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P220ST · Post by **P220ST** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:24 pm

Can anyone recommend a good text on songwriting for a person with good fundamentals in harmony and muusic theory?

-P220ST

P220ST · Post by **P220ST** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:49 pm

Someone has to bail me out. I'm blocked. I have a box full of lyrics. I respond best to well written text. Any 1st hand experience will be much appreciated.

P220ST

shadoe42 · Post by **shadoe42** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:14 pm

your local bookstore(borders or barnes and nobles if you are in the US) should have several texts on songwriting. Also do a search on Amazon for the topic that should locate quite few as well.

Do you mean you are blocked writing new stuff or blocked in some other manner?

P220ST · Post by **P220ST** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:53 pm

Lyrics are coming just fine. Can't match 'em up with anything worthwhile. I thought reading about someone else's method might give me a spark. I've been on Amazon and Google and 4 songwriting forums. I just trust the folks here. Hoped that someone could recommend anything that pulled them out of a slump.

Thanks for writing back. Tell me if you've read anything that was interesting. I don't care if it's great, seminal, whatever - I just need a spark, a shot of melodic tequila.

-P220ST

shadoe42 · Post by **shadoe42** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:03 pm

ahh so its lyrics you have just no music to go with it. I see.. hmmm not sure. My own methods tend to be...eclectic

And when I get into a lyrical slump I write instrumentals till inspiration hits

Probably not the best of methods I am sure

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:09 pm

There is a new book from American Songwriter Magazine called "Song". It's loaded with interviews of TONS of songwriters. It shares every aspect of writing, and is extremely high on my list of books that I recommend to others. Just reading a few pages gave me ideas and inspired me.

Brent

P220ST · Post by **P220ST** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:10 am

Brent, I shot from the hip and ordered it. I'm glad "Song" worked for you. No hard feelings if it doesn't for me, but it's certainly worth a shot.

-P220ST

chardin · Post by **chardin** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:56 am

Take a look at "How to Write Songs on Guitar" or "How to Write Songs on Keyboards" both by Rikky Rooksby.

I have the guitar version and it's great. Chapters 3 and 4 are on Chord Sequences and Developing Sequences.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:26 am

P220ST wrote:Brent, I shot from the hip and ordered it. I'm glad "Song" worked for you. No hard feelings if it doesn't for me, but it's certainly worth a shot.

-P220ST

Let me know what you think of it! Even if it's not exactly what you're wanting in this thread, it should be a great help with getting some inspiration. It really helps you get into the world of the best songwriters around, in all genres. Even some interviews with songwriters that aren't with us any more, such as Ray Charles. I believe they are interviews from their magazines over the last several years, but I might be wrong.

It's not as much focuses on chords and melody, but just the whole process. From inspiration to hooks to whatever. Other books have interviewed songwriters, but this is the BEST one that I've ready, and has more interviews than any others. It's a think book, and for the price, it's a no-brainer IMO.

I hope you aren't disappointed! Let me know!

Brent

Lagrange · Post by **Lagrange** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:53 am

Ever heard of Rhymesaurus. Got into a huge debate about this being cheating an all a couple of years back..

L

shadoe42 · Post by **shadoe42** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:32 am

Interesting.. I don't see that as any different than a paper Rhyming dictionary.

I recently bought the Keyboard book mentioned above but haven't had time to look at it yet.

bprice · Post by **bprice** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:21 am

Jimmy Webbs "Tunesmith" he can get very anal with some aspects but he has great ideas and track record!!)

BP

Saxman2000 · Post by **Saxman2000** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:41 pm

There's another great book by Shiela Davis "The Craft of Lyric Writing" .. I own this book and it has been invaluable to me...

Hewitt Huntwork · Post by **Hewitt Huntwork** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:49 pm

I found "Song" not insightful. Try Writing Music for Hit Songs. I forget who wrote it, but it was good. Don't let the "hit" part fool you.

Captain Planet® · Post by **Captain Planet®** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:05 pm

Just my personal take, but if you need to read a book on how to write songs to write a song, you should take up knitting.

Songwriting text