Mastering Songwriting: Emotion, Toplining, and Free Writing

1. Identifying the emotion:( chart of emotion doc they can dl in member subscription)

Recognizing a beat’s emotion is crucial for crafting lyrics and melodies that feel natural

and impactful. A strong emotional alignment between the beat and lyrics enhances

listener connection and makes the songwriting process smoother.

Why It Matters

● Guides Lyrics & Storytelling – The beat’s mood (happy, sad, aggressive) should

influence the song’s theme to maintain authenticity.

● Shapes Vocal Delivery – A soft, emotional beat may call for airy vocals, while an

energetic beat suits a punchy flow.

● Enhances Listener Connection – Songs where lyrics match the beat’s emotion feel

more immersive and relatable.

● Influences Word Choice & Imagery – A dark beat may inspire poetic, moody lyrics,

while an upbeat track might lead to carefree themes.

● Speeds Up the Writing Process – When a beat’s emotion is clear, melodies and

lyrics flow more naturally.

How to Identify a Beat’s Emotion

● Feel the vibe – Happy? Melancholic? Uplifting?

● Listen to chords & tempo – Major chords = bright, minor chords = moody; fast

tempo = energy, slow tempo = introspection.

● Pay attention to instruments – Strings and pianos create emotion, while heavy

drums and synths add intensity.

By aligning lyrics and melody with a beat’s emotional tone, songwriters create cohesive,

emotionally powerful songs that resonate with listeners.

identify storytelling commit -

2. Toplining

Toplining is the process where a songwriter, known as a topliner, creates the vocal melody,

lyrics, and sometimes harmonies for a track that has already been produced.

Melody & Lyrics Focus: The topliner primarily focuses on crafting a compelling vocal

melody and meaningful lyrics.

Session Writers & Artists: Many professional topliners are songwriters who contribute to

songs for artists rather than performing them themselves.

3. Free Writing - storytelling - clarifying you can write together or create

your own story

Free writing in music songwriting is a creative exercise where a songwriter writes lyrics,

ideas, or concepts without any structure, judgment, or restrictions. It’s a technique used to

generate raw material for songs, allowing ideas to flow naturally before refining them into a

structured composition.

Key Aspects of Free Writing in Songwriting:

● Stream of Consciousness: Writing whatever comes to mind without worrying about

rhyme, structure, or coherence.

● No Editing: The focus is on quantity over quality—refining comes later.

● Emotional Exploration: Helps tap into deeper emotions and personal experiences.

● Creative Breakthroughs: Can lead to unexpected metaphors, themes, or song

concepts.

● Common Practice: Many songwriters use free writing as a warm-up or brainstorming

tool before structuring lyrics.

4. Toplining

Toplining is the process where a songwriter, known as a topliner, creates the vocal melody,

lyrics, and sometimes harmonies for a track that has already been produced.

Melody & Lyrics Focus: The topliner primarily focuses on crafting a compelling vocal

melody and meaningful lyrics.

Session Writers & Artists: Many professional topliners are songwriters who contribute to

songs for artists rather than performing them themselves.

Receive

Voice memos -

Playback -

Piece together -

Ony Notes:

Uniq Framework for live

Emotion ID

● Chart of emotions

● Why does it matter?

● Because you can produce yourself

● Write from the right place and not the wrong place

● ASK CHAT

Toplines(Timed

● 10 min timer

● List of topline game options

● Ask Chat

Free Write (Timed)

● Dump

● Story of when you felt sad

● Deep or surface?

● Vocabs

● 5 min timer

● Ask Chat