How to make a personalised song as a gift: a step-by-step guide

A personalised song sounds like a complicated gift, but what it really needs is one thing: a good story. You don't need to write verse or know a single chord. In this guide I'll walk you through, step by step, how a song is created on Ti Canto, what to tell us so the lyrics genuinely sound like the person, and how to give it in the right way.

Step 1: choose the occasion and the person

You start with the occasion: a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a retirement, a thank-you, or something that doesn't fit on any list. Then you tell us who it's for: their name, what you call them, how you know each other. It sounds like a detail, but it changes everything: a song for your grandmother and one for your best friend can't possibly share the same tone. If you're looking for inspiration, each occasion has its own page, for example the birthday song or the anniversary song.

Step 2: answer the questions (this is where it all happens)

We ask you a few questions about him or her: memories, habits, things they always say, what connects you. It's the most important part, and it's worth giving it ten minutes rather than two. Some practical tips:

• Choose details over adjectives. Lots of people are "generous". "She always leaves you the last slice of cake and then says she didn't fancy it anyway" is only her.
• Include a phrase they always say. A saying, a verbal tic, a nickname: these are the hooks that raise a smile on the very first listen.
• Tell one specific story. A trip, an embarrassing moment, the day you met. One story told well beats five mentioned in a rush.
• Add a place. The beach you went to every summer, the kitchen at home, the bench outside school. Places bring colour to the lyrics.
• Say what you want them to feel. Tears, laughter, pride, nostalgia. It helps set the register.

You also choose a musical genre and a mood: pop, indie pop, acoustic, lo-fi, cinematic, rock, jazz, soul, dance or contemporary classical; romantic, dreamy, energetic, nostalgic, epic, sweet, ironic, elegant, intimate or festive. If you're not sure, think about what they play in the car.

Step 3: read and edit the lyrics

The lyrics are born from your story, and you read them before they become music. This is the moment to be demanding:

• change a word, a line or an entire verse yourself;
• if the tone doesn't feel right, ask for another draft;
• check that names and nicknames are spelled the way they're pronounced.

A little trick: read the lyrics out loud. If a line doesn't sound right spoken, it won't sound right sung either.

Step 4: listen to the two versions and the free preview

Once you're happy with the lyrics, they become a sung song. It usually takes just a few minutes. Two musical versions of the same lyrics come out: you listen to both and pick the one you prefer. The preview is free: you listen before paying, and only then decide whether to unlock the full song. No subscription.

Step 5: unlock it and get the gift ready

If the song wins you over, you unlock it. At that point you have:

• the gift page, a link to send to the person, with a player where the lyrics scroll in time with the music;
• the printable card with a QR code, to tuck into a parcel, under a plate or inside a book: they scan it with their phone and the gift page opens.

Until the recipient opens the page, you can still change the title, signature and colours. Handy if at the last minute you want to add your sister's name to the signature or pick colours that suit the occasion better. Songs are kept for at least five years from your last purchase, so they can be played again long afterwards.

Songs in English, Italian or dialect

The lyrics can be in English, in Italian, or in one of several Italian dialects: Neapolitan, Sicilian, Roman, Venetian, Tuscan or Milanese. For a grandparent who grew up speaking the language of home, or for a family with Italian roots, that can make all the difference. In that case it's worth writing their typical phrases exactly the way they say them: it helps the lyrics sound authentic.

What if you'd rather let them choose?

There's also the gift code: instead of creating the song yourself, you give a code and the person creates their own, telling whatever story they like. It works well for people who love doing things themselves, or when you don't know enough of the details.

Five tips for a better story

1. Write the way you talk. You don't need a literary style: spontaneous sentences make the truest lyrics.
2. One song, one theme. Better to focus on a single thing (your first trip together, their stubbornness) than to try to tell a whole life.
3. Balance teasing and affection. A joke about their chronic lateness works if it's followed by the reason you love them.
4. Think about who'll be listening with them. If the song is going to play at a party, leave out the most private details.
5. Reread with fresh eyes. If you have time, come back to the lyrics after an hour: the things to change are easier to spot.

One note: before writing, we check that the text contains no insults towards people, religions or countries, so any teasing stays affectionate. If you need ideas about what to give in general, browse our gift ideas or our guide to wedding anniversary gifts by year; if you're looking for something special for a couple, start with the wedding song. And when your story's ready, all it takes is a click to begin.