Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Her album Midnights debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and she has become the first artist in history to occupy each and every slot in the top 10 of the US singles chart (Drake had managed to occupy 9 of them and The Beatles, back in 1964, 8 out of 10.
Taylor Swift has released 10 original studio albums and has sold over 200 million records worldwide. She is known for her catchy pop songs and confessional lyrics, which often explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth.
Swift first gained fame in the mid-2000s with her self-titled debut album, which spawned the hit singles “Tim McGraw” and “Our Song.” She went on to release a series of successful albums, including “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” and “1989,” which established her as one of the biggest names in pop music.
So it’s understandable to have millions of aspiring singer-songwriters actively looking for tips on how to write a song like Taylor Swift.
Here are some tips to inspire your songwriting efforts if you want to craft a tune like the Queen of Pop.
To write a song like Taylor Swift, you should focus on creating relatable lyrics that tell a story or convey a specific emotion. You should also pay attention to the structure and progression of your song, including the verse-chorus-bridge format that is common in pop music. Additionally, consider incorporating catchy melodies and memorable hooks to keep your audience engaged.
What is the typical structure of a hit song by Taylor Swift?
The structure of a typical Taylor Swift song often follows a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format. This means that the song typically has two or three verses, with each verse introducing new lyrics and telling a part of the story.
The chorus is the most memorable and catchy part of the song, and it is typically repeated several times throughout the song.
The bridge is a section that comes after the second chorus and helps to add variety to the song. It often has a different melody and introduces a new idea or emotion. Here is an example of the structure of a Taylor Swift song:
- Verse 1: Introduces the setting and characters, and establishes the mood or theme of the song
- Chorus: The most memorable and catchy part of the song, often repeated several times
- Verse 2: Continues the story or develops the theme further
- Chorus: Repeated
- Bridge: A change in melody and the introduction of a new idea or emotion
- Chorus: Repeated as the finale
Keep in mind that this is just one example of a song structure, and there are many different ways to arrange the components of a song. Taylor Swift’s music often features catchy melodies and relatable lyrics, and her songs often follow a clear and well-defined structure.
Here are a few steps you can follow to write a song like Taylor Swift:
- Choose a theme or emotion that you want to explore in your song. Taylor Swift is known for writing songs about personal experiences and relationships, so consider drawing inspiration from your own life. For instance, All Too Well is about a past romantic relationship that ended and the memories and emotions that the narrator associates with it. The lyrics describe specific events and moments from the relationship, and the narrator reflects on how these memories still affect them even after the relationship has ended. The song also touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the difficulties of moving on from a past love.
- Write a verse that sets the scene or introduces the topic of your song. This is a good place to introduce your characters or describe the setting. In Anti-Hero for instance, the opening lines are very powerful: The first line, “I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser,” establishes the narrator as someone who is struggling with personal growth and self-improvement. The second line, “Midnights become my afternoons,” creates a sense of disorientation and suggests that the narrator’s internal state is out of sync with the normal rhythms of life. The third and fourth lines, “When my depression works the graveyard shift, all of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room,” introduce the theme of mental health and relationship struggles, and they also create a sense of isolation and introspection. Overall, these lyrics effectively establish the narrator as a complex and relatable character, and they set the stage for the themes and emotions that will be explored throughout the song.
- Write a chorus that captures the main message or feeling of your song. This is the most memorable part of the song, so make sure it’s catchy and easy to sing along to. For instance, in Anti-Hero, The melody uses a catchy and rhythmic pattern, and the lyrics are memorable and easy to sing along to. The lyrics of the chorus also effectively convey the theme of the song, which is the narrator’s self-awareness of their flaws and the way they can cause problems for themselves and others. The repetition of the phrase “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me” serves as a powerful refrain that helps to emphasize this theme. Additionally, the chorus effectively captures the mood and emotion of the song, which is a mix of self-awareness, self-deprecation, and resignation.
- Consider including a bridge, which is a section that typically comes after the second chorus and helps to add variety to your song. This is a good place to change up the melody or introduce a new idea. BuzzFeed has provided a great analysis on some of Taylor Swift’s most powerful bridges.
- Revise and edit your lyrics until you are satisfied with them. Songwriting is a craft! Pay attention to the flow and rhythm of your words, and make sure they fit the melody you have chosen.
Remember that writing a song is a creative process, and it may take some time and practice to develop your skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things as you work on your song.
