Full Description
Proven techniques for songwriting success
This friendly, hands-on guide tackles the new face of the recording industry, guiding you through the shift from traditional sales to downloads and mobile music, as well as how you can harness social media networks to get your music "out there." You get basic songwriting concepts, insider tips and advice, and inspiration for writing — and selling — meaningful, timeless songs.
Songwriting 101 — get a grip on everything you need to know to write a song, from learning to listen to your "inner voice" to creating a "mood" and everything in between
Jaunt around the genres — discover the variety of musical genres and find your fit, whether it's rock, pop, R&B, gospel, country, or more
Let the lyrics out — master the art of writing lyrics, from finding your own voice to penning the actual words to using hooks, verses, choruses, and bridges
Make beautiful music — find your rhythm, make melodies, and use chords to put the finishing touches on your song
Work the Web — harness online marketing and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and others to get your music heard by a whole new audience
Open the book and find:
What you need to know before you write a single note
Tips on finding inspiration
Ways to use poetic devices in lyrics
Computer and Web-based shortcuts and technologies to streamline songwriting
A look at famous songwriting collaborators
Writing for stage, screen, and television
How to make a demo to get your song heard
Advice on how to make money from your music
P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you're probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Songwriting For Dummies (9780470615140). The book you see here shouldn't be considered a new or updated product. But if you're in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We're always writing about new topics!
Contents
Foreword xv
Introduction 1
Part 1: So You Want to Be a Songwriter 5
Chapter 1: Capturing That Solid-Gold Nugget 7
Chapter 2: Looking at the Genres: From Country to Rock and Everything in Between 31
Chapter 3: Working It Out: Getting Your Song into Shape 53
Part 2: Unleashing the Lyricist in You 73
Chapter 4: Snagging Your Listeners with a Hook 75
Chapter 5: Making an Impact with Lyrics 91
Chapter 6: Finding Your Voice in the Lyrics 111
Chapter 7: Using Rhymes in Your Songs 137
Part 3: Creating Memorable Music 155
Chapter 8: Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Ride 157
Chapter 9: Making Melody Magic 171
Chapter 10: Using Chords in Songwriting 189
Chapter 11: The Cheating Side of Town: Shortcuts and Cool Technologies 201
Part 4: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Community 217
Chapter 12: Bringing Talent Together: Collaboration and Networking 219
Chapter 13: Online Marketing and Social Networking for Songwriters 239
Chapter 14: Writing for the Stage, Screen, Television, and More 251
Chapter 15: Getting Your Songs Heard: Making the Demo 267
Part 5: Getting Down to Business 291
Chapter 16: Creating Goals and Meeting Deadlines 293
Chapter 17: Ka-Ching: How Your Song Makes Money 303
Chapter 18: Introducing the Business Players 319
Chapter 19: Looking at the Legal End: Dealing with Paperwork 339
Part 6: The Part of Tens 357
Chapter 20: Ten Songs You Should Know 359
Chapter 21: Ten Common Song-Related Contracts You Should Know 365
Index 369
