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Songwriting: Writing the Music
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 11 hours
  • Course by Berklee
  • Offered by

About

If your notebook is full of unused lyrics and you’re struggling to find inspiration for the music, this course is for you. Whether you are an experienced songwriter looking for new ideas or a beginning songwriter learning to read music, this course will lead you to a rich source of songwriting possibilities. Led by award winning songwriter and Berklee College of Music professor Scarlet Keys, you’ll learn to construct strong, expressive melodies that your audience will remember as well as experiment with new chords to break out of any harmonic rut. Whether you are new to writing music or are looking for new ideas to change up your songs, this class will teach you how to make deliberate choices with your harmonies and melodies to best emulate the emotions you want your audience to feel. You will start by discovering common chord progression and tying specific emotions to each chords in a scale. Then you will practice changing the harmonic and melodic rhythm of a song to better highlight important lyrics. Finally, you will learn to create melodic hooks and simple techniques to help you generate new melodic ideas.

Modules

Getting Started

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • What Are Your Goals?

1 Videos

  • Welcome!

4 Readings

  • Connect with Your Classmates
  • Course Resources
  • Earn A Course Certificate
  • Submitting Your Projects

Choosing Emotive Chords

    • 8 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Choosing Emotive Chords

8 Videos

  • What You'll Learn in Lesson 1
  • Diatonic Chords in a Major Key
  • How to Choose the Perfect Storytelling Chords
  • Common Chord Progressions
  • Non-diatonic Chords in Major Keys
  • Chords that Break Your Soul
  • Diatonic Chords in a Minor Key
  • Minor Key Chord Progressions

2 Readings

  • Lesson 1 Suggested Reading
  • Lesson 1 Listening List

Choosing Chords for a Song Verse

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Self-Assessment: Add Chords to a Verse

1 Discussions

  • Choosing a Chord Progression for a Song Verse

Creating Contrast with Harmonic Rhythm

    • 6 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Create Contrast with Harmonic Rhythm

6 Videos

  • What You'll Learn in Lesson 2
  • Adding Tensions to Major Key Progressions
  • Adding Tensions to Minor Key Progressions
  • Harmonic Rhythm
  • Create Contrast with Harmonic Rhythm
  • Highlighting Lyrics with Harmonic Rhythm

4 Readings

  • Lesson 2 Suggested Reading
  • Lesson 2 Listening List
  • Types of 7th Chords
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Create Contrasting Song Sections

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Self-Assessment: Create Contrasting Song Sections

1 Discussions

  • Create Contrasting Song Sections

Developing Interesting Melodies

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Developing Interesting Melodies

6 Videos

  • What You'll Learn in Lesson 3
  • Four Melody Types
  • Developing Melodic Hooks
  • Using Stable and Unstable Tones
  • Contrasting Song Sections with Melody
  • Developing Melody

3 Readings

  • Lesson 3 Suggested Reading
  • Lesson 3 Listening List
  • Practice Exercise: Developing Melodies

Experiment with Your Melody

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Self-Assessment: Developing Melodies

1 Discussions

  • Developing Melodies

Telling a Story with the Music

    • 6 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Telling a Story with the Music

6 Videos

  • What You'll Learn in Lesson 4
  • Melodic Rhythm Contrast
  • Setting Your Lyrics
  • Storytelling with Melodic Contour
  • Creating Melodies in a Minor Key
  • Finding a Harmony to Highlight Your Melody

2 Readings

  • Lesson 4 Suggested Reading
  • Lesson 4 Listening List

Create a Story with your Song

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Write a Complete Song

Wrap-Up

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Course Wrap-Up

1 Readings

  • Sign up for the full experience!

Auto Summary

Discover the art of songwriting with Berklee College of Music's Scarlet Keys in this engaging course. Tailored for both budding and experienced songwriters, you'll learn to craft memorable melodies, experiment with new chords, and evoke specific emotions through harmonies. Over 660 minutes, unlock a wealth of songwriting techniques and transform your lyrics into captivating music. Available through Coursera with Starter and Professional subscription options, this course is perfect for anyone looking to elevate their songwriting skills.

Scarlet Keys
Instructor

Scarlet Keys