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Songwriter Forum => The Writing Process => Topic started by: mickyplankton on October 22, 2016, 02:01:40 PM

Title: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: mickyplankton on October 22, 2016, 02:01:40 PM

I know this varies. How long is a piece of string etc, but do you aim to work within a range?
For me, I try to keep all my songs under 3 minutes, unless there is a particular story or mood piece that requires longer.

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: MartynRich on October 22, 2016, 05:20:11 PM

It should stop once you've got your message across, be it 1 min or 10. No set rules for me.

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: shadowfax on October 28, 2016, 08:09:34 AM

Quote from: MartynRich on October 22, 2016, 05:20:11 PM

It should stop once you've got your message across, be it 1 min or 10. No set rules for me.

+1

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: delb0y on October 28, 2016, 08:25:39 AM

Two minutes, max  ;)

Movies should be 90 minutes. Novels 70 000 words. TV dramas should run to one series only.

Way too much bloat in the world these days.

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: Yodasdad on October 28, 2016, 08:54:57 AM

2 minutes delboy? I struggle to keep a bum burp under 2 minutes let alone a song. I agree that it 'should' be as long as it needs to be. After all, where would we be if Freddie had lopped a couple of minutes off bohemian rhapsody to keep his record label happy?

Then again I could happily lose a couple of verses of American pie.

Having said this, if I think one of mine has a chance of being commercially viable I will aim to get it under 4 minutes. Otherwise I'll just 'roll with it' - ironically the name of a song which lasts 3:59.

Yodasdad

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: Paulski on October 28, 2016, 01:07:14 PM

The song will tell you when it wants to end - ignore it at your peril.
We are all just servants to our songs   ;D

Paul

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: PaulAds on October 28, 2016, 01:31:01 PM

All of my songs end as soon as the listener can reach the "off" button  :)

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: Boydie on October 28, 2016, 04:35:57 PM

I would say a "rule of thumb" would be 3:30 - if it is going beyond 4mins then I think it is good to question whether it needs to - sometimes it will and sometimes it is good to edit it down

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: PopTodd on October 28, 2016, 05:04:35 PM

I go with a range.
Depending upon a variety of variables—structure, style, lyrical content, whatever—I try to keep my songs between 2 and 5 minutes.
Any less than 2 minutes and it's really more of a sketch than anything. Much more than 5 and it starts to drag a bit.
That's not to say there aren't exceptions, but as a general rule, that's what I shoot for.

I also try to keep solos—be they guitar, sax or whatever—relatively short and to the point. Not a bit fan of long, epic solos. But, if that is a part of your style... go for it!

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: Tracey Cracknell on November 18, 2016, 09:31:17 PM

Hi Micky :) thanks for the invite, it's Tracey  :)
My songs tend to be fairly short I think, especially my early ones when I was scared of the microphone so wanted to be exposed to it for as short a time as possible. Having said that, I have one that tells a story that is about 5 mins long, and I think it holds the attention rather well as there is that story going on. I've heard songs that are just over a minute that I really like as well...Ramona Jo on SC.
As you say, how long is a piece of string. Long enough to get the message across I guess
Tracey

Title: Re: As a general rule of thumb How long should a song be?
Post by: Skub on December 02, 2016, 08:56:20 PM

Short songs get more reviews.  ;)

I never think time until I'm done,then I'll trim back as far as I can. I still end up with the odd epic,mind,but that's the way it goes.