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There are many songs in the history of music that have become universally recognized as great. What is it about these songs that make them connect and touch the lives of many?

In this blog we explore the fundamental elements of what makes a song so popular, including melody, emotional impact, lyrics, rhythm, production, and arrangement. Whether you’re looking to improve your songwriting, or are starting out on your songwriting journey, studying the pillars of what makes a good song can help you to improve your craft.

Jump to these sections:

• Elements of a great song
• Melody
• Emotional impact
• Lyrics
• Rhythm
• Production quality
• Arrangement
• Defining success: popularity vs artistic merit in music

Start making your own songs using Komplete.

Elements of a great song

Every good song is made up of many outstanding elements. In order for a song to be considered great, there are many layers of a song that need to be excellent for the song to be truly exceptional. Read on to learn more about how each part of the songwriting process contributes to making a great song.

Melody

A song’s melody is one of the most important attributes of a song, if not, the most important. The melody is what you remember long after listening to the recording. The melody of a song is most often sung by the vocalist, but isn’t limited to the main vocal line. Many great songs include strong and uplifting instrumental melodies throughout the composition. The melody of a song is played overtop of a chord progression, and  either the melody, or the chords that make up the backbone of the song can be written first.

Try using Komplete and Native Instruments MIDI keyboards to compose melodies for your song.

Avicii – Wake Me Up

“Wake Me Up” by Avicii has a memorable lead vocal line, and well crafted melodies during the drop.

Calvin Harris – Summer

This timeless EDM classic has great melodies throughout, from the strings, to the piano lines leading up to the drop, to the vocal line and the drop synth line.

Tiësto & KSHMR feat. Vassy – Secrets

One of the best EDM songs of all time, with unforgettable melodies used throughout.

Emotional Impact

A great song needs to have an intended emotional impact on listeners, and move them in some way. It’s up to the songwriter to choose what emotions they’d like their audience to feel, whether it’s happiness, euphoria, love, sadness, the list is infinite. Songwriting with the intention to integrate emotion in music starts with a clear direction of the emotion you wish to convey. From there, every aspect of the song should serve to symbolize that emotion.

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

Written by Dolly Parton, “I Will Always Love You” was re-recorded by Whitney Houston. This song became an enormous success worldwide due to the emotional impact of the lyrics and Whitney’s performance.

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Innerbloom

Though every song by RÜFÜS DU SOL is beautiful, “Innerbloom” is a particularly heartfelt and poignant release.

Lyrics

The lyrics in a song can have a profound impact on the listener. The most impactful lyrics in a song tell a story, and convey one or more ideas. One of the keys with lyrics is to express in words what you wish to communicate to the audience, without saying too much. Depending on your writing style, you may or may not personally be the one writing the song’s lyrics. In pop and some electronic music, a song is sometimes written by two people. One person writes the chords, bassline, and creates the track, and the second The second, who is a topline writer, writes the main vocal melody and lyrics.

If you’re a producer who is writing and creating the entire track, you could be the one responsible for the songwriting, production, and the lyrics. But if you feel more confident creating melodies, reach out to find someone who can write lyrics.

Song lyrics don’t have to rhyme, however, if they do, this can help the song to have a certain type of charm. Writing song lyrics is a skill that can improve over time, although it does help if you’re poetic and divinely inspired.

John Lennon – Imagine

Here’s an example of a song with lyrics that have an important message for listeners to receive.

Elton John – Sacrifice

Composed by John Lennon and Bernie Taupin, this song’s lyrics are unique for a pop song.

Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence

Written by Martin Gore, this genius writer paints a vivid lyrical picture with rhyming phrases.

Eminem – Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido

Eminem is a master storyteller; the world will never forget Eminem’s stories.

Rhythm

A great song, especially in dance or urban music, is created with a rhythm that complements the essence of the song. The rhythm of a song can help to define its genre, and is one of the elements that creates the style of the song.

