Early on in my songwriting career, I considered it a minor miracle that I could create a song at all. However, once I got a little more used to performing that particular magic trick, it became necessary to refine my process. It was no longer enough just to have written a song. I needed to go back and tweak, edit, fix, and polish my work until I was confident I’d exhausted every option to improve it.
To help you do the same, I’ve put together a checklist of 10 things to examine when critiquing your own music to make them both lyrically and melodically stronger.
The Lyric
1. Do you have a strong opening line?
The opening line is your first and best chance to engage your listener. A strong opener establishes the where, what, and who of your story, setting the stage for the "why." Make sure your very first line hooks the listener and pulls them into the world you are building.
2. Are you using concrete imagery?
One of the best ways to drop a listener immediately into your story is to use strong imagery—what I like to call "furniture." These are the tangible details that give your listener something to remember and connect with.
The Golden Rule: "Show 'em, not tell 'em."
Example: Instead of saying a woman is seductive but bad news, describe her as "a black heart in a green dress."
Tip: Generally, keep the heavy imagery in the verses where the meat of the story lives. Choruses should be reserved for stating the main point or theme.
3. Are your lyrics singable?
It’s not enough to tell a good story; your words must be easy to sing and phrase naturally. Keep your lyrics conversational. Words that are awkward or force you to emphasize the wrong syllables pull a listener’s ear in the wrong direction.
There’s a reason the word "baby" is in almost every song ever written—those long "a" and "e" vowel sounds are open, resonant, and incredibly easy to sing.
Conversely, you won’t find a word like "Nicaragua" popping up in a lot of hit songs.
4. How effective is your hook?
The hook is the main point, the anchor, and the central identifier of your song. It is the piece of the lyric that reaches out and grabs the listener. Make sure your hook is crystal clear and doing its job. Because it is so critical, the lyrical hook is often the title of the song itself.
5. Does your chorus have a strong last line?
There are very few places in a song more important than the final line of the chorus. This is the ultimate payoff for everything you’ve been building toward in your verses and the preceding chorus lines. It’s usually where the hook lands, leaving the listener satisfied that they understand your message.
To give this line extra punch, set it up with a rhyme from an earlier line in the chorus. It ensures the words don't just carry emotional weight, but musical satisfaction.
6. Does the overall idea of your song work?
When you work on a lyric for a long time, it’s easy to lose the forest for the trees. You can get so wrapped up in perfect rhymes and clever imagery that the core concept loses focus. Once your lyric is finished, zoom out. Ensure the central message is fully developed and supported by every single line.
Remember: you already know the story, but you need to make doubly sure a first-time listener will understand exactly what you’re talking about.
The Melody
7. Is your verse melody interesting?
Melody is the very first thing people notice and pay attention to (sorry lyricists, but the words come way later). Because of this, your verse melody needs to be catchy and unique. It doesn't need to be bizarre or uncomfortable, but it absolutely must be distinctive and memorable.
8. Does your chorus melody differ from your verse melody?
As songwriters, our job is to give the listener clues about what matters most. By ensuring your chorus melody is not only strong but distinctly different from your verse melody, you musically cue the listener into the fact that they have arrived at the main event of the song.
9. Does your bridge add to the song?
A bridge is designed as a moment to step away from the established verses and choruses to offer a new lyrical perspective or a fresh melodic contribution. If your bridge melody sounds too much like your verse or chorus, you miss a massive opportunity to add value. Make sure your bridge stands apart musically from the rest of the track.
10. Does your melody flow naturally throughout the song?
While individual sections need to contrast, the overall melody should transition smoothly from one section to the next. Watch out for excessive repetition. A little repetition is great because it creates a "hooky" feel, but too much of it becomes monotonous and irritating. Finally, make sure your melody sits comfortably over your chord progression; your harmonic choices should always accentuate your melody, never hinder it.
A Final Note on Process
Critiquing your own work can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience. However, it is absolutely essential if you want to hold your music to the highest standard and give yourself a real shot at commercial success.
Just remember: your first and most important job is simply to write the song. Focusing on critiquing too early in the process will choke out your creativity and prevent you from writing something heartfelt and spontaneous. In my experience, it’s always easier to get it all out on paper first, and invite your "editor" to the party once the initial magic trick is done.