H.E.R.’s BEST Tips For Writing Catchy Melodies

Learn how 5x Grammy-winning artist H.E.R.'s turns a story into a #1 song.

In this class, H.E.R. takes you into her studio and teaches you her complete songwriting process. Follow along as she writes 2 brand new songs from start to finish, right in front of you, explaining everything she’s doing and thinking along the way.

00:00 Intro
00:21 Mumbling
03:22 Tip #1: Repetition & Variations
04:23 Tip #2: Playing with the Rhythm
05:46 Finding More Melodies
07:13 Tip #3: Vowels and Sounds
08:41 Finding a Concept
10:07 Adjusting the Melody
12:05 Tip #4: Being More Intentional
12:55 Tip #5: Verse vs Pre-Chorus
13:45 Tip #6: Ascending vs Descending Melody
14:35 Tip #7: Higher Octave
15:18 Applying the Tips

[stardust]

This is a complete artist, a guiter and a phone and water on the table only... notepads and nothing more, take her anywhere, even in the desert she will still make magic

[joshuaallenzurbano]

She’s amazing and she can teach too. That’s really rare for gifted artists.

[FooltheMane]

"when it feels so good i dont want it to end" is what i was hearing in the melody.. but i was also smiling because shes just a great energy

[ArcadeDrifterMusic]

Wow, this was one of the best melody tutorials I've watched. I have to admit, from my experience, music video tutorials are usually some of the most commonly unhelpful, and it takes a lot to find one that goes beyond the surface level stuff I already know. Studio seems to be pushing that boundary, and I am enjoying it immensely!

[the_psychic_ward]

This is a gift i took way too long to open, but here it is. 🙏🏽

[jayt]

I'm really looking forward to the finished version of this song.I"m feeling the vibes.This has all the feel of an absolute classic. track.

[ebenezerofei]

Thanks so much for giving us this kind of videos, i just created a whole verse and a hook with this idea🙏🏾

[raymondwittah]

Pretty babe you did I great job. You just took away the barrier that lyrics put our way. Here, we start with melody to generate the lyrics. This is wonderful. It is the secret to melodious songs. There it comes the word " melodious". Let's concentrate on the melody first, if it is nice others will fall in place. A lot of people ignore it. Babe, can you try with notes of the pentatonic scale i.e do, re, me, so, la. And select the notes from them. They work very well. These are the notes we use in playing guitar solos. You can interchange those notes to get your variety. Eg. do, re, me, la, so, re. Etc. To get more ideas . Thanks.

[lowfilia]

A verse of her talking about how “I ate all the tomatoes” would also rhyme and would be lovely. 😆❤❤❤

[mrswaggmusic]

She is a legend a one of a kind I knew when she first started yrs ago.. Awards show prove it!! ❤❤❤❤🎉🎉

[Tweedilydum]

I’m natural and ethereal essence for sure not sure about a third. Keeping things relaxed and not to sculpted is key for me.

[TonyYikes]

I would love a H.E.R. and Lauryn Hill album

[rethomazure]

This taught me how to make music in a way that I could understand.

Dream of mine is to be in a session with H.E.R

[cjwise]

The absolute hardest part for me has always been coming up with the central idea after finding a melody. So many options. I feel that I’m a good melody writer, so when I get a good one, I don’t want to mess it up with mediocre lyrics. That’s always my barrier

[z.z.onichi]

She don't even need a song, she can just mumble whatever and sounds legit

[irvdaphenom]

Wow. I’ve been a songwriter for 15 years & this is the best I’ve seen the process explained. She’s definitely got the gift of TEACHING as well as being a phenomenal artist. 🍷

[deanieharP]

I would love to work with her this is my element ultimately

[feezthedeal]

Exactly.
You literally write in Na, na na na Na's, until the developing melody Starts to develop towards certain vowels and suff.
There goes your first line of, what usually becomes a hook.
Walla..

[lylecaine]

No one's ever written over that chord progression or sung those melodies before. Innovative, extraordinary, groundbreaking stuff for sure.