copyrighting

[mikew987]

I have a couple of questions about copyrighting
1) how do you copyright the melodies in a song, will a recording do or do you need sheet music? because my recordings arent that professional so nobdy would want to rip them, but I feel the writing is good so i want to copyright the melodies,but i dont know how to write sheet music.
2) where/how do i send it?

 

[Gidge]

a recording will do just fine...it doesnt have to be professional.......

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/

use form PA.......

 

[PaulB]

Well, before the 1976 copyright revision laws went into
effect in 1978, a lead sheet was required to register
a song with the copyright office. Now it isn't.

I do lead sheets for myself(a single staff which shows the
melody, lyrics and usually the chords but there's no
arrangement to it) so I already have them. But I realize
most people don't do lead sheets and don't need them.
It's just my way of remembering the song and knowing if I'm finished or not.

So you can just sing the song into a cassette machine
acapella if that's the best you can do and it will be just
as legal as if you had the London Symphony in the
background. Hope this helps.

PaulB