Songwriting Craft and Practice: Melody & Chords

This course is part of Songwriting Craft and Practice Specialization

Instructor: Alexander Wand

Included with Learn more

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Construct original melodic shapes and rhythms that interact effectively with underlying chord structures.
Build foundational chord progressions using major, minor, and descending bassline harmony patterns.
Translate creative prompts into fully formed foundational musical ideas and song drafts.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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This course is part of the Songwriting Craft and Practice Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
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There are 2 modules in this course

This course covers the two things most songs are built from: melody and harmony. We start with a prompt and a deadline, because the fastest way into songwriting is to write, and to keep writing weekly alongside people doing the same. You'll share songs in progress and learn to give each other specific, useful feedback. We'll take melody apart (its shape, its rhythm, the way it leans with or against the words), then build chord progressions in major and minor keys and over descending basslines. By the end, you'll be able to craft melodies, construct chord progressions, and put them together into complete song ideas.

Welcome! This introductory module will walk you through the course structure, show you the tools and resources for recording and producing your songs, and jump right into your first songwriting prompt. You'll also meet the other songwriters here, post your first works-in-progress on Song Share, and start listening to each other's.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt1 plugin

1 videoTotal 19 minutes

🎥 Introduction Lecture19 minutes

3 readingsTotal 40 minutes

🎤 Resources for recording your songs15 minutes
👥 Song Share Group10 minutes
🎸 Music Instrument Resources15 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

▶︎ Songwriting: Poetry Prompt60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 20 minutes

🗣️ Introductions and Song Share Discussion20 minutes

1 pluginTotal 5 minutes

🎶 House Carpenter – Jean Ritchie5 minutes

In this module, we'll explore the essentials of melody and chords. You'll experiment with melodic shapes and learn how melodies and chords interact. We'll also cover chord progressions and descending basslines. Listening examples come from Nina Simone, Björk, Woody Guthrie, Nanci Griffith, and Caetano Veloso. By the end of this module, you'll be able to write melodies and build chord progressions for your own songs.

What's included

2 videos4 readings2 peer reviews2 discussion prompts14 plugins

2 videosTotal 132 minutes

🎥 Melody Lecture51 minutes
🎥 Chords Lecture81 minutes

4 readingsTotal 105 minutes

📖 Preparation: Melody15 minutes
🎧 Additional Materials (Optional)60 minutes
📖 Preparation: Chords15 minutes
🎧 Additional Materials (Optional)15 minutes

2 peer reviewsTotal 120 minutes

▶︎ Songwriting: Melody Prompt60 minutes
▶︎ Songwriting: Chords Prompt60 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

🗣️ Discussion: Melody20 minutes
🗣️ Discussion: Chords20 minutes

14 pluginsTotal 66 minutes

🎶 Feeling Good – Nina Simone3 minutes
🎼 Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson5 minutes
🎵 Strange Powers – Magnetic Fields3 minutes
🎶 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles5 minutes
🎼 Scarborough Fair – Simon & Garfunkel (traditional)5 minutes
🎵 Possibly Maybe – Björk5 minutes
🎶 Pastures of Plenty – Woody Guthrie5 minutes
🎼 House Carpenter – Chris Cohen5 minutes
🎵 Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen5 minutes
🎶 You Can’t Go Home Again – Nanci Griffith5 minutes
🎼 Sonhos – Caetano Veloso5 minutes
🎵 Vilarejo – Marisa Monte5 minutes
🎶 Oxum – Carioca Trio5 minutes
🎼 Canto de Ordeño – Simón Díaz5 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Alexander Wand

University of California, Santa Cruz

2 Courses12 learners

Offered by

University of California, Santa Cruz

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