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Songwriting for Dummies

Songwriting for Dummies

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Authors: Jim Peterik, Dave Austin, Mary Ellen Bickford
Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Category: Book

List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $11.11
You Save: $10.88 (49%)



New (39) Used (15) Collectible (1) from $6.50

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars 12 reviews
Sales Rank: 45893

Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9

ISBN: 0764554042
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.4213
UPC: 785555086364
EAN: 9780764554049
ASIN: 0764554042

Publication Date: August 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: SHIPS TODAY!! BRAND NEW BOOK

Also Available In:

  • Digital - Songwriting For Dummies (For Dummies (Career/Education))

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
"Songwriting is a way of expressing what's in the heart, mind, and soul!"
—Kenny Loggins

Get the inside scoop on finding agents, publishers, and collaborators

Create a demo and break into the music industry!

Now you can write the songs! Using well-known tunes as examples, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through every aspect of writing lyrics and publishing a song, from choosing a musical style and recording to hiring business players. You'll see how to use rhyme and rhythm in all kinds of music, from blues to rock to commercial jingles.

"Well thought out, well written, well presented, well done!"
- Ralph Murphy, V.P. International and Domestic Membership Group, ASCAP.

"In the future, when I'm struggling with an idea for a popular song, Songwriting For Dummies will be at arms reach."
- Bruce Swedien, Engineer, Producer, Composer for Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson


Customer Reviews:   Read 7 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars Song Writing for Dummies   November 9, 2006
 4 out of 7 found this review helpful

It's okay for lyric writing, but it is not really what I had hoped for. It's okay, but not the best reference for music students.


2 out of 5 stars A Book Written by Dummies   November 2, 2006
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This book should have been entitled how to sell your song writing professionally. This book has little to do with creating or writing music. The title is very misleading and I feel like I just flushed a wad of hard earned money down the toilet. About the only thing useful in this book is some of the information on how to get your music noticed and circulated, which doesn't interest me since I have no ambition to become a professional musician.


4 out of 5 stars Nice book.   August 9, 2006
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

If you write any type of music, get this, sit down with pen & pad, and enjoy yourself. There are helpful tips and lessons to keep you absorbed and hungry for more.


5 out of 5 stars Very useful book   September 26, 2005
 9 out of 12 found this review helpful

Interesting, useful, well done. If you are iterested in songwriting this is an indispensable tool; doesn't matter if you know nothing about music theory. Don't miss it.


4 out of 5 stars Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'   December 9, 2004
 27 out of 29 found this review helpful

I bought this book when a musician friend recommended it to me. As someone who writes lyrics and who doesn't have even the most basic knowledge of musical terminology, I was looking for something that wasn't too technical and something that wouldn't completely confuse me when I tried to read it. This book definitely fit the bill.

Songwriting for Dummies isn't perfect. It could have done without all the self-promotion of Survivor and 38 Special and it could have done with more late '60s, early '70s music. I was disappointed to find that Stevie Nicks was mentioned in connection with "Bootylicious." Plus, the more technical explanations of writing music caused me to skim over a couple of the chapters. But the overall package gave me what I was looking for.

Despite going through a long period when I would start reading a book, put it down and then forget about it, I concentrated on reading this book and finished it in a matter of days. I enjoyed picking it up and reading it and going back over certain chapters again when necessary.

If you want to find a book that covers chord progressions in great detail, this book isn't for you, but if you want something that touches on the basics of lyrics and melodies, plus gives you an example of the kind of artist rights issues many songwriters face, this is a good reference.


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