Level Up Your Melodies: 3 Tips That Will Change Everything

3 crucial strategies for levelling up your melodies, and making sure your lyrics and melodies connect and amplify each other.

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ABOUT KEPPIE

Hi I'm Keppie! I'm a professional songwriter, and songwriting teacher. I've been teaching song and lyric writing for over 10 years now for some of the best contemporary music colleges in the world— Berklee Online, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music's Open Academy, as well as for the Australian College of the Arts. At other times, I've taught for the Australian Institute of Music, as well as the LA School of Songwriting.

My goal is to help people write better songs! My experience in the classroom, with thousands of students at this point (many going on to find careers and success in music), is that your songwriting, like all things, can get better with meaningful, deliberate practice. My intention is to share the skills, knowledge, information, and ideas that I've gathered with anyone who wants to improve their songwriting.

Keppie's music is here:

#songwriting #howtowriteasong #melody #songwritingtips #howtowritesongs

[JimmyDeLocke]

I hate to sound like a fan, but this channel gives more concrete useful songwriting advice then any other one I've seen

[azhar]

It’s so sudden but watching this for a while and writing notes hits me with the fact that this video is free.
Made me wanna cry.
Thank you so much for all your guys videos.

[maestro]

Anita Bakers melodies are at times melancholy then at other time they soar like an eagle. And here I am today dedicating my life to song. Melody needs to be it own series please 🙏🏼

[kosmo_komputer]

The coolest exception to the stressed vs non stressed syllables concept that I recently found was "when the rain wa*SHES* you clean you'll know" in Fleetwood Mac's Dreams. It's crazy how that actually works better than if they stressed the first syllable of "washes", crazy how it even works at all and expresses the emotion that powerfully.

[melissakateproductions]

I've written two albums, but they are intuitive and built with the help of musician-musicians. Your mini-lectures are the information I've been looking for: craft, for when intuition or "inspiration" isn't there. I needed tools, and you've provided them. Nothing I don't KNOW, but nothing I've looked at as concrete technique. Your advice provides a structured playground in which the imagination can freely play.

[evanOseven]

Just to add to the pile on of positive reviews for this channel, I really appreciate the balance of technical advice and artistic effect of making different choices. Really informative videos, with great practical application! Love it!

[polmorgan]

I love the way Chaka Khan twists the words in 'Aint Nobody' the melody is the thing you hear on top with the words twisting in the shadows.

[andrewtea]

Thanks, Tip No. 2 was particularly helpful for me. I always find so many variations and cool little bits of melody for the same chords that I have problems to fit it all together into one song.

[SoraiaLMotta]

Awesome tips.

1) Use tonic words or sylab on the beat for more beliveble and " natural sounding".

2)

AA'BA principle.


3) tissitura

The range of note of each session
Session A from c3 to a3

Session B c4 to f4

Session C a4 to g5

Brings motion from abc.



4) intervals

Pre chorus

Max interval major 3rd

Chorus
Max interval > 3rd, like a 6 or 7th

Ex
i knew you were trouble by taylor swift

Need you now by lady A

5) contrast ascending and desending session.


Ex bury a friend by billie eilish.

[Jesse]

I've been songwriting for a long time, and still learned some new tricks here! A font of inspiration that I just keep going back to is (big surprise!) John and Sir Paul. I'd read somewhere (Alan Pollack maybe) that John tended to write harmonies first and then build the melody from the chords. I do this often too. I call it the "Michelangelo David Method" -- a reference to how Michelangelo could see the finished David from the shapes in the raw marble. In the same way, I can often hear the melody in the chords before formally writing it. Paul tended to go in the opposite way, and mostly writes the melody first and builds the harmony around it -- and he is an absolute master when it comes to melody. A third option is to start with a drum and a rhythm. It's a fun exercise choosing the opposite of your preferred method. Speaking of, your advice on rhythm is so important. I'm not a drummer, but can't tell you how many times since I've realized how important it is that I'll find myself counting "one-e-and-a-two-e" (because the good stuff rarely lands on the downbeat!) to a melody or chord changes in inspiring songs. Focusing on rhythm and how the words scan has upped my game a lot!

[mikebozik]

Thanks for the masterclass! I will be passing this along to a lot of friends!!!😊

[corrina]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you for summing up and giving me the information I have been searching for and dreaming about for over 30 years. You are an amazing teacher and I can't wait for the next class!

[douglasholdenjr.]

Love your lessons....love your channel!!!!❤❤🎉🎉

[OilCanHarryU]

Great ideas, delivered clearly and succinctly.

Very encouraging.

[tombuur]

Although there was nothing new to me, I still enjoyed listening. You are a great teacher.

[robertrussell]

So helpful and so natural, thank you so much, sincerely.

[monkberriedelight]

Quality content, great teacher - no fluff or padding

[bumblebee]

I was struggling to come up with my own melodies. This video has made it so much simpler. Now I finally have a foundation to know how to make a catchy melody. Thank you!!

[MelFinehout]

Literally got me to write the melody I was looking for. TY!!

[bangpow]

Wow, great video. There's a lot to chew on and it definitely deserves a re-watch or two. Thank you!