A house, techno, or trance song uses a four on the floor groove, while genres like drum and bass and hip hop use breakbeats. Reggae and dancehall use syncopation in their rhythms, which make the piece of music sound offbeat and give these styles their distinctive sound. Latin music uses syncopated grooves and percussion and from many styles, including salsa, son Cubano, samba, bossa nova, cascara, calypso, merengue, bolero, mambo, cha-cha-cha, tango, songo, and musical styles such as rumba and cumbia.

Afrobeats use polyrhythmic, which is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms. They also incorporate diverse rhythmic influences and combine genres like hip hop, house, jùjú, ndombolo, R&B, soca, and dancehall. Country and pop music rhythms are mainly in 4/4 time and tend to use more straightforward grooves.

Try out the Native Instruments Expansions or percussion plugins to find loops and grooves for your song.

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Get Up, Stand Up

Reggae percussion is a series of sparse accents that pop into the spaces of a groove.

HUGEL x Topic x Arash feat. Daecolm – I Adore You (Official Lyric Video)

Syncopated rhythms help to keep this beautiful masterpiece moving along.

Production quality

The production of a song defines the style and genre. A top-quality production can make a good song into a hit, and the opposite is true as well. While a well-written song has the potential to suit one or more genres, the production determines the final sound of the song. The production quality refers to the overall quality of the recording and the artist’s performance. At its core, the production is the intersection of a great performance with great talent, and a producer who uses plug-ins and/or equipment in a highly effective way.

A great production is often broken down into a few different stages, including recording, mixing, and mastering. These days many of these processes can be completed by one talented producer, or sometimes with a team of engineers. Many talented artists don’t have breakthrough success until they begin working with an experienced producer, and as a team create their best output.  If you have a great song, choosing the right producer to work together with to help to bring the song to life is critical. If you’re a producer yourself, you’re responsible for creating the sonics of the track. The production quality of the recording can either make or break a single, no matter how good the song is. Native Instruments and iZotope plugins will help you to create professional sounding, contemporary songs, no matter what genre or style your production is.

Arrangement

The arrangement of a song refers to how the song is structured, and the types of instrumentation used in each part of the song. Together these elements tell the story of the song, and unfold it for the listener. A well-planned arrangement that builds over time and is dynamic makes a song interesting to listen to. The song’s genre determines the style of arrangement that will best suit it. A pop song uses a standard arrangement that goes something like this: verse / pre-chorus / chorus / verse / pre-chorus / chorus / bridge / chorusAn EDM song uses something a little different different, based on pop arrangements but with a different structure. An example of an EDM arrangement could be: intro / verse / drop / verse / drop / breakdown / buildup / drop / outro

Study the songs that inspire you and analyze how they are structured and arranged. Use contrast and dynamics to create tension and release in your song.

Contrast is the variety of different sounds, textures, rhythms, chords, melodies, and lyrics to create variety and contrast in different sections of the song.

Dynamics emphasize the most impactful part of the song (the chorus or drop), while carving out space in the other sections so that each section has the appropriate impact. Transitions help to link each section of the song together. In electronic music, automation and effects are used to help the song sections flow from one part to the next.

Defining success: popularity vs. artistic merit in music

The success of a song (or any project for that matter) is a fairly subjective subject. A lot of what success means for your song depends on the goal you aspire to achieve. Finishing a song that you’re happy about could be a reasonable goal for an aspiring songwriter. If you’re ambitious, aiming to have the song recorded by a world class artist, released on a major label and played on mainstream radio may be a goal to work toward.

Today, success is often determined by streaming numbers and data, as the amount of plays and views a song receives is clearly visible. If a lot of people are tuned in and listening, the song is likely to be good. But don’t discount or write off songs with lower plays or streams as bad music. There are many smaller artists, perhaps with smaller promotion budgets whose songs may only reach a few fans. Yet these songs have the same potential to emotionally connect with listeners. If a song touches someone in some way, it can be recognized as an artistic success. From the creative perspective, a song that’s captured as a recording that clearly meets the original vision of the artist is a success. As a music producer, if you can effectively create the music that you hear in your mind (or dreams), the song has value and artistic merit. As success is subjective, it’s a good idea to think about your artistic goals when writing music. Whether it’s to write a song that will reach 100,000 people, to create songs that will leave a legacy, or simply to enjoy the process as you write new songs, the motivation you use to write songs is entirely up to you.

