A few days ago I received an email from a reader named Martin Andersson.

Martin writes:

Do you write on request?

I sure do

Here’s a topic I’d like to see covered a bit more indepth, but seldom run into, although it’s one of the most important parts of making a song: the Intro.

Do you have any tips on that one? I usually have no problem whatsoever writing words and chords, but when it comes to writing intros I more often than not find myself in a state of lack of inspiration. Sure, it’s always possible to vamp for a while, or just play a chord progression that’s somewhere else in the song, but most often that feels like a bad kind of compromise that doesn’t really do the song justice.

Thanks for writing, Martin. A great question that really got me thinking about my own songwriting. I have to admit, I’m often a little lazy when it comes to writing intros.

After a little thought, I’ve come up with four different ways to introduce a song:

1. Establish the groove.

This is very common, and pretty much the same as what Martin says he usually does:- vamping the chords for a while.

Popular song is very often based around a groove or beat, so why not begin by introducing that first? This Sting song has a great groove in five four that emphasises the first beat of the bar and the off beat of the second beat.

2. Build tension.

This Metallica song uses a variation on the main riff as an intro, but instead of introducing the groove straight away, it builds up, gradually adding layers of pounding toms and chugging guitars until the eventual appearance of the groove comes as a relief from the tension of the constant build up.

3. Use middle 8 material

This great indie rock anthem by the Manic Street Preachers has an intro that we hear again in the middle of the song. The middle of a song is where we need a break from the normal groove, harmony or feel of the song. Often we need something similar from the intro too, so why not use the same musical ideas in the intro and the middle eight?

4. Suprise the listener

This song by the prog-metal band Cynic has a great ‘suprise’ intro with a huge contrast between the first chords and the groove that crashes in a few seconds later.

I wanted to embed this live performance instead, but I wasn’t allowed so check out the link if you want to hear the live version

In General

The intro is there to get the listener ready for the song, without giving away too much. It should introduce, tantalise, suggest.

A few extra tips:

• End unresolved, for example end your intro on the second or fifth chord in the scale (Dm or G in C major)
• Have less energy eg. slower tempo, lower key, less well defined rhythm or percussion 
• Balance – Longer intros only belong at the start of long songs – don’t build up tension over two minutes, only to go to a song that lasts for two minutes.
• Finally, consider whether you need an intro at all. A lot of the time, launching straight into the first verse can work just as well.

Related posts:

1. 4 ways to write a bassline