Guide · Demos
What is a song demo?
A song demo is a rough recording of a song, made to show what the song is: the melody, the words, the chords and the structure. It is not the finished release. It can be as simple as a voice memo of you singing with a guitar, or a fully produced track used to pitch the song to an artist.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
What a demo is for
A demo is for listening, not for selling. It lets someone hear the song before anyone spends time or money making the final recording. The people who hear it are usually one of these:
- You. A demo is how you find out whether the song works. Hearing it back shows you the line that drags and the chorus that does not lift.
- Co-writers and your band. So everyone learns the same song, in the same key, at the same tempo.
- A producer. So they hear the song before they start building the track.
- Artists, publishers and labels. A songwriter pitching a song to another artist sends a demo so they can hear it in their head.
The types of song demo
| Type | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Work tape | A voice memo of you singing and playing, often the first time through | Remembering the idea, sharing with co-writers |
| Guitar or piano and vocal | One instrument and one voice, recorded cleanly | Showing the song itself, band rehearsals, many pitches |
| Band demo | The band playing it live in a room or rehearsal space | Learning parts, trying arrangements |
| Full production demo | Drums, bass, keys and a strong vocal, close to a real record | Pitching to artists, labels and sync |
What makes a good demo
- The song is clear. You can hear every word and follow the melody. That matters more than the sound quality.
- The vocal is in front. Turn the guitar down until the words sit on top.
- It is in tune and in time. A wobbly take makes people hear a weak song.
- The intro is short. Get to the singing quickly. People decide fast.
- It is the right key. If you are pitching to a singer, put it where their voice sits.
How to make a demo
- Know the song first. Finish the words and the structure before you record. A demo of half a song is still just an idea.
- Find the tempo and key. Tap the tempo (free tap tempo tool), write the key down, and set your recording software to match.
- Record a guide. Guitar or piano and a guide vocal to a click.
- Add only what the song needs. For many demos that is nothing else. For a pitch, maybe drums, bass and a better vocal.
- Listen on a phone. That is how most people will hear it. If the words disappear, turn the vocal up.
Demo vs master
A demo shows the song. A master is the finished recording that gets released. Sometimes a demo is so good it becomes the release, but usually the master is recorded again with more time, better players and a proper mix.
Keeping your demos in order
The hard part is often not making demos but finding the right one later. It is easy to end up with the same song in a pile of voice memos with names like New Recording 87.
songdrafts is built for that. Every take of a song stacks on one card, in the order you add them, with the lyrics, key and tempo kept on the same song. You move the song across the board as it gets closer to done, put finished demos in Listen, and send the demo to anyone as one link that plays in the browser, with comments at the exact second.
Common questions
Is a voice memo a demo?
It can be. A voice memo of a finished song, sung clearly, is a work tape demo. It is fine for co-writers and your band. For pitching to artists, most writers record something cleaner.
How long should a song demo be?
The whole song, as it would be released. Keep the intro short and skip long solos unless they are part of the song.
Do I need to copyright a song before sending a demo?
In the US and the UK, copyright belongs to you, and any co-writers, as soon as the song is recorded or written down. In the US you must register with the Copyright Office before you can sue anyone, so registering is worth it for songs you pitch. Keep dated copies of your demos and lyrics either way.
How much does a demo cost?
Anything from nothing, on your phone, to paying a studio or a demo service. Spend money only on demos you are pitching.
What should I send with a demo?
The link, the lyrics, the key and tempo, and one clear question or ask.
Want this done for you? songdrafts is a board for your voice memos: every take stacked on one card, songs that move across stages, merging half songs, and one share link with comments pinned to the second. Works offline, and nothing you upload trains AI. What is songdrafts?