What&#x27;s in a Song – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode Scarlet Keys is joined with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett. Joe breaks down the chords in this song and shares Nashville tunings for the guitar.

Joe gets granular in this discussion as he compares Lenny Kravit's "It Ain't over 'til it's over" with "Ruin the friendship" and clarify's what constitutes copyright infringement.

He talks about copyrighting your songs and how to protect your original work while still finding inspiration from songs you love.

Chord progression in "Ruin the Friendship:

D GMaj7/B Csus2 G5

Nashville tunings:

Need two sets of guitar strings

Take off the 4 thickest strings and replace with much lighter strings replace bass strings with much lighter strings.

Bass to treble change tuning to: BE are the same but others are an octave higher

How to copyright your songs and protect your work

work.Support this podcast:

Venmo: @scarlet-keys

Songwriting retreats:

Star Island In person songwriting retreat: https://starisland.org/program/songwriting-intensive-the-art-of-the-song/Support this podcast:

Join the “What’s in a Song” community:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

Joe Bennett:

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

Mailing list:

Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

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Part 1 Taylor Swift "Ruin the Friendship" - lyric techniques and the power of a great bridge

vendredi 12 juin 2026 • Durée 52:04

In this episode, we talk about Taylor Swift's narrative and lyric techniques. We break down the bridge in the song "Ruin the Friendship" with a focus on lyrical techniques and a touch on melody. We talk about the power of a bridge and the alchemy this bridge has on the rest of the narrative.

Support this podcast:

Venmo: @scarlet-keys

What members are saying:

"I've been in Scarlet's songwriting group since it began. I've learned so much from Scarlet, her guests, and from the other members. It's been an important part of my songwriting journey." - Neale Eckstein

I really have grown through your community. Here is a quote that captures my feelings ..... "Through lyric-writing practice, craft-focused feedback, and a supportive community of songwriters, I've become a stronger storyteller in song and gained confidence to share those stories with a wider audience." ... Joe Howell

"Scarlet was my first songwriting professor when I was a student at Berklee College of Music. I had never written a song before and left her class with a catalogue of finished songs and an immense love for the craft of writing. 10 years later, I'm now a professional musician, songwriter, and songwriting coach. Through the years, I have been encouraged by the wisdom and insight Scarlet has to offer. I'm not a morning person, but I look forward to the Friday morning sessions where I log on with my bed head, notebook, and cup of tea. The group offers a sense of community with other kind writers working on their art and finding joy in this world through music. The meetings are a positive start to my weekend and keep me inspired as I work on my various music projects. I am so fortunate enough to learn from Scarlet with her positive spirit and love for songwriting."

Diagnosing a song

jeudi 23 avril 2026 • Durée 09:42

In this episode we talk about the critical thinking skills of a songwriter and the puzzle of the song.

When your song feels like it's missing something or you might feel bored by your own song but don't know what to do to change it. After the song is written, it's important to know what to look for on how to make the song as effective as possible. I hope you will join me for my next online class to learn what to look for and the solutions that can make your song as impactful as possible.

Master class: "Diagnosing a song"

May 1st 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. E.T.

Cost: $45.00

Eventbrite sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988234179954?aff=oddtdtcreator

Submit song to be chosen for critique:

Send sharable google file of lyric or lyric doc to:

scarletvkeys@gmail.com

To sign up Venmo: @scarlet-keys

Songwriting retreats:

Star Island In person songwriting retreat: https://starisland.org/program/songwriting-intensive-the-art-of-the-song/

Support this podcast:

Join the “What’s in a Song” community:

Taylor Swift's Eldest Daughter break down with Guest forensic musicologist Joe Bennett

lundi 9 février 2026 • Durée 01:29:05

Welcome back to a new season!

We are continuing on with the Life of a Show Girl interpreted with new up coming episodes.

Today, I am joined with Dr. Joe Bennett as we break down "Eldest Daughter" by Taylor Swift.

Songwriting retreats:

Star Island In person songwriting retreat: https://starisland.org/program/songwriting-intensive-the-art-of-the-song/

Support this podcast:

Join the “What’s in a Song” community:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

Joe Bennett:

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

Taylor Swift's "Father Figure" The break down with guest Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett

lundi 10 novembre 2025 • Durée 01:17:36

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this episode, we break down Father Figure from Taylor Swift's record "The Life of a Showgirl".

In this episode we look at:

The chord progression
Melodic hooks
Rhetorical devices
Guitar voicings
The stunning bridge and what the back ground harmonies are bringing to this section to make it so spectacular
Phrasing
Prosody
Sign up for the Master class:

The songwriting secrets of Taylor Swift Nov 18th:

Support this podcast:

Join the “What’s in a Song” community:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

Joe Bennett:

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett:

Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down

dimanche 26 octobre 2025 • Durée 01:22:38

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Track32 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Opalite

I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett

In this episode we look at:

The chord progression
Chord tensions
Harmonic rhythm
Borrowed chord
Rhetorical device
Production
Direct modulation

To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys:

Joe Bennett:

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

Mailing list:

Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

Taylor Swift's "Elizabeth Taylor" - The break down

lundi 13 octobre 2025 • Durée 01:22:50

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Track 2 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Elizabeth Taylor

I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett

In this episode we look at:

The chord progression
Chord inversions
Tensions
Harmonic rhythm
Phrase lengths
Melisma
Writing from a title
Melodic hooks

To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys:

Mailing list:

Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

Breaking down Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" with Musicologist Joe Bennett

lundi 6 octobre 2025 • Durée 53:57

This is the first of a 12 episode series where Berklee College of music professor Scarlet Keys talks about each song off of the new Taylor Swift album "The Life of a Showgirl" searching for clues and signature moves that Swift uses as a writer to write songs that resonate with millions of listeners and pack stadiums.

They are listening for literary devices, chord progression, ear worm, melodic hooks and theme.

Scarlet wrote the course "The songwriting of Taylor Swift" for Berklee College and Berklee online.

Today she is joined by Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett.

Each episode ends with a song prompt based on each song that you can try in your own writing.

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

It's never to late to become a songwriter with former Berklee College of music president Roger Brown

mardi 16 septembre 2025 • Durée 01:03:16

https://www.saltlickincubator.org/saltlicksessions

About this weeks guest:

Roger Brown is an American businessman, philanthropist, and academic administrator and former president of Berklee College of Music. Brown is also the co-founder of Bright Horizons and founder and chairman of the Salt Lick Incubator. He is most recently a grammy nominated songwriter!!!

In this episode, Roger talks about becoming a songwriter later in life, writing the truth and retiring from Berklee and creating a company for emerging artists called The Salt Lick Incubator:

Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community:

https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

From Buzz to Bond: Queen of PR Ariel Hyatt talks about how to create real fans

mardi 12 août 2025 • Durée 01:03:30