Placing that perfect lyrical idea into a melody without it sounding unnatural is a common obstacle to many songwriters. An unfortunate setting of a word or phrase can sink the emotion of the song, calling your listener's attention away from WHAT you are saying to HOW you are saying it. Writing Lyrics to Music analyzes a variety of song forms to instruct you on key lyrical and melodic components: stressed and unstressed beats, rhyme positions, melodic sections, and tone. You'll work through different musical feels and time signatures, and discover how the natural shapes of the words follow the shape of the melody, ultimately creating a much more expressive composition. This is a "can't miss" course - it's bound to take your writing to the next level. It will also make you a more valuable co-writer.
By the end of this course, you will:
- Identify stressed, non-stressed and secondary syllables in a lyric line
- Write your own lyric patterns to match musical patterns
- Identify rhyme and hook positions within a song
- Define 3/4 and 4/4 writing styles
- Create the melody, verse and chorus lyrics
- Work with multiple note values and swing time phrasing in 4/4 time
- Work with bridges and pre-choruses
- Gain independence and confidence in the writing process
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Stress in Language
- Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in a Lyric Line
- Notating the Rhythms of Stress Patterns
- Writing Your Own Patterns to Match Existing Patterns
- Identifying Secondary Stresses
Lesson 2: Musical Stress
- Identifying Stressed and Unstressed Positions in a Musical Bar
- Notating the Rhythms of Musical Stress Patterns
- Writing Your Own Lyric Patterns to Match Musical Patterns
Lesson 3: More Musical Stress
- Stressed Positions Caused by Isolating a Note
- Stressed Positions Caused by a Rest before a Note
- Stressed Positions Caused by Lesser Note Values Preceding a Note
- Stressed Positions Caused by Anticipating a Note
Lesson 4: Melody in 3/4 Time
- Stressed and Unstressed Syllables in Our First Song Section
- Matched and Unmatched Phrases in the Song Section
- Rhyme Positions in the Song Section
- The Hook Position in the Song Section
Lesson 5: Creating the Lyric
- Brainstorming a Title, Using a Rhyming Dictionary
- Developing Ideas That Move the Song Forward
- Identifying Special Positions in the Melody
- Creating Contrasting Ideas
- Finishing the Song
Lesson 6: Melody in 4/4 Time
- Creating a Straightforward Setting in 4/4 Time
- Working with Multiple Note Values
- Identifying Cases of Stressed Notes on Weak Beats
- Identifying Anticipations
- Working in a Verse/Chorus Format
Lesson 7: Creating the Verse/Chorus Lyric
- Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title
- Working with Longer and Shorter Phrases
- Working More Easily with Contrasting Sections
- Constructing Effective Bridges
Lesson 8: 4/4 time; Multiple Note Values
- Working with a More Complex Setting in 4/4 Time
- Working with Multiple Note Values
- Working with Sections Whose Note Values Are Different
- Identifying Anticipations More Quickly
- Working in a Simple Verse/Chorus Format
Lesson 9: Creating the Lyric
- Gaining Speed and Experience Brainstorming from a Title
- Working with a More Complicated Arrangement of Matched Phrases
- Writing Lyrics for More Complex Structures
- Developing Your Setting Up Rhyme Schemes
Lesson 10: 4/4 Swing Time; Phrasing
- Working with a More Complex Song Form
- Working with Swing Rhythm
- Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Analysis Process
- Skipping a Few Steps
Lesson 11: Creating the Lyric; Sectional Contrasts
- Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process
- Dealing Effectively with More Complex Structure
- Working with Two Kinds of Bridges: Prechoruses (or "Transitional Bridges") and Primary Bridges
Lesson 12: The Last Mile
- Gaining Independence and Confidence in the Writing Process
- Working with Two Kinds of Bridges
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
This course does not have any prerequisites.
Textbook(s)
- Writing Better Lyrics (2nd Edition) by Pat Pattison (Writer's Digest Books, 2010)
- Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure by Pat Pattison (Berklee Press, 2002)
- Songwriting: Essential Guide to Rhyming (2nd Edition) by Pat Pattison (Berklee Press, 2014)
Recording
- Students are required to record themselves and save the recording in MP3 format. You will have a tool to use for this purpose inside the learning environment. Alternatively, you can use software such as GarageBand (Mac), Audacity (PC), or any DAW.
Hardware
- Students are required to capture their performance, as well as monitor audio output. Options include:
- Input (one required):
- XLR microphone and audio interface (recommended option)
- USB microphone
- Built-in computer/mobile device microphone
- Output (one required):
- Headphones (required if multitracking and/or input monitoring)
- Studio monitors and audio interface
- Built-in or external speakers
- Input (one required):
- Note: Depending on your setup, you may also need an XLR cable, microphone stand, and pop filter.
Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author
Pat Pattison is a professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches lyric writing and poetry. In addition to his four books, Songwriting Without Boundaries (Penguin/Random House), Writing Better Lyrics, 2nd Edition (Penguin/Random House), The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure (Hal Leonard), and The Essential Guide to Rhyming (Hal Leonard), Pat has developed several online courses for Berklee Online. He has written more than 50 articles for various blogs and magazines, including American Songwriter, and has chapters in both The Poetics of American Song Lyrics (University Press of Mississippi) and The Handbook on Creative Writing (Edinburgh University Press).
Pat continues to present songwriting clinics across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. His students include Grammy-winners, professional songwriters, and major recording artists, including Gillian Welch, John Mayer, Tom Hambridge, Joelle James, Karmin, American Authors, Ingrid Andress, Liz Longley, Charlie Worsham, Greg Becker, Justin Tranter, and many more.
For Berklee Online, Pat has authored the following courses: Lyric Writing: Writing From the Title, Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music, Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies, Creative Writing: Poetry, and Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice. He also co-authored the graduate course Songwriting Tools and Techniques. Read Less
Instructor
Gabrielle Michelle Tulloch – know artistically and professionally as Gabby Michelle – is a songwriter, producer, music educator, and performing artist from Worcester, MA. Writing songs since the age of nine, Gabby studied at Berklee College of Music, where she was recognized for her creative approaches to songwriting and impactful lyrical content. After studying under his mentorship, Gabby has also served as the teaching assistant for renowned author, songwriter, and professor, Pat Pattison.
A passionate advocate for mental health, Gabby studied Music Therapy and psychology as well. She has performed and participated in a variety of mental health awareness showcases and events and, while a student, received an award of recognition for her contributions to mental health in the Berklee community. She credits her Music Therapy background for providing a more thoughtful and informed understanding of the relationship between music and the mind, and for recognizing the value of creative arts as a form of both communication and self-expression.
Now working out of Nashville, TN, she continues to strengthen her craft while writing songs for her own artistry, other artists, and for sync placement. In addition, Gabby serves as a songwriting and lyric coach for writers across the globe, and strives to empower other writers to find their own, unique voice through the art of songwriting. Read Less
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Lyric Writing: Writing Lyrics to Music can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Major
Related Music Career Role
Employers look for skills learned in this course, when hiring for the following music career role:
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
