How to Make a Pop Punk Song
- 1). Write a drum beat that is fast, driving and full of eighth notes. Pop punk beats often have snare drum on counts two and four, with eighth notes played on the bass drum, particularly on counts one, the "&" of one, three and the "&" of three. As well, quarter notes or eighth notes will typically be played on the hi-hat, crash cymbal or ride cymbal throughout the beat. Pop punk also utilizes a lot of quick fills around the toms to help add to the driving feel.
- 2). Write a guitar part, which, like the drum part, uses a lot of eighth notes. Guitar parts in pop punk typically rely more on guitar chords and less on lead lines, and feature a lot of barre chords, power chords and palm muting. These help give, like the drum part, a driving, heavy feel. Similarly, bass guitar parts often feature driving eighth notes played on notes in the chord.
- 3). Write lyrics. Pop punk can explore a lot of subjects. Typical subjects include love, heartbreak, politics, growing up and the feeling of not fitting in. Because many pop punk fans are younger, lyrics tend to focus on subjects they can relate to. Pop punk songs are also known for their catchy, memorable choruses, so it's important to write catchy lyrics for the chorus.
- 4). Write a vocal part that sings the lyrics you wrote. Pop punk vocals are often high energy, passionate and try to create memorable melodies for their fans to sing along to. Many pop punk singers are known for their high or nasally voices, such as Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 and Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory, but other vocal styles can work as well.
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