How to Write A Song: Creating Effective Choruses | Songwriting | Tips & Techniques

[@DepressedCapitalist]

Man this brings me the best memories! I took "The Music of India and The Middle East" and "Songwriting I and II" with Mr. Kachulis at Berklee in 1998. Among the best courses in my entire dual major. Jimmy is a master at explaining (with the authority of those who know their craft) and at getting the best out of students. I hope you see this Jimmy. Thank you for your teaching. Cheers from Argentina.

[@carlos.polaris]

This is a nice intro to what we need to learn first when songwriting: the goal is to provide the song with a DIRECTION in the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic senses.

[@sunshower1972]

Does anyone know a resource that displays the 24-25 cadences that he's talking about in the video?

[@o.b.v.i.u.s]

One of the two most effective ways to create a chorus is to do it exactly the same. The other most effective way is to do it completely _differently_ . Then there's the third way, to do it half the same and half differently.

[@vshyam121]

Wow I was trying to make an existing chorus of mine better and this two-section concept totally gave me the change it needed.

[@bbibby271]

I'm really enjoying these analyses by Jimmy Kachulis. I'm now off to watch EVERY SINGLE video by Prof. Kachulis. So many songwriting videos are vague and not really helpful. E.g. "You need to write catchy choruses. There you go, write your own catchy chorus." There is so much useful information here which can help in analysing existing songs, as well as writing new ones.

[@Cleveland_Chris]

This is the voice of an angel!

[@eatthebook144]

Chris Zano 😂😂😂😂😂

[@geraldedwards5762]

I just sing the words I want to put to music in a variety of different ways... I measure the analog pitch variation across time and graph plotted points (to detemine key center as I am unable to do this by ear) on the lead line... the lead shows what available chords can be used to blend with the note and how it affects the linear progression (for example: if the melodic note is G- you could choose several chord types that include G such as Csus, Cm, Cmaj, Am7, C5, etc.... plus taking into acount the directional sound as it moves on (each chord movement has a slighty different sound and feel as it moves to the successive chords ) this will also determine modality or borrowed chords of the underlying structure which influences the sound... I can then choose the type of chord colors and the entire piece is structured in a matter of seconds. Categorization of each individual component involved in music makes it much easier to decide at a glance. Certain intervals and chord types lend themselves to particular types of sounds and instrumental colors... Recording the vocal tracks without errant noises present does pose a problem I have not found a solution to fix (without access to a recording studio) but for just 'writing' the melody and harmony out it works perfectly. Then I can just choose which musical variant I like best...

[@enlightenedapple]

Incredible. Thank you.

[@sebastianf9503]

I love this, thank you so much

[@StevePhillips]

Thank you for these tips, I also like the singing because it's musical...

[@unknownfancy]

I really...really find him so good. I can understand him so well.

[@josephheikes1459]

A great lesson for any level.

[@emilius.525]

I'm taking notes

[@2bored4life]

These videos are like comfort food.

[@jzsuperstar9948]

If I couldn't see my screen I would swear Alan Alda was giving me chorus writing lessons : ) Great Stuff Jimmy!

[@brianmoyer5523]

Love these Berklee videos, they are definitely helpful!

[@image30p]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing that breakdown. Now I think I can understand why those are such effective choruses.

[@alfredovelasquez4038]

Thanks for your knowledge !!

[@CrystalDennisMusic]

Man I've been trying so hard to write songs and none of the concepts clicked til I saw this and your chord progressions video. Great teaching, can't wait to use these tips.

[@AllieMetcalfgoogle]

No stage fright in this guy. Kudos.

[@greekhop]

Great info here.. thnx for the video Jimmy!

[@johnpucilla7157]

Very detailed tutorial. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Regards, songwriter, John Pucilla

[@manuelahe_]

Thank you for the lesson 🙏 I don't know who made those chord diagrams for you, but those charts show a B7 not Bm7 and an Am7/D not a C/D (Although I guess you could maybe call that a Cadd6/D or a D9sus2 but uhhh). I think you played what you said but those diagrams are off- a notice for everyone who doesn't know those chords yet or how they are named. I'm pretty sure he plays a regular E-string rooted jazz m7 chord for Bm7 and Am7, then for C/D (or Dm7 in an inversion, probably why he just referred to it as D, the m7 bit isn't mention to avoid the confusion because ideally it would be a major D resolving to G as a V-I perfect cadence. The base melody still accomplishes this with the root D and D7's minor 7th interval is still there resolving to G's major 3rd.) he kinda plays what the chord diagram shows but just mute the bottom string so you don't get that extra note,, just play the middle four strings [kinda the Am7 chart shows, even though they could have let the bottom string ring out on that one 🙉].

[@na_haynes]

His speaking voice is nice, I wonder why his singing is such.

[@timyoung5230]

How much to take a course? Do you critique? I would be doing this to improve my writing for my own performing and recording, not pitching.

[@stephenmosack4496]

Best tutorial I've found yet. Thank you. Btw, your voice reminds me of Alan Alda.

