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The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords Into Great Songs
 
 
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The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords Into Great Songs

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4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords Into Great Songs + How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised (Book) + Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs (Songwriting)
Price For All Three: $44.81

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  • This item: The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords Into Great Songs by Rikky Rooksby

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  • How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised (Book) by Rikky Rooksby

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  • Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs (Songwriting) by Rikky Rooksby

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Using visual examples of songwriting techniques, this book teaches guitarists to write better songs. The CD demonstrates how the examples sound, and it includes dozens of chord progressions, evolving melodies and structures, and harmony effects, making the book especially useful to those who don't read music. The book starts with basic chords, describes how to write a song with simple elements, then gradually develops more complex structures. By seeing and hearing step-by-step examples of the song craft, the reader can easily learn the secrets of songwriting.

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Rikky Rooksby
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars CD is a gem!, February 3, 2006
I didn't touch the cd until after I had read the book. My reasoning wasn't to save the best for last. I just didn't expect to hear anything useful since I would be playing the examples on my keyboard while reading through the topics. I was completely satisfied with what the book alone did for me. I'd been writing for a while and knew much of the information presented already, but what Rooksby did was organize my tool drawer. It's mainly a book on the use of chords as the basis for writing popular songs in any genre, from the most basic to the most colorful. He shows us the resource we have in these chords and how popular songs have used them and will continue to use them. By the end of the book you really feel like writing, because much of the mystery about the craft has been resolved.
Then you pop in the cd and listen to no less than "20" beautifully recorded pop tracks(sans vocals) written in various styles which apply the book's teachings. But you aren't just listening. You're following along with the cd section of the book, which shows every chord used and an accounting of every measure in every track recorded, along with comments on the most significant events.
I came away with a much greater appreciation of popular song and its potential.
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35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Clean and Very Helpful, September 17, 2004
This is a book about chord progressions and song structures used in popular music. It is basic, but in a good way. I'm a pretty experienced songwriter, and I already intuitively do much of what the book describes, but now I know why what I do works or doesn't work, and also have a palette of new ideas. The layout and graphics are excellent, and I also appreciate the glossy paper stock -- the publishing work is beautifully done. If you enjoy writing songs, particularly if you're a guitar player who enjoys writing songs, and you want to better understand the foundations of popular song structure conventions, I heartily recommend this book.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars you need to own ALL of rikky rooksby's books., December 26, 2003
i can't praise rikky's books enough. i have all of them (at least the ones that are still in print). he knows his stuff. get this book, and its companion "how to write songs on guitar", and you're well on your way to making great music. he cites The Smiths and other great bands, in all of his books. now any author who uses the Smiths as an example of songwriting technique is aces in my book. seriously, the amount of knowledge you will get from his books (this one especially) is priceless. you'll never get writer's block again. GET HIS BOOKS. no others come close. -chris
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent reference of chord sequences, but not for writing songs
I have to echo what a previous reviewer said: this is a book of making chord sequences, not for making songs. Read more
Published 12 months ago by T. Dokland

1.0 out of 5 stars Songs are more than just chords...
This book should be called "How to turn chords into chord progressions" because that's pretty much all there is. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Cris

5.0 out of 5 stars Sincerest flattery - I've "borrowed" some progressions for my own songs
I've been playing guitar forever, and writing songs for years, but like most other writers I get stuck in ruts from time to time. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Pyrotechno

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight, Inspiring and Suprising
I have over last two years developed into a real fan of Rikky's books. This one really surprised me for progressive depth in the structure of each chapter. Read more
Published 22 months ago by B. D. Lubbers

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Songwriters
This book taught me so much about songwriting, it's scary. I'm not a novice, either! It teaches you about chord theory better than any other book I've read.
Published 24 months ago by Tyler B.

5.0 out of 5 stars my chord refernce book
man, this book has really really come in handy for me, expeically early chapter, good thing i have this. Read more
Published on May 18, 2007 by Gary A. Johnson Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Tool
Sparks my creative thoughts and brings me back to the love of writing music with passion.
Published on January 11, 2007 by Mark Artisan

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for
I was looking for a book that wasn't for complete noobs, but not for the person who knows the innermost workings of music theory. Read more
Published on December 22, 2006 by J. Molley

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Winner
This is a great book to learn from. You can pick a chapter and start from there. It will help you with writers block, if you have it.... Read more
Published on November 9, 2006 by Daniel L. Nevels

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Excellent source of material to take your songs up a notch. The author provides clear examples. The book is extremely well organized.
Published on March 12, 2006 by M. S. Virdi

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