Hmmm, I've had some experience with the Berkley School's songwriting system. It seems, in many ways - particularly the new rules of rhyme (family etc etc), to be structured to accommodate rap lyrics and the failure to find a decent rhyme. Then there's the syllable count - only counting the stressed syllables? Really? I've also found that quite a few Berkley grads become fixated on the rules and can't cope with things not following trad western chord progressions etc. If people can take things from the courses that help them be more creative then all is good for them. For those who gets caught in the web of rules it's bad teaching.
Last edited by rayc; 08/04/2212:35 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Well put Ray. I took the Berklee courses through CourseRA. I enjoyed learning about all the rules but yeah, you need to be able to use them as a guide and not 'the only way'.
I don't believe in "rules". I think sslechta & racyc pretty much nailed it - if you can get some tools to equip yourself with, great. But my opinion on Pattison (I'm not a fan and think he's horribly overrated) is based primarily on this truth:
"I've also found that quite a few Berkley grads become fixated on the rules and can't cope with things like not following trad western chord progressions etc."
I taught a commercial songwriting class at a college locally (until they cancelled the program) and what I always told the students was "the only rule is that there's no rules". Clearly that's an exaggeration, but the point was to get them to think outside of the box and not get locked into bullsh*t like syllable counts, perfect rhymes, etc.
FWIW, all the truly exceptional writers I've ever known and worked with never read a single book or took a single course on songwriting, they just did what came naturally. The organic approach doesn't just work for food. ;-)
FWIW, all the truly exceptional writers I've ever known and worked with never read a single book or took a single course on songwriting, they just did what came naturally. The organic approach doesn't just work for food. ;-)
I agree to a certain extent, Roger, but even natural talent needs guidance. I'm not saying I'm naturally talented (or even talented at all), but I know that I'd still be writing 4 to 5 minute songs with changing tense, too many characters, poor use of hook, etc. if I hadn't received sound advice from my NSAI song evaluations.
Completely agree, but it's germane to the discussion to point out that there's a difference between guidance and being fed a bunch of "rules". I certainly had a number of mentors when I was getting started, and there's a lot of trial & error until you find a work flow that works for you.
Going back to rayc's initial comment, the problem arises when writers start believing they have to write songs they way they are taught or instructed to, and are convinced that they can't deviate from what they've been taught.
my opinion on Pattison (I'm not a fan and think he's horribly overrated)
I agree 100%. He is also boring. I took one of his classes and the only way to finish was to speed up the video and try to survive to the end! The other thing I've noticed is Berklee offers "free" classes that are actually excerpts from paid classes and not useful as stand-alone courses.
Going back to rayc's initial comment, the problem arises when writers start believing they have to write songs they way they are taught or instructed to, and are convinced that they can't deviate from what they've been taught.
[quote=Roger Brown] ...changing tense, too many characters...
To be fair those things are matters of grammar & written language that can, & should, be learnt quite early in one's school life. Plural agreement, tense, choice of "voice", consistency ...another bunch of rules that can be very helpful writing an email or a song BUT if not the initial building blocks are often the polish applied after the creative burst that can help the communication. I'm quite a stickler for those thing in my own writing but many of the songs & lyrics I love disregard them.
Last edited by rayc; 08/04/2205:05 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
... the problem arises when writers start believing they have to write songs they way they are taught or instructed to, and are convinced that they can't deviate from what they've been taught.
Yes, and in things like the Berk courses the rules have to be internalized followed to pass the course as no creative deviation is permitted...all whip & no creative carrot.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Roger Miller was accosted by an aspiring songwriter once who begged him for some advice. Roger said "Here's my advice. Always keep your small change and your pills in different pockets. I just swallowed 75 cents."
....... "the only rule is that there's no rules". Clearly that's an exaggeration, but the point was to get them to think outside of the box and not get locked into bullsh*t like syllable counts, perfect rhymes, etc.
FWIW, all the truly exceptional writers I've ever known and worked with never read a single book or took a single course on songwriting, they just did what came naturally......
Bingo.... write from the heart and if you have something good to say, it will shine through. AS for following the rules.... they are guidelines to be appreciated but adhering to them as though they are the holy grail probably isn't a good idea.
Listen to the radio in any decade and you will hear people who are breaking every rule in the book and their songs seem to rise to the top regardless because they connect with the soul of the listeners.
They say you should have rhymes in certain places.... something I wrote last year was posted here and I really didn't think about it much....Then one individual pointed out there wasn't a single rhyme in the song.... I looked at what I had written, I read the lyrics again.... they were right... but nonetheless, it worked and resonated well.
Point being..... write. And don't be overly obsessed about following the (so called) rules. Write from your heart and soul and see what happens.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 08/05/2207:34 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
For a plus side of what Pattison offers, a methodological approach helps a writer stay productive.
Since staying productive is a key aspect to writing better songs, I find it helpful to have some technical guidance.
I can understand if you are a Berkley student in a class, the instructor will most likely want you to stick to the practices in the curriculum while your in the course.
However, for songwriting in general, it's not an either/or that you can only be inspired, or only use a methodological approach.
Either way, it's all about the songs, so whatever gets you there, or wherever you're wanting to go, take or leave what you see fits
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
The other thing I've noticed is Berklee offers "free" classes that are actually excerpts from paid classes and not useful as stand-alone courses.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean