Week 1a, Introduction

SONGWRITING STUDIES
Tuesday Week 1

“What makes a hit song, and how can I
write one?

INTRODUCTION
➤ Nick Braae
➤ Nick.Braae@wintec.ac.nz
➤ Megan Berry Mediarts
➤ Moodle requirements
➤ Please bring laptops/devices (if you have them) and
headphones to class every week.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the session the students will be able to:
1. Become familiar with the course outline and assessments.
2. Develop a vocabulary for analyzing hit songs
3. Listen critically to 3 hit songs to identify 3 similarities
between songs.

class Segment Songwriting (3.5 hours p/session) Tuesday and Wednesday AM
1a Lecture What makes a hit song and how can I write one? Intro to Songwriting, Current Practices, Hit Charts
and how to use them. Critical Listening
Workshop Listening to hit songs, analysing successful songwriting techniques.
1b Lecture What is genre and why does it matter? Introduction to features of different popular music genres;
pop, rock, country, r&b, hip hop, folk, alt.
Workshop Genre exercise.
2a Lecture How do I come up with things to write about? Collecting ideas, gathering lyrics, writing from a title.
Answering questions your title asks.
Workshop Writing from a title.
2b Lecture What’s the secret to writing fresh verse melodies? Melodic phrases, repetition and variation, contrast
in note range, natural melodies.
Workshop Writing melodies for verse sections
3a Lecture What is song structure and why do we need it? Song form, lyric form, scansion
Workshop Analysing song form and scansion.
3b Lecture What is a hook, where should it go, and how do I write one? Pitch, pace, contrast, repetition.
Workshop Using the title to write a hook
4a Lecture Preliminary presentation of lyrics for Assessment 1a
Workshop Lyric writing workshop
4b Lecture Preliminary presentation of melodies for Assessment 1b
Workshop Melody writing workshop
5a Lecture How can I rhyme and still say what I mean? Perfect rhyme, family rhyme, rhyme schemes and the
purpose of rhyme.
Workshop Rhyming exercises. Rhyme scheme analysis.
5b Lecture What are the best chord progressions to use for writing hit songs? Chord basics, chord builders, 3
chord songs, 4 chord songs, getting familiar with chords in your genre.
Workshop Writing chord progressions
6a Lecture Why should I use imagery in my songs? Metaphors, imagery and object writing.
Workshop Lyric writing workshop
6b Lecture How do I use GarageBand to write songs? Smart instruments, drummer tracks, principles of quick
idea development.
Workshop GarageBand songwriting exercise.
7a Lecture Work in Progress Presentation
Workshop Songwriting workshop
7b Lecture Presentation of songs for Assessment 2
Workshop Songwriting workshop
COURSE OUTLINE:
➤ 2 Assignments
➤ Assignment 1 in 2 parts
➤ Assignments 1a and 1b
due Week 4
➤ Assignment 2 due Week
7

TOPICS MEGAN WILL COVER:
➤ What makes a hit song and how can I write one?
➤ How do I come up with things to write about?
➤ What is song structure and why do we need it?
➤ How can a rhyme and still say what I mean?
➤ Why should I use imagery in my songs?

ASSESSMENTS
➤ Assessment 1a: Write a complete lyric
➤ Assessment 1b: Write a melody
➤ Assessment 2: Write and record a 2 - 3 minute song

MIXING ACTIVITY
➤ Write down five of your favourite hits, then wander round
the room until you find someone with similar taste in music.
➤ Discuss what you like about those songs, using the following
questions:
➤ What is your favourite hit song?
➤ Why?
➤ What do you like about it?
➤ Share your findings with the class

What makes a hit song?
Evoke an emotional reaction Communicates emotion to
a lot of people
Gets played a
lot on the radio
Sells a lot of records
Catchy melody
Well crafted

HIT CHARTS AND HOW TO USE THEM
➤ NZTop40: http://nztop40.co.nz/
➤ iTunes: http://www.apple.com/nz/itunes/charts/songs/
➤ Billboard Hot 100: http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100
➤ Why should we be regularly checking the charts as
songwriters?
➤ To give the music industry what it wants we need to know the
market.

LEARNING FROM THE HITS *
➤ Learn how to listen
➤ If you want to know how a hit song creates its magic, you
need to know how it affects the listener - you
➤ Work with songs you like - these ones will evoke a response
in you (you want to study that response)
*taken from “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting” (Frederick, R, 2008)

LEARNING FROM THE HITS *
Ask these questions:
➤ Where does the song have the most emotional intensity for
you?
➤ When did you take in information about the situation?
➤ Does the song pull you forward, making you want to keep
listening?
➤ What part of the song do you want to hear again?
➤ After the song is over, what part do you remember?
*taken from “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting” (Frederick, R, 2008)

SONGWRITING VOCABULARY
➤ In groups of 3 or 4, brainstorm the answers to the following
question:
➤ What kinds of things should we be listening for when
analysing hit songs?

Analysing Hit Songs
Song Structure
Melody
Lyrics
Chords
Production
Genre

HELLO - ADELE
1. Listen to the song, either by using the Spotify playlist, or the
YouTube video.
2. As you listen, try and identify the different song sections -
write them down.
3. See if you can pinpoint the genre of the song.
4. Read over the lyrics to the song. In pairs or small groups,
discuss the parts of the lyrics that appeal to you most, and why.
5. Think about the melody of the song - which bits are the most
catchy - and why do you think that might be?

UPTOWN FUNK - MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS
YouTube video.
3. Look up the chords to the song or try and work them out
yourself - what kinds of chords are being used? Are they
complicated or simple?
4. Think about the production of the song - What instruments
are being used? what does the recording sound like? What
works well?

THINKING OUT LOUD - ED SHEERAN
YouTube video.
2. As you listen, try and identify the different song sections -
write them down.
3. See if you can pinpoint the genre of the song.
4. Read over the lyrics to the song here. In pairs or small
groups, discuss the parts of the lyrics that appeal to you most,
and why.

THINKING OUT LOUD - ED SHEERAN
6. Look up the chords to the song or try and work them out
yourself - what kinds of chords are being used? Are they
complicated or simple?
7. Think about the production of the song - What instruments
are being used? what does the recording sound like? What
works well?

ROBIN FREDERICK ANALYSIS OF ‘THINKING OUT LOUD’
➤ http://robinfrederick.com/thinking-out-loud-ed-sheeran/
#more-2027

REVIEW
➤ What makes a hit song?
➤ What do we need to be listening for when analysing hit
songs?
➤ What are 3 similarities between the 3 songs we have analysed
today?

HOMEWORK:
➤ Review material on Moodle
➤ Find the Assignment brief for Assignment 1a - read through
it.
➤ Find the lyrics to your favourite song, answer the following
questions:
➤ What is the theme of the song?
➤ What is the song structure?
➤ What is your favourite lyric line in the song and why?

Week 1a, Introduction

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Week 1a, Introduction