Decoding Hit Song Melody

Discover the Science and Patterns Behind Today's Hits

March 15th | 1PM - 3PM EST | A Live, Online Masterclass

Did you know that there are patterns and proven principles you can harness to immediately take your melody writing to the next level?

The most memorable, hit-worthy melodies all use specific techniques and follow specific patterns—ones that top songwriters use to craft repeatable magic.

Join us this Saturday when we’ll break down hit song melodies using recent, real-world case studies, so you’ll know exactly what makes them work.

  • Learn why today’s top melodies work—down to the science.
  • See real-world case studies from chart-topping songs.
  • Gain actionable insights and techniques you can use immediately.

Using the acclaimed Hit Songs Deconstructed methodology and hit song case studies, this one-of-a-kind masterclass will cover:

  • What the five pillars of the K.I.S.S. ME Principle are and why they are at the core of every hit song melody.
  • How to structure melodic parts and sub-parts to enhance memorability and engagement.
  • Advanced techniques like the “polymorphic motif” technique and the "mirroring" technique to enhance cohesion and connectability.
  • Strategies for boosting cross-section melodic familiarity and interest.
  • How to heighten the listener’s emotional connection with the song by achieving prosody.
  • And more!

This isn’t just another online class.
You’ll get hands-on guidance to help you take your melodies to the next level.

"The same day after attending my first workshop I was able to easily understand and fix my melody, and now my song is so much easier to sing and more memorable. Thank you Hit Songs Deconstructed!"

Chris Ishoy // Songwriter/Producer

"This workshop teaches you how to create memorable and impressive vocal lines while still preserving your unique voice and artistry."

Artur Brisita // Songwriter

"Making hit songs consistently is not just about talent and the occasional fluke. There is a science to the art of making hit music. Hit Songs Deconstructed will equip you with tools that will allow you to make hit songs more consistently."

Lyburn Geldenhuis // A&R, Producer, Songwriter, Mixing Engineer

Bonus

Complimentary Hit Songs Deconstructed 3-Month Subscription

(For new subscribers only.)

When you sign up for this masterclass, you'll get a free three-month subscription to Hit Songs Deconstructed Hit-Scope, a library of 200+ technique case studies! 

Hit-Scope is a comprehensive searchable library with 200+ examples of the most effective techniques found in Hot 100 top 10 hits spanning various genres. Use it to spark your creativity, overcome creative blocks, and continuously elevate your craft.

Plus, every week you'll get a brand-new technique delivered right to your inbox!

Each technique is designed to elevate your craft and enrich your songwriting toolbox. Technique case studies detail how the technique is being used in the song and how its effectively serving the song.

They include visualizations and direct links to the sections of the song where the technique is being used so that you can hear it in action.

Value of $49!

  • Unlimited Access to the Hit-Scope Database: The Hit-Scope database features 200+ examples of the most effective techniques found in Hot 100 top 10 hits Filter by technique type and save techniques you want to revisit!
  • New Technique Case Studies: Every Tuesday, a new technique case study extracted from a current hit will be delivered right to your inbox.

Bonus

More Bonuses!

Masterclass Video

When you enroll in these masterclasses, you'll receive lifetime access to the videos and presentations, allowing you to revisit them whenever you want. 

Workbooks

Hit Songs Deconstructed has developed proprietary workbooks to serve as a guides as you work on your melodies. They include The K.I.S.S. ME Principle workbook, the In-Section Melodic Structure workbook, and the Cross-Section Melodic Arrangement workbook. 

Song Analysis Tools

The Hit Songs Deconstructed Melodic Parts Table will help you deconstruct your melodies, evaluate them for strengths and weaknesses, and optimize them for catchiness and memorability. 

Ready to start crafting melodies that stick? 

  • Decoding Hit Song Melody
  • Decoding Hit Song MELODY AND Hooks
  • Inside the Hit Song Matrix Series

Join us for the this masterclass and get over $300 in bonuses!

