SONGWRITING CHALLENGE 2024

WORKBOOK
best music coach

SUPER SONGWRITER
YOUR WORKBOOK
LET’S DO THIS!

www.bestmusiccoach.com
 your coach
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 2

Dan Spencer
Dan Spencer has 10+ years of music
coaching experience and is the author
of many books in the “Best Books for
Beginners” series with 7,000+ books sold
since 2020.

His studio experience includes writing, playing on, and

producing indie charting songs in various genres for indie
labels. Dan’s live performance experience includes perfor-
mances in most modern genres including, CCM, blues, funk,
fusion, rock, and more.

Dan is currently coaching students, recording, producing

songs, writing more books, and can be seen and heard as a
music expert on TV stations, The Best Music Podcast, Music
Mastery Podcast, and YouTube.

@bestmusiccoach
@musicmentordanspencer
 welcome
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 3

Welcome
#MusicMaker
1. A Music Maker is a passionate lover of
music anywhere on their musical journey.

2. A Music Maker creates music without

judging themselves or others. They make
music for the love of making music.

3. A Music Maker is always improving and

celebrating prog ress. They love the goal
as much as they love the journey.

4. A Music Maker Shares the joy,

expression, and emotion of making music
with themselves and others.

You are a #musicmaker.

Dan Spencer
 schedule
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 4

join Dan Spencer

1 hour LIVE on Facebook

live daily at VIP live daily at

- 4 PM Eastern - 5 PM Eastern
- 3 PM Central - 4 PM Central
- 1 PM Pacific - 2 PM Pacific

Day 1
Truth

Day 2
Create A Concept
Song Structure

Day 3
Lyrics

Day 4
Melody

Day 5
Chords
 VIP
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 5

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 your dream
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 6

me

Whatever you want to do in

dream
music
music is your dream music goal.
This dream made you want to
make music in the past or now. A
dream music goal can be big or
small, the size does not matter…
what matters is that it is your

goal
dream and you want it to be real.

What is your dream music goal?

my dream music goal

bonus group
 day 1: your first song
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 7

speedy song starter

1. Get set up for success!

• Get your computer ready
• Sign in to Noteflight: https://best-music-coach.sites.noteflight.com/users/sign_in?requested_
uri=%2F
• Sign up/sign in to open.ai: https://chat.openai.com/auth/login
• Open a word processing document like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Apple Pages
• Free Notation Option: https://musescore.org/en

2. Create lyrics
• In ChatGPT
• Proimt 1: Give me a short line of lyrics. I will type a rhyme to your lyrics. Then restate both of our
lines of lyrics.
• Write your own line that ends with a sound that matches the end of the last word of the line the
A.I. writes.
• Prompt 2: Restate your and my lines, then break up the words by syllable.
• Copy the lyric lines that are broken up by syllable into a word document (Google Pages/
Microsoft Word/Apple Pages

3. Bring your lyrics into music

• Create 1 symbol called “notes” for every syllable for each line of your lyrics.
• Create 2 lines of notes to match the two lines of lyrics.
• Add your lyrics to the symbols called “notes” so each lyric syllable lines up with a note.
• Copy the spaces and dashes as you add your lyrics.

3. Melody
• Pick a melody shape: ramp or squiggly Feeling lost?
• Create your melody Don’t Worry we will go over all
steps in detail on days 3-5
4. Harmony (the background context)
• Use harmony to give your melody LIFE!

5. DONE + SHARE!
• You wrote your first song...SHARE it with the group!
 truth
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 8

Answer each question

01. does talent matter?

02. are you bad at music?

03. are you too old to learn music?

 4 levels of competency
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 9

01
unconcious incompetence

Notes:

02
concious incompetence

Notes:

03
concious competence

Notes:

04
unconcious competence

Notes:
 blindspots
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 10

q u e st i o n 1
What are blindspots?

q u e st i o n 2
Who can fix blindspots?

q u e st i o n 3
What are levels of competency?

ex tr a thought s

Write thoughts here

 concept
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 11

Pick a concept

my big idea:

step back step for ward GPT

truth ex trapolate related

 song structure
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 12

An intro is the introduction of a song. There can be instruments and singing/words.

A verse is where the story of the song is told. "Once upon a time...Happily ever after...."

A chorus is the repeated part of the song that happens in between verses, typically using the same words
each time it repeats. This is usually the most catchy part of the song that everyone remembers.

A pre-chorus is a part of a song that transitions a verse to a chorus by increasing anticipation for the
chorus about to happen.

