Songwriting: A Complete Guide to the Craft Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a very engaging book, and is very enjoyable to read, though it definitely shows its age--the examples only run up through the early to mid 80s. If you are looking for all the latest information about currentstyles, this isn't your book.
Having said that, this is an extremelyinteresting book that has its roots primarily in classic Broadway musicals,and the kind of timeless songwriting that created standards that havelasted for generations (though other genres, from blues to country to rock,are also covered).
There's a lot of discussion of lyrics, rhyme schemes,various themes for songs, and the different structural parts of a song, butnot as much discussion of writing a song line-by-line as Sheila Davis'sexcellent book on lyric writing.
There's also what seems to me to be anextremely thorough section on melodies, chords, harmonies, and common chordprogressions. He discusses ways to fix up a stock melody, and evendiscusses when to use different intervals, and what they accomplish. Ican't compare this with Jai Josefs's book--which I have heard good thingsabout--because that is out of print as of this writing, and I haven't beenable to locate a copy yet.
If you are just looking for a template to useto create songs that sound like what's on the radio, this book isn't yourbest choice. But if you want a broader background which you can then adaptyourself to styles that interest you, this is an excellent book to have.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Songwriting: A Complete Guide to the Craft

Product Description:
Which do you write first, the music or the lyrics? How can you give a song a country sound? How can you make your lyrics "sing?" What is the simplest way to protect a copyright? Song Writing answers these and other questions on the art of musical composition. Musical examples throughout.

Get 10% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Songwriting: A Complete Guide to the Craft now ?