• Best song-writing how-to book?

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  • I learned to write magazine articles from a how-to book. Amazon lists a bunch of books to help you learn to write songs. Does any one have any experience in a song-writing book that helped them? Which one(s) was most helpful?

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    Question by kevin kelly
    01/22/2013

There is a coursera course from Berklee College of Music about this. Taking it might give you some pointers. https://www.coursera.org/course/songwriting

Summary:

Learn an efficient, effective process for writing songs that express your ideas and emotions, including a range of tools that revolve around the concept of prosody—the matching of lyrics and music to support your underlying message.

Answer by monty zukowski
01/23/2013

MusicThoughts is a great (free) online resource for song-writers. Created & managed by CD Baby founder, Derek Sivers the site beautifully compiles inspirational music quotes, song-crafting tips, & valuable career insights for musicians by musicians. 

With translation (to/from) 9 languages, MusicThoughts' network of “contributors” include hundreds of artists, musