How to Write a Country Music Song

Are you aspiring to be the next Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, or Brad Paisley? Many talent scouts have commented on the influx of talent being seen due to the revolutionized global nature of our society. So many talented singers are coming out of the woodworks because, now, getting an audience is as simple as posting a video online. In this day and age even talented singers are having hard times getting noticed. So what can you do to stand out from the crowd?

Write your own songs.

It is hard to sing without songs, and writing your own songs may help lead to your big break.

As a country-music singer-songwriter-musician, I can't express how many times people come up to me and complain about the country music genre. The patronizing anti-country comments are almost always the same. "All country music is either about someone's truck breaking down, their girlfriend leaving them, or their dog dying... it's so generic." In order to write a country music song all you have to do is understand what country music is about.

Country music is all about passion. The genuine nature displayed in country music lyrics stems from this passion. People are passionate about things that are close to them; this causes the eclectic simplicity which some find the need to mock. A loved one, a home town, a way of living; these are things which are almost universally human. People can relate to what is said in the song and thus want to listen to it. If you want to write a GOOD country music song you need to stop looking online for ideas, and start looking within yourself.

What is something that means a lot to you? More than likely if you feel deeply about something, someone else does to. Use this as the topic matter for your song, and no matter what combination of words you string together, you will be successful. Don't rule anything out; it can be about absolutely anything. Creative topics from today's headliners include water, alcohol, fried chicken, and rain.

As far as the "format" for a song, simply put, there is none. As long as it sounds good you can have any combination of verses and choruses that you wish. I do recommend two things; try to have at least one "really catchy" line and use repetition. I usually come up with a chorus before I write the verses; because it is the bone the meat goes around. I also like to repeat the chorus at least three times if possible; because that's usually the catchy line people get stuck in their heads.

I wish everyone nothing but the best in all there songwriting endeavors!