It is one of those questions which has been bugging musicians for decades. Yet, nobody has so far been able to come up with a steady response. For anyone who has ever wanted to produce a hit song, it is the essential question that needs answering. But what really goes into the making of a hit song? Is it just about the chord sequence, or is there more to it than that? In this post, we will be attempting to answer that very question. If you have ever wondered what might go into the making of the ideal song, then look no further.
Let’s take a look at what some of the key ingredients really are.
SIMPLE, YET POWERFUL
This first quality is something which is hard to pin down and even harder to get right. Yet, it does appear to be a common theme among hit songs. Those songs which really stick with you do tend to be those which do not have much to them. In terms of dynamics, they do not tend to be particularly thick. Similarly, the layering is often not that dense. Why this might be the successful mode is a more difficult question to answer. There is a good chance that it has a lot to do with the fact that more simple songs are more likely to capture the imaginations of even more people. And of course, it is this popularity with greater numbers that makes it more popular.
THEMATIC VIDEO
Now, it goes without saying that not all songs have music videos. However, when it comes to constructing a hit song for the current generation, you would be hard pressed not to make a video too. The fact is, music videos are important to the overall scene these days. Many producers do not consider a song finished until there is also a music video for it. When it comes to ensuring a successful hit song, you need a video which matches it thematically and in a powerful way. To achieve that, you need to hire a good music video director. No matter who you go for, chances are that this is one of the most important aspects to the whole process.
MEMORABLE AND CATCHY
Ultimately, what you are looking for is a song which really sticks in people’s minds. And for this to happen, it needs to be really catchy. Knowing how to write a catchy song, however, is quite another matter altogether. This is something which can take a great deal of time to perfect. Once you have it, however, it is usually quite obvious. Catchy songs tend to have a particularly memorable hook or riff, so this is the best place to start. Without that, it is unlikely that it will be particularly memorable. That is why, often, musicians will start with a catchy riff and work from there. In truth, there are worse ways to go about creating a hit song. A lot goes into a hit song overall, but with the right kind of skill and determination, it is perfectly possible to craft.
