When 12-time Grammy winner John Legend released “Free” in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, he called it a prayer for peace. Now the recipient of the first-ever Recording Academy Global Impact Award teaches you how he wrote and recorded the song—and his process for creating hits like “All of Me” and “Glory.” Layer melodies and lyrics, develop your musical point of view, and make music that makes the moment.
Overview
Syllabus
- Meet Your Instructor
- John Legend, the 12-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, welcomes you to his class and shares what you’ll learn: his process for writing songs that capture a moment—or speak to a movement.
- Songwriting With Melody
- Without a great melody, your song can fall flat. Learn how John uses mumble tracks to spark melodic ideas as he shares how he wrote “All of Me,” “Again,” and “Dope.”
- Song Structure
- Song structure plays a critical role in your music. John explains how you can use structure to tell a musical and lyrical story through your songs.
- Choosing Subject Matter
- Whether you want to write soaring love ballads like “Ordinary People” or capture a moment, subject matter is a key part of your identity as a songwriter. Learn how John finds inspiration in his life and the world around him every day.
- Developing Your Musical Point of View
- Learn how to write through a lens that reflects your unique musical point of view, and turn your experiences into songs that resonate with your audience.
- Making a Movement: “Glory” Song Study
- John deconstructs his process for writing “Glory,” the Oscar-winning closing song for the film Selma.
- Finding Your Artistic Voice and Style
- Learn about John’s upbringing in gospel music and how it influences his style. Opening up about his experience covering Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love Today,” he demonstrates how other artists’ songs can help you find your own voice.
- Writing Lyrics: Communicating Your Message
- The first step to writing lyrics is knowing what you want to say. In this lesson, John walks you through how he wrote “Free” in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
- Writing Lyrics: Using Themes & Motifs
- John shows you how to use lyrical motifs and themes in your songwriting to make an impact on your listener.
- Making Lyrics Your Own
- Learn to use rhyme schemes, word choice, and your personal experiences to write songs that are unique to you.
- Becoming “Promiscuous Collaborator”
- John calls himself a “promiscuous collaborator” because he loves to write songs with other artists. Learn how to be a songwriter others want to work with.
- Blending Musical Genres
- John shares how blending genres can help you create your own distinct sound.
- Recording Lead Vocals
- John takes you into the recording booth to lay down the lead vocals for “Free.” Learn his techniques and follow along by recording your own demo.
- Recording Background Vocals
- With the lead vocal tracks recorded, John turns to composing and recording the background vocals for “Free.” Learn how to create the dynamic sound of a choir as John layers his vocals.
- Deep Dive: Vocal Arrangement
- Learn John’s tricks for vocal arrangement—and how chord progressions can guide your composition.
- Finishing Your Song: Editing
- How do you make a good song great? John brings “Free” into the control room to demonstrate his process for vocal comping and other editing techniques that can elevate your songs.
- Performing Live
- John shares tips for powering up your live performances, and he welcomes a gospel choir to perform “Free” together for the first time.
- Bonus: Advice for Aspiring Songwriters
- John shares his final thoughts on being a professional singer-songwriter, and encourages you to keep writing until you discover greatness.
Taught by
John Legend
