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Music Theory for Songwriters Masterclass

J. Anthony Allen

Hey there, I'm J. Anthony Allen. Let's ditch the stuffy theory lectures and get straight to writing killer music.

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Hey there, I'm J. Anthony Allen. Let's ditch the stuffy theory lectures and get straight to writing killer music.

This isn't your typical theory class. We're here to decode what actually matters for songwriting. No memorizing obscure rules or dust-covered textbooks. Just practical knowledge that'll have you crafting better tunes from day one.

What we'll tackle:

  • Writing songs that resonate, not just follow rules

  • Cracking the code of hit songs (and using it in your own work)

  • Mastering the Circle of Fifths without the headache

  • Reading music notation that's actually useful for songwriters

  • Breaking "rules" creatively once you know them

Whether you're just starting out or looking to shake up your songwriting routine, this course meets you where you're at. No prerequisites needed - just bring your passion and an open mind.

By the end, you'll have the tools to:

  • Craft melodies that stick

  • Build chord progressions with purpose

  • Understand why great songs work (and how to make your own)

  • Push your songwriting boundaries with confidence

I've helped over a million students cut through the noise and focus on what matters. With a 100% question answer rate, I've got your back every step of the way.

Ready to revolutionize your approach to songwriting? Let's do this.

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Apply essential music theory concepts directly to songwriting, enhancing your compositions
  • Read basic music notation and analyze popular songs to uncover the theory behind their appeal
  • Craft catchy melodies and chord progressions that grab listeners' attention
  • Master the circle of fifths to unlock endless songwriting possibilities

Syllabus

Introduction
My Approach to Music Theory
What We Will Cover in this Class
Tools You Will Need
Read more
[DOWNLOAD] Staff Paper
Ok - don't freak out. We need to learn a bit about notation, but we don't have to be good at it.
Do we need to read music?
The Elements of the Score
Pitch Names
Octaves
Worksheets!
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet No. 1
This section is all about reading rhythms on the score.
Languages
Rhythmic Divisions
Dots
Rests
Time Signatures
Ties
Triplets
Musictheory.net Exercises
Ok, one last section on reading music.
Accidentals
Sharps
Flats
Accidental Behavior and Naturals
More Score Symbols
Back to Musictheory.net
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet 2
Ok, let's see if we can make some sense of this score!
Places to find scores online for Practice
Tips for Practicing
A Reminder About Why we are Doing this
Ok, let's get into music theory. First up: Scales.
What are Scales, and why do we care?
Definitions: Chromatic and Diatonic
"Ordered Pitch Class Collections"
Chromatic Scales
Next we need to learn the major scale. But don't worry - we aren't going to be memorizing scales here.
Whole-Steps and Half-Steps
The Whole-Half Pattern
Tonic
Practice
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet No. 3
Let's take what we know so far and make some music with it.
Writing a Melody with Major Scales
Steps, Skips, and Leaps
Melody Analysis
What Does it Mean to be “in key"?
Ok - moving on to Keys!
Why We Care About Keys?
Identifying Key Signatures
Other Ways of Finding the Key
What Key Should I be Writing in?
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet No. 4
Next we need to learn what chords sound good together, and how to figure that out.
What are chords?
Building Triads
Roots
The Diatonic Chord Progression
Roman Numerals
Piano Man, Billy Joel (Song Analysis #1)
All Too Well, Taylor Swift (Song Analysis #2)
How do triads actually work? Let's pick some apart.
The Different Types of Triads
What is inside of a triad?
The Third Holds The Power!
In this section, let's learn about those pesky diminished chords, and a new one too.
Diminished Triads
Octaves and Inversions
Chords on the Guitar
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet No. 5
More than just a silly thing to hang on the wall of your band room!
What is the Circle of Fifths?
Using The Circle to Find Chords
Using the Circle to Find More Interesting Chords
Borrowing from Closely Related Keys
Ok, let's write a song using what we've learned so far.
Verse Chord Progression
Chorus Chord Progression
Verse Melody
Chorus Melody
[DOWNLOAD] Song File
Full Song
[DOWNLOAD] Full Song Download
The next frontier! 7th Chords.
What are 7th Chords?
The 4 types of 7th chords
Major 7th Chords
Minor 7th Chords
Dominant 7th Chords
Blues and the 7th Chord
The "Psycho Chord"
[DOWNLOAD] Worksheet No. 6
Finally! Let's dive in to minor keys.
Welcome to Minor Keys
Finding Minor by Alternations to Major
Finding Minor by the Whole-Half Pattern
Finding Minor using the Relative Major

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Grounds learners in essential music theory concepts and guides them in applying them creatively to their own work
Features a unique and engaging approach that emphasizes practical knowledge and hands-on application
Instructors have a proven track record of helping over a million students enhance their musical abilities
Suitable for a wide range of learners from beginners looking to build a foundation to more experienced songwriters seeking to refine their craft
Includes a series of interactive exercises, worksheets, and downloadable materials to enhance comprehension and provide practical application

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Music Theory for Songwriters Masterclass with these activities:
Watch video tutorials on music theory
Expand your knowledge of music theory by watching video tutorials from experienced musicians.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
  • Find video tutorials on YouTube or other platforms.
  • Watch the tutorials and take notes.
  • Apply what you learn to your own music.
Read 'Music Theory for Dummies'
Gain a comprehensive understanding of music theory concepts by reading this accessible guide.
View Piano & Keyboard All-in-One For Dummies (For... on Amazon
Show steps
Attend a music theory workshop
Gain insights from music theory experts by attending a workshop.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Complete music theory exercises
Test your understanding of music theory concepts by completing practice drills.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
  • Find online or textbook exercises.
  • Attempt to solve the exercises.
  • Check your answers and learn from mistakes.
Create a presentation on a music theory topic
Demonstrate your understanding of music theory by creating a presentation on a specific topic.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
  • Choose a topic to present on.
  • Research and gather information.
  • Create a presentation using slides or other visuals.
  • Present your findings to others.
Compose a melody or chord progression
Put your music theory knowledge into practice by composing your own musical pieces.
Browse courses on Melody
Show steps
  • Choose a key and scale.
  • Experiment with different notes and chords.
  • Create a melody or chord progression that you enjoy.
Collaborate on a songwriting project
Share your music with others and learn from their feedback by collaborating on a songwriting project.
Browse courses on Songwriting
Show steps
  • Find a partner or group to collaborate with.
  • Share your musical ideas.
  • Work together to create a song.

Career center

Learners who complete Music Theory for Songwriters Masterclass will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Course image
Effort
6 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
J. Anthony Allen
Language
English
Good to know
Grounds learners in essential music theory concepts and guides them in applying them creatively to their own work
Features a unique and engaging approach that emphasizes practical knowledge and hands-on application
Instructors have a proven track record of helping over a million students enhance their musical abilities
Suitable for a wide range of learners from beginners looking to build a foundation to more experienced songwriters seeking to refine their craft
Includes a series of interactive exercises, worksheets, and downloadable materials to enhance comprehension and provide practical application
Share and help others discover this course.
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