Berklee Songwriting

Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music Author: Pat Pattison  Lesson 1: Stress in Language 

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Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in a Lyric Line  Notating the Rhythms Rhythms of Stress Patterns Writing Your Own Patterns to Match Existing Patterns Identifying Secondary Stresses

 Lesson 2: Musical Stress 

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Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Positions in a Musical Bar  Notating the Rhythms Rhythms of Musical Stress Patterns Writing Your Own Lyric Patterns to Match Musical Patterns

 Lesson 3: More Musical Stress 

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Stressed Positions Caused by Isolating a Note Stressed Positions Caused by a Rest before a Note Stressed Positions Caused by Lesser Note Values Preceding a Note Stressed Positions Caused by Anticipating a Note

 Lesson 4: Melody in 3/4 Time 

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Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in Our First Song Section Matched and Unmatched Phrases in the Song Section Rhyme Positions in the Song Section The Hook Position in the Song Section

 Lesson 5: Creating the Lyric 

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Brainstorming a Title, Using a Rhyming Dictionary Developing Ideas That Move the Song Forward Identifying Special Positions in the Melody Creating Contrasting Ideas Finishing the Song

 Lesson 6: Melody in 4/4 Time 

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Creating a Straightforward Setting in 4/4 Time Working with Multiple Note Values Identifying Cases of Stressed Notes on Weak Beats Identifying Anticipations Working in a Verse/Chorus Format

 Lesson 7: Creating the Verse/Chorus Lyric 

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Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title Working with Longer and Shorter Phrases Working More Easily with Contrasting Sections Constructing Effective Bridges

 Lesson 8: 4/4 time; Multiple Note Values 

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Working with a More Complex Setting in 4/4 Time Working with Multiple Note Values Working with Sections Whose Note Values Are Different Identifying Anticipations More Quickly Working in a Simple Verse/Chorus Format

 Lesson 9: Creating the Lyric 

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Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title Working with a More Complicated Arrangement of Matched Phrases Writing Lyrics for More Complex Structures Developing Your Setting Up Rhyme Schemes

 Lesson 10: 4/4 Swing Time; Phrasing  

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Working with a More Complex Song Form Working with Swing Rhythm Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Analysis Process Skipping a Few Steps

 Lesson 11: Creating the Lyric; Sectional Contrasts 

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Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process Dealing Effectively with More Complex Structure Working with Two Kinds of Bridges: Prechoruses ( or "Transitional Bridges") and Primary Bridges

 Lesson 12: The Last Mile 

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Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process Working with Two Kinds of Bridges

Lyric Writing: Writing From the Title Author: Pat Pattison  Lesson 1: What Is a Title?

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Understanding the Use of Titles in Songs Versus Poems Understanding the Function of a Title in a Lyric Identifying Two Types of Song Titles

 Lesson 2: Finding a Title 

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Understanding the Title as the Central Concept of the Song Developing Strategies for Finding Titles

 Lesson 3: Developing a Title 

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Identifying Titles That Can Be Recolored by Repetition Sketching Out Possible Sectional Development for a Title

 Lesson 4: Rhythm and Pitch of the Title 

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Identifying the Stressed Syllables of a Title Identifying the Pitches of a Title

 Lesson 5: Tempo as a Brainstorming Tool  

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Preserving the Natural Shape of a Title Setting a Title Rhythmically Against a Pulse Extracting Various Meanings from the Same Title by Brainstorming Against Various Tempos

 Lesson 6: Developing Your Title Motivically 

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Deciding Where to Place a Title Developing a Title's Motive by Using Various Developmental Techniques

 Lesson 7: Creating a Rhythmic Template 

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Creating a Section Based on a Title's Rhythm Applying Developmental Techniques to Create Your Section

 Lesson 8: Brainstorming with Rhyme 

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Identifying and Finding the Various Rhyme Types Recognizing the Vowel Sounds of the Stressed S yllables in a Title Using Your Rhyming Dictionary as a Brainstorming Tool

 Lesson 9: Verse Development Techniques 

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Planning Your Verse Development Approaching Central Sections of Songs More Effectively Applying Your Recoloring Skills to One of Your Own Titles

 Lesson 10: Song Forms 

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Understanding the Functions of the Various Kinds of Song Sections Recognizing Basic Song Forms Sketching Lyric Outlines

 Lesson 11: Contrasting Sections 

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Rhyme Schemes as a Contrasting Device  Number of Syllables/Notes as a Contrasting Device Line Length as a Contrasting Device  Note Values as a Contrasting Device Position in the Bar as a Contrasting Device Variations or Pieces of a Motive as a Rhythmic Contrasting Device

 Lesson 12: Putting It All Together  

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Applying the Course's Techniques to Finish Your Lyric Improving Your Critical Skills by Helping Others to Polish Their Work

Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies Author: Pat Pattison  Lesson 1: Brainstorming: Object Writing  

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Object Writing Object Writing Samples Daily Object Writing Activities Write a Lyric

