The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs PDF
Preview The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs
THE SONGWRITING BOOK All you need to create and market hit songs C.J. Watson The Everything Songwritting Series ® Dear Reader: When I read a songwriting book, my first question is, “Can the person who wrote this book write a great song?” In case you’re asking the same question, the answer is … I don’t know. I’ve had some cuts, Indies and major, and more holds than I can count (which isn’t very high or I’d be a drummer), but any success I’ve had has more to do with other people than with me. My folks helped keep me in Ramen and believed when I didn’t. Mentors like Chris Wallin, Anthony Smith, and Scott Gunter helped me write songs at a level I never knew was possible. Co-writers like Camille Wallin, Al DeTrolio, and Roxie Rogers brought out the best in me and waited patiently while this book was being written. The members of Tunesmith.net taught me how much can be learned by teaching. If The Everything ® Songwriting Book gets you where you’re going, yo u have them to thank more than me, and if you have half as much fun reading it as I’ve had writing it, we’ll all be very happy. The EVERYTHING Series ® Editorial Publishing DirectorGary M. Krebs Managing EditorKate McBride Copy ChiefLaura MacLaughlin Acquisitions EditorEric Hall Development EditorJulie Gutin Production EditorKhrysti Nazzaro Production Production DirectorSusan Beale Production ManagerMichelle Roy Kelly Series DesignersDaria Perreault Colleen Cunningham Cover DesignPaul Beatrice Frank Rivera Layout and GraphicsColleen Cunningham Rachael Eiben Michelle Roy Kelly Daria Perreault Erin Ring Series Cover ArtistBarry Littmann Visit the entire Everything® Series at everything.com To the Girl Who Puts Dill on Her Eggs Copyright ©2003, F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. An Everything® Series Book. Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc. Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A. www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 10: 1-58062-956-3 ISBN 13: 978-1-58062956-0 Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Watson, C. J. The everything songwriting book / C.J. Watson. p. cm. (An everything series book) ISBN 1-58062-956-3 I. Popular music–Writing and publishing. I. Title: Songwriting book. II. Title: Everything song writing book. III. Title: Song writing book. IV. Title. V. Series: Everything series. MT67.W27 2003 782.42’13–dc21 2003008263 This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, call 1-800-289-0963. Contents Acknowledgments Top Ten Characteristics of a Great Song Introduction 1 History of Songwriting Origins of Music Ancient Music Middle Ages and the Renaissance Baroque Music Classical and Romantic Music The Birth of American Music Expansion of Music Media The Hit Parade Era Songwriting Empires 2 Getting Started The Most Important Points The Songwriter’s Toolbox A Good Writing Environment Where Do I Begin? Realistic Expectations When Is a Song Finished? 3 Thinking Like a Songwriter Where Good Ideas Come From Write What You Know Developing Your Idea Getting the Story Across Painting a Picture Making a Movie Dealing with Writer’s Block 4 Elements of a Lyric Different Lyrical Styles Targeting Your Market Writing Rhymes Pay Attention to Meter Prosody, Alliteration, and Clichés Visual Writing Finishing Touches 5 Elements of a Melody Melodic Styles Writing Effective Melodies Prosody, the Sequel Melodic Range Looking for Memorable Melodies Keeping Up with Current Trends Getting Out of a Rut What If I Can’t Sing? 6 Parts of Song The Sum of All Parts First Up, the Intro
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