Good books on songwriting?

[Iemand33]

Hello there!

Maybe this has been posted before, but doing a search for book in the Songwriting category didn't do me any good so here we go...

I'm looking for some good music writing/composition books. Does anyone have some recommendations? I'm looking for books in the Pop/Rock genre, but all books are welcome, then someone else might have some use for this thread as well.

Thanks

[JeffMan]

Amazon.com has several on songwriting. Songwriting for Dummies looks interesting. Hope this helps

[cutty]

This is not a bad one with some good tips in it that I bought a couple of years ago. Allan Caswell is an Aussie songwriter who has been around for a lot of years.

Writing Great Songs Lyrics - Special offer for APRA Members - Health Books by Media 21 - Online Bookshop

[Iemand33]

I just ordered:

- Music Composition for Dummies - Scott Jarret
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition - Michael Miller

I'll let you know if it's any good

[MetalDave]

Heres one that gives you the first 2 chapters for free.
SECRET SONGWRITER, Tips and Techniques Audio and Ebook Course
here is the first 2 chapters for free...
Your FREE chapters of SECRET SONGWRITER, Tips and Techniqes

[Wilde]

88 Songwriting Wrongs and How to Right Them: Concrete Ways to Improve Your Songwriting and Make Your Songs More Marketable.

I loaned this from the library a couple of years ago and found it very informative. I'm down to about 50 more wrongs to right before that smash hit!

[Ruzz]

"The Songwriting Secrets of The Beatles"
Dominic Pedlar

Pure Gold

Warning - you better make sure your music theory is up to scratch otherwise it'll be a waste of money. But, if you have the theory/analysis down, you'll absolutely love it.

The best music/songwriting book I have ever read. And no, I am NOT what you'd call a Beatles fan - but having read this tome, I am now much more appreciative of what they did, how they did it and when they did it.

Oh - and don't skip/skim over the footnotes. There's a wealth of citations and web links to all sorts of related stuff.

My only complaint to the author would be, why oh why haven't you done the same or similar for Pink Floyd!!!???

ruzz

[musichead]

I was big on reading how to write songs, but what worked for me was: STOP READING BOOKS, START WRITING SONGS... just for me, cause i started to think that, whatever i wrote, had to have all the elements of the smash hit song books talk about... what if you have a 10 minute song with four words in it? i think the most important thing is STOP SELF CENSORSHIP AT ALL COST!... whatever you do, accept it, embrace it, anyways, if you don't like it, then you can write another, and another...

Ideas cannot be nurtured if you reject them cause they don't sound like the stuff you hear on the radio... NOT EVERY SONG IS A HIT, BUT THAT'S OK!

So, I'd say, read those books, but just don't stop any creative impulse because it doesn't fit HIT SONG description. And one more: if you have run out of ideas: 4/4 + 3 power chords... verse bridge chorus....

Last: if you really, really want a hit song you have to be DUMB ENOUGH, or smart enough to pretend.

[cobyflys]

Originally Posted by musichead

I was big on reading how to write songs, but what worked for me was: STOP READING BOOKS, START WRITING SONGS... just for me, cause i started to think that, whatever i wrote, had to have all the elements of the smash hit song books talk about... what if you have a 10 minute song with four words in it? i think the most important thing is STOP SELF CENSORSHIP AT ALL COST!... whatever you do, accept it, embrace it, anyways, if you don't like it, then you can write another, and another...

couldn't agree more! personally, i would advise NOT reading any books on songwriting. all that they're gonna do is feed you with rules and guidelines that are just going to creatively restrict you. do you think bob dylan or tom waits or lennon or mccartney read books on songwriting? you don't have to like any of those guys, but you have to agree that they were/are pretty good at what they do and were/are pretty prolific! i'm not trying to be self-righteous here, and i don't pretend to be an expert by any means; i've been writing songs since i was about 12 and i still do a 9 to 5 of moaning. all i'm saying is that songwriting is freedom and don't ever let somebody tell you how to do it, even if it's in print.

[musichead]

Originally Posted by cobyflys

i've been writing songs since i was about 12 and i still do a 9 to 5 of moaning. all i'm saying is that songwriting is freedom and don't ever let somebody tell you how to do it, even if it's in print.

Geee... i wonder how many great songwriters are out there, delivering pizza... tough world, but you gotta fight adversity to your last breath... just think of good old jeff buckley playing his guitar in newyork subway for change... ever tried that? well, let's just say if you ever do, you'll never want to go back to cubicle city (aka hell)... but you have to do it damn well, otherwise it's begging.