 Lesson 2: Balancing: Number of Lines 

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Daily Object Writing Activities Daily Balanced Section Writing Activities

 Lesson 3: Unbalancing: Number of Lines; Fundamentals of Rhyme 

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Daily Object Writing Activities Daily Unbalanced Section Writing Activities

 Lesson 4: Brainstorming: Worksheets 

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Balancing and Unbalancing with Number of Lines: Moving One Section into Another Daily Object Writing Activities Write Two Sections--Balanced to Balanced

 Lesson 5: Line Length; Family Rhyme 

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Stressed Syllables Family Rhyme Daily Object Writing Activities Complete a Worksheet and Write a Lyric

 Lesson 6: Balancing and Unbalancing with Line Length; Additive and Subtractive Rhyme 

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Balancing and Unbalancing with Line Length Playing with Line Lengths Additive and Subtractive Rhyme Daily Object Writing Activities Daily Section Writing Activities Write a Lyric

 Lesson 7: Contrasting Sections Using Line Lengths; Assonance Rhyme 

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Contrasting Sections Assonance Rhyme Prosody of Rhyme Daily Object Writing Activities Write a Section with Assonance Rhyme Write a Contrasting Section

 Lesson 8: Line Lengths and Rhythm; Consonance Rhyme 

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Match Words to da DUM Patterns Match the Rhythm of a Line Create a Verse Lines of Different Length Consonance Rhyme Daily Object Writing Activities Find Uses of Consonance Rhyme Write a Lyric

 Lesson 9: Rhythm and Variation; Metaphor  

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Rhythm and Variation Use Rhythmic Variation Match the Rhythm Metaphor Daily Object Writing Activities Daily Metaphor Writing Activities Complete Writing Better Lyrics Exercise Create Accidental Collisions

 Lesson 10: Creating Sections with Rhythm; More on Metaphor 

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Couplets Create a Section with Couplets Varying Line Length--Common Meter and Beyond Create a Section of Common Meter Finish a Section Find Metaphors Daily Object Writing Activities Revise Two Sections Using Common Meter and Couplets Create Metaphors

 Lesson 11: Rhyme Structure 

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Rhyme Structure  Notating Rhyme Schemes Creating Forward Motion with Rhyme Balancing (Resolving) with Rhyme Accelerating and Slowing Down with Rhyme Controlling Flow with Rhyme Defining the End of Sections with Rhyme Write a Section Types of Closure Using Basic Rhyme Paradigms Daily Object Writing Activities Write a Lyric

 Lesson 12: The Grand Finale 

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Putting the Pieces Together Recap What Lies Ahead? Object Writing Activity

Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs Author: James A. Kachulis  Lesson 1: Writing a Chorus 

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The Chorus Setting Up the Groove Choosing a Key Color, Tempo, Rhythmic Motive, Feel, and Style Standard Harmonic Phrase Length Harmonic Ideas for the Chorus Harmonic/Melodic Tools for Emphasis Standard Phrase Length

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Phrasing Types Standard Chorus Types 1 and 2 Standard and Surprising Moves in Choruses Title Placement

 Lesson 2: Common Verse Types 

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Lyric Moves Musical Moves Counterpoint Types Varied Repetition Phrasing Types Developing Verse Ideas into Verse Sections Contrasting the Verse and the Chorus Harmonic/Melodic Contrasts Chorus as the Emotional High Point Overall Verse Chorus Form

 Lesson 3: Bridge in Verse Chorus Forms 

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Lyric Content Lyric Form: Standard Types Creating Variations of Standard Types Harmonic Movement in the Moving Bridge Variations on Standard Types Review: Varied Repetition 1 Building Intensity Placing of the Sections Placing the Bridge

 Lesson 4: Standard Chorus Types 

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Building the Section Lyrically Five More Standard Chorus Types Contrasting Ideas Contrasting Ideas: - T - T, T - T  –  Chorus Types Harmonic/Melodic Contrast Developing Ideas into a Chorus Building a Chorus with a Cadence Connecting the Chorus to Verse 2

 Lesson 5: Chorus — Variations of Standard Chorus Types 

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Creating Variations of Standard Types Add a Line Varied Repetition 2 — Surprising Emphasis Subtract a Line Replace a Line

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Vary a Repeated Title Surprising Phrase Length Stack Standard Types for a Double Chorus Combine Variation Tools Chorus on the 12-Bar Blues

 Lesson 6: Verse — Variations of Standard Types 

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Build Intensity Ending on the V chord Changing the Phrase Length Add One or More than One Phrase Connecting the Verse to the Chorus Verse on the Twelve Bar Blues Verse and Chorus on the Blues Form Contrasting Examples Using Verse and/or Chorus Variations Contrast in Blues Form

 Lesson 7: Modulation in the Verse/Chorus Song Form 

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Three Types of Modulation Parallel Key Relative Key Modulation Surprising Key Modulation into and out of Two Sections

