When people ask you, “what kind of music do you play?” Do you ever feel like you struggle to find the right answer? I know I have. As someone who’s ventured into different genres in the journey to find my own sound, I’ve had plenty of false starts.
As an artist, you may struggle to explain your music to people, but you do probably know what’s important to you in the very music you write. And that answer alone will help you clarify your artistic identity so you step more confidently into your place within the larger music industry.
The 3 Parts of a Song
In all my years of writing and listening to music, and even when I reviewed songs on SubmitHub, I’ve found that there are 3 main elements to a song:
- Lyrics
- Melody
- Groove
Once I realized that it’s not simply a matter of which element is most important in music, but rather, how the artist chooses to prioritize these three things, I gained a newfound appreciation for different musical styles. I realized most musicians fell into 1 of 3 categories: Storytellers, Vibe Machines, and Hit-Makers.
The Storytellers: Putting Lyrics First
When a song has lyrics in its topline, songs are almost always judged how good they are by how well it tells a story. But, as we’ll see later, although lyrics come first for these artists, by shuffling around the other two elements, it can completely change the vibe of the song.
Lyrics, Melody, then Groove
Genres include:
- Country
- Americana
- Folk
- Singer-Songwriter
- Indie
- Roots
Lyrics, Groove, then Melody
Genres include:
- Hip-Hop
- R&B
- Blues
- Gospel
The Vibe Machines: Putting Groove First
If you take nothing else from this article, just remember one thing. If you want to write a good, toe-tapping song, don’t drop the groove.
And, just to be clear, as we look at other genres in this article, if lyrics come last, it’s not because they’re absent. But it’s because the lyrics, if you read them, are nonsensical. They might be chosen to fill space, or even mumbled; they certainly don’t tell a compelling story.
Groove, Melody, then Lyrics
Genres include:
- Jazz
- EDM
- Jam Bands
Groove, Lyrics, then Melody
Genres include:
- Funk
- Punk
- Soul
- Reggae
The Hitmakers: Putting Melody First
People who write these songs care about making music, and a lot of of it. It’s quantity over quality because, really, a melody is really easy to run with when you’re well versed in how to come up with one.
Melody, Groove, then Lyrics
Genres include:
- Top 40 (i.e Pop)
Melody, Lyrics, then Groove
Genres include:
- Rock and Roll
The Difference Between Genre and Style
Speaking of rock and roll, and all of its subgenres like indie rock, alternative rock, emo, post-hardcore, and especially progressive rock, we’re about to come full circle with our discussion.
At a high level, what we’re really talking about in this article is the difference between a genre and a style. The respective difference between these two is what you play vs. how you play it.
For example, it’s pretty easy to know a rock and roll tune when you hear one. But what if you were to infuse it with a jazzier style? Instead of a tonic G minor chord, what if you played it as a G diminished, and finger-picked it?
And you could take one of these songs in common time (“4 on the floor”, anyone?), and give it a bluesy, swung, 12/8 feel. The song that was in common time and in the key of G Minor is still rock and roll, but it just feels more jazzy (technically you snuck in a key change to A-flat major in there, but we’ll talk about that another time). What would you call this style? Well, simply “jazz fusion” of course! Rock and roll band Dance Gavin Dance is well known for this style.
My Genre Needs Your Style
I’m a songwriter and a music publisher, not an artist. I write songs for artists who are not songwriters. Maybe they don’t have the time to compose originals. Or they struggle with creative blocks. My songs are carefully crafted. They’re built up enough to stand on their own, while still leavimg some room to make it your own.
Does that sound like you? Are you looking for something new? Check out my music store! New songs are added monthly. So, check back often!
This is an innovative way you can combine genres, break writer’s block, unleash your creativity, and come up with your own unique style.
