Customer Reviews

How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however much it may be at variance with reality. Rooksby's entire series of books reminds me of nothing so much as my time studying composition at the Juilliard School. Their undergraduate theory course (Literature and Materials of Music) mirrors Rooksby's game plan and "secret wish" for us as evolving musicians. As opposed to those who somehow miss the point and say his method is just a bunch of chords or progressions, Rooksby's entire thesis is that music is NOT these surface features that he goes to great lengths to describe. To my mind, Rooksby's wish for us as his students is for us to "get to work" and to use these stock features (chords, progressions) as launching pads for our own analysis of music's mysterious and personal qualities. At Juilliard, we were not taught theory per se, but rather, we were given pieces of music to analyze (polyphonic and homophonic) to come into class to discuss. Nobody told us what the piece "meant" and nobody told us "how the story ends". We were trained to become independent thinkers, and make up our own minds. Again, whatever the naysayers may believe in their musical heart of hearts to the contrary, Rikky Rooksby is a master teacher who states very clearly that music is either all surface and recycled parts and pieces, OR, it is an endless mystery, literally having no end (as there are infinite harmonics in nature). He also states clearly that the game of music is not in the obviously repeated surface structures, but in the way that each individual musician can IMPRINT on music structures their own spirit and personality. John Lennon's barre chords were his and nobody elses, just as Beethoven's middle c was unlike any other musician's middle c (even though it was). With his encyclopedic foundation of structures leading to a workable process of personal analysis of the songs we love (Rikky's plan for us as his students), Rooksby's intent is not to dwell smugly on music's obvious lacks (7-12 notes in Western music, the limited range of human hearing, etc), but to ponder and muse upon the mystery of how those lacks can turn into so much genuine gold. "Just think", Rikky seems to be saying..."there are endless new songs waiting for us to write". Just think...endless new songs.

(I wrote this review eight years ago for the first edition of this book. First, some updates and comparisons, between the first edition and this one):

What's new: his writing is a bit toned-down (in the first edition, he knocks on Oasis for being derivative... in this edition, he's much nicer about their music), some of the chord diagrams have been corrected, the color of the diagrams is more streamlined and "natural" (beige, easy on the eyes), full-color photos of the albums in the book of the first edition have been removed (probably to save money), and most importantly- all songs he references now have the ARTIST mentioned right in the same spot he mentions the song (that was really annoying about the first book- he kept mentioning song titles but I was like "who wrote that?!" - oftentimes I didn't feel like flipping to the index of the book), and there are other miscellaneous additions and subtractions. All in all, a very good revision. Now on to my original review from 2002:

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This is the best (and most comprehensive/complete) songwriting book in existence. Seriously. I am a 26-year old multi-instrumentalist who has studied my fair share of songwriting books and techniques... I listen to, write, and study virtually every style of music (even oldschool country and some R+B).

What Rikky Rooksby has done is create an easily understood book on modern (and not-so-modern) GOOD songwriting... how to make interesting chord progressions, how to write memorable melodies, what songs use certain chord progressions (from the popular Beatles stuff all the way to The Smiths (!!) and Sixpence None The Richer!) It's the only book I have seen that spotlights lesser-known amazing legendary alternative groups and their songwriting. Too many books these days show you how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.... what the hell is that? Who wants to learn songs like that? Rikky's book focuses on why the great pop/alternative/folk songs in history ARE great, why they work, what elements make them work, etc... you wanna write good solid songs that people will remember? Catchy, full of great hooks, etc... This book is IT.

In the back of the book he even lists 24 CD's you should buy (and/or study) to improve your songwriting, and he cannot be more ON when it comes to what he chooses:

1. The Beatles- 1967-1970
2. Bob Dylan- Blonde on Blonde
3. Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
4. Love- Forever Changes
5. Burt Bacharach- The Look Of Love
6. The Band- The Band
7. Motown Chartbusters Volumes I-V
8. Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
9. Led Zeppelin IV
10. Bruce Springsteen- The Wild the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle
11. Joni Mitchell- Hejira
12. Carpenters- Their Greatest Hits
13. Queen II (EXCELLENT choice)
14. Fleetwood Mac- Rumors (yet another excellent choice)
15. ABBA Gold
16. Siouxsie and the Banshees- Juju
17. Bob Marley- Legend
18. REM- Life's Rich Pageant
19. Kate Bush- The Sensual World
20. Madonna- The Immaculate Collection (quite possibly the most perfect pop record EVER)
21. Nirvana- Nevermind (it's about time SOMEONE recognized Kurt Cobain's genius)
22. Jeff Buckley- Grace (yet another AMAZING artist who tragically lost his life way before he got a chance to impact the music world)
23. Bjork- Post (absolute brilliance)
24. Radiohead- OK Computer

It's such a diverse list, from stuff you might hate that your parents or older sister love (Beach Boys/The Band), to stuff that my generation fully appreciates (Nirvana, Siouxsie, Radiohead, Kate Bush)... even though I love the oldschool stuff, too... the best songwriters draw from ALL decades of music.

