How to Write the Perfect Custom Song Brief (With Examples)

So you've decided to get a custom song made for someone special. Brilliant choice. But now you're staring at a blank text box thinking, "What on earth do I actually write?"

Don't worry — you're not alone. This is the most common question we get at MelodyBolt, and the truth is: writing a great song brief is much easier than you think. You don't need to be a poet or a musician. You just need to share your story.

This guide will walk you through exactly what to include, what to avoid, and how to write a personalised song brief that gives your songwriter everything they need to create something truly special. We've even included real example briefs for different occasions so you can see exactly what works.

Why Your Brief Matters So Much

Think of your brief as the blueprint for your song. The more detail and personality you put in, the more personal and meaningful the finished song will be.

A vague brief like "It's for my wife's birthday, she's great" will produce a generic-sounding song. A detailed brief that mentions how she always burns the toast, how you met at that terrible pub quiz, and how she sings ABBA in the shower? That produces a song that makes her cry happy tears.

The brief is the difference between a nice song and an unforgettable one.

What to Include in Your Custom Song Brief: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: The Basics

Start with the essentials:

• Who is the song for? (Name, relationship to you)
• What's the occasion? (Birthday, wedding, anniversary, memorial, just because)
• What mood or feeling do you want? (Happy and upbeat? Emotional and tender? Funny and lighthearted?)
• Any genre preference? (Pop, acoustic, folk, R&B, country, rock — or "surprise me")

This gives your songwriter the foundation. Even if you stopped here, they could work with it. But don't stop here.

Step 2: The Story

This is where the magic happens. Share the details that make your relationship unique:

• How did you meet? First impressions, funny stories, the moment you knew.
• Shared memories. Holidays, inside jokes, traditions, embarrassing moments.
• What do you love about them? Be specific. Not just "she's kind" but "she always leaves little notes in my lunchbox."
• Their quirks and personality. The things only someone close to them would know.
• Meaningful places, dates, or objects. Your first flat, the bench where he proposed, the playlist you shared.

Don't worry about being poetic or eloquent. Write it like you're telling a friend about this person. Stream of consciousness is absolutely fine — your songwriter will shape it into lyrics.

Step 3: Words and Phrases

Are there any specific words, names, or phrases you'd like included in the song? This might be:

• Their name or nickname
• A pet name or inside joke
• A specific phrase that's meaningful ("to the moon and back," "always and forever")
• Words you want to avoid (important for sensitive topics like memorials)

Step 4: Musical Preferences

If you have strong feelings about the music, share them:

• Songs they love. "She's obsessed with Adele" or "He loves anything by Oasis" gives great direction.
• Songs you'd like it to sound similar to. Even a rough reference helps enormously.
• Instruments you'd love to hear. Piano, guitar, ukulele, strings — or leave it to the artist.
• Tempo. Upbeat and danceable? Slow and intimate? Somewhere in between?

No musical knowledge required. "Something that sounds like a warm hug" is genuinely useful direction.

Step 5: Anything Else

Is there anything else your songwriter should know? Maybe:

• The song will be played at a specific event (a wedding speech, a funeral)
• There are sensitive topics to handle carefully
• You'd like it to be a certain length
• There's a deadline

What Makes a Great Brief vs a Mediocre One

Let's compare:

❌ Mediocre Brief

"It's for my girlfriend's birthday. She's 30. She's really nice and I love her a lot. Can you make it a happy song?"

This gives the songwriter almost nothing to work with. The result will sound generic because the input was generic.

✅ Great Brief

"It's for my girlfriend Emma's 30th birthday. We've been together for 4 years — met at a friend's barbecue where she accidentally knocked a full plate of food into my lap. She's a primary school teacher who gets way too emotionally invested in her students' art projects. She's obsessed with Taylor Swift, always cold (owns about 15 blankets), and has this laugh that takes over her whole body. I'd love something warm and acoustic, maybe similar to Ed Sheeran's style. Could you include the line 'thirty looks good on you'? She's been a bit nervous about turning 30, so I want her to feel celebrated."

See the difference? The second brief is full of personality, specific details, and clear direction. The songwriter can practically hear the song already.

You don't need to write an essay. But the more genuine, specific details you share, the better your song will be.

Real Example Briefs for Different Occasions

Here are four example briefs based on common occasions. Use them as templates or inspiration for your own.

🎂 Example 1: Birthday Song

Who's it for: My best friend Sarah, turning 40

Occasion: Her 40th birthday party — we're going to play it during the speeches

Mood: Fun, celebratory, maybe a bit cheeky — she'd hate anything too soppy

Our story: We've been best friends since uni — met in freshers' week when we both turned up to the wrong lecture and were too embarrassed to leave. She's the friend who'll drive two hours to bring you soup when you're ill, but also the friend who'll send the most unflattering photo of you to the group chat. She's a terrible cook but thinks she's Gordon Ramsay. She just got promoted at work and we're all dead proud of her.

Musical style: Something upbeat and pop-y. She loves Lizzo and Dua Lipa.

Include: Her name, something about "the wrong lecture," and maybe a joke about her cooking.

Avoid: Nothing off-limits — she can take a joke!