  • The Live Masterclass – with plenty of time for Q&A
  • Lifetime Access to the Replay and Masterclass MaterialsAfter the masterclass concludes, you'll gain lifetime access to the masterclass portal, which includes the masterclass replay, downloadable PDF of the presentation deck and Spotify playlist with the songs referenced throughout the class.
  • Workbooks Developed by Hit Songs Deconstructed: These workbooks will serve as a guides as you work on your melodies:
    • In-section melodic structure
    • Cross-section melodic arrangement
    • The K.I.S.S. ME Principle
  • Exclusive Song Analysis Tools Developed by Hit Songs Deconstructed: The Hit Songs Deconstructed Melodic Parts Table will help you deconstruct your melodies, evaluate them for strengths and weaknesses, and optimize them for catchiness and memorability.
  • Three-month subscription to the Hit Songs Deconstructed Hit-Scope technique library, with new techniques published every week.*
  • Membership to HSD-Connect: Membership to Hit Songs Deconstructed’s private, invitation-only online community.

* Cannot be combined with existing subscriptions or other offers. New subscribers only.

Our masterclasses have a proven track record of helping participants take their songwriting and producing skills to new heights.

But don't take our word for it...

Brent Baccetti

Singer/Songwriter

"I love HSD. I have done a lot of songwriting classes over the last couple years, and HSD has been the most useful course I've taken. Honestly it's not even close. The level of detail that they go into when analyzing songs is incredible. They have identified the patterns and techniques behind todays hit songs, and present them in a way that is accessible and practical to use in your songs."

Reanne Howell

Songwriter

"You combined elements I've tried to put together through hours of studies, videos, and books into something straightforward and easily comprehendible."

Tommy (Blues Buddha) Dudley

Singer/ Songwriter/ Performer, R Club Productions Inc.

"I can’t say enough about how much you can learn in these masterclasses. So far I have attended two of them. The presenters were highly skilled and knowledgeable. The information was detailed and unlimited. There is something in there for anyone who writes or records to learn. I highly recommend checking them out, it will make you rethink any work you have done in the past and going forward."

Omar Zulfi

Songwriter/Producer

I’m such a better songwriter now than I ever have been. I’m so glad I found you guys, it has really been a game-changer.”

Alex Vidovic

Songwriter/Producer

"The most important thing this course gave me is a structure I can use in breaking down why a hit song is a hit song. Some of the ingredients and methods are intuitive, but something magical happens when it is made explicit - you become immediately aware of what is being done and you begin to actively look for it; then incorporating it into your own music becomes effortless."


Christopher Stephen Nicholas

Songwriter

"Unbelievable wealth of knowledge to adopt into my songwriting and production. A whole new course of actionable knowledge in which to try to achieve the apogee - writing & producing a timely Top 10 pop hit song."

Kory Fulton

Songwriter/Performing Artist

The Hit Song Matrix Masterclass has been instrumental in my learning and creative processes. The knowledge given was vast yet digestible. The team was passionate, professional and dedicated to helping me understand and apply all of the material. I would HIGHLY recommend this masterclass to anyone who is serious about making music.

JULAPINK

Songwriter/Performing Artist

"This Masterclass was phenomenal. There was so much detail on every class, and each topic was presented in a clear and concise way. The presenters were wonderful, they provided examples of everything discussed and did not skip over any questions. Hit Songs Deconstructed has really pushed my music to a competitive level. I highly recommend taking their classes."

Andrew Colyer

Recording Artist/Performer/Composer

"I highly recommend all of the courses from Hit Songs Deconstructed. If you're a songwriter, there's always something new to be learned in their workshops and masterclasses!"

Our Unique Approach Is Currently Being Used at Renowned Institutions

Leading music programs such as Berklee College of Music, Thornton School of Music, Frost School of Music, NYU and many others are using Hit Songs Deconstructed materials in their songwriting and production curriculums.

