Top-lining is the process of writing a song over a pre-made beat. The top-line typically consists of lyrics, a vocal melody, and maybe some harmonies. Writing a top-line is a great way to create new relationships with producers and other musicians, and to improve your songwriting.

So, how do you start writing a top-line? Try following these three steps:

Preparation

If a producer approaches you and asks you to write a top-line, the best starting point is to ask if they have any specific themes, images, or ideas that they want you to write about. If they have ideas, jot them down and we’ll come back to them later. If not, that’s totally fine, too.

If you’re writing the song, but aren’t the vocalist, see if you can figure out the vocal range of the person who will be singing. See if you can listen to some samples of their singing so that you can get a sense of what melodies will work best with their voice.

If you’re going to be singing the song, ask about the vocal style they’d prefer. See if there are any singers they’d want to emulate in the song. Take a listen to those artists and see what aspects of their vocal performance you can use in your own. If they mentioned Beyonce, write in a few runs. If they mention Adele, sing in your belt. Don’t stress yourself out about writing a song that sounds exactly like these artists or singing Ariana Grande dolphin noises - just use it as a jumping off point and trust your own creativity. You know what feels comfortable in your voice.

The Track

At this point, you’ve had your initial conversation with the producer and you can start listening to the track. I usually start by listening twice, back to back. The first time is all about vibes. I close my eyes and really try to feel the emotions of the music. Take this opportunity to really enjoy what you’re listening to without picking it apart or adding anything.

How does the music make you feel? What images pop into your mind when you hear it? If the producer gave you some ideas, try to listen for them in the piece. If you were given total creative freedom, let your mind wander a bit. Think about the person who broke your heart or going to the shore as a child - literally whatever comes to your mind. Just do your best to find a clear image or emotion. When the track ends, write down all of the things that came into your brain, no matter how silly, stupid, or vague. No judgement allowed.

Now that you’ve listened to the track emotionally, take a sec, and then start it over. This time, you’re listening critically. Keep your pen out and write down the moments when the sections change. You can do this either by counting the bars or by marking the timestamps in the recording. You should also write down any important musical shifts - bass drops, quieter sections, changes in the chord progression or instrumentation, whatever you notice. Feel free to pause the recording whenever you need to during this listen.

Outlining

At this point, you should know your song pretty well and you can start outlining. Since you already have a sense of what your song is going to be about or at least some images that you can play with, coming up with a main idea shouldn’t be too scary. You are always able to change it later if you don’t like what you’ve already come up with.

Your main idea should be a sentence-ish long summary of what your song is going to be about. Think of it as the “why” of your 5 Ws.

♫ Time Stamps:

Preparation - 0:28

The Track - 2:30

Outlining - 4:30

Writing Your Song - 5:56

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