Songwriting Course

Would you like to take your songwriting to the next level and write great hit songs. This course will guide you through the simplest building blocks of contemporary hits, through to the creative essentials that the most successful writers rely on every day. Full participation requires students require the ability to play an instrument such as a guitar or keyboard, and the facility to record the instrument and some vocal parts to submit to Point Blank for assessment and feedback.

Course Breakdown

The Music Industry and Songs

• The value of a song within the music industry
• Publishing explained

• Spotting a great song (critical analysis)
• Common components that every hit song have
• Key attributes of successful songs

Introduction to Song Structure

• The notion of ‘Light and shade’
• Choruses, verses and prechoruses
• Structuring your song for best musical effect
• Other structural options

Hooks

• Where do we find hooks in hit songs?
• Writing a killer hook
• How to emulate the ‘energy' of successful songs
• Incorporate your hook into a song

Music Theory for Songwriters

• What are keys?
• What are scales?
• What are modes?
• Working out time signatures

Music Theory for Songwriters - 2

• Creating Bass parts
• Introduction to notation
• Extended chords
• Using music theory basics to write songs

Music Theory for Songwriters - 3

• Chord sequences
• Modulation: changing key
• A closer look at extended chords
• Experimenting; (not all hits follow the rules)

Melodies

• Melodies and harmony
• Constructing a melody
• The relationship between the melody and chord sequences
• Constructing strong, memorable melodies 

Lyrics

• Exploring different song styles
• Rhyming
• Rhyming structure
• Fitting your lyric to your melody

Lyrics - 2

• Key aspects of successful lyrics
• Writing lyrics without an existing melody
• Working from a title
• Essential tools for aiding your lyric writing

Creative Essentials - Generating ideas for Great Songs

• Explaining inspiration
• Finding inspiration
• Overcoming ‘writer's block'
• Exciting ideas and innovation in songwriting

Production for Songwriters

• Writing with a large audience in mind
• Commercial songwriting techniques
•  Refreshing a cliché and making a hit song

Production for Songwriters - 2

• Effective arrangements for songwriters
• Presenting your song to fellow musicians
• Creating a demo recording