Songwriting for Dummies (For Dummies)

I bought this book as a songwriter who could write reasonable lyrics and understood song structure, hoping this book would explain melody and harmony in songwriting. I was wrong. Although this book could be useful for someone who does not know how to read/write music for someone like myself i found it quite patronising. The book explains a lot of very ovbious things. You could learn about lyrics and structure just by listening to some records, you don't need a book to explain the a pop song normally has a verse, bridge and chorus.
Some of the examples were interesting and gave me a few new ideas, but generally i learnt very little from this book. I suggest that if you are more intersted in the "musical" side of songwriting you get a book that covers music theory in songwriting as this is not for you.

Hmmm... (15/20 people found this helpful)

The trouble with providing a practical guide to anything that is an artform is that... well, you can't. If you want to learn how to write uniform, non progressive, Americanised tosh them go ahead and buy this book. But anyone interested in communicating anything original through the medium would surely only find this book a hindrance. It's pedestrian and overtly obvious prose is ultimately just rambling nonsense. I've been writing songs and performing/ recording for about seven years and found absolutely nothing to help me in this book. A prime example of what I am saying is that the writers describe Train's "Drops of Jupiter" as a "maverick" piece of songwriting that completely subverts the genre. Ummm, ok. All I can say is that these people do not actually listen to much real music. If you value integrety and art, avoid. If you just want to learn how to write hits... well either you can or you can't. I don't see how this book is going to change that.

Excellent - well-written and user-friendly (14/15 people found this helpful)

From beginning to end, I found this book informative, helpful and encouraging
I have been writing songs on an amateur level for some years, but this book helped build my confidence to the extent that I am now working seriously on some professional material and have almost finished my first 4-track demo!

The book is presented very logically and the exercises follow a natural progression.

My only criticism is that all the examples and addresses given are specifically American and I would have liked to see at least an appendix with relevent info for UK (and other English-speaking) readers.

Jim Peterik, Dave Austin, Mary Ellen Bickford

Reader Reviews:

Not for the musician... (20/23 people found this helpful)

Hmmm... (15/20 people found this helpful)

Excellent - well-written and user-friendly (14/15 people found this helpful)

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