Hit Songwriting
101 - Compose Yourself (and with friends)
- →Common Tones
- →"Fly on the wall": how songs get written and developed
- →Harmony
- →Analysis
- →More composing tips, tricks, and exercises
- →Master the use of chords, scales, musical form, rhythm, melody in your compositions.
- →Habits and Techniques
- →What makes a hit?
- →Form
- →Chord Progressions
- →Hooks in the track
- →Repetition
201 - Tackling the Top-line
- →What makes a lyric relatable, how to choose interesting concepts in today’s industry. How to twist the common topics and lyrical safe bets that work every time.
- →Using music theory for melodies.
- →Understanding melody patterns in pop music.
- →Harmonic and melodic intervals.
- →Different methods to start a top line – melody or lyric first?
- →Finding your own style and feet (creative exercises).
- →Get the creative juices flowing, writing lyrics, melodies, and song concepts -- rhyme, meter, and writing techniques for musicians.
- →Learning how to craft powerful melodies and lyric ideas for your tracks.
- →Understanding harmony and melody movement.
- →Get the most out of your writing by understanding how to craft more emotive and detailed lyrics.
What our students say.
“It was the perfect combination of knowledge and experience. The course was very well planned out, and never did it feel like we were going too slow or too fast.”
Kristina Korban
Course content.
101 - Compose Yourself (and with friends)
- →Common Tones
- →"Fly on the wall": how songs get written and developed
- →Harmony
- →Analysis
- →More composing tips, tricks, and exercises
- →Master the use of chords, scales, musical form, rhythm, melody in your compositions.
- →Habits and Techniques
- →What makes a hit?
- →Form
- →Chord Progressions
- →Hooks in the track
- →Repetition
201 - Tackling the Top-line
- →What makes a lyric relatable, how to choose interesting concepts in today’s industry. How to twist the common topics and lyrical safe bets that work every time.
- →Using music theory for melodies.
- →Understanding melody patterns in pop music.
- →Harmonic and melodic intervals.
- →Different methods to start a top line – melody or lyric first?
- →Finding your own style and feet (creative exercises).
- →Get the creative juices flowing, writing lyrics, melodies, and song concepts -- rhyme, meter, and writing techniques for musicians.
- →Learning how to craft powerful melodies and lyric ideas for your tracks.
- →Understanding harmony and melody movement.
- →Get the most out of your writing by understanding how to craft more emotive and detailed lyrics.
Instructors
Questions we hear a lot.
No. The course works from the song outwards; bring your ideas and the tools come as you go.
Melody, lyric and structure - what separates a song from a hit, and how to write more of the latter.
The Hit Songwriting course runs 30 hours. Tuition at Garnish Portland: 30 Hours - In-Person: $1199 + $100 Registration Fee.
Yes. The Hit Songwriting course runs in person at Garnish Portland and live online in the same sessions, using our music collaboration software, Muse - you join whichever suits you.
Yes. The Hit Songwriting course can be taught one-to-one, in person in Portland or online, built around your own projects - ask admissions about private instruction.
Ready to get started?
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