Write Song

Generate songs with lyrics and chord symbols. The LLM picks an authentic song structure for the genre and uses chords diatonic to the specified key.

Workflow Definition

# yaml-language-server: $schema=../../schemas/workflow.schema.json
name: write-song
description: |
  Generate a song with lyrics and chord symbols. The LLM picks an authentic
  song structure for the genre (12-bar blues, verse-chorus, AABA, etc.) and
  uses chords diatonic to the specified key.
version: "1.0"

inputs:
  - name: genre
    type: string
    required: true
    description: Musical genre (e.g., blues, folk, country, rock, jazz)
  - name: topic
    type: string
    required: true
    description: What the song is about
  - name: key
    type: string
    default: "C Major"
    description: Musical key (e.g., C Major, G Major, A minor)

steps:
  - id: compose
    name: Compose Song
    type: llm
    model: balanced
    prompt: |
      Write a short {{.inputs.genre}} song about "{{.inputs.topic}}" in the key of {{.inputs.key}}.

      Use a song structure authentic to {{.inputs.genre}} (e.g., 12-bar blues, verse-chorus,
      AABA, etc.). Include chord symbols above the lyrics, using chords diatonic to
      {{.inputs.key}} with progressions that fit the style.

outputs:
  - name: song
    type: string
    value: "{{.steps.compose.response}}"
    description: The generated song with lyrics and chords

Usage

$ conductor run examples/write-song/workflow.yaml

genre: blues
topic: morning coffee
key (C Major):

Conductor prompts for required inputs. Press Enter to accept the default key (C Major), or specify a different one:

genre: folk
topic: coming home
key (C Major): G Major

Inputs

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
genre	string	yes	-	Musical genre (blues, folk, country, rock, jazz, etc.)
topic	string	yes	-	What the song is about
key	string	no	C Major	Musical key (C Major, G Major, A minor, etc.)

How It Works

The LLM:

1. Picks a song structure authentic to the genre (12-bar blues, verse-chorus, AABA, etc.)
2. Uses chords diatonic to the specified key
3. Writes genre-appropriate progressions (I-IV-V for blues, I-V-vi-IV for pop, etc.)
4. Formats with chord symbols above lyrics

Example Genres

• blues - 12-bar blues with AAB lyric structure, dominant 7th chords
• folk - Verse-chorus with simple progressions, often in major keys
• country - Storytelling verses, singable choruses, I-IV-V progressions
• jazz - AABA form, extended chords (maj7, min7, dom7)
• rock - Power chord progressions, verse-chorus-bridge structure