How to Make a Song: Behind the Scenes at Rainfire Music

How do you make a song? It can look like magic from the outside. But every song is made in steps. Once you see the steps, making your own song feels a lot less scary.

In this post, we go behind the scenes at Rainfire Music. Alvin, who writes and records the Rainfire songs, walks through how a song gets made. Watch the short video first, then read on for the full breakdown.

How is a song made at Rainfire Music?

Here is how Alvin explains it: “I write and record the music, then my singers come in to sing the songs. And after that I edit, refine and arrange things and get everything put together in the best package I can. And then the song is done.”

That is four clear steps:

• Write and record the music
• Bring in singers to record the vocals
• Edit, refine and arrange
• Put it all together into the finished song

Let’s look at each one and how you can do the same thing at home.

Step 1: How do you write the music for a song?

Every song starts with an idea. It might be a melody you hum, a chord pattern, or one line of lyrics. Alvin often starts on his old guitar. He picks it up the moment an idea hits and works out the chords to go with the melody. Read about that guitar in How to Find the Chords to a Melody on Guitar.

What should you write first, music or lyrics?

There is no wrong answer. Some writers start with words. Others start with chords. If you play an instrument, starting with music is often easier. Find a chord pattern you like, loop it, and hum over it until a melody shows up.

How do you know what chords go together?

Most songs use chords from one key. If you have a few chords and want to know what else will fit, use our free Key Finder. Type in your chords. It shows your key and every chord that belongs in it.

Step 2: How do you record the music?

Alvin plays guitar, bass and keyboards, so he records most of the instrument parts himself. You can start with much less. A phone, a quiet room and one instrument are enough to make a demo.

Tips for recording a song at home:

• Pick a quiet room with soft things around, like a couch or bed.
• Record one part at a time.
• Do a few takes and keep the best one.
• Name every file so you can find it later.

Step 3: Who sings the song?

Here is a part of how to make a song that surprises people. You don’t have to sing it yourself. Alvin is open about it: he is not a singer. So once the music is done, his singers come in to record the vocals.

How do you find singers for your songs?

Start with people you know. Friends, church choirs, school music groups and local open mic nights are great places to meet singers. Share a rough demo so they can hear the song before they record.

Step 4: What does edit, refine and arrange mean?

This is where a good song becomes a finished song.

• Edit means cleaning up. Cut the mistakes, the noise and the parts that drag.
• Refine means making each part better. Fix the timing. Balance the volume.
• Arrange means deciding what plays when. Maybe the guitar drops out in the second verse. Maybe the chorus comes back one more time at the end.

This is the part of the job that a music producer handles. Want to know more about that role? Read What Does a Music Producer Do?

Step 5: When is a song finished?

Alvin puts it simply. He gets everything together “in the best package I can,” and then the song is done. A song is finished when every part supports the main feeling, and nothing you add makes it better.

How do you stop tweaking a song forever?

Set a finish date. Make a short list of last fixes. When the list is done, the song is done. Then start the next one. Your next song will be better because you finished this one.

How long does it take to make a song?

It depends. A simple demo can take a day. A full song with singers, editing and arranging can take weeks. Don’t rush it, but don’t let it sit forever either.

Can a beginner learn how to make a song?

Yes. Start with four chords, one idea and your phone. Our songwriting tips for beginners page lays out the first steps in plain language.

Where can you hear the finished songs?

This is how every Rainfire song gets made. Hear the results on our videos page, stream the music, or pick up the songs in the Rainfire store. You can also support the music with gear from the merch shop.

RELATED TO: how to make a song, how is a song made, how songs are made, song production process, how to produce a song

RELATED TO: how to record a song at home, how to arrange a song, steps to making a song, behind the scenes music production