[@jimmacmillan3196]

Always thought How Sweet It Is was written by James Taylor

[@stillwild2010]

It was!!!

[@victorcoyenn]

Auto-generated subtitles say at 00:00 "Hi, this is Jamaica Julis."

[@Zohann035]

hahahahahah

[@jyca3101]

hello Jamaica Julis how are you

[@ralfireps2421]

great teacher

[@waxwings512]

Still have a lot to learn.. Thanks for this precious video!

[@MarkArtyniuk]

excellent! thanks for sharing this valuable knowledge.

[@ryanvicente9072]

Is this "Whiplash", but for guitar? 😭

[@matickotnik6893]

Best tenor ever :)

[@HeatherDMorris]

Nice!

[@jackstaming]

Good tips. You remind me of Billy Joel

[@Callai101]

Great video

[@gabi.garcez]

Thanks

[@knotty.rancour6187]

Great stuff.

[@penayoung]

Another great video! Thanks!

[@strassercaster]

this came on as i was falling asleep. At first i was like what is this ? I thought i got to turn this off what the hell a wanna be musician. So i got up and went to change it but instead rewound it and read the comments. so I gave it an open mind. I am feel glad that I did . I feel a lot better about what I do musically now . This was a very simple lesson at first i almost gonged it and left a nasty comment. It is a good lesson and i took something from it.

[@danbell7096]

This guys tone is killing me

[@TheNamesDitto]

This guy is pretty good

[@evanantonola4935]

I create songs first from humming the melody, then add lyrics. The tempo depends on emotion in the song. The intervals are also anchored to emotions. The feelings. Im fine without knowing notations and all. Now I see this and i'm having doubts with my natural talent. :)

[@CarnivoreIntelligence]

And, always start with the chorus. 😊

[@andrewtufano]

This is great. Have always been familiar with cadences in chord progressions but never in melody pitch or rhythm. Super helpful! I'm currently writing and posting 100 songs in 100 days on my channel, and would love to hear any feedback from fellow musicians or songwriters reading this, or anyone interested in songwriting!

[@Dizzeeyout]

Congratulations on competing your 100 songs in 100 days project!!! Very inspiring 👏

[@andrewtufano]

+Isabella Mukasa thanks Isabella! :)

[@MichaelAntus]

Much respect...

[@kponly]

wow, this one is actually helpful.

[@kennethcarvalho3684]

If youre lost and you look you will find me.. DD.E... Eeeeee. Very nice instructions thank you.

[@gerardgerard8344]

Thank you Jimmy for your tips! Cheers, G :D London

[@pierrehuarnizmusic]

Whose song is calling all angels please let me know!!

[@yeniarivarola]

gracias

[@tylerthompson1842]

Will you sing at my wedding? Beautiful, just beautiful.

[@A7X4evrr]

If you close your eyes it sounds like Christopher Walken is teaching you how to write a chorus

[@KristopherWilliams_tahmson]

you're awesome

[@scottslater7704]

those that can - do....those that can't - teach

[@jiraffejimmy2159]

You remind me of my grandpa

[@kennethcarvalho3684]

Seems to be a course for intermediate or advanced songwriters

[@jz5005]

How come he sounds like Alan Alda?

[@HABLA_GUIRRRI]

not sure i can tune out the singing jimmy ---- take some lessons?

[@lostecho4394]

He's giving songwriting lessons. It isn't about the singing.

[@guitaria6]

hes a songwriter not a singer

[@rjsrox07]

lol

[@PhillipGregoryMusic]

no joke, that lesson was amazing but by god please never sing another song in your life!

[@mrsimpson2022]

Wait is this a Saturday night live skit? I keep waiting for Chris Farley to bust through the greenscreen and sing harmony.

[@JeromeCat8]

Lol, I guess it´s diffrent from person to person, but I don´t use all that theory, I just play stuff that sounds cool & start rhyming with pure emotions.

[@aspinellkt7424]

Jerome Cat thts true but its jus d science behind it

[@matthelion]

Jerome Cat - You're a lyrical genius

[@herbertgarf]

Junge, dein Gesang ist grausam. Warum? Weil die Stimme vollkommen unnötiger Weise verstellt wird.

[@sifugurusensei]

My gosh, I thought I was bad at singing.

[@filipandric8069]

Ok, but you dont have a sense of pitch

[@sm-iz9do]

Please talk but no singing!!!!

[@Xergius]

I don't mean to be rude.. you have an awesome video here and I really like your talking voice. I could listen to you forever. But when you sing it's like a tortured hard-hearing troll comes out to play. Have you tried singing with your normal/talking voice? Like I said, great stuff though! I will watch more of your vids.

[@puppyofwrath]

Well, that's pretty rude.

[@MisterRlGHT]

Xergius Nice one! Maybe you can get a big-$$$ job watching free educational vids then posting irrelevant cruel comments about all the presenters.

[@lostecho4394]

This video isn't about singing. It is about songwriting, so your comment is simply rude and irrellevant to the topic or putpose of the video.

[@guitaria6]

disrespectful for no reason