In songwriting, regardless of whether or not you play an instrument or sing accapella while you write songs, you can train yourself to start thinking about what instruments to use while writing songs. All it takes is a little practice and knowledge of what to look for in song arrangements, and you can use this information to your advantage.
Music producers constantly study each others' songwriting and production techniques and you can borrow this train of thought for your songwriting. This is guaranteed to open up another dimension while you write songs.
Even though many songs follow a verse-chorus containing a hook format, you should know "hooky parts" or "instrument riffs" can be used throughout when you write songs because they bring added interest and memorability. These can come in the form of a bass, guitar, piano, woodwinds, drums, vocals, synths, or any other solo instrument or combination of instruments that makes any type of sound!
To give you an idea of what we're talking about consider the following songs with easy hooky parts and riffs to pick out when you write songs:
1. (R&B) Under My Umbrella by Rihanna - although there are plenty of hooks in this one, the most obvious and memorable one is when she sings "Under My Umbrella, ella, ella, ella, hey, hey, hey", repeatedly. This is a great example of a vocal riff used effectively. This is "hooky" songwriting at its finest in this particular genre.
2. (Country) Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks - this song is beautifully bracketed by piano and guitar parts right after every verse line, then after Garth sings the hook "I Got Friends In Low Places where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away" an awesome fiddle plays a variation of the same hooky part or riff throughout the song.
To get your songwriting juices flowing use the following guide to inspire added hooky parts and riffs while you write songs:
1. Use bass riffs, guitar (acoustic or electric), woodwind instruments, synths, or any strings:
(a). underneath the melody as the backbone of the song (be consistent with these melody lines and use slight variations where you see fit)
(b). in between song sections (such as after every verse line or after the first and second verses, etc.)
(c). while bracketing vocals (these parts can mimic the vocal melody line or be totally different in melody or rhythm)
(d). as part or all of an instrumental break
2. Use drums or percussion parts:
(a). as an underlying groove with interesting timbres (colors of sound such as a snare or shaker with uniqueness, etc.)
(b). to bracket the vocals (such as a cool hi-hat roll after certain verse lines or phrases)
(c). as drum rolls leading into any section (such as right before a chorus for added momentum)
(d). by using vocal percussive parts (ala R&B's Timbaland)
3. Use vocal riffs:
(a). by singing a part in unison with any instrument or combination of instruments
(b). while singing "call and answer parts" (i.e., after each vocal phrase use an instrument to respond to each phrase for certain parts)
(c). as background "ooh's,"aah's", or any other words or phrases over the vocal in any part of the song
These are just a few ways you can enhance your songwriting if you train yourself to look for and hear these parts before you write songs. Many songwriters and producers have their own "signature" techniques for coming up with hooky parts and riffs with different instruments and vocals, and they've been very successful because it simply adds interest and memorability to their songs.