A post-chorus is like a secondary chorus. After the main part of a chorus happens the post-chorus gives a
change of energy to higher or lower levels of intensity with different highly memorable content.

A refrain is a series of words repeated at the end of a verse or a chorus. All choruses are a type of refrain,
not all refrains are choruses. Refrains are written above the song maps (see next page) they happen in.

An instrumental is a brief moment between two sections of a song. When there are voices we could call
this same section an "interlude". It is about giving a pause in the song, a break from the action.

A solo is an instrumental that is highlighted by a single instrumental performer performing a solo which
could be improvised on the spot, written out beforehand, or some mix of both.

A bridge can help tell the story from the verse. It is usually very different musically from the rest of the
song, with different notes, chords, rhythms, and instruments. A bridge is a change of pace, a new flavor, a
shift in gears.

An outro is the end of a song, sometimes similar to the intro, but often very different. When the song ends
with the volume of the music being reduced to silence over time, it is called a "fade out". Sometimes
when an outro is short we can call it a coda, in reference to the coda repeat mark and how it can create a
small section at the end of a song! (Hey, remember that from earlier in the book?? So cool!)
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 13

song structure
summar y
 rhymes
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 14
What are Vowel Sounds?
The vowels we use in conversation take many forms. For example: the “a” in “hay” sounds like
“ay”. The “a” in “halt” sounds like “ah”.

Perfect Rhyme
A perfect rhyme (also called “full rhyme and “true rhyme) is when the sound of the ends of
two words match perfectly with a common vowel sound and consonant sound. This means the
letters do not need to match (great: fate), just sound the same when spoken aloud.

Vowel: “Ay” “Ooh” “Ah” “Ay”

Rhymes: great: late: grate: fate dutiful: beautiful part: heart: cart day: prey:
say

Imperfect Rhyme
An imperfect rhyme (also called a “family rhyme”) uses three groups of sounds to match for a
close rhyme. To identify an imperfect rhyme, look for matching vowel sounds and consonant
sounds from within the groups for the end of the words.

Group 1: b, d, g, p, t, k
Group 2: v, z, zh, j, f, th, s, sh, ch, gh, ft
Group 3: m, n, ng

Group 1 Imperfect Rhymes

Vowel: “Uh” “Eh” “Ih”
Rhyme: flub: dud: duck: tucked: but beg: fed: nutmeg bit: stick: lid: big: pip: bib

Group 2 Imperfect Rhymes

Vowel: “A” “Ih” “Eh”
Rhyme: laugh: bath: mismatched: jazz itch: lift: wish: unhitch tenth: bench:
entrench

Group 3 Imperfect Rhymes

Vowel: “Oh” “Ah” “Owh”
Rhyme: foam: bone: brownstone farm: barn: overarm belong: gone: mom
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 15

Additive and Subtractive Rhymes

Additive and subtractive rhymes match in vowel sound, but have different consonants, beginnings,
and endings. Don’t worry about telling the difference between additive and subtractive rhymes.

Vowel: “I” “E” “O” “Ih”

Rhyme: cry: ride: alive: smile free: speed: glow: stove grits: fit

Consonant Rhymes
Consonant rhymes do not match vowel sounds, only the consonant sound at the end of the words.
Consonant rhymes are the least “rhyming” of all the thyme types so far. For this reason they are
sometimes considered a rhyme, and sometimes they are not considered to be a rhyme.

Vowel: “ce” “ne” “me” “ed”

Rhyme: defense: innocence one: gone: alone come: home fitted: crawled: snared
 write
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 16

star t simple.
it is okay to sound terrible.
 melody
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 17

Notes
Musicians play, read, and write rhythm with symbols called “notes.” These are three types of

w  H Q
noteheads for notes. Two of the noteheads also have vertical "stems".

open notehead (whole note) open notehead (half note) closed notehead (quarter note)

stem stem

The different notes show how long a sound will last. A note's
duration is called "rhythmic value." A whole note has a larger
rhythmic value than a quarter note, so it lasts longer.

1 whole note = Long duration. w

One whole note lasts for four counts/beats. 1 2 3 4

H H
= 2 half notes = Medium duration.
One half note lasts for two counts/beats. 1 2 3 4

Q Q Q Q
= 4 quarter notes = Short duration.
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 18

The Staff: Lines and Spaces

On the staff there are 5 lines and 4 spaces between the lines. Each line and space has a number
so we can name lines and spaces without saying things like "the fourth line from the top". That's
just "Line 2".

Bar Lines and Their Meanings

Bar lines divide groups of notes.

