Songwriting Book?

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MelodyMaker

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Hey everyone!
Wow! What a great site - I'm new to songwriting so can probably use a little help. I see that there are a lot of great reads on here for learning how to become a better songwriter/lyricist. I travel a lot, and like to take in a lot of information by book - was wondering if anyone new of any great songwriting books that they could recommend. As I search along here I'll be sure to post up my findings as well! Thank you for your help!

-M
 
Never bothered with any songwriting books. I just write and whatever comes out is the song. I'm sure there's a science behind it, and some things work better than others. But I figured after playing covers for decades that I should be able to write a song based on that accumulated knowledge and personal experience.

I'll hand it off to those who have books to recommend now...
 
I have never thought that you could have a good "How to" book on something like songwriting. But there are lots of great books with interviews that contain wonderful gems on how people have written their songs down the years. Just check out biographies or autobiographies by the artists you dig. But a couple of good reads are "Written in my soul" Written.webpby Bill Flanagan and "Songwriters on songwriting" Song.webpby Paul Zollo.
There are some priceless and detailed interviews in both.
 
Thank you guys so much for your help!! It's nice to see that people out there are actually trying to help each other haha! I went to the bookstore the other day, but couldn't find the titles you mentioned. Instead I bought "How To Write a Hit Song" by Mollie Leiken (Fifth edition). I'll send over what I think once I finish it. Have any of you read it? Thanks again!! :thumbs up: :)

-Melody
 
MelodyMaker said:
I went to the bookstore the other day, but couldn't find the titles you mentioned.
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They're probably out of print but are easilly available second hand on ebay, amazon or various booksites. I've not read the book you mentioned but there's bound to be some important food for thought in there.
Bear in mind though, that there aren't any concrete rules in songwriting. Lots of handy thoughts, processes and opinions that all need to be filtered and processed by the individual taking it in.
 
grimtraveller said:
Just check out biographies or autobiographies by the artists you dig.
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I don't know what kind of music or artists you like but "Many years from now" by Miles, "The Playboy Lennon interviews" by David Sheff, "X~ray" by Ray Davies, "Life" by Keith Richards, "Chronicles" by Bob Dylan and "Race of Angels" by John Waters are all bio or autobiographical accounts in which there are some tremendous insights into the mechanics of songwriting.
 
Great Songwriting book: "How to write a Hit Song"

Well, guys, I read "How to write a Hit Song". As promised, here's my review:
Absolutely awesome! Y'gotta read it, too. No photos with rock stars. All tips on songwriting, craft, marketing.

MelodyMaker said:
Thank you guys so much for your help!! It's nice to see that people out there are actually trying to help each other haha! I went to the bookstore the other day, but couldn't find the titles you mentioned. Instead I bought "How To Write a Hit Song" by Mollie Leiken (Fifth edition). I'll send over what I think once I finish it. Have any of you read it? Thanks again!! :thumbs up: :)

-Melody
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