How to Write a Happy Song

Another way to ask the question is what makes a happy song happy?

How to write a happy song: The way to write a happy song is to establish an upbeat tempo, write catchy, fun, uplifting lyrics with the hook repeated several times throughout the song. Writing the song in a major key is important, as minor keys tend to elicit sad emotions.

Let’s face it, happy songs are the minority of songs written. I have a theory that songwriters tend to use songwriting for cathartic purposes, for the most part. If songwriters are sad, frustrated, or angry, they tend to deal with those emotions by writing about them. It’s an outlet that promotes the healing process. Whereas when we songwriters are happy or joyful we tend to relish being in that state and don’t find the need to deal with those emotions by writing about them. Now, that’s a generalization, I know, but that’s my take on it, generally speaking.

Happy Songs vs Love Songs

This article is about how to write happy songs. To me, there’s a difference between those and love songs. Of course, being happy is associated with being in love, but there have been many love songs written that did not have a “happy” vibe. I’m thinking of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”, re-released by Whitney Houston. That song is slow, thoughtful, serious, laid back, certainly not one that would equate to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams in terms of provoking a happy feeling.

Examples of Happy Songs

To help define what I consider to be happy type songs I’ve listed some links you can go and listen to if you’re not familiar with the song. Listen to these and see what kind of feeling they bring out of you.

Walking On Sunshine: Katrina and the Waves
Happy: Pharrell Williams
It’s a Great Day to Be Alive: Travis Tritt
Good Vibrations: Beach Boys
Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Bobby McFerrin

For the most part, these songs are upbeat, fun to sing, and nail that happy vibe. The kind of feeling a songwriter who is trying to write happy songs wants to bring out of people.

Happy Song Tempo/Rhythm

You should establish at least a medium to upbeat tempo and rhythm that places the listener into a comfortable or pleasing groove. Slow, drawn out tempos won’t normally establish a happy mood.
Try varying the rhythm in the different sections of the song while keeping it upbeat. Listen to all of the happy songs that you can and dissect what the writers and producers did to make them that way.

Happy Song Lyrics

“I’m Happy” is as succinct as one can get. It got right to the point. In his song, Pharrell Williams repeats that phrase several times in a catchy way. One can’t help sing along or at least feel a little more happiness when they hear it. There are plenty of other ways to write a happy song. Write happy song lyrics that describe why the singer is happy. What is the setting? What is the background? Was the singer sad or down before being in a happy state? It’s a good technique to set up a song that way. It makes being in the happy state of mind much more enjoyable when contemplating how the sad state was left behind. Placing short, repeated phrases that the listener can easily remember is key, too. That’s called a hook in a song. You can read more about creating great song hooks HERE.

Happy Song Key

The key and chords you chose to craft your song around have a big impact on how the song is received. Typically, major keys are associated with contentment or more of a happy vibe. On the other hand, minor keys and chords do the opposite. Minor keys typically aren’t associated with happy songs. Try building your chord progressions in a major key and experiment with chord inversions at various places to see what kind of feeling they bring out.

Happy Song Melody

When creating the melody for your happy song, take into consideration how the listener will be able to sing along. It’s a good idea to keep the melody line within an octave so the majority of listeners will be able to sing along. Of course, this is not an absolute requirement but the easier it is for a listener to happily sing along to your song the better the odds that it will get played more.

Happy Song Original

I want to show you a happy song I co-wrote for you to examine. Read through the lyrics and you can see a point I made earlier fulfilled with the lyric. Remember I stated how using the technique of coming from a not so happy state into one that is happy can set up the song nicely? Well, we accomplished that with the very first line, “I got tired of the rat race, longed for a slow pace”. Read through the rest of the lyric and give the song a listen. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Happy Song Feedback

The best way to see how you’re progressing with your song is to play it for some people you trust who will give you honest feedback. Listen to what they have to say. Watch their body language while they listen to it. Does it bring a smile to their face? That would be a great sign you’re on the right path. You could also run it by a co-writer if you have one. Or, post it on songwriter’s forums and get feedback that way.

I got tired of the rat race, longed for a slow pace
Now I’m sittin’ here in this park
Ain’t got a worry, I ain’t in a hurry
Don’t plan on leavin’ till after it’s dark
Climbin’ that ladder really don’t matter
Gonna learn to live before I die
Sayin’ so long hustle, goodbye bustle
I’m watchin’ the world walk by

Hey, it’s a beautiful day
Got the sun in a big blue sky
I’m sittin’ alone, singin’ my song
Watchin’ the world walk by
Hey, it’s a beautiful day
Got the sun in a big blue sky
I’m sittin’ alone, singin’ my song
Watchin’ the world walk by

Now, I’m figuring out what this life’s all about
As I’m takin’ it day by day
One thing I’ve found, by slowin’ it down
The seconds last longer as they slip away
Birds in the trees, singin’ to me
And I think I finally figured out why
I’m soakin’ it in, wearin’ a grin
Watchin’ the world walk by

Hey, it was a beautiful day
Now the sun’s droppin’ from the sky
I’m sittin’ alone, singin’ my song
Watchin’ the world walk by
My, what a beautiful night
Got the stars waltzin’ in the sky
I’m sittin’ alone, singin’ my song
Watchin’ the world walk by
Watchin’ the world walk by
I’m watchin’ the world walk by

I hope I’ve helped you find some actions you can take to craft a happy song of your own. Try various methods and trust your songwriter intuition. The most important advice I can give is don’t give up! You will get better with each song you write. The world could use more happy songs to listen and sing to. Share your songwriting talent by producing some!