"I have been giving hit record analysis exercises to my students for years, but the level of depth in a single Hit Songs Deconstructed report is a full semester’s worth of information. My entire thought process as a producer, an engineer, a musician, and a songwriter are fleshed out in the pages of the HSD reports."

"Prince" Charles Alexander

Grammy-winning, multi-platinum producer, audio engineer, and recording artist and professor, Music Production and Engineering, Berklee College of Music

"The depth, detail and level of care that Hit Songs Deconstructed exercises in their song analysis is something I want my students to aspire to. I am using their analysis techniques as a benchmark for them to apply when analyzing songs and their compositional analytics to keep them in tune with what’s happening now."

Chris Sampson

Founding Director of Popular Music Program
USC Thornton School of Music
Director of Popular Music Pedagogy

"Hit Songs Deconstructed is a great teaching tool and an extremely valuable resource for my songwriting students. We’ve made it an integral part of the songwriting curriculum at MTSU. I’m thrilled to say that Middle Tennessee State University is at the forefront of songwriting education as a result of this partnership."

Odie Blackmon

Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Commercial Songwriting Concentration for the Recording Industry Program,
Middle Tennessee State University

Lecturer, Music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music

About Your Course Instructor, David Penn

David Penn stands at the forefront of modern song analysis and analytics. In 2010, he revolutionized the field by developing the "hit songs deconstructed" methodology, a groundbreaking approach for analyzing music that has since been dubbed as "music theory for popular music."


His pioneering work led to the founding of Hit Songs Deconstructed, a platform that has become an indispensable resource for music professionals and academics alike. This methodology has been adopted by prestigious institutions such as the Berklee College of Music, Frost School of Music, and USC Thornton School of Music, among many others, underscoring its significance and widespread acceptance.


Penn's expertise and insights have been featured in podcasts and articles by esteemed publications such as Billboard, Variety, Music Week, BMI, Financial Times, and The Economist. He is a sought-after speaker, delivering guest lectures at leading universities like the Berklee College of Music, NYU, and the Frost School of Music as well as music industry events such as the Music Industry Association’s Music Biz, CD Baby's DIY Musician Conference, the Association for Popular Music’s annual conference, among others. He also conducts custom workshops for major labels and publishers such as Atlantic Records and BMG.


Beyond academia, Penn offers coaching to both emerging and established songwriters and producers, sharing his deep understanding of the craft and trends behind hit songs. His comprehensive knowledge of music spans all time periods and genres, making him a revered consultant for songwriters, producers, publishers, and labels alike.


Most recently, Penn co-founded ChartCipher, a platform that leverages AI to provide song analytics. ChartCipher delves into the compositional, lyrical, and sonic qualities of hit songs, offering real-time insights into the traits that propel songs to the top of today's most popular music charts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should buy this masterclass?

Songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals who have the goal of elevating their craft with the art and science behind today's biggest hits. 

What knowledge of songwriting and music theory is required?

A solid foundation in the basic craft of songwriting and music theory is highly recommended.


What is the basis for the material covered?

We will focus on recent Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits.

How is the material be conveyed?

The presentation will feature a combination of audio examples, graphs, charts, commentary, and Logic Pro sessions to illustrate principles and techniques. 


Active listening exercises are at the core of our masterclasses, so make sure you can join us from a quiet environment with high speed internet and high quality audio/headphones.

WHAT DO I GET WHEN I PURCHASE THIS MASTERCLASS?

  • The video recording of the live 3 hour masterclass
  • The PDF of the masterclass presentation deck
  • A Spotify playlist with all the songs referenced during the presentation
  • A proprietary step-by-step process and checklist to evaluate your melody and hooks (sold individually for $149)

Will I HAVE ACCESS TO THE video of the live MASTERCLASS after the conclusion of the workshop?

Yes. When you sign up you gain lifetime access to the video and masterclass materials. The videos are posted to the workshop portal after the masterclass concludes along with the presentation deck and the Spotify playlist of the songs referenced throughout the masterclass.

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