What’s the secret to writing a hit song? It’s as simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6! Innovative, practical, and inspiring, Six Steps to Songwriting Success presents a surefire step-by-step approach to mastering the elements consistently found in hit songs. Author Jason Blume, a songwriter with the rare distinction of having had songs on the Country, Pop, and R&B charts simultaneously, has packed this book with such key aids as the three-step lyric writing technique used by the pros; lyric, melody, and demo checklists; and tools for self-evaluation–plus many other exercises that work. Blume’s warm, humorous style features motivational anecdotes and entertaining stories of how hit songs came to be written and recorded. Get Six Steps to Songwriting Success, and get on the charts!
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jason Blume is a staff writer for Zomba Music. He has written songs for the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, as well as John Berry’s Top 5 country single, “Change my Mind” and Steve Azar’s country hit “I Never Stopped Lovin’ You.” He also developed and teaches the BMI Nashville Songwriters Workshop. He lives in Nashville, TN.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By B-RockSolid
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're keen to get into the game of songwriting, it's a good book to read. It tries to provide details about the entire process involved in songwriting - from idea generation to marketing your songs. However, like any one book that tries to cover all bases in a very large and complex undertaking like the songwriting business it ends up lacking in detail in every area. Lots of topics are summarily treated, especially areas on writing lyrics and composing melodies.
The plus to the book are that it's got lots of great insights into the music business and is very matter of fact and brutally honest about the music industry and how it works and that helps in dispelling any rosy myths one might have when thinking of getting into it. That pushes you to realistically assess your talents and work harder to step up your game or decide if this career is one you really want to get into.
My advice though is that this one book will not be enough if you really want to learn everything you need to know about songwriting, especially the musical aspects of composing and writing great lyrics.
Some other books I found very very helpful as a companion to this were:
Shortcuts to Hit songwriting - Robin Frederick
The Craft and Business of Songwriting - John Braheny
The plus to the book are that it's got lots of great insights into the music business and is very matter of fact and brutally honest about the music industry and how it works and that helps in dispelling any rosy myths one might have when thinking of getting into it. That pushes you to realistically assess your talents and work harder to step up your game or decide if this career is one you really want to get into.
My advice though is that this one book will not be enough if you really want to learn everything you need to know about songwriting, especially the musical aspects of composing and writing great lyrics.
Some other books I found very very helpful as a companion to this were:
Shortcuts to Hit songwriting - Robin Frederick
The Craft and Business of Songwriting - John Braheny
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By K. Skaarberg
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jason Blume has written a book for the lyrics-oriented songwriter, but it is disguised as a complete songwriter book. I think his approach is suitable for country and maybe ballads. But he disregards music theory and the importance of rhythm arrangement, harmonization and production. In fact, he makes a big point that you don't have to know how to play an instrument. That's like saying that your toolbox should contain a hammer, but not a saw.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Student
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Half the book is on the craft of songwriting: song structures, lyrics and titles, and melodies. The other half of the book is on the business of songwriting. It covers how to record a demo, how songwriters make money, publishing, song pitching. The author also talks about how it took him 16 years to really feel successful and comfortable, adding in a few chapters on being persistent and having realistic expectations.
I like the quotes from professionals (writers and industry people) on all the subjects he covers, everything from the writing process, the business, melodies, hooks. The examples of lyric writing are mostly contemporary as of the early 2000s (unlike a few other books I have read) which is nice.
However, I think there are better books about lyric writing and song structure, namely: Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling and Writing Better Lyrics, which is why I'm giving this 4 stars.
Finally, my advice to someone wants to write songs is that it's fine to pick up a book or two to learn the basics. But ultimately, I believe that to write good songs, you should
1) Put away the books
2) Listen to songs that you love and analyze why you like them
3) Actually write songs. It doesn't matter how good they are, it only matters that you keep finishing complete songs. That's the only way to actually get better.
I say this as someone who's read a lot of songwriting books and not written as much as I should have. Good luck!
I like the quotes from professionals (writers and industry people) on all the subjects he covers, everything from the writing process, the business, melodies, hooks. The examples of lyric writing are mostly contemporary as of the early 2000s (unlike a few other books I have read) which is nice.
However, I think there are better books about lyric writing and song structure, namely: Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling and Writing Better Lyrics, which is why I'm giving this 4 stars.
Finally, my advice to someone wants to write songs is that it's fine to pick up a book or two to learn the basics. But ultimately, I believe that to write good songs, you should
1) Put away the books
2) Listen to songs that you love and analyze why you like them
3) Actually write songs. It doesn't matter how good they are, it only matters that you keep finishing complete songs. That's the only way to actually get better.
I say this as someone who's read a lot of songwriting books and not written as much as I should have. Good luck!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommendation
We use this book in our songwriting classes and the information has helped our members grow by exploring new techniques in writing songs to perform in local venues as well as... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carolyn Stober, SMOKEY72
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is a Very Good and Practical Book
This book gives you the real story about songwriting. The tools about lyrics and melodies is good enough, but the business side, coming from someone who has been there, was a great... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book!
I'm about a third in, but so far, so good! Very helpful with lots of exercises to get you thinking!
Published 2 months ago by Magrevy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Cornerstone
This is a good book to have handy while trying to improve the quality of songwriting. Whether to become more commercial or to simply write clearer lyrics with your melodies, this... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Hybrid
2.0 out of 5 stars
Old news
Even though I'm new to the business of songwriting, as I read it felt like I was reading a retread of old information. Why? Read more
Published 13 months ago by Angela K. Durden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Insight
Truly an insightful book into the craft of songwriting and also into the business of getting oen's songs published! Thank You Mr. Blume.
Published 15 months ago by Karen Shikler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommend for songwriers to be.
This book has been great help in my fledging song writing career. Very thorough and simple. Good for beginners and beyond.
Published on October 23, 2010 by Texas Flack
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is ALL THAT!!
It was suggested to me by a Nashville staff-writer to read this book. I have read it from front to back and it was time well spent! Read more
Published on October 8, 2010 by Crazy Daisy
5.0 out of 5 stars
good stuff...
This book was recommended to me by a friend who attended a songwriting workshop by the author, himself, and it is a really easy and accessible book that is very usable. Read more
Published on March 23, 2010 by L. Blum
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best
This book and the one of Mr. Braheny for me are the best about Songwriting. Also Songwriting for Dummies is very good.
Published on June 19, 2009 by Diego Hernan Rengifo Castillo
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