Thin Thin, Thin Thin, Thick

Regular Bar Line Double Bar Line Final Bar Line

Divides groups Divides sections Shows the end

of notes of a song of the song

Pieces of Music vs. Songs

A "piece"can have singer and words or only instruments. Songs must have words and a
singer. In classical and cinamatic music there are pieces with singers that are not songs.
singer = song (a lot of the time) no words = piece
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 19

Measures
A measure is a space on a staff where notes and other notation are placed. Each measure
touches bar lines. For this reason, some people call measures “bars”. The beat count restarts
every measure.

• m. is the abbreviation of the word “measure.”

• mm. is the abbreviation of the word “measures.”
• The first measure has only one bar line.
Bar line Final Bar
Bar line Bar line
Bar line Bar line
ARROW Final Barline
line
Bar line ARROW ARROW
ARROW

measure BRACKETS measure BRACKETS

measure BRACKETS measure BRACKETS
| Measure | Measure | Measure | Measure

Time Signatures
Top: Number of beats per measure? Four beats per measure.
Bottom: don’t worry about it!

Measures of 4
Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
4œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
4
Beat Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 20

Measure Math 1
Measure Math 1 Rules:
Every measure must add up to the number of beats
in the top number of the time signature.

4 beats =

2 beats = or

1 beat = or

Correct
= 4 beats = 4 beats = 4 beats = 4 beats
4
/ 4w ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 21

The Basic Musical Alphabet:

A B C D E F G
• The first seven letters of the regular alphabet.
• Repeats back to A after G.
• These letters are note names, a way of giving names to pitches.
• Ascends infinitely.
• Descends infinitely.
• Begin on any of the seven letters and count up or down the basic
musical alphabet in ascending or descending order.

The Basic Musical Alphabet: Circle

Count down the Count up the

39 musical alphabet musical alphabet
(notes go lower) (notes go higher)
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 22

Notes on the Staff

Reminder: Staff (one), staves (plural): a group of five horizontal lines.

• Notes are placed on the lines and in the spaces of the staff to show different
pitches.
• Higher sounding notes are towards the top of the staff (up towards the ceiling).
• Lower sounding notes are towards the bottom of the staff (down towards the
floor).

1 Line notes - lowest to highest sounding

2 Line notes - highest to lowest sounding
3 Space notes - lowest to highest sounding
4 Space notes - highest to lowest sounding

1 2 3 4
High notes
w w w w w w w w w
Low notes
w w w w w w w w w

Treble Clef (G Clef)

The treble clef is a symbol placed at the beginning (left side) of a line of staff.

• Shows the position of the G note by curling around Line 2 of the staff, where the
“G note” goes. (that is why the treble clef is also called the “G clef”).
• Shows the musical alphabet on the staff based on the position of the G note.
• Looks a bit like a letter G (it was originally a capital G when it was invented).

G line & Treble clef

wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 23

How to Read Notes on the Staff

Each line and space of the staff gives any note that lands on or in it a letter name.
Any note on Line 5 is always “F.” Any note in Space 1 is always called “F.” These
are two different F notes (more on that later). Any note on Line 1 is “E.” Any note
on Line 2 is “G.” Any note on Line 3 is “B.” Any note on Line 4 is “D.” Any note in
Space 2 is “A.” Any note in Space 3 is “C”. Any note in Space 4 is “E.”

& &
All notes on line 5 are F
All notes on line 4 are D All notes in space 4 are E
All notes on line 3 are B All notes in space 3 are C
All notes in space 2 are A
All notes on line 2 are G All notes in space 1 are F
All notes on line 1 are E
 lyrics + rhythm
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 24

1. Write lyrics.
2. By looking at the lyrics, create a verse and chorus. You may need to add or remove lyrics.
3. Write the rhythm of the lyrics in notation until you have a flow with the rhythm that
makes your heart happy. Accept something that sounds “okay” for now.

now

4
&4 ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ
I do - n' t want to leave to -night don' t make me go I

& ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ
can' t live a - gain with - out your light don' t send me back for more.
 quick start melody
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 25

Use more A, C, D, E, and G for

Quick Start a quick win with your melody!
Don’t worry if it doesn’t sound
Notes professional...you need to start
somehere! Start simple. It’s
okay to sound terrible.

ABCDEFG
notes notes values

4 beats =

2 beats = or
quick star t
1 beat = or

Use only these notes with

whole, half, and quarter
notes to create a melody.

