words or singing out loud.

All I want is the gist of the idea and the melody.

I can figure out the chords later.

That in essence is my songwriting process.

David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

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