Your song

The plan

Week	What you do
1	The form and the chart: intro, verse, chorus, ending. At least 16 bars in all.
2	The arrangement: which chords, which voicings, which strumming pattern, which tuning.
3	Tightening it up and recording.

1. The form

Start from your verse and chorus. Add:

• an intro: your riff, or the last two bars of the chorus, like a turnaround;
• a variation in the second verse: a different strumming pattern, triads, a riff;
• an ending: the chorus twice, then a ringing chord, or a harmonic.

Write the form on a sheet of paper: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, ending.

2. The arrangement

For each section, choose one idea from this course, no more:

• extended chords or a reharmonization on a chorus;
• a mode for the solo, or an arpeggio phrase;
• a ghost-note groove, or an odd-time bar to surprise;
• an alternate tuning or some bottleneck for color.

3. Recording

In the Studio, build your chart with drums and bass, then record yourself over it. Or record yourself alone, with your phone. Play the song all the way through, several times, and keep the best take.

Listen to yourself

When you listen back, ask three questions: can you recognize the chorus? Does the song move forward? Does it really end? Fix one thing only, then record again.

Well done: this is the last lesson of the course. You now know how to learn on your own, transcribe, arrange and write.

You’ve got it when…

• Your song has at least 16 bars, with a verse and a chorus
• Each section has an arrangement idea
• You’ve played and recorded your song all the way through