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The course

The Swung course

Nine chapters that teach how music is put together, one idea at a time: beat, groove, bass, harmony, melody, voice, form, sound and style. Each chapter adds named patterns to your crate as cards and ends with a project that uses them. Unit 1 is free.

9 chapters · 42 lessons · 85 cards · a capstone

The path

  1. Beat

    5 lessons · 5 cards · Time is a grid that repeats.     Free Project: First beat

  2. Groove

    4 lessons · 9 cards · Why the same pattern can feel stiff or alive.     Preview Project: Make it walk

  3. Low end

    4 lessons · 6 cards · The first notes with pitch.     Preview Project: Beat and bass

  4. Harmony

    5 lessons · 9 cards · Mood without music theory.     Preview Project: A loop with a mood

  5. Melody

    6 lessons · 8 cards · The part people hum.     Preview Project: Write a hook

  6. Voice

    3 lessons · 8 cards · The words for vocals, not singing lessons.     Preview Project: Room for a singer

  7. Form and energy

    5 lessons · 11 cards · From a loop to a song.     Preview Project: Your song

  8. Sound

    8 lessons · 17 cards · Not what plays, but what plays it and how it sounds.     Preview Project: One song, three rooms

  9. Styles

    2 lessons · 12 cards · A style is a familiar combination of cards you mostly own.     Preview Project: Two remixes
Capstone

Your own track

Pick a purpose and build a full track from your crate.

Start with Unit 1, free

Five short lessons on the beat, in your browser. Sign up with Google and go straight to the first one.

Continue with Google Or try Lesson 1 without an account

Pick up where you left off

Your next lesson is ready.

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What you can make after each chapter

ChapterYou can makeProject
1. BeatA drum beat of your own, built on the grid.First beat
2. GrooveBeats that groove: swung, syncopated and alive.Make it walk
3. Low endA beat with a bass line that locks to the kick.Beat and bass
4. HarmonyA full loop with chords that set a mood.A loop with a mood
5. MelodyA hook of your own over your loop.Write a hook
6. VoiceA loop arranged around a vocal.Room for a singer
7. Form and energyA whole song, from intro to ending.Your song
8. SoundThe same track dressed three ways.One song, three rooms
9. StylesTwo remixes of your song in different styles.Two remixes

How a chapter works

How it works lessons teach one idea each, in plain words first and the term second, with something to play in every lesson.

New pattern lessons introduce a named pattern: meet it, build it on the grid, pick it out by ear, and keep it as a card.

A listening round plays clips you haven’t heard and asks you to tag the cards in them.

A project closes the chapter: you build something with the cards you own, against a short checklist.

More on how we teach