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30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Music Music Techniques Lyric Writing

Songwriting magic and craft

Learn songwriting craft and magic from award winning Scottish songwriter Jim Byrne. Learn to write great songs!
Bestseller
Rating: 4.8 out of 54.8 (42 ratings)
2,788 students
Created by Jim Byrne
Last updated 2/2021
English
English [Auto]
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

What you'll learn

  • From award-winning Scottish songwriter Jim Byrne you will learn how to access your creativity, write better lyrics, create more compelling melodies and find inspiring chord progressions.
  • Learn the techniques I discovered that helped me find 'my own voice' as a songwriter (from my 40 years experience writing over 400 songs). You will learn to write the songs that only you can write.
  • Learn how hit songs are written. Discover the system used by todays most successful songwriter; based on the science of attention.
  • Learn song structure, rhythm and song arrangement. Producer Mark Freegard tells you how he helps songwriters arrange their songs when working in a professional studio. Mark has worked in the UK's top studios (including George Martin's Air Studio) with bands such as Del Amitri, The Breeders, The Manic Street Preachers, Siouxie Sioux, Eddi Reader and Maria McKee.
  • Learn the techniques used by professional songwriters - interviewed exclusively for this course. For example, Ivor Novello winner Boo Hewerdine, Carol Laula, Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits), Michael Rooney (Primevals), Martha L Healy.
  • Use my list of mobile and tablet Apps to record and organise your song ideas and to find new ideas. And my list of recommended Podcasts to keep on learning.
  • Learn how my own songs have enabled me to travel the world, win awards, get played on the radio, write with Pop stars, Jazz singers and indie rock artists, have a number 1 (UK Americana) and release critically acclaimed albums. Learning to write songs has changed my life - it can change yours.
  • Learn songwriting from a tutor who really believes in you and your potential to write great songs. As the songwriter Chiara Berardelli says, 'songwriting is a form of magic, but, the songwriter is the source of that magic'.
  • Each month one songwriter will get one to one feedback from me to help improve one of your songs.

Requirements

  • An instrument (e.g. guitar or piano) and a desire to learn how to write great songs. No music theory required.

Description

Songwriting Magic will educate and inspire you. It will give you the skills to write better songs, songs unique to you. The time has come to write the songs you will always be proud of.

Songwriting is a form of magic; as songwriter Chiara Berardelli says, 'the magic does not come from some mysterious outside force, the magic comes from you'.

Learn the techniques used by professional songwriters, interviewed exclusively for this course. Including, Ivor Novello winner Boo Hewerdine, Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits - reputedly Kurt Cobain's favourite band), Michael Rooney (Primevals), Martha L Healy, Lizzie Reid, Chiara Berardelli, Carol Laula and more.

You will learn to create song structure, melody, chords progressions, lyrics and song arrangement.

You will learn how hit songs are written. Discover the system used by todays most successful songwriter; based on the science of attention.

You will learn the techniques I discovered that helped me find 'my own voice' as a songwriter (from my 40 years experience writing over 400 songs). Learn to write the songs that only you can write.

You will continue to learn by listening to my recommended list of Podcasts and mobile and tablet Apps.

Learn how writings songs enabled me to travel the world, win awards, get played on the radio, write with Pop stars, Jazz singers and indie rock artists, have a number 1 (UK Americana, Reverb Nation) and release critically acclaimed albums. Learning to write songs has changed my life - it can change yours.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is for you if you have never written a song or if you write songs but want to take your songwriting to a new level. I.e. beginners and intermediate level.
  • Whether your goal is a career in music or you just love to write songs, you will learn a great deal from this course. I will pass on the skills I have learned form my 40 years of writing songs: over 400 songs. I have won awards, wrote with pops stars, Jazz artists, indie rock bands, toured, had a No. 1 (UK Americana), released critically acclaimed albums.

Course content

9 sections • 99 lectures • 7h 40m total length

  • Preview03:01
  • Preview06:23
  • Introduce Yourself
    00:25
  • Assignment: Start a new song right now!
    03:10
  • Assignment: Start a new song from a title
    07:12
  • Are you a beginner or already writing songs?
    3 questions
  • I Believe in you!
    00:09
  • Bonus: How to write a hit song
    09:25
  • Don't wait, start now
    00:09
  • Bonus: One2One song feedback session - how it will work
    01:00
  • Bonus: 50 Songwriting Tips & Songwriters Glossary
    18:34
  • Bonus: audio versions of all video tutorials
    00:11
  • Even More Course Bonuses: Tips, Songwriting Guide
    00:55
  • A summary of section one and what's next
    00:40

  • Introduction to section two
    00:24
  • Preview03:24
  • The three main elements of a song
    03:00
  • Become an active listener
    8 questions
  • Reflection exercise: 'active listener' feedback.
    1 question
  • The Creativity Loop: Creativity, inspiration and your brain
    13:42
  • Reflection exercise: creativity research & getting into your creative mind space
    3 questions
  • You are smarter than you think
    00:09
  • Ten ‘Get Started’ Creativity Exercises
    04:10
  • Learn from Charles Bukowski
    00:09
  • A summary of section two and what you can expect in the next section
    00:20

  • Preview03:37
  • Boo Hewerdine - Ivor Novello winning prolific songwriter
    00:47
  • Chiara Berardelli - Singer-Songwriter: Does Songwriting Make You Happy?
    02:42
  • Advice from instrumentalist Tom Rafferty
    11:36
  • Martha Healy - Americana Artist
    02:19
  • Michael Rooney - Garage Rock Songwriter
    01:40
  • Carla J Easton - Electropop Artist
    05:25
  • Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits - Advice and the Magic of Collaboration
    06:34
  • Mick Hart - Songwriter with The Elliots
    03:30
  • Stay true to yourself
    00:09
  • A summary of section three and what's next
    00:35
  • What did you learn from these interviews?
    3 questions

  • What's in this section of the course
    03:35
  • Moving beyond the three chord trick - and why it’s not just about chords
    03:47
  • Six magic chords 1.
    04:40
  • Six Magic Chords 2: How to work out the chords in each key
    03:53
  • You are powerful beyond measure
    00:09
  • Preview18:15
  • Nashville Number System: if you can count to five you are sorted
    05:26
  • Nashville System Quiz
    4 questions
  • Great Chord Progressions: Magic Or Science?
    05:08
  • Let's get started on a new song; an experiment.
    06:17
  • How to build and release musical tension in your songs
    08:07
  • Don't avoid taking risks
    00:09
  • A million chord ideas
    05:47
  • Create your own chord progression for these lyrics
    1 question
  • Write a song with these words or inspired by these words
    01:03
  • Demo of the song by the Bearpit Brothers for those lyrics
    00:01
  • Bonus: The 4 most common chords in seven different keys
    00:49
  • Bonus: Apps for finding chord ideas
    00:09
  • Don't wait until everything is right
    00:09
  • Bonus: How to make the magic chords
    04:30
  • A summary of section 4 and what's next
    00:31

  • Writing lyrics: 10 suggestions for getting started
    04:11
  • How to write lyrics from stream of consciousness: How I write my song lyrics
    12:56
  • How to write lyrics from research: Findlay Napier
    03:13
  • How to write to write lyrics from life: Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits)
    06:34
  • Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself
    00:09
  • Write a song using one of the above techniques (i..e. in the last 3 lectures).
    3 questions
  • Object writing as a technique to write better lyrics
    02:23
  • Assignment: Re-write an existing lyric
    01:06
  • Don't waste your energy trying to change opinions
    00:09
  • Now's your time to rhyme. Rhyme schemes for songwriters
    02:56
  • Rhyme schemes assignment
    1 question
  • Bonus: Write a song with these lyrics. The Letter
    00:48
  • Bonus: Ruby McCann talks about how to us poetic devices to write song lyrics.
    10:10
  • Bonus: An inexhaustible source of new song ideas.
    07:18
  • A summary of section 5. it is time to write a great melody for your next song.
    00:15
  • Bonus: Learn from storytellers to write better song lyrics
    03:01

