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, X, 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!

• Explore songwriting genres to find your fit
• Try your hand at writing lyrics and discover your own voice
• Create demo recordings of your latest songs

Proven techniques for songwriting success

This friendly, hands-on guide shares insight from songwriters who've written legendary songs that have gotten airplay for five decades. Discover tips on identifying the music genre that best fits your talents, building your own lyric-writing voice, and creating music and melodies. This book also guides you through collaborating with other writers, creating demo recordings, and navigating the business of professional songwriting.

Inside...

• Finding songwriting inspiration
• Using poetic devices in lyrics
• Adding in rhythm and melody
• Writing for stage, screen, and television
• Collaborating with other songwriters
• Making money from your music

Table of Contents

Part 1 So You Want to Be a Songwriter

Chapter 1 Capturing That Solid-Gold Nugget

Chapter 2 Looking at the Genres: From Country to Rock and Everything in Between

Chapter 3 Working It Out: Getting Your Song into Shape

Part 2 Unleashing the Lyricist in You

Chapter 4 Snagging Your Listeners with a Hook

Chapter 5 Making an Impact with Lyrics

Chapter 6 Finding Your Voice in the Lyrics

Chapter 7 Using Rhymes in Your Songs

Part 3 Creating Memorable Music

Chapter 8 Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Ride

Chapter 9 Making Melody Magic

Chapter 10 Using Chords in Songwriting

Chapter 11 The Cheating Side of Town: Shortcuts and Cool Technologies

Part 4 Cooperation, Collaboration, and Community

Chapter 12 Bringing Talent Together: Collaboration and Networking

Chapter 13 Online Marketing and Social Networking for Songwriters

Chapter 14 Writing for the Stage, Screen, Television, and More

Chapter 15 Getting Your Songs Heard: Making the Demo

Part 5 Getting Down to Business

Chapter 16 Creating Goals and Meeting Deadlines

Chapter 17 Ka-Ching: How Your Song Makes Money

Chapter 18 Introducing the Business Players

Chapter 19 Looking at the Legal End: Dealing with Paperwork

Part 6 The Part of Tens

Chapter 20 Ten Songs You Should Know

Chapter 21 Ten Common Song-Related Contracts You Should Know

About the Author

Jim Peterik, a Grammy-winning songwriter, has written many Billboard Top 10 hits, including the legendary #1 hit "Eye of the Tiger". Dave Austin is a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences "Presidential Award" recipient. Cathy Lynn is a screenwriter and nonfiction writer.