How to Write Country Music
- 1). Listen to country music. You can't write country music unless you know what it's supposed to sound like. Listen closely to the greats of the genre, people such as Johnny Cash, George Strait and Patsy Cline. Learn the classic songs such as "Your Cheating Heart" by Hank Williams and "Silver Wings" by Merle Haggard.
- 2). Keep the lyrics simple. Country music reflects the lives of hard-working, straightforward people in the lyrics. Using abstract symbolism about isosceles triangles and employing million dollar words such as "egalitarian" won't result in millions of downloads. Focus on being honest and write lyrics based on what you know about life and the simple things you enjoy. Country fans will understand and appreciate it.
- 3). Keep the music simple as well. Country melodies often stay in the pentatonic (five-note scale. Do not throw in the flat 6 of the Aeolian scale just to be original, as it will throw off the listener. Basic chords work exceptionally well in this genre. Pay attention to the feel of classic songs and try to recreate that feel in your own songs.
- 4). Tell a story. People relate to country music because they often identify or sympathize with the characters they hear about in the songs. The rodeo rider in George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning" comes across as a likeable person who's taken a few hard knocks along the way, but keeps trucking on anyway. We can all get behind a guy like that, and the song inspires listeners as the main character announces how good his life is at the end of the day despite the hardships.
- 5). Make the chorus stand out. People mostly listen to the chorus, also known as the refrain, which is repeated throughout the song. Ensure it's the most attention getting part of your songs, and don't make listeners wait through lengthy verses. Get to the point and do it quickly.
- 6). Be clever if you can. A lot of country songs contain clever or funny lyrics, and that's what makes them popular. Billy Currington's "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" is a great example of turning something one might say as a joke and making a song out of it. Pay attention when someone says something funny and see if you can turn it into a song. Another trick is tweaking a cliche or phrase like David Ball does when he admits he has a "Thinkin' Problem."
Source...