Songwriting for Dummies [Paperback]

Jim Peterik (Author), Dave Austin (Author), Mary Ellen Bickford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

Learn to write songs like a pro

Want to know how to make it as a songwriter? Songwriting For Dummies, 2nd Edition gives you a chance to learn from the best. Written by a group of music industry pros, this practical guide shows you how to develop your songwriting skills and successfully utilize the Internet to promote and market your work!

Whether you?re a first-time songwriter or songwriting vet looking for a fast-track into the recording industry, this friendly, easy-to-follow guide is the source for you. Using well-known tunes as examples, the authors walk you through everything you need to know to write hit singles, catchy jingles, and everything in between.

• 25% new and updated content, including information on social media networks YouTube, Twitter, Viddler, and Digg
• Coverage of the latest music industry trends and techniques
• Tips and tricks to combat songwriter?s block

Whether you want to know how to compose a love song for that special someone or you?re looking break into the industry Songwriting For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a gold mine of inspiration and how-to information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...this text covers all the bases..." (Guitar Magazine, August 2003)

"...if you are more talented then me visit www.wileyeurope.com..." (Ipswich Evening Star, 20 August 2003)

From the Back Cover

"Songwriting is a way of expressing what's in the heart, mind, and soul!"
-Kenny Loggins

Get the inside scoop on finding agents, publishers, and collaborators

Create a demo and break into the music industry!

Now you can write the songs! Using well-known tunes as examples, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through every aspect of writing lyrics and publishing a song, from choosing a musical style and recording to hiring business players. You'll see how to use rhyme and rhythm in all kinds of music, from blues to rock to commercial jingles.

"Well thought out, well written, well presented, well done!"
- Ralph Murphy, V.P. International and Domestic Membership Group, ASCAP.

"In the future, when I'm struggling with an idea for a popular song, Songwriting For Dummies will be at arms reach."
- Bruce Swedien, Engineer, Producer, Composer for Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc.; 1 edition (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554042
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554049
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Songwriting For Dummies., June 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Songwriting for Dummies (Paperback)

I learned some good things from this book, but I could have learned more if the book had been proof-read. The authors let a lot of obvious mistakes make it into the final version of the book which makes it hard to follow some of their examples. For instance they may go to great troubles in the text to explain what an ABABC rhyme scheme is; and then for an example of an ABABC rhyme scheme, they show you a lyric that is really in AABBC rhyme scheme. The examples are where most of the errors occur. The actual written text is pretty accurate; but when they magnify and pictorially break down song lyrics, a lot of times, their example fits another form than what they've been describing to you in the text which can confuse a new learner. No one seemed to realize this before the book was published either.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the New Kid on the Block to Seasoned Music Professional, February 3, 2003

By 

Valerie Nager (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriting for Dummies (Paperback)

As an independent artist doing the music convention circuit and tackling a grass roots approach to the business as a new comer, I found "Songwriting for Dummies" refreshingly full of useful information. Additionally, much of the material gave inspiration and comfort to those with a penchant for the art of making music.

I have repeatedly heard the same 3 or 4 book titles mentioned as a "must have book" for anyone in the buiness. In my opinion "Songwriting for Dummies" blows the others away by simplifing many of the industry's mysterious and confusing terms while not striking fear into the heart of the rookie artist that is trying to grasp the many issues that are involved within the music business.

I read much of "Songwriting for Dummies" on my airplane ride home from a music conference I attended on the west coast. By the time the plane touched down I had a read much of the book and had written a new song for my next compilation that had come to me during that same flight. The song was written spontaneously on the 2 white, paper bags that were conveniently stored in the seat pocket in front of me, compliments of the airlines. This was a suggestion I followed from the authors on how to manage times when inspiration hits and one is without paper.

Later that month, I received an offer from a highly reputable company that required me to have some knowledge of what to ask in negotiating a contract as well as typical compensation. Luckily, I had my "Songwriting for Dummies" handy and was able to compare the information in the book to my offer to determine if it was fair and whether the typical legalities were addressed in the contract. Not only did I get a fair deal, I came across in a confident manner that enhance the contract relationship on both sides.

I suspect that future music conventions will be adding this fresh-to-the-market book to the top of the list of must-haves.....both for new comers and veterans in the biz.

Valerie Nager
EquinoxxMusic Producer

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great beginners guide, examples aside, May 15, 2004

By 

Beau J. Randall (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songwriting for Dummies (Paperback)

For what it is and what it's meant to achieve, I would give this 5 stars. It covers all the bases in just enough depth to get one's feet wet so as to not tune the average reader out. One might argue some things could be embellished upon and others really aren't about the art of songwriting itself - for instance the chapters dealing with the business end of things vs. a somewhat brief chapter on chord structure. I feel a 'Dummies' book isn't so much educational as it is to point you in the right direction - you may find the realities of the music business change your attitude toward songwriting. It's nice to have the basics all laid out on the table before you start investing yourself.

Where I fault this book is in the song examples covered. For the under 30 demographic, which I imagine this book is targeted at, the examples here are rather obscure. A good three quarters of them are from the 70s and earlier. That in itself I don't have a problem with, but where's the Zep, Hendrix, Who, Doors, Floyd, Beach Boys references? Aside from the Beatles and Berry and Elvis, there's not much mention of songs that would be indelible in a young person's mind, IOW, bands that made a huge social impact. Same with the newer stuff but it's even more spotty here, little mention of the likes of that class from a decade ago of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. - Train and Nickelback groundbreaking? Huh?!? My ears must have turned inside out. And one of the authors (a guy who co-wrote Eye of the Tiger), mentions his songs in examples ad-nauseum. It's one thing to casually mention some here or there to get his perspective as the writer, but IMO this comes off like a sleazy ploy to pump up royalties. I say this not as a fan of the all the bands or eras of music above but simply to illustrate the irony in what is preached by this book, that in which the successful writer should make his best effort to connect with her audience. I guarantee picking apart Survior and 38 Special songs is not the best avenue to achieve this.

All in all, this book is great info, just full of little things that might make you go 'hmmm'.