Recommended Songwriting Books

James · Last edited by James on June 12, 2008, 2:01 am; edited 6 times in total

Here are some books we've seen recommended around the site:

		God Songs This instructional book by songwriters Paul Baloche and Jimmy and Carol Owens covers basic songwriting principles like how to develop a song after inspiration comes, 30 characteristics that make a song memorable, 16 shared qualities of great worship songs and 12 keys to unlock writer's block. You will also learn how to gain the listener's attention quickly, find fresh ways of expressing worship and choose just the right words. God Songs also contains advice on how to make your song its best before releasing it, how to get your songs heard and used by others, and ways to minister most effectively with your music. Song stories and advice from writers and publishers such as Darlene Zschech, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Bart Millard, Craig Dunnagan and Rita Baloche are also included. Softcover, 304 pages.
		Tunesmith Webb brings his insiders knowledge, experience, and star power to the ultimate guide for aspiring songwriters. With a combination of anecdotes, meditation, and advice, he breaks down the creative process from beginning to endfrom coping with writers block, to song construction, chords, and even self-promotion. Webb also gives readers a glimpse into the professional music world.
		Song from Heaven Release the Song That God Has Placed in Your Heart Did you know that every worshiper’s heart holds a song for which God eagerly listens? Whether you’re an experienced songwriter or a person who knows little about music but is touched by its power, your song has merit, even if God is the only One who ever hears it. In the midst of our current worship awakening, God is poised to pour out His songs to those who are faithful and make themselves available. He wants to bless the nations and even you with the song He has placed in your heart. Are you uncertain how to turn your heart of worship into melody? Worship leader and renowned songwriter Tommy Walker reveals the inspirational and instructional process of creating worship songs that bring honor and glory to God. Discover devotional thoughts that will help you find intimacy with God and the practical techniques for putting that intimacy into words, melody and eventually a song.
		Successful Lyric Writing "Here is your guide to the art and craft of writing words to and for music--and the only practical, self-contained lyric writing course available in book form. A sequel to noted songwriter-teacher Sheila Davis' The Craft of Lyric Writing, this workbook will give you a solid foundation of theory and new insights into the subtleties of craftsmanship, whether you're a new or professional songwriter and whether your targeted market is country, gospel, top-40 or theatre. Inside you'll find a series of ""student tested"" exercises, practice critiques and quizzes that reinforce songwriting theory each step of the way and prepare you for the book's main feature--ten specially designed lyric writing assignments.
		Nashville Songwriting Written by Jerry Cupit, this is the first songwriting book dedicated to songwriting the Nashville way. Written for the novice to the professional, the poet or songwriter, Nashville Songwriting examines the inner workings of the country music industry. The book describes in detail: song structure, lyric formation, musical ideas, the Nashville number system, as well as having music publisher and songwriter organization listings. With Nashville not only being the home of country music but also contemporary christian and rock and pop artists such as Peter Frampton and Michael McDonald, Nashville Songwriting is useful for any music genre. Jerry Cupit is an award winning songwriting, record producer, musician, and music publisher. Having more than 15 years of experience in the Nashville music industry, Jerry is considered an expert in his field. Jerry is also featured monthly in Music City News magazine, and has also been featured in American Songwriter Magazine as well as other publications. The book has also been endorsed by both BMI and ASCAP performing rights organizations and is recommended by both organizations to their songwriters.
		The Craft of Lyric Writing Successful author and songwriter, Davis provides a complete guide to writing words for and to music, showing how to create lyrics with universal appeal.
		The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory A music theory book that hits the high note … This updated and expanded edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Music Theory breaks down a difficult subject in a simple way—even for those who think they have no rhythm or consider themselves tone deaf. With clear, concise language, it explains everything from bass-clef basics to confusing codas. This new edition includes: -A brand-new CD -A comprehensive ear-training section -Musical examples of intervals, scales, chords, and rhythms -Aural exercises so readers can test their ear training and transcription skills
		The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition Write the songs that make the whole world sing. A step-by-step guide to writing music, this book shows musicians how to compose simple chord progressions and melodies, and leads them through more advanced compositional techniques and musical forms. Designed for composers of all types of music, it includes instruction on composing stand-alone melodies, using different scales and modes, themes and variations, orchestration, and composing for film, theater, and videogames. -Perfect complement to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Songwriting -Includes a comprehensive glossary of musical terms, as well as an appendix of various computer-based composition tools -Easy-to-use oversize trim *Note from James -- I haven't seen this one recommended around the forum yet, but another book by this author (Idiot's Guide to Music Theory) was...this looks like it could be a good one.
		The Songwriters Idea Book 40 strategies to excite your imagination, help you design distinctive songs, and keep your creative flow. By Sheila Davis.
		Mastering Audio, Second Edition This book is for everyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers. It is suitable for levels of students and professionals. To master audio you must become a master of audio.
		Songwriters on Songwriting This expanded fourth edition of Songwriters on Songwriting includes ten new interviews--with Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Lou Reed, and others. In these pages, sixty-two of the greatest songwriters of our time go straight to the source of the magic of songwriting by offering their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their art. Representing almost every genre of popular music, from blues to pop to rock, here are the figures that have shaped American music as we know it.
		Six Steps to Songwriting Success In its First Edition, 6 Steps to Songwriting Success provided novices hoping to pitch their songs to artists other than themselves an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to mastering those elements consistently found in hit songs. Incorporating inspiring anecdotes from the author’s own success story and instructive quotes from music industry professionals, as well as 30 effective exercises for practicing, honing, and expanding one’s songwriting skills and helpful checklists for objectively accessing one’s strengths and weaknesses, the book offered a concise analysis of the six steps essential for songwriting success. Updated, substantially revised, and expanded, the Second Edition increases the book’s relevance for performing songwriters writing primarily for themselves or their bands. The revision reflects industry changes since the First Edition, such as the advent of MP3s, the increase in music sampling, and the fact that CDs have replaced cassettes as the industry standard for presenting material. Fifteen new or significantly revised exercises are also included, as are new quotes from industry professionals. Finally, the Appendix has been completely updated to present the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of songwriter resources available.
		I Don't Need a Record Deal Recommended by CSN member Redstone: "a great book about ways you can break into the music industry without being delusional."

