In this class, songwriter/author Jimmy Kachulis reveals how to construct strong, expressive melodies that your audiences will remember. It begins with a focus on rhythm, showing how it can support the lyric's meanings. Then, you'll learn how the precise use of pitch can strengthen a melody, making it natural to sing, and supporting the lyric's expressive goals and possibilities. You'll learn effective ways to write melodies over common modes and chords, and develop these ideas into complete songs.
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Creating Rhythmic Ideas for Your Lyrics
- Lyric Setting and Emphasis
- Phrase Length and Space
- Phrase Beginnings/Stressed Words
- Phrase Endings
- Downbeat Endings for the Title
Lesson 2: Rhythm Ideas for Building Song Sections
- Repetition
- Contrasting Ideas
- Number of Phrases
- Contrasting Sections: Verse/Prechorus/Chorus
Lesson 3: Creating Melodic Ideas On Chord Changes
- One Chord Tone and Decorations
- Two Chord Tones and Passing Notes
- Arpeggios and Scale Lines
Lesson 4: Chord-Tone Melodies in Song Sections
- Keep the Rhythm, Change the Shape
- Repetition, Sequence, Inversion
- Shortening and Lengthening the Motive
Lesson 5: Melodies across Chord Changes
- Connecting Chords
- In Sync Phrasing, Out of Sync Phrasing, Longer Melody Phrasing
- Cadences: Major and Minor
Lesson 6: Developing Melodies across Chords into Song Sections
- Verse/Refrain
- Verse/Chorus
- Verse/Prechorus/Chorus
Lesson 7: Blues Melodies
- Major Pentatonic and Major Blues Melody
- Uses of Major Blues Melodies
- Minor Pentatonic and Minor Blues Melody
Lesson 8: Developing Ideas into Songs
- Developing a Major Blues Song
Lesson 9: Melodies over Modes
- Mixolydian Melody Over One Chord
- Mixolydian Melody Over Diatonic and Fast Chords
- Dorian Melody Over One Chord
- Dorian Melody Over Diatonic and Fast Chords
Lesson 10: Developing Modal Ideas into Songs
- Mixolydian Song
- Dorian Song
Lesson 11: Creating Melodic Ideas Against Chord Changes
- Two-Part Counterpoint: Parallel Motion
- Similar, Oblique, Contrary
Lesson 12: Using Counterpoint in Songs
- Different Bass In Verse and Chorus
- Sections Against the Same Bass Riff
- Song Against a Melodic Riff
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
- Familiarity with popular music song form
- Basic proficiency on a harmonic instrument
- Ability to create simple short melodic ideas
- Ability to sing melodies or have a vocalist sing them for you
- Ability to create original lyrics (optional - will be provided, if needed)
Textbook(s)
- The Songwriter's Workshop: Melody by Jimmy Kachulis (Berklee Press, 2003)
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.
Instrument
- Harmonic instrument, such as guitar or piano/keyboard
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
Jimmy Kachulis teaches songwriting and lyric writing at Berklee, conducts clinics nationwide, and has helped thousands of songwriters develop and maximize their skills. Look through the bios of some of today's best songwriters, and his name comes up again and again; his students' works have earned Grammy nominations, and been recorded by a vast range of artists on major and independent labels. An accomplished composer, arranger, and conductor, he has worked with great artists like George Coleman, Jon Hendricks, John Lewis, and Martha Reeves, and his compositions have been featured on scores from The Sopranos to Touched by an Angel. Jimmy's songs and arrangements for "Island Breeze," by legendary guitarist, Eric Gale, have been re-released and distributed worldwide under the Warner Brothers label.
Instructor
Chloe O’Brien is an alternative rock/pop singer, songwriter, producer, and educator from Queenstown, New Zealand. After moving to Washington State as a teen, she leaned on music throughout her adolescence. She threw herself into the alt-rock scene of the Pacific Northwest, playing in several bands and discovering her love for writing songs.
Following her studies of songwriting and music business at Berklee College of Music, Chloe has gone on to self release an EP, a full length album and several singles under the moniker Neia Jane. With a strong focus on songwriting, she has an ever evolving sound, remaining rooted in alternative rock while exploring other genres such as indie folk, singer songwriter, electronic pop, and dance music.Now based in Los Angeles, Chloe teaches songwriting, musicianship, and production via private lessons and as an instructor at Point Blank Music School. She is also the chapter co-lead of Beats By Girlz Los Angeles. Read Less
Instructor
Christopher North is a singer/songwriter (eclectic albums, songs for film and children’s TV), award winning composer, multi-instrumentalist (Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, CBGBs, Grammy award-winning recordings) and conductor (Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Space). A Texan in NYC since 1997, he’s thriving in Brooklyn, having released 20 genre crossing albums and composed scores / songs to over 60 films (inc. award-winning and Grammy Nominated). A Sundance Fellow, collaborating brings out his best, for which VARIETY says he's a "notable asset” to work “well served by a fine soundtrack.” With studies at University of North Texas, a BM from SMU and a M.Mus from Brooklyn College, he is energized by learning, teaching and sharing what he loves as an Asst. Professor at Berklee in Boston and Berklee Online.
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Songwriting: Melody can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Majors
Related Music Career Roles
Employers look for skills learned in this course, when hiring for the following music career roles:
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.
