Song Writing 101

_______________________________________________________________________
(song title)

Composed by:

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________
Step 1:

Choose two of the following photos to write your song about as a group:

1. Spaghetti 2. Friendship

3.

School 4. The Beach

2
Our Song Will Be About:

Topic 1:______________________________________________

Topic 2:______________________________________________

Step 2:
Choose a rhyme scheme:
(ex. A B A B, A A B A, A B A C, A, B, C, B, etc.)

__________ __________ __________ __________

Definitions:
Chorus: Repeats the central message or theme of the song.
Verse: Furthers the plot of the song.

Now, you are going to write a chorus to your song. Using your rhyme scheme from above,
use these four lines to compose the lyrics.
1. Write the rhyme scheme on the lines below.
2. Circle the last word of each line to double check your rhyme scheme.

CHORUS:
Letters : Song lyrics

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

3
_____ :_________________________________________________________________

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

Step 3:

Choose a chord progression for the chorus:

CFGC Am F G C FGCC CCGC

CGCC GCGC CGFC F Am G C

FCGC C G Am C Am G C C Am G G C

_________ _________ _________ _________

Use this page to write down ideas for your chorus:

4
Step 4:
Write a verse:

Definitions:
Chorus: Repeats the central message or theme of the song.
Verse: Furthers the plot of the song.

5
Choose a rhyme scheme:
(ex. A B A B, A A B A, A B A C, A, B, C, B, etc.)

__________ __________ __________ __________

Now, you are going to write a verse to your song. Using your rhyme scheme from above, use
these four lines to compose the lyrics.
1. Write the rhyme scheme on the lines below.
2. Circle the last word of each line to double check your rhyme scheme.

VERSE:
Letters : Song lyrics

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

_____ :_________________________________________________________________

Step 5:

Choose a chord progression for the verse:

CFGC Am F G C FGCC CCGC

CGCC GCGC CGFC F Am G C

FCGC C G Am C Am G C C Am G G C

6
 _________ _________ _________ _________
Use this page to write down ideas for your verse:

7
Grading Rubric:

4
Song includes All group All group Packet is Group always
lyrics, ukulele members have a members completed and uses class time
chord part. contributed legible. effectively to
progression, equally. finish their
percussion, and project.
melody.

3
Song includes All group All group Packet is Group uses most
lyrics, ukulele members have a members completed and of their time
chord part. contributed legible. effectively to
progression, equally. finish their
melody. project.

2
Song only All group Not all group Packet is Group only
includes half of members have a members completed and sometimes uses
the required part. contributed legible. their time
elements. equally in the effectively to
process. finish their
project.

8
1
Song is Some group Not all group Packet is not Group does not
incomplete. members do not members completed and use their time
have a part. contributed not legible. effectively to
equally in the finish their
process. project.

Score: ___/ 4