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In this free songwriting tutorial, Berklee professor Jimmy Kachulis teaches you how to write a song using tips and techniques for creating effective choruses.

Master songwriter Jimmy Kachulis has analyzed thousands of hits, identifying the structures and patterns that work best, and why. In his Writing Hit Songs course, he’ll share the techniques successful writers use to craft vivid, memorable songs and help you do the same. Whether you’re a relative beginner or an experienced songwriter, you’ll learn how to brainstorm ideas, overcome writer’s block, and express yourself more effectively in words and music. Combining technical principles with pure creative expression, this hands-on course will help you find your voice, sharpen your craft, and create songs listeners will appreciate and remember.

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For more songwriting tips and techniques watch these free tutorials:
How to Write A Song: Sensory Writing Tricks

How to Write A Song: Use Critique to Improve Your Songs

Want more? Learn songwriting online with Berklee:
Learn techniques for writing original songs in a variety of musical styles—techniques that have propelled Berklee alumni to write number one songs and win Grammy Awards. In this program, you will develop skills to create song structures, harmonies, melodies, and lyrics that support and enhance the ideas that you want to express. Through listening and analysis, you will be able to recognize and discuss quality elements in musical and lyrical structures. You will learn arranging techniques that support the style and structure of a song with appropriate instrumentation. You will develop your own voice as a songwriter and learn to write more effectively and efficiently, whether by yourself or in collaboration with other songwriters.

Jimmy Kachulis teaches songwriting and lyric writing at Berklee, conducts clinics nationwide, and has helped thousands of songwriters develop and maximize their skills. Look through the bios of some of today’s best songwriters, and his name comes up again and again; his students’ works have earned Grammy nominations, and been recorded by a vast range of artists on major and independent labels. An accomplished composer, arranger and conductor, he has worked with great artists like George Coleman, Jon Hendricks, John Lewis and Martha Reeves, and his compositions have been featured on scores from The Sopranos to Touched By An Angel. Jimmy’s songs and arrangements for “Island Breeze”, by legendary guitarist, Eric Gale, have been re-released and distributed worldwide under the Warner Brothers label.

How to Write A Song | Songwriting | Tips & Techniques | Free Tutorial

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By: wildsPosted on Categories : Categories : UncategorizedTags:

34 Replies to “How to Write A Song: Creating Effective Choruses | Songwriting | Tips & Techniques”

  3. I just sing the words I want to put to music in a variety of different ways… I measure the analog pitch variation across time and graph plotted points (to detemine key center as I am unable to do this by ear) on the lead line… the lead shows what available chords can be used to blend with the note and how it affects the linear progression (for example: if the melodic note is G- you could choose several chord types that include G such as Csus, Cm, Cmaj, Am7, C5, etc…. plus taking into acount the directional sound as it moves on (each chord movement has a slighty different sound and feel as it moves to the successive chords ) this will also determine modality or borrowed chords of the underlying structure which influences the sound… I can then choose the type of chord colors and the entire piece is structured in a matter of seconds. Categorization of each individual component involved in music makes it much easier to decide at a glance. Certain intervals and chord types lend themselves to particular types of sounds and instrumental colors… Recording the vocal tracks without errant noises present does pose a problem I have not found a solution to fix (without access to a recording studio) but for just 'writing' the melody and harmony out it works perfectly. Then I can just choose which musical variant I like best…

  10. Man this brings me the best memories! I took "The Music of India and The Middle East" and "Songwriting I and II" with Mr. Kachulis at Berklee in 1998. Among the best courses in my entire dual major. Jimmy is a master at explaining (with the authority of those who know their craft) and at getting the best out of students. I hope you see this Jimmy. Thank you for your teaching. Cheers from Argentina.

  11. Thank you for the lesson ?
    I don't know who made those chord diagrams for you, but those charts show a B7 not Bm7 and an Am7/D not a C/D (Although I guess you could maybe call that a Cadd6/D or a D9sus2 but uhhh). I think you played what you said but those diagrams are off— a notice for everyone who doesn't know those chords yet or how they are named.

    I'm pretty sure he plays a regular E-string rooted jazz m7 chord for Bm7 and Am7, then for C/D (or Dm7 in an inversion, probably why he just referred to it as D, the m7 bit isn't mention to avoid the confusion because ideally it would be a major D resolving to G as a V-I perfect cadence. The base melody still accomplishes this with the root D and D7's minor 7th interval is still there resolving to G's major 3rd.) he kinda plays what the chord diagram shows but just mute the bottom string so you don't get that extra note,, just play the middle four strings [kinda the Am7 chart shows, even though they could have let the bottom string ring out on that one ?].

  21. I often nuance verse sections unintentionally. It's only when I record a demo and listen to it back I think ' oh, that 2nd verse is not exactly the same as the 1st verse, but it keeps it fresh and surprising, so I'm leaving in that way' .

  22. I always like to use a strong metaphor or simile on the first line. Not only do they convey a powerful image in the mind of the listener, but they provide information in as few words as possible. One line can say awful lot.

  23. I create songs first from humming the melody, then add lyrics. The tempo depends on emotion in the song. The intervals are also anchored to emotions. The feelings. Im fine without knowing notations and all. Now I see this and i'm having doubts with my natural talent. 🙂

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