Start writing better songs

Now that you’ve learned the key ingredients of a good song, it’s time to start writing some of your own. Songwriting is often a collaborative process, and it may be helpful to seek out collaborators to work together with. When you’re songwriting, focus on the melody, chords, lyrics, and rhythm and then move on to production and arrangement. The more you write, the better at songwriting you’ll become.

Once you’ve sketched out your song idea, use Native Instruments software to produce and mix your track. Start writing songs today and soon you’ll be writing memorable tunes, collaborating with other songwriters, and creating your best work.

Have you always wanted to learn how to DJ but aren’t sure how to get started? Love music and want to learn to mix sets?

This beginner’s guide will help you take the first steps you’ll need to take to master DJing.

Get started using Traktor Pro 4.

Jump to these sections:

• DJ software
• DJing with a laptop
• Get started with Traktor Pro 4
• Live remixes
• DJ techniques
• DJing with controllers
• DJing with decks
• Finding music
• Organizing your music collection
• Start DJing

There’s never been a better time to begin your journey as a DJ. It’s easier than ever to find music, access DJ controllers and equipment, and learn online.

The advent of the digital DJ era has made it more affordable for anyone to start their career. In the beginning, DJing was an expensive pursuit, but the costs to purchase modern-day controllers, software, like Traktor Pro 4, is more affordable and accessible.

The first thing to ask yourself when you’re starting out as a DJ is the style (or styles) of music you’d like to play and the type of equipment you’d like to use. Once you’ve decided on both, you’ll be ready to begin your DJ adventure.

DJ software

Software like Traktor Pro 4 allows DJs to mix two or more tracks. Traktor Pro 4 lets you load and play tracks, mix tracks together, create loops and effects, and mix with stems for live remixes. Getting familiar with how Traktor Pro 4 works will give you a good understanding of how to DJ and learn techniques

You can learn to DJ on a laptop using Traktor Pro 4, which is a great way to learn the basics.

DJing with a laptop

Although you can start learning Traktor Pro 4 using a desktop computer, investing in a laptop is highly recommended. A laptop will give you the ability to play DJ sets anywhere. Check the software specifications of Traktor Pro 4 to make sure that the software will run smoothly on your computer. Learn more about DJing on a laptop in our guide.

Get started with Traktor Pro 4

When you first open Traktor Pro 4, change the view to Mixer to see the DJ mixer displayed in the center of the window. At the bottom of the screen is the Track Collection. Tracks can be added manually here.

Each deck has a Transport section with Play, Cue, and looping functions. Cue can be used to set a reference point that represents where you’d like to start playback or quickly return to when preparing your mix. Next to Cue is the loop function, represented by the left and right arrows and a number that indicates the loop size. This allows you to play a section of the song on repeat.

The two-channel mixer in the center of Traktor can be used to create a mix and sculpt it. Each channel has a three-band EQ section for shaping the sound of your mix. The headphone cue is where you can pre-listen to the song you’re going to play and beat match it with the track that’s currently playing. To learn to DJ with Traktor, check out our top tips for beginners.

DJ techniques

In its simplest form, DJing is the art of blending together two tracks, and matching the tempo of each track so there’s a smooth transition from one track to the next. Counting bars and beats, beatmatching, mixing, set preparation using cue points, and transitioning between tracks are a few of the DJ techniques that you’ll need to learn.

Beatmatching involves matching the BPM (beats per minute) of one track to another, which allows you to blend them seamlessly. This can be done manually using the Pitch Faders in Traktor, or the Sync function.

Traktor Pro 4 features a Sync function that lets you automatically match the BPM of two tracks. To use Sync correctly, you’ll need to learn to set beat grids in Traktor. You can use Traktor Pro 4’s new flexible beat grids to beatmatch songs with BPM changes.