Please feel free to add your reviews, or reply with other books below -- I'll update this top post as needed, as well as insert CSN affiliate links in replies where appropriate in this thread -- these will (hopefully) help defray our expenses.

Blessings,
James

RedStone · Posted: May 19, 2008, 12:55 am Post subject:

Singer Songwriter's Idea Book - a great book that breaks down the process of songwriting. Fairly technical, but a good resource. I'm about half way through.

Mastering Audio - The Art and the Science - 2nd Ed The first edition of this book helped me to understand the basic, and some of the more complex areas of recording and mixing. Topics cover everything from speaker placement , metering and acoustics to compression, EQ, mixing techniques, sample rate, bit depth, distortion, and jitter. Highly recommended for any level (novice or advanced).

tomgahagan · Posted: May 19, 2008, 2:10 am Post subject:

So James....do I understand this correctly?
If I make a purchase of one of these books having clicked the link on this page CSN gets some bucks from it?

James · Posted: May 19, 2008, 2:36 am Post subject:

kimt-VA · Posted: June 2, 2008, 3:58 am Post subject:

Songwriters On Songwriting (Paperback)
by Paul Zollo

This is at the top of my list along with Tunesmith by Jimmy Webb. I've re-read some chapters several times. Here are snippets from Amazon user reviews:

"Paul Zollo probes 52 pop-rock greats on the small miracles and larger torments of songwriting. As editor of the esteemed periodical SongTalk, Zollo has managed to bag some fairly big cats (Dylan, Young, R.E.M., Madonna) among an assortment of cult heroes and heroines (Webb and Wilson; Cohen and Nyro; Van Dyke Parks and Townes Van Zandt) and songwriters' songwriters (Sammy Cahn, Goffin & King, Bacharach & David). There's a wealth of entertaining, funny and surprising apercus in this 630-page whopper: "It's important to get rid of all them thoughts," opines Bob Dylan. "Don't let the critic become bigger than the creator," urges Randy Newman. "It's kind of disgusting that I'm not spending every single morning writing, come rain or come shine," admits the late Laura Nyro. For insight into what drives Paul Simon or Jackson Browne to strive for that perfectly modulated couplet, then Zollo's songtalk provides a feast. "What I get from these interviews is a sense of courage," says Van Dyke Parks. "This is infectious, and highly contagious... It's as helpful as belonging to some religious sect."

... Paul also tackles writers such as Carole King, Burt Bacharach, Bob Dylan, Sammy Cahn, Randy Newman, Janis Ian, Rickie Lee Jones, Dan Fogelberg and dozens more. A songwriter simply should not be without this book. The size of this work (658 pages) necessitates that you have your own copy so you can not only read it at your leisure, but you can go back to it -- again and again and again.

...Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Michael Stipe. Zollo's approach is both conversational and in depth, so you get Dylan talking about Greek philosophy, Harry Nilsson's sweet memories of life with Lennon, Sammy Cahn on the genius of Frank Sinatra, and much, much more.

James · Posted: June 2, 2008, 10:24 am Post subject:

RedStone · Posted: June 2, 2008, 10:59 am Post subject:

6 Steps to Songwriting Success

This book provides a pretty solid introduction of how to write songs for the popular market. It's interesting because it covers many aspects - such as lyrical styles, song and chord structuring, and all the way to marketing.

I Don't need a record Deal - a great book about ways you can break into the music industry without being delusional.

James · Posted: June 2, 2008, 11:54 pm Post subject:

Profundo · Posted: June 3, 2008, 12:04 am Post subject:

James,
Did you post links to these books? I am not seeing anything other than the descriptions yet later added posts have the links...i.e, I see this: "This book is for everyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers. It is suitable for levels of students and professionals. To master audio you must become a master of audio." but non title or link?
Thanks,
PS