💒 Example 2: Wedding Song

Who's it for: My fiancée Priya — I want to surprise her at our wedding reception

Occasion: Wedding first dance or during the meal

Mood: Romantic, emotional, intimate — I want there to be tears (the good kind)

Our story: We met through a dating app but tell people we met at a coffee shop (she thinks the app story isn't romantic enough, but I think it's perfectly us). Our first date was at a little Italian place in Clapham that's now closed down. She proposed to me, actually — at the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on a freezing November morning. She's the calmest person I know, which is good because I'm a walking disaster. She makes everything feel safe.

Musical style: Acoustic, gentle, something like Ben Howard or Novo Amor. Piano and guitar.

Include: Her name, the Arthur's Seat proposal, something about how she's my calm in the chaos.

Avoid: Don't mention the dating app — she'd kill me 😂

🕊️ Example 3: Memorial Song

Who's it for: In memory of my dad, Brian, who passed away last year

Occasion: The anniversary of his passing — I want to share it with the family

Mood: Gentle, warm, bittersweet — celebrating his life, not just mourning

About him: He was a joiner by trade, always building something in the garage. He had this terrible habit of singing along to the radio completely out of tune and not caring at all. He coached my football team when I was a kid even though he knew nothing about football. He'd give anyone his last tenner. He always said "right then" before standing up, every single time. He passed after a short illness and we didn't get to say everything we wanted to say.

Musical style: Something folk-ish and warm. He loved The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and Van Morrison.

Include: His name, the "right then" thing, the garage, and something about still hearing his voice.

Avoid: Please don't make it too heavy or dark. He was a joyful person and I want the song to reflect that, even though we miss him terribly.

💍 Example 4: Anniversary Song

Who's it for: My husband Tom — for our 10th wedding anniversary

Occasion: I'm giving it to him as a gift on the day

Mood: Warm, nostalgic, a mix of love and laughter

Our story: Ten years married, fifteen years together. We met working at the same rubbish call centre — I was training him on his first day and he couldn't figure out the phone system. We've lived in four different cities, survived a house renovation that nearly broke us, and somehow raised two kids who are far cooler than either of us. He still makes me a cup of tea every single morning without fail. He's not perfect — he leaves cupboard doors open and takes forever to tell a story — but I genuinely wouldn't change a thing.

Musical style: Something like a classic love song — think Stevie Wonder or Elton John. Warm, soulful.

Include: His name, the call centre story, the morning tea, something about ten years being just the beginning.

Avoid: Nothing specific — just keep it genuine, not cheesy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Being too vague. "She's amazing" doesn't help. How is she amazing? What does she do that makes her amazing?

2. Writing the lyrics yourself. Unless you're specifically asked to, let the songwriter do their thing. Give them the raw material — the stories, the feelings, the details — and let them craft it.

3. Overthinking it. Your brief doesn't need to be perfect. It's not being graded. Just write honestly about the person and your feelings.

4. Forgetting the funny stuff. Songs with a touch of humour — an inside joke, a funny memory — are often the most moving. Don't be afraid to include the silly stuff.

5. Leaving it too last-minute. Give your songwriter enough time to do the brief justice. Rushing helps no one. Check our turnaround times before ordering.

How Long Should Your Brief Be?

There's no minimum or maximum, but as a rough guide:

• Too short: 1-2 sentences. Your songwriter will have to guess, and the song may feel generic.
• Sweet spot: 150-400 words. Enough detail to be personal, not so much that it's overwhelming.
• Too long: 1000+ words. Your songwriter may struggle to prioritise what matters most. If you have a lot to say, try to highlight the 3-5 most important details.

Ready to Write Your Brief?

You've got this. Remember: there's no wrong way to do it. The best briefs aren't the most eloquently written — they're the most honest.

Just think about the person, what they mean to you, and the stories that only you two share. Write it down. Hit send. And let us turn your words into music.

👉 Start creating your custom song

Want to hear what a finished song sounds like first? Listen to our samples.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm not good with words?

You don't need to be! Write like you're texting a friend about this person. Bullet points are fine. Half-finished thoughts are fine. Your songwriter's job is to take your raw feelings and turn them into polished lyrics — that's what they're brilliant at.

Can I change my brief after submitting?

At MelodyBolt, you can update your brief before the songwriter begins working on it. If work has already started, reach out to us and we'll do our best to accommodate changes. Check our ordering page for details.

How specific should my genre request be?

As specific or vague as you like. "Acoustic pop like Ed Sheeran" is great. "Something happy" also works. If you have no preference, just say so — the songwriter will choose a style that fits the mood of your story.

What if the song is about a sensitive topic?

That's completely fine. Many of the most powerful custom songs are for memorials, difficult life moments, or complex emotions. Just be honest in your brief about what you need, and flag anything you'd like the songwriter to handle carefully or avoid entirely.

How long will the finished song be?

Most personalised songs are between 2-4 minutes, which is a standard song length. If you need something shorter (for a specific moment at an event) or longer, just mention it in your brief.

What to include in a custom song brief if I'm ordering for a group?

If the song is from multiple people (e.g., siblings ordering for a parent), try to gather stories and details from everyone involved. A shared Google Doc works well for this. Then compile the highlights into one brief, noting which memories come from whom if relevant.

One Last Thing

The fact that you're ordering a custom song for someone already says everything about how much you care. Don't stress about the brief being perfect. The details you share — however messy or unpolished — are what make the song uniquely theirs.

Write from the heart. We'll handle the rest. 💛