Mixing is the art of blending two or more tracks together. For best results, try to blend together tracks that are within +5/-5 BPM of each other. You’ll need to learn how to mix tracks using harmonic mixing, create DJ transitions to flow between tracks, and set cue points on tracks to create smoother transitions.

Once you’re comfortable with basic mixing, you’ll want to learn to use effects in Traktor to add a unique flair to your sets. Traktor Pro 4 features over forty effects that can be used as single effects or grouped together.

Live remixes

A great live remix refreshes a track with a new style while maintaining the signature sound of the original track. Live remixes are the perfect way for DJs to carve out their own signature sound, and can be created using Stems in Traktor Pro 4. During a live remix, DJs will commonly loop an instrumental section from one track and mix in a vocal and/or instrumentation from a second track, adding a fresh twist on the vocals. Stems can be created from tracks in the Track Collection, and mixed together with other Stems or tracks.

DJing with controllers

One of the best ways to begin DJing is with a DJ controller. A controller offers an all in one solution that includes a mixer, two jog wheels, pads, and a standardized club layout.

A DJ controller works together with software like Traktor Pro 4. This will allow you to learn the basics of mixing songs together. When you use a Native Instruments DJ controller, each of the functions in Traktor Pro 4 is automatically mapped.

A controller is a good choice for beginner and mobile DJs as it’s a portable device that can be easily brought to events and parties. The Traktor Kontrol S2 is a perfect controller for starting out; if you’d like to learn to mix four tracks, or need more input and output options for connecting equipment, consider the Traktor Kontrol S4 or Traktor Kontrol S3.

If you’re looking for a small and portable controller, the Traktor X1 MK3 can be used for FX, looping, and mixing. It’s a flexible addition to any setup, and comes pre-mapped for precise control of Traktor’s effects and parameters.

DJing with decks

If you want to DJ with vinyl or CDJs, Traktor Pro 4 can be used with turntables and Pioneer DJ players. DJs can mix vinyl and digital tracks from Traktor using Traktor Control Vinyl. Traktor Pro 4 can be used together with CDJs in HID mode. In HID mode, the Pioneer DJ players act like a controller, and are mapped to functions in Traktor that allow you to control and mix with the software. To learn to set up HID mode, check out this guide.

Finding music

Another key ingredient to becoming a great DJ is by building a music collection. Deciding on the style you’d like to play is one the first decisions you’ll need to make. The music you choose to play and how you mix it together is what makes your sets unique. It’s important to select tracks that you like, and that suit your musical personality.

From a mixing perspective, the easiest types of tracks to mix together have intros and outros that are mainly percussive. When you’re just starting out, look for “extended versions” of songs that have longer intros and outros.

DJs should always be digging for new music, so you’ll want to prioritize this! There are many good digital stores online for purchasing music, including Beatport, Beatsource, Bandcamp and many others.

If you want access to more music, Beatport and Beatsource Streaming are streaming services that are worth looking into. Beatport and Beatsource Streaming allows you to access an unlimited number of tracks, and play them in Traktor Pro 3 or 4. This saves the cost of purchasing individual tracks and gives DJs access to a greater music library.

Organizing your music collection

Once you have a music collection, you’ll need to organize it so you can easily find tracks during a set. Using Traktor Pro 4, you can organize music into playlists. Playlists can be named by genre (e.g., house, tech house, techno, etc.), by the event you’re curating music for, by the month you purchase music, or by any other way you prefer to categorize your music.

Start DJing

Now that you have a basic understanding of how to DJ, it’s time to play! Get yourself set up with a copy of Traktor Pro 4 and a DJ controller. Have fun finding music and learning about artists, tracks and different genres. Use all the new features in Traktor Pro 4 available to you, and enjoy the process of DJing. Remember that practice makes perfect, and the more time you spend practicing DJ techniques, the better your sets will be. The more time you invest in learning and experimenting, the greater impact your music selection and mixing skills will have on your DJ sets.

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