A PERSONAL-SONG BRIEF
Gana editorial team - Prepared with AI assistance

Use with a songwriter or music tool. No Gana account needed.
Write in plain language. Choose what matters; you do not need to fill every field.

01. Who is it from, and who is it for?
Add the occasion and the name they want you to use.
Your notes:


02. What moment should the song bring back?
Describe one scene: where you were, what happened, what you noticed.
Your notes:


03. Which two details should stay?
Try an object, a small action, a sound or a phrase you both recognize.
Your notes:


04. What do you want the person to hear in it?
Say the message directly before trying to make it rhyme.
Your notes:


05. How should it sound?
Describe pace, instruments and vocal feel. Use your own words.
Your notes:


06. What should stay out?
Leave out private details, unwelcome jokes and anything you cannot share.
Your notes:


07. Where will they first hear it?
Choose a private listen or a gathering; ask if you are unsure.
Your notes:


Before sharing: check names, read the lyrics, then listen to the complete recording.

TWO FICTIONAL WORKED EXAMPLES
These are original fictional briefs, not customer stories or generated songs.
No music-tool performance or listener outcome has been tested.

A thank-you for the small things
From / for: From me to my neighbor Miles, to say thank you.
One moment: I came home after a week away and found a new leaf on the basil plant Miles had kept alive.
Two details: The green watering jug on the balcony; the basil leaning toward the kitchen window.
The message: You made it easier to be away. I noticed the care you put into an ordinary favor.
The sound: Unhurried acoustic guitar, light percussion and a close, conversational vocal. Warm, with no grand finale.
Leave out: Our address, the reason for my trip and any mention of where the spare key was kept.
First listen: Send it privately, with a short thank-you note. Ask before sharing it with anyone else.

A send-off without a sad goodbye
From / for: From me to my brother Noah, before he moves to another city.
One moment: We sat on the floor between packed boxes, eating noodles while the last bus went past outside.
Two details: His orange record crate; two mismatched bowls balanced on a cardboard box.
The message: I will miss the everyday stuff, and I am excited for the life you are going to build.
The sound: Brisk indie pop, crisp drums and a clear vocal. Keep the verses light and let the chorus feel open.
Leave out: His new address, employer and private reasons for moving. No jokes about him abandoning us.
First listen: Send it the night before he leaves, so he can hear it alone before the farewell gathering.

A writing aid, not a tested formula.
Reading behind the exercise (sources do not validate this worksheet):
Andrea Stolpe, Berklee Online - sensory detail and destination writing:
https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/songwriting-tips-try-destination-writing/
Google DeepMind - describing musical direction:
https://deepmind.google/models/lyria/prompt-guide/

Companion guide: https://trygana.app/blog/what-makes-a-song-a-good-gift