How to Write One Song


Book Description

There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn't so mysterious and was actually achievable for anyone who wants to experience more magic and creativity in their life? That's something that anyone will be inspired to do after reading Jeff Tweedy's How to Write One Song. Why one song? Because the difference between one song and many songs isn't a cute semantic trick—it's an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a capital-S songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as a focused, self-contained event, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an exciting pursuit. And then there is the energizing, nourishing creativity that can open up. How to Write One Song brings readers into the intimate process of writing one song—lyrics, music, and putting it all together—and accesses the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this curious, yet incredibly fulfilling, artistic act. But it’s equally about the importance of making creativity part of your life every day, and of experiencing the hope, inspiration, and joy available to anyone who’s willing to get started.




The Complete Singer-Songwriter


Book Description

(Book). The Complete Singer-Songwriter is the ultimate guide for the modern performer, chock-full of tips, tools, and inspiration for both aspiring troubadours and those looking to take their craft and career to the next level. Author Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers draws on firsthand interviews with songwriting legends and rising stars; expert advice from managers, agents, lawyers, and publishers; and his own experiences as a performing songwriter. He offers this invaluable companion for singer-songwriters on their journey from idea to song to the stage, studio, and beyond. New in the second edition: * A songwriter's guide to chord progressions * Understanding song form and rhyme * Dozens of songwriting games and exercises * Essential info on copyrighting your songs, music publishing, and digital royalties * Online companion at completesingersongwriter.com with playlists and additional resources Songwriting tips and techniques from more than 100 artists, including Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, Jewel, Jeff Tweedy, Ani DiFranco, James Taylor, John Fogerty, Brandi Carlile, Richard Thompson, Jason Mraz, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Garcia, Dar Williams, and more.




Song Starters


Book Description

With Song Starters, you'll spend more time creating and less time struggling to come up with ideas. Discover an endless supply of exciting, creative concepts that will launch song after song. Use the Starters to spark a brainstorm or set a series of notes in motion, get your feet dancing or fill your head with music. Listen to hit song examples as you work. All of the Starters are based on time-tested concepts used by hit songwriters, but you make them your own. 365 ways to fuel your songwriting creativity: - 183 lyric situations, characters, emotions, and title ideas - 45 ways to easily create music tracks to write to - 42 melody patterns, phrase ideas, and note rhythms - 17 contemporary chord progressions - 22 ways to rewrite a song using Song Starters ...plus a grab bag of 56 assorted whimsical, stimulating, inspiring launch pads for lyrics, melodies, and chords that will let you free your muse and write from your heart. With Song Starters, you'll never have to face another blank page.




Songwriting For Dummies


Book Description

Proven techniques for songwriting success This friendly, hands-on guide tackles the new face of the recording industry, guiding you through the shift from traditional sales to downloads and mobile music, as well as how you can harness social media networks to get your music "out there." You get basic songwriting concepts, insider tips and advice, and inspiration for writing — and selling — meaningful, timeless songs. Songwriting 101 — get a grip on everything you need to know to write a song, from learning to listen to your "inner voice" to creating a "mood" and everything in between Jaunt around the genres — discover the variety of musical genres and find your fit, whether it's rock, pop, R&B, gospel, country, or more Let the lyrics out — master the art of writing lyrics, from finding your own voice to penning the actual words to using hooks, verses, choruses, and bridges Make beautiful music — find your rhythm, make melodies, and use chords to put the finishing touches on your song Work the Web — harness online marketing and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and others to get your music heard by a whole new audience Open the book and find: What you need to know before you write a single note Tips on finding inspiration Ways to use poetic devices in lyrics Computer and Web-based shortcuts and technologies to streamline songwriting A look at famous songwriting collaborators Writing for stage, screen, and television How to make a demo to get your song heard Advice on how to make money from your music P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you’re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Songwriting For Dummies (9780470615140). The book you see here shouldn’t be considered a new or updated product. But if you’re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We’re always writing about new topics!




Songs by a Song Writer


Book Description




Songs of a Song Writer


Book Description




Songwriting Strategies


Book Description

(Berklee Guide). Write songs starting from any direction: melody, lyric, harmony, rhythm, or idea. This book will help you expand your range and flexibility as a songwriter. Discussions, hands-on exercises, and notated examples will help you hone your craft. This creatively liberating approach supports the overall integrity of emotion and meaning in your songs. It will help you become more productive, versatile, and innovative in your songwriting. You will learn to: * Discover more ideas for songs song seeds and capture them in their most powerful and usable form * Overcome writer's block by having many more pathways through the writing process * Develop strong song structures by working independently with melody, lyrics, harmony, and rhythm * Write songs more easily, guided by your well-tuned "songwriter's compass"




The Ultimate Book on Songwriting


Book Description

This book is the Ultimate Guide to learning how to write your own songs through the use of multiple genre's and styles. Written By Al Kasha a Two Time Academy Award Winning Songwriter/Composer ("The Morning after" from the Poseidon Adventure [#1 Record throughout the world] and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno"). He has received 4 nominations in all(also Walt Disney's "Pete's Dragon," for "Candle On The Water" and for the song score) along with Four Tony Songwriting Nominations, and has sold over 73 million records world-wide as both a writer and a record producer. There is no one more qualified to put out an informational/instructional book like Al Kasha who has worked with pretty much every face in the Industry from Aretha Franklin to Neil Diamond to Jackie Wilson to Donna Summer. In this book Al will take the reader through the songwriting process, learning the concepts of writing, to marketing, and promoting your music to publishers and other artists. There have been books out there that have been written on how to write a hit song or how to become a songwriter. This book is coming right from someone who has been there, and from someone who understands the questions that songwriters will encounter on their journey to success. With the range and scope of this book, there is not a chapter that you can't find that will steer you in the right direction that relates to you having a successful Music career, as Mr. Kasha has. This book is Al's Legacy for every student, Professional and Amateur to right a hit song.




Songwriting for Beginners


Book Description

Anyone can get started learning how to write a song with this user-friendly basic method. You will learn how to write a melody, write an interesting chord progression, develop ideas, write lyrics and more. This book teaches the basics of reading music and provides both guitar and keyboard diagrams of the basic chords. You will even learn how to copyright and protect your songs. No matter what style of music you enjoy, get ready to develop your creativity with the first-ever, fun, basic method for songwriting.




The Songwriter's Idea Book


Book Description

In her first two books, Sheila Davis classified the major song forms and enduring principles that have been honored for decades by America's foremost songwriters. Those books have become required reading in music courses from NYU to UCLA. In The Songwriters Idea Book, Davis goes one step further, giving you 40 strategies for designing distinctive songs. You'll break new ground in your own songwriting by learning about the inherent relationship between language style, personality type and the brain. • You'll go, step by step, through the creative process as you activate, incubate, separate and discriminate. • You'll learn to use the whole-brain techniques of imaging, brainstorming and clustering. • You'll expand your skilled use of figurative language with paragrams, metonyms, synecdoche and antonomasia. • You'll be challenged to design metaphors, form symbols, make puns and coin words. • And, you'll learn how to prevent writer's block, increase your productivity and maintain your creative flow. Over 100 successful student lyrics from pop, country, cabaret, and theater serve as role-models to illustrate the "whole-brain" songwriting process.