Usually, when we think of legendary bands, they tend to be from yester years and bygone eras. But Maroon 5 is one of the few bands that have stood the test of time. Not only did they make a name for themselves, but they also manage to keep that name alive even today.
Enjoying a career that surpasses a decade may be a highlight in its own right. But it’s especially impressive to keep up on the top of the charts in a fast-paced, fleeting industry that wants to focus on the next big thing.
This success story is all a result of how Maroon 5 writes its songs. Fewer bands have had such a hands-on approach when it comes to writing music. The ability to craft masterpieces that can touch the listener’s heart and soul is what separates Maroon 5 from other bands.
And if you ever wanted to take a crack at making these masterpieces yourself, then you’ll need to be armed with their songwriting knowledge. That’s why we’ll be looking at just some of the tools you’ll need to equip to get there.
The Dynamics of Maroon 5’s Squad
In many ways, Maroon 5 is not your typical band. But they do have a typical band lineup. And it’s the dynamics of this lineup that lends itself to the unique ways they lay their sound onto an MP3 file. Here’s what the basic group spread looks like.
Vocals (Adam Levine):
Adam is arguably the leading man for Maroon 5. Not only does he lead the direction of the piece, but his vocals are the most front-facing element in any song. And they’re characteristic enough to define the Maroon 5 sound.
For most tracks, Adam sings the main melody of the track alongside additional backing vocal takes. But aside from that, he’s also known to occasionally dabble in lead and rhythm guitar playing.
Keyboards (PJ Morton):
PJ isn’t just a contributing member of Maroon 5; he’s also an established solo artist in his own right. However, when he’s not releasing Grammy-winning rap albums, he’s playing keys for the band.
PJ is the one responsible for outlining the main piano and synth notes that you hear in the intros of Maroon 5 songs. He sprinkles these notes to help build the overall atmosphere of the track.
Rhythm Guitar (Jesse Carmichael):
Any time you hear lush chords in the back of a Maroon 5 song, Jesse Carmichael is the guy behind it. Along with being the main rhythm guitarist, he also accompanies PJ on keyboards or Adam Levine on backing vocals.
Jesse focuses on a sparse style of playing with plenty of open space. On certain songs, he’s given the spotlight of playing the main melodic riff on the guitar in songs like Girls Like You. And when the song requires some energy, he isn’t too far behind with some overdriven power chords.
Lead Guitar (James Valentine):
Although rare, Maroon 5 songs can break out into amazing solos. And when that happens, you can bet that James Valentine is at the helm, adding a touch of class to the whole thing.
James’ solos tend to be focused in the Jazz fusion territory but with a more modern, melodic feel. In songs like Sugar, you can get a good sense of his playing abilities with his fast Jazz improvs, melodic hooks, and glassy tones.
Bass Guitar (Mickey Madden/Sam Farrar):
So far, the bass duties for Maroon 5’s records have been split between two of its members.
Mickey Madden has acted as the full-time bassist for the band’s lineup. On the flip side, Sam Farrar gets called in occasionally to fulfill those duties thanks to his role as the instrumental jack-of-all-trades for the band. Both of these members have had the essential job of padding in Maroon 5’s sound with some deep low end.
Drums (Matt Flynn):
When Maroon 5’s original drummer, Ryan Dusick, was incapacitated with a shoulder injury, it was Matt Flynn that had to answer the call. And since then, he has found himself a permanent role in the band for any of its percussion needs.
One of the notable qualities of Matt is his versatility. Since not all songs need the same kind of sound, his playing is split between a live drum kit, a triggered electronic setup, synth percussion, and more.
Writing a Maroon 5 Song
For the most part, there isn’t a standard structure that Maroon 5 adheres by. But there Is a very recognizable feeling that they manage to convey with each of their songs. And they can do this with the help of some very key trademark elements. Here are some of the secrets you can use to start sounding like Maroon 5.
Build Ascending Melodies
What goes up, must come down. Or in Maroon 5’s case, what goes up, must go higher. It’s a concept that they truly embraced to power some of their top hits. And it can help you flesh out your song in their style.
A lot of this approach comes from Adam Levin’s incredible singing range. And since he’s one of the main songwriters, this approach gets a fast pass in most songs.
You can notice it in songs like Don’t Wanna Know. It starts in the middle of the pitch range, and as soon as the verse melody kicks in, the pitch keeps going up higher. This helps create a smoother transition into the chorus melody, which picks up where the verse melody left off.
The great thing about this is that it’s a writing tool that can help you break out of the creative rut. Instead of having to come up with a melody from scratch, you can use the ascending melody as a crutch and fill in the blanks. And, of course, it makes for some killer hooks and addictive melodies.
Use Repetition to Legitimize
In its basic form, almost all music is based upon repetition. Not only does it sound good to our ears, but it also plays with our sense of memory.
