How to Write a Sad Song? Tips and Tricks

Sep 18, 2023 musiccorners

How to Write a Sad Song – Do you agree, Civillions, that listening to music makes you understand your personal emotions better, especially when you’re sad? When you are sad, subconsciously the songs you listen to are sad songs with ballads, and when you are in a condition like this, it feels like the singer can understand our feelings completely. Such is the sad song and the piercing lyrics that makeup it. Are you curious about how to make a sad song? Try the following tips!

5 Tips on How to Write a Sad Song

Use Minor Chords

Even though there are no absolutes in music, choosing minor keys and chords can actually help you lay the basic tone for songs that have a sad vibe. While it is not impossible to write happy or joyful songs in a minor key, this melodic structure tends to elicit a more mysterious or sad reaction from the listener. But if you’re in doubt, choose just a few minor chords and write sad lyrics. Because sometimes, just playing a few chords can be enough inspiration to write a whole song.

Make it from the Heart

There’s no doubt that these tips are protips! Usually, sad songs are created because of personal experiences, or the experiences of those closest to you who are clearly known. A sad story combined with minor chords is guaranteed to be a sad song whose message reaches the listener! If possible, imagine that you are confiding in a notebook while you are writing song lyrics. The more vulnerable the lyrics you write, the more likely they will create a deeper connection with other artists and listeners.

The Slower it Gets, the Sadder it is

Have you ever noticed that happy songs usually tend to have a fast tempo? So, to get the opposite vibe, you can create a sad atmosphere by choosing a slower tempo for your song. For example, you might want your song to play between 70 and 90 BPM. This will give you plenty of space for long descriptive paragraphs and words that describe your personal experiences, especially the upsetting ones.

First Person POV (Point of View)

To be more personal, it’s a good idea to write in the first person rather than speaking directly to the listener or telling the story in the third person. Make your personal experiences, especially sad stories, easier for listeners to digest. Remember, most listeners project their own experiences onto the music they listen to, rather than expressing their opinions about the singer. So, write a song as if you were confiding in your closest friend.

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Create Poetic Lyrics

As you know, the best sad songs ever written focus on the words that build them. So, it’s important to include literary devices throughout the lyrics to keep your listeners hooked. You can use hyperbole, metaphors, idioms, or double meanings, whatever makes your lyrics sound more poetic. The best thing you can do to express sad feelings is, to be honest and describe your own feelings. So, are you ready to release your first mellow song?

That’s our review of tips and tricks on how to write sad song. Hopefully, it’s useful.