Most songs that have ever written can be broadly grouped into one of several categories; songs written around a chord progression, songs written around a melody, or songs written around a riff:

• Chord Progressions - In songs written around a chord progression, writer creates an interesting series of chords, then organizes a vocal melody and an arrangement around that progression.

• Melody - This is probably most common method of songwriting. The composer starts with a vocal melody, and around that melody creates a chord progression and song arrangement.

• Riff - These songs are born out of a guitar (or other type of instrumental) riff, after which a vocal melody (which often mimics guitar riff) and chord progression are added.

If you choose to develop song in a minor key this will give whole piece a sad or moody feel. While writing in a major key will give you an upbeat happy tune.

Many songwriters will use both major and minor keys within their songs, perhaps choosing a minor key for verse, and a major key for chorus, or vice versa. This has a nice effect as is good for listener as it helps break up monotony that sometimes results when a song lingers in one key.