Telling a Story Through Your Music: 5 Tips to Create a Better Narrative
Immerse your listener with every melody
At a Glance:
Keep it simple
Go with the flow
Use your struggles as inspiration
Be honest
Start writing
One of the best ways to describe music is the emotion through which we tell our stories. With such a versatile art style, you can create an entire world for anybody to fall into.
You can use different concepts and tips to immerse the listener when telling these stories through music.
Below are some tips to help create a beautifully rich environment for your listener’s ears.
The Importance Of Storytelling In Music
The stories we tell are an interactive way for us to explore and convey particular feelings and emotions. These stories help us cope, remember, understand, and connect.
These individual journeys can be powerful in helping inspire and encourage deep thought long after the story is finished.
This is no different for music, and when trying to reach this level of an emotional response with an excellent progressive flow, storytelling is essential.
Elements Of a Good Story
Every story is different, with unique adventures and hardships.
But a few things should almost always be present when discussing a memorable story.
The protagonist: Every good story needs a main character to follow along with throughout the adventure.
A goal: Your character needs to have something they’re searching for or a purpose they want to fulfill.
A conflict: A good story can’t be a simple walk in the park; obstacles must be overcome for lessons to be learned.
The turning point: The turning point is when the character is forced to make a decision that will show who they are.
The stakes: Something has to be gained or lost by the end of the adventure; otherwise, what’s the point?
Consequences: Whether good, bad, or a cliffhanger, the ending is important because it shows how the choices made in the dilemma phase of the story affected them.
Basic Song Structure
Now that you know the elements of a basic story, what about a song?
Like stories, not all songs are created the same, so take this format with a grain of salt.
But the most basic format goes as follows:
Intro — The part of the song that contains the most minor elements sets the foundation for the whole track and attracts the attention of new ears.
Verse — Where the main details of your journey are told and where the most change occurs(excluding the bridge).
The Pre-Chorus — Where tension starts forming and builds up for the chorus(or drop).
Chorus — The place where the main message or theme of the song is played.
Bridge — The transition from one section to another that tends to have the most contrast.
Outro — The conclusion for your song where most elements start to tamper off.
The Tips
Now you know why storytelling is essential and the basic structure of both songs and stories.
Here are some tips to help you create a story to immerse your listeners in your music.
1. Keep it simple: Don’t complicate big words with the heart and soul of your music.
Simple words and ideas can accomplish just as much when used correctly.
2. Go with the flow: Story progression is significant because it keeps the audience and the characters in a constant flow.
That doesn’t mean that repetitiveness is bad but that everything should eventually move on and, if done right, should move on smoothly.
Remember, nothing lasts forever so make it count.
3. Use your struggles as inspiration: Everyone has a unique perspective or issues that they have to figure out or overcome
It doesn’t matter how simple or undramatic it may seem; given thought and creativity, it can be a relatable song that resonates with many people.
4. Be honest: When told through unrelenting honesty, the outcome of whatever is said can make a more profound impact.
Being more down-to-earth is a powerful trait that makes your music more relatable.
5. Start writing: Inspiration will come and go as it pleases, and there isn’t much we can do about that.
However, that shouldn’t stop us from creating and exploring endless possibilities, so when in doubt, start writing and see what happens.
Conclusion
When trying to turn a song into a story, there is no one-size-fits-all, but having a certain structure you can run to can bring peace of mind when in doubt.
However, don’t let any framework or “ideal” trap you, as it’s not wrong to experiment.
Remember to have fun with your music and the stories you are trying to tell within them.
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