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Songwriting for Dummies (Paperback)

~ (Author), Dave Austin (Author), Mary Ellen Bickford (Author) "Songs - the combination of music and words (or lyrics) - have the power to make people laugh, cry, or even scream out in protest..." (more)
Key Phrases: music attorney, music accountant, lyrical hook, Jim Peterik, Elton John, Frankie Sullivan (more...)

4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Music Theory For Dummies by Michael Pilhofer
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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)

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

Product Description

"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: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,147 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

#6 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Composition
#7 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Songwriting
#11 in	Books > Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Popular

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More About the Author

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Songs - the combination of music and words (or lyrics) - have the power to make people laugh, cry, or even scream out in protest. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
music attorney, music accountant, lyrical hook, dummy lyric, musical hook, performing songwriter, performing rights organizations, melodic hook, parody lyrics, mechanical royalties, right melody, song plugger, many songwriters, songwriting career, other songwriters, perfect rhymes, music supervisor, main hook, blanket license, performance royalties

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jim Peterik, Elton John, Frankie Sullivan, Bob Dylan, Burt Bacharach, New York, Don Henley, Diane Warren, Music Corp, Brian Wilson, Christina Aguilera, Chuck Berry, Don Barnes, Easy Action Music, Hal David, Los Angeles, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, George Harrison, Getting Down, Paul Simon, Richard Rodgers, Warner Bros, Bob Seger

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 79 books:

White Christmas: Movie Vocal Selections by Irving Berlin on page 35, page 297, and page 308
The Lion King (Music) by Elton John on page 184, page 244, and page 306
All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Fifth Edition by Donald S. Passman in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Jennifer Lopez (Galaxy of Superstars) by Anne E. Hill on page 94, and page 277
Blues for Dummies by Lonnie Brooks in Front Matter, and page 182

See all 79 books this book cites

1 book cites this book:

The Diva Next Door: How to Be a Singing Star Wherever You Are by Jill Switzer in Back Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll by Patricia Romanowski Bashe

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	71% buy the item featured on this page: Songwriting for Dummies 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) $9.95
	8% buy Music Theory For Dummies 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) $16.49
	7% buy Singing for Dummies 4.2 out of 5 stars (18) $16.49
	7% buy Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell 4.8 out of 5 stars (30) $31.45

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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.

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28 of 30 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)

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'.

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27 of 29 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

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

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
I just got this book today and i think its great.It has ton of information on songwritting and all the different techniques of how to write a song. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Breann

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid information and useful
This was the first songwriting book I ever read so ALL of it was useful. I figured I was a dummy at writing songs so this was a good place to start! Read more

Published 11 months ago by Steven Maren

3.0 out of 5 stars Information over load!! There are better books out there.
I can't say I didn't learn anything from this book.I did. It's VERY basic. BUT... I can say there are better books out there that do a better job. Read more

Published 11 months ago by K. Scott

3.0 out of 5 stars Song Writing for Dummies
It's okay for lyric writing, but it is not really what I had hoped for. It's okay, but not the best reference for music students.

Published on November 9, 2006 by Judith Dare

2.0 out of 5 stars A Book Written by Dummies
This book should have been entitled how to sell your song writing professionally. This book has little to do with creating or writing music. Read more

Published on November 2, 2006 by Roger Beickel

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book.
If you write any type of music, get this, sit down with pen & pad, and enjoy yourself. There are helpful tips and lessons to keep you absorbed and hungry for more.

Published on August 9, 2006 by Lord of All

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful book
Interesting, useful, well done. If you are iterested in songwriting this is an indispensable tool; doesn't matter if you know nothing about music theory. Don't miss it.

Published on September 25, 2005 by G. Mucci

4.0 out of 5 stars Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'
I bought this book when a musician friend recommended it to me. As someone who writes lyrics and who doesn't have even the most basic knowledge of musical terminology, I was... Read more

Published on December 9, 2004 by Mike Sarzo

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Review
Awesome book! It helped me win the Song of the Year contest at http://www.songoftheyear.com

Published on April 9, 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars simply the best
This book is simply the best book on songwriting...and i think i've read them all - believe me! It had a way of simplifying and demystifying the whole process of creating songs... Read more

Published on December 15, 2003 by DW

› See all 15 customer reviews...

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