Rikky also has a section where well-known alternative and pop songwriters talk about the songwriting process (Morrissey, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Clapton, Peter Buck, etc.)... and he has a section that highlights random pop and alternative songs and why they WORK.... why they're great... I cannot say enough about how brilliantly-written this book is... I would love to contact Mr. Rooksby and let him know how much this book has helped me.

The book is VERY inexpensive (for how much stuff it covers!!!) and I highly suggest it to anyone and EVERYONE, especially an alternative rocker. One band I wished he would have featured in his book is Jets To Brazil... now that is a band which knows about hooks, great lyrics/chord changes... songs that will be remembered for a thousand years. But still.... Rikky pretty much covered EVERYTHING... seriously.

I have been playing guitar off and on for about four years. I've learned a LOT from this book)..... you won't be disappointed if you pick this book up, seriously.

I hope everyone out there reads this review and buys it... it's just without a doubt, something you cannot do without, if you're serious about songwriting (on guitar or ANY other instrument).

Just the song chord chart on page 42, is worth the price (the author even says so, and I have to agree!) However there is so much more to this book. It really helps to have a little theory under your belt, but even that (though limited) is covered here and is more than enough to get you on your way to writing your own tunes. Just about anything you wanted to know is covered here. Songwriting methods,chord sequences, how to develope those sequences, Rythm, melody, keys and how to change them,lyrics and a lot more. Don't worry about getting any other books on this subject. Get this one and you'll have all you need!

This book gives you so many methods and ideas for songwriting, you can't help but put out a good tune. It covers everything from subject to lyric to melody to chord progression and more. It's a complete study, worthy of a college course to go with it. Great reference.

It has a lot of information but for me it is WAY to technical. I guess these are things you need to know but I don't feel it is explained in a very easy to digest sort of way. I don't understand the theory and this book does not seem to be helping me much. Maybe I need something more basic that explains music theory a little better and in a more basic sort of way...

This book is not for someone that is starting out in music theory. I have played guitar for many years but never spent any time learning anything past tabs. This book is not the next step up from tabs... i feel I am trying to jump a huge gab in my understanding of music theory.

I gave it 3 stars because I guess it must be helpful for people that are at that stage and have some basic understanding of music theory prior to buying this. It just is not for me.

I've owned this book for many years and believe it should be a staple in musicians' libraries. It's not going to tell you everything you need to know to write that golden song, but I don't imagine any single book will. A golden song is one that is an honest expression of yourself and we are not merely chords, scales and choruses. Instead it gives you the bigger picture that often gets lost when one ventures into musicianship. As the focus isn't just on the guitar I believe the title is slightly inappropriate, though aimed at the right audience.

Guitarists have a habit of believing their instrument is a band in and of itself. They get caught up in technique and often forget how much of the sound spectrum guitars soak up. In fact, think of guitars as chili powder in a dish- nice, but a very unpleasant meal when used with a heavy hand.

This book is just what every guitarist needs to pull their head out of the fret board and into the reality that songs benefit from structure and common musical conventions (i.e. music theory) more than a 12 minute self-indulgent solo on a single instrument. The trouble with theory, and music study in general, is how many options are available. Twelve semi-tones, surprisingly unlimited possiblities. This book helps you get a handle on the basics of these possibilities and provides a good starting point for any would be song writer. It won't write the songs for you but it will give you an idea of what good writing sounds like and what dirctions you might pull from. It provides a song writer with a good standard musical pallette to build on. I liken it to the dictionary for novelists.

Great Item and service. Will order from this vendor again. Future customers should highly consider this item and vendor. Thanks!

I've only read a small part of this book, however I can 'Feell' the Creativity that the Author wants to pass on to his readers.. Everything is So Different to what I expected - BETTER, So Helpful & Encouraging..
I recommend this book highly.. I think you have to "Get It" - Meaning you Understand what the Author is getting at Or You Don't..!!! It's that simple... You really have to open your mind & heart to realise & Feel the
authors Encouragement & Lessons... If you 'Don't Get It' then "Don't get it..!!'

Cheers... Larry Finn (Australia)

Nothing revealed- nothing any guitar player doesn't already know. Too many words to convey too little information. Skip this book, ( and the others in his series) and keep looking. Youtube contains much more relevant and usable information. Save your money.