4 œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
&4 œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙
A B C D E F G A B C D E F
 lyrics + rhythm + melody
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 26

1. Write lyrics.
2. By looking at the lyrics, create a verse and chorus. You may need to add or remove lyrics.
3. Write the rhythm of the lyrics in notation until you have a flow with the rhythm that
makes your heart happy. Accept something that sounds “okay” for now.
4. Add quick start notes to your lyric rhythm to create a melody.

now

4 œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ
&4 ˙ œ œ ˙ œ
I do - n' t want to leave to - night don' t make me go I

œ ˙ œ
5

œ œ œ œ œ œ
& ˙ œ œ œ œ
can' t live a - gain with - out your light don' t send me back for more.
 write
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 27

VIPs
Use Noteflight
+

Share your work with me

Go to your
“My Book s And Courses Profile”

free course

Free Course In “My Book and Courses Profile”

No VIP? Use this free notation sof tware

https://musescore.org/en
 chords
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 28

Chords are when two or more notes happen at the same time. Notes are stacked on top
of eachother to make different sounds.

Chord Progressions
A chord progression is two or more chords played in a row. This pattern repeats and gives your song
a foundation that the melody will float and change over.
 chords
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 29

Major vs. Minor Chords

How to Understand Major and Minor Triad Names

Triads are named after their Root note. When there is a letter like C or G, the chord quality is major. If
someone asks you to perform or write a “C chord,” you will perform or write a C major chord.

Letter = major chord.

Perform or write a minor triad if asked to perform or write an E “minor”. Minor chords can also be written
as Emin or Em. E- is the most common way of writing minor chords in modern music.

Letter + minus sign = minor chord.

How to Name a Chord:

1. Name the Root Note
The Root note or “Root” is the note that gives the chord it’s letter name.
A minor: A = Root. C major: C = Root. E minor: E = Root. G major: G = Root.

2. Name the Chord Quality

Chord quality defines whether a chord is major or minor. A-: the quality is minor.
C: the quality is major.

Chord Symbols (Always Capital Letters)

When you read or write the letter name and quality of a chord it is called a chord symbol.
 lyrics + rhythm + melody
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 30

1. Write lyrics.
2. Create a rhythm for your notes to match your melody.
3. Add notes to your melody, use the quick start notes: A B C D E F G
4. Add chords to the melody, use the quick start chord progressions.

Do this by

1. Write the chords and melody out on two seperate staves in a music notation software.
You will need 2 instruments/staves/tracks so you can hear them BOTH at the same time.
When you see a verticle line connecting the staves together, that shows you both staves

4˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ
{ 4
& ˙
I do - n' t want to leave to - night don' t make me go I

4
A- G F A-

&4 w
w w w w
w
w w
w w
w w

œ ˙ œ
5

œ œ œ œ œ œ
{& ˙ œ œ œ œ
can' t live a - gain with - out your light don' t send me back for more.
A- G F A-

& w
w w w
w w
w w
w
w
w
w
 quick start chords
wo r k b o o k s u p er songwriter challenge 31

Use more A, C, D, E, and G for

quick start a quick win with your melody!
Don’t worry if it doesn’t sound
professional...you need to start
chords somehere! Start simple. It’s
okay to sound terrible.

A-, G, F
chords notes values

4 beats =

2 beats = or
quick star t
1 beat = or

Chord progressions to copy + paste

Each chord lasts 1 measure.

A- G F G
4
A- G F
F G A- A-
A- F F G &4 w
w w w
w w
w w
w
 write
wo r k b oo k su p er songwrit er challenge 32

How to Write Songs

1. Write lyrics.
2. Create a rhythm for your notes to match your melody.
3. Add notes to your melody, use the quick start notes: A B C D E F G
4. Add chords to the melody, use the quick start chord progressions.

You can follow this 4 Step process by

1. Write the chords and melody out on two seperate staves in a music notation software. You
will need 2 instruments/staves/tracks so you can hear them BOTH at the same time. When
you see a verticle line connecting the staves together, that shows you both staves will
sound at the same time.
2.
4
&4 ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ
I do - n' t want to leave to -night don' t make me go I

5
3.
& 4˙ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œ œ œ œ
œ ˙
œ
&4 ˙ œ œ œ
can' t live a - gain with - out your light don' t send me back for more.
I do - n' t want to leave to - night don' t make me go I

œ ˙ œ
5
4.
œ œ œ œ œ œ
& 4˙ œ
œ œ œ
œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ
4˙
{ &can' œ œ ˙ œ
t live a - gain with - out your light don' t send me back for more.
I do - n' t want to leave to - night don' t make me go I

4
A- G F A-

&4 w
w w w w
w
w w
w w
w w

œ ˙ œ
5

œ œ œ œ œ œ
{& ˙ œ œ œ œ