  • Elaine Lennon: Don't just conquer your fears, write and song about them
    06:41
  • Preview03:09
  • Scottish songwriter Carol Laula talks about writing Gypsy
    06:25
  • Ruthie Kennedy of Chiptune pop duo talks to me about writing lyrics.
    13:36
  • Ivor Novello Winner Boo Hewerdine - Writing His Hit Song Patience of Angels
    03:25

  • Make your melody: the basic building blocks
    10:55
  • The melody exercise; how did I get on?
    07:06
  • 3 Simple ways to create a melody for your song.
    07:58
  • Melodic Math Part One: Introduction
    15:01
  • Melodic Math Part Two: Words & Melody - An Analysis Of One of My Own Songs
    06:53
  • Melodic Math Part Three: A study of Britney Spears: Baby One More Time
    10:21
  • How to create great hooks
    04:45
  • Reflection activity: Write your feedback / thoughts on the songwriting activity
    3 questions
  • Bonus: Keys, scales, Intervals & Harmony - introduction by Graham Mackintosh
    12:41
  • Summary of section 6 and introduction to arrangement.
    00:27

  • Arrange your songs - an introduction: what is arrangement?
    11:31
  • Songwriting trends for 2020
    02:41
  • Preview07:57
  • Assignment: Listen to the Sharon Van Etton Episode on Song Exploder Podcast
    00:24
  • Time Signatures: an introduction from guitar tutor Graham Mackintosh
    07:13
  • Songwriter Martha Healy talks about song arrangement
    03:11
  • Learn arrangement by listening to and deconstructing great songs
    3 questions
  • Bonus Download: The Secret of Good to Great
    01:17
  • Bonus: My favourite podcasts on songwriting
    03:00

  • Bonus: Eve Williams - how to create a Facebook marketing campaign
    08:35
  • Bonus: How to become a better live performer of your own songs.
    03:14
  • Arranging the song, 'Do you remember Marseille?'. Insights and lessons.
    14:50
  • Preview09:21
  • Song Start Tuesday Episode 1: Introduction and starting chords
    02:41
  • Songs Start Tuesday Episode 3: A creativity warm up exercise
    06:09
  • Song Start Tuesday Episode 5: A million songs in every chord
    06:09
  • Songs Start Tuesday Episode 4: Look around the room
    04:23
  • Song Start Tuesday Episode 6: You can't touch music, but it can touch you.
    06:19
  • Song Start Tuesday: Start with a riff
    03:13
  • Song Start Tuesday: Rhythm as a way to generate song ideas.
    05:03
  • Bonus: Songwriting makes you happy :-)
    00:59

Instructor

Jim Byrne
Award wining songwriter, co-writer and recording artist
Jim Byrne
  • 4.8 Instructor Rating
  • 42 Reviews
  • 2,788 Students
  • 1 Course

Jim Byrne has been a musician and songwriter for over forty years. He spent his teenage years playing in punk bands and many subsequent years playing in garage bands including The Primevals, Dexter Slim & The Pickups, Loris and the Bearpit Brothers (still a member). He is a restless seeker of new experiences and new music. As a solo artist he plays and records in the folk and Americana style.

As a songwriter he has written hundreds of songs for his own bands and solo projects as well as co-written with other musicians including Marti Pellow (their song, Lay with me is on Marti's Boulevard of Life album) and Jazz singer Carol Kidd OBE (Carol played support to Frank Sinatra). Jim has released several critically acclaimed albums and has toured America, Canada, France, Italy and the UK.

For the collector of unusual facts; he has met Tom Waits and received an award from the King of Sweden.

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