7 Ways to Polish Your Songs
All great writers rewrite until it’s a 100% great song.
OK, you’ve poured your heart into writing a song – crafting the melody, shaping the lyrics, and finding its unique voice. But does it truly shine?
That’s where the magic of polishing comes in.
What is Polishing Your Song?
I recently talked about embracing the messy first draft (click here) which is close to the start of the process of writing a song. Well, this is at the other end of the writing process – just before you record your work tape, your final track. It’s a songwriter version of Colombo’s “just one more thing” (click that here). And these last minute often turn up making changes that make all the difference.
Polishing is all about turning an almost finished song, transforming transform a good song into an exceptional and captivating masterpiece. Here are a few reasons why you should polish your song after having already written a finished draft:
To see if it can connect with a broader audience, by ensuring clarity, emotional depth, and memorability.
To stay in the writing room until a draft is completed AND polished, regardless of the obstacles, builds resilience.
To use generic verbs that leave the audience disconnected and make the song forgettable.
In other words, given enough time and energy in your song, rewriting allows a great song to become a classic.
Songwriters often use rewriting as a vital part of the process of writing. All great writers rewrite until it’s a 100% great song.
All great writers rewrite until it’s a 100% great song.
So, how do you polish your song into a killer song? Here are seven ways to polish your song after writing the final draft all over again.
Seven Ways to Polish a Song
When we are in polishing mode, this entails switching from the right, creative part of your brain towards (but not entirely) the left, logical part of your brain. Here are a few ways to polish your songs:
Refining the Lyrics
Enhancing the Melody
Honing the Song Structure
Perfecting the Arrangement
Adding Finishing Touches
Taking a Step Back, and finally
Seeking Feedback
Let’s take each of these one by one.
1. Refining the Lyrics
Your lyrics are the heart and soul of your song – they tell your story, convey emotions, and connect with listeners. Polishing your lyrics ensures that every word resonates.
Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your lyrics are easy to understand and avoid unnecessary jargon or overly complex wording.
Emotional Impact: Use vivid imagery and evocative language to evoke the desired emotions in your listeners.
Memorability: Craft a strong hook that captures attention and stays with the listener long after the song ends.
2. Enhancing the Melody
A captivating melody is the backbone of a great song, drawing listeners in and keeping them engaged.
Experimentation and Variation: Explore different melodic ideas and variations to find the most compelling and memorable phrasing.
Flow and Support: Ensure your melody flows naturally and complements the lyrical content, enhancing the overall emotional impact.
Dynamics and Interest: Consider adding elements like a pre-chorus or bridge to create dynamic shifts and maintain listener engagement.
3. Honing the Song Structure
The structure of your song is crucial for guiding the listener's journey and creating a satisfying musical experience.
Standard Structures: Familiarize yourself with standard song structures like verse-chorus, verse-chorus-bridge, and others to establish a solid framework.
Strategic Section Placement: Carefully arrange the sections of your song (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) to create a sense of buildup, release, and emotional impact.
Hooks and Repetition: Strategically place your hook (click more here) within the structure for maximum impact and use repetition to reinforce key themes and melodies.
4. Perfecting the Arrangement
The arrangement of your song encompasses the instrumentation, sonic textures, and overall production.
Complementary Instrumentation: Choose instruments that complement each other and enhance the mood and style of your song.
Dynamic Variation: Introduce dynamic shifts in volume and intensity to create interest and prevent monotony.
Sonic Textures: Experiment with different sonic textures and effects to add depth and richness to your song.
5. Adding Finishing Touches
Those seemingly small details can make a world of difference, elevating your song from good to exceptional.
Vocal Harmonies: Introduce vocal harmonies to add warmth, depth, and create a more polished feel.
Unique Instrumentation: Incorporate subtle instrumental elements or sound effects to enhance the mood and atmosphere of specific sections.
Production Techniques: Utilize mixing and mastering techniques to create a balanced and professional sound.
6. Taking a Step Back
After investing time and effort in polishing your song, it's vital to step back and listen with fresh ears.
Detach and Listen Objectively: Create some distance from the song and listen as if you're hearing it for the first time.
Identify Areas for Improvement: Pay attention to any parts that feel repetitive, awkward, or lack the intended impact.
Make Necessary Adjustments: Use your fresh perspective to guide any final revisions or tweaks.
7. Seeking Feedback
Finally, feedback from others can provide invaluable insights and help you identify blind spots you may have missed.
Trusted Sources: Share your polished song with fellow songwriters, musicians, or trusted listeners who can provide constructive criticism.
Openness and Objectivity: Be open to their feedback, even if it differs from your initial vision, and use it to refine your work further.
Iterative Refinement: Implement the feedback, make adjustments, and seek further feedback if needed to ensure your song reaches its full potential.
In Summary
Polishing your song is an art in itself – a journey of refining, enhancing, and perfecting until it truly shines. By dedicating time to this crucial stage, you ensure your song reaches its full potential and captivates listeners.
Questions
Here are a few questions to ponder:
What aspect of song polishing do you find most challenging?
What techniques do you use to refine your lyrics and make them more impactful?
Who do you trust to give honest and constructive feedback on your music?
Hope this helps!
Simon.
Thanks for this Steve, totally agree. Take care, Simon.
Songs evolve as we perform them and hopefully improve .
Great tip polishing !