Sad, but true, but many music reps will toss any song that has an intro/verse section that takes longer than a minute to get to the first chorus. True, “Stairway to Heaven” and other classics would end up on this same scrap heap, but these tunes were written by established artists, not a struggling songwriter trying to pitch a single to a prospective client. The rules are different for the non-artist songwriter, and for the beginner, so it’s better to stick with convention until you’ve earned your composer stripes that will allow you more leeway. Don’t toss those masterpieces, just set them aside for later, and try a few of these tips to create some more “pop” songs to get you going, industry-wise.
WHAM! HERE I AM!
The big drum count-off, a loud keyboard or guitar chord, or a big sampled or live sound effect can provide a nice, throat-grabbing introduction to propel the song forward. Some songs even start out with a spoken or yelled bit. A die-out into a melodic first verse or an equally loud first stanza can both keep the momentum going. Watch the clock, though—you still have to get to the chorus in under 60 seconds.
SPINE-TINGLING SUSPENSE
Many songs take this approach. Non-resolving suspended chords, irregular note counts, a minor-key arrangement that has a “spooky” sound, slowly speeding up and/or raising in volume can all keep a listener there, wondering what you are going to do next. Some writers play with odd guitar tunings or bizarre chord structures to give their audiences that uneasy feeling. Make sure and reach the chorus before you let them go, though, or boredom may set in.
JUST DO IT!
You can always just cheat and make your verses very short, as well as the intro. Some songs even start with the chorus, and solve the problem that way. Once you have done the dirty deed, you can just relax and work on the rest of the song, no longer having to worry about whether or not your hard work will be rewarded by a swan dive into the circular file. The easiest way to do all of this, is, though, to simply do the best writing you know how to do, without thinking about the time elapsed. You may find that you naturally want to follow this simple rule, just because the song sounds better that way. If not….
EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!
