Product Description

Want to know how to make it as a songwriter? Songwriting For Dummies gives you a chance to learn from the best. Performer, songwriter Jim Peterik is a 35-year veteran in the business and author of dozens of top-40 hits, including “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You” “Rocking Into the Night,” “High On You,” “I Can’t Hold Back,” “Is This Love,” “Burning Heart,” and “The Search is Over.” Dave Austin is CEO of Transcension Music Group. He’s produced and promoted some of the greatest talent in the industry, including Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, REO Speedwagon, and Queen. And Mary Ellen Bickford has been involved in music and film production for more than two decades.

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:

• Choose a musical style
• Develop a song idea
• Compose high-impact lyrics
• Create melodies that are memorable
• Use rhyme and rhythm
• Understand song from, from blues to jingles
• Create a demo and shop it around
• Find an agent and publisher
• Find and work with collaborators

From assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a songwriter to signing contracts, Songwriting For Dummies covers all the bases. Among other key topics, you’ll explore:

• Various song forms, including the AABA form and various ABAB forms
• Snagging your listeners with a lyrical, melodic, musical, rhythmic, or sound-effect hook, or a combination of hooks
• Concept-driven, story-telling, parody, love and other types of lyrics
• Using rhythm, melody, and chords in writing songs
• Rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, and many other song styles
• Writing songs for stage, screen and TV
• The business end—from putting together a business team to getting a lawyer and an accountant to finding a publisher

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25318 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

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

About the Author
Jim Peterik has written and co-written a wide array of top-ten songs, including the Grammy-winning "Eye of the Tiger" and more.

Dave Austin has produced and promoted numerous all-star concerts.

Mary Ellen Bickford has worked in writing and film production for over 20 years.

Customer Reviews

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.

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. The title is very misleading and I feel like I just flushed a wad of hard earned money down the toilet. About the only thing useful in this book is some of the information on how to get your music noticed and circulated, which doesn't interest me since I have no ambition to become a professional musician.

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.