Maroon 5 managed to crack this code long ago, and now they use it to empower their tracks.
A very common Maroon 5 signature is to repeat melodies throughout the song. It’s usually done with the main hook or verse melody that gets repeated in some form throughout the song. It could be inserted in the background with the keys or strings, it could be repeated in the backing vocals, and it could even take shape in the chorus section of the song.
By doing this, Maroon 5 plays with a very primal part of our perception. Instead of just listening to the melody, we’re made to anticipate it. This makes the listener feel like they’re participating by predicting the next note in their mind’s ear.
It’s a very clever trick that you can easily incorporate into your own songs. All you need to do is start with a simple note melody that you can easily sing. Then you can part it out in different ways depending on how it makes sense to you creatively. In the end, you’ll have your track with a nice call and response effect going.
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Structure the Rhythm to Provide Emotional Anchoring
Another one of Maroon 5’s stellar approaches to play with music fundamentals is using rhythm to convey emotional pull. By just altering the rhythm’s structure, they can convey anything from slow, pensive provocations to powerful endorphin-pumping rushes.
Maroon 5’s most go-to approach for this is to speed up or slow down different sections of a track. Parts like the intro tend to be the slowest to spark curiosity. Verse sections enter mid-tempo to call attention. Pre-chorus sections are slowed down again to build tension. And finally, chorus sections are upbeat to resolve tension and catch the ear off guard.
You can also find this emphasis in where the percussion hits in a track. On songs like Animals, you’ll find a strong emphasis on beats 1 and 3 with subdivisions in between to enforce the tribalistic theme of the song. For songs that are more upbeat, the emphasis is switched to 2 and 4 to encourage dance rhythms.
You can utilize this approach in your songwriting by writing out different rhythms and tempos for parts. Try to get a handle on the feel by muting and unmuting different parts for each playthrough. This will give you a solid idea of which approach has the best flow.
Make Use of Curiosity Sparking Wording
Maroon 5 might not be the wordsmiths of our generation. But they do know how to instill emotional appeal with just a few choice descriptors.
And the remarkable thing here is that they manage to do it before the song even starts, right in the title.
Take a look at anything of their popular song titles; you’ll find examples like She Will Be Loved, Don’t Wanna Know, Girls Like You, What Lovers Do, and more.
All of these titles excel at two things. Not only can they be relatable, but they also bring out the right emotions in the listener. Most of them make you question what the song is about, and it’s that curiosity that leads you to press play. It’s not a surprise then that their most popular songs have had titles like this.
It may not seem like it’s important, but getting titles like for your songs can be a big priority. There’s nothing more powerful than drawing in a listener with your song titles and making them stay with how it sounds.
Reinvent Existing Musical Ideas
Coming up with new and original ideas isn’t always the easiest. Sometimes, when it’s becoming hard to pull your inspiration to power your work, you can just use the inspiration itself. At least, that’s how Maroon 5 does it.
The eponymous example of this is their song Memories. The main melody of the song is based on Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, a piece originally composed in 1680. All Maroon 5 had to do was transpose it from D major to B major, extract the harmonic sequence, and omit some extra notes here and there.
This approach landed the song at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was a classic example of something being greater than the sum of its parts.
And it’s a solid idea that you can use for your own creative struggles. Instead of having to be completely original, you’re allowed to appropriate ideas, as long as you can own them. After all, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to make it run smoother.
Write a Narrative with Lyrics
At the heart of every Maroon 5 hit single is an expressive emotional narrative that anyone can latch on to. Whether it’s another love ballad or a party mix, the band never slacks on adding the right emotional flavor to the track.
What makes Maroon 5’s narrative interesting is that it’s all based on a premise. And while a song title might drive you to listen to a Maroon 5 song, it’s the narrative that keeps you listening. Here’s a great example from This Love:
“This love has taken its toll on me
She said “Goodbye” too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
And I have no choice ’cause I won’t say goodbye anymore”
In just four lines, you’re being told no less than an entire flash fiction about someone’s very personal experience. But even better than that is the band’s strength to write lyrics that tell you the premise right away. On the song Not Coming Home:
“When you refuse me
You confuse me
What makes you think I’ll let you in again
Think again my friend
Go on misuse me and abuse me
I’ll come out stronger in the end”
While the title of the song poses a question, the very first line of the song answers it. You’re no longer left asking the obvious question; you’re just curious to see it play out. That’s because Maroon 5 isn’t baiting you; they’re making you emotionally invested in their music.
Closing Thoughts
Commercial success aside, Maroon 5 has plenty of creative elements that can serve as a good inspiration for your songwriting. It’s one of the few bands that prove that you don’t need complicated arrangements to stand out. Sometimes, tugging on the right heartstrings of your listeners is all you really need.