 Lesson 8: The Verse/Pre Chorus/Chorus Song   — Type 1 

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Writing Process Chorus Types Verse Types Type 1 Pre Chorus Surprising Form

 Lesson 9: The Type 2 Verse/Pre Chorus/Chorus Song  

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Verse Types Type 2 Pre Chorus Intensity Chorus Types Emphasis and Emotional High Point

 Lesson 10: Verse/Refrain — Standard Types 

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Refrain Line and Lyrical/Musical Form Title Placement in the Complete Verse/Refrain Song Musical Setups for the Verse/Refrain Lyric Verse/Refrain on the 12-Bar Blues

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Tools for First Line Emphasis Deemphasizing the Last Line Instrumental Hook Bridge in the Verse/Refrain Song Form Standard AABA Song Form Musical/Lyrical Form

 Lesson 11: Verse/Refrain — Variations and the Complete AABA Song  

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Variations of Standard Verse/Refrain Types Change a Phrase Length Stack Types Together Combine Variation Types Two Part Verse/Refrain The Complete Verse/Refrain Song without a Bridge Moving Bridge 2  New Key Bridge Larger Form — Surprising Moves

 Lesson 12: Combination Form: Verse/Refrain and Chorus 

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The Verse/Refrain Structure Type 1: Pop Chorus Type 2: Country Bridge Chorus The Complete Combination Form

Songwriting: Melody Author: James A. Kachulis  Lesson 1: Creating Rhythmic Ideas for Your Lyrics 

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Lyric Setting and Emphasis Phrase Length and Space Phrase Beginnings/Stressed Words Phrase Endings Downbeat Endings for the Title

 Lesson 2: Rhythm Ideas for Building Song Sections 

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Repetition Contrasting Ideas  Number of Phrases Contrasting Sections: Verse/Prechorus/Chorus

 Lesson 3: Creating Melodic Ideas On Chord Changes 

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One Chord Tone and Decorations Two Chord Tones and Passing Notes Arpeggios and Scale Lines

 Lesson 4: Chord-Tone Melodies in Song Sections 

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Keep the Rhythm, Change the Shape Repetition, Sequence, Inversion Shortening and Lengthening the Motive

 Lesson 5: Melodies across Chord Changes 

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Connecting Chords In Sync Phrasing, Out of Sync Phrasing, Longer Melody Phrasing Cadences: Major and Minor

 Lesson 6: Developing Melodies across Chords into Song Sections 

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Verse/Refrain Verse/Chorus Verse/Prechorus/Chorus

 Lesson 7: Blues Melodies 

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Major Pentatonic and Major Blues Melody Uses of Major Blues Melodies Minor Pentatonic and Minor Blues Melody

 Lesson 8: Developing Ideas into Songs 

Developing a Major Blues Song

 Lesson 9: Melodies over Modes 

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Mixolydian Melody Over One Chord Mixolydian Melody Over Diatonic and Fast Chords Dorian Melody Over One Chord Dorian Melody Over Diatonic and Fast Chords

 Lesson 10: Developing Modal Ideas into Songs 

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Mixolydian Song Dorian Song

 Lesson 11: Creating Melodic Ideas Against Chord Changes

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Two-Part Counterpoint: Parallel Motion Similar, Oblique, Contrary

 Lesson 12: Using Counterpoint in Songs 

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Different Bass In Verse and Chorus Sections Against the Same Bass Riff Song Against a Melodic Riff

Songwriting: Harmony Author: James A. Kachulis

 Lesson 1: Generating A Groove and Chord Colors 

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Parts of a Groove Developing a Groove Four Chord Colors and Lyric Stories Changing Colors of Chords - Variations

 Lesson 2: Colors of Keys and Songs From Progression 

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Five Common Keys Colors Building Song By Repetition Contrasting Sections

 Lesson 3: Power Progressions 

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Major Key Minor Key Mixolydian Key Dorian Key Blues Key Building Songs From Power Progressions

 Lesson 4: Rhythm Variations of Power Progressions 

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Progression Length Chord Rhythm Chord Order

 Lesson 5: Song Sections From Rhythm Variations 

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Contrasting Sections Two Sections Two Progressions

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Three Sections Two Progressions

 Lesson 6: Pitch Variations of Power Progressions 

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Subtract Chords Add Chords Replace Chords Add Pedal Parts

 Lesson 7: Song Sections From Pitch Variations 

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Contrasting Two Sections Contrasting Three Sections

 Lesson 8: Melody and Harmony 

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Coloring a Word Coloring a Phrase Coloring a Lyric Section

 Lesson 9: Ways of Coming Home 

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Full Cadences Half Cadences Deceptive Cadences Plagal Cadences Mixed Cadences

 Lesson 10: Song Sections Using Cadences 

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Verse/Refrain Verse Chorus Bridge Connecting Sections With Cadences

 Lesson 11: Modulation 

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Parallel Key Modulation Relative Modulation Surprising Key Modulation

 Lesson 12: Modulation In Songs 

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Modulation In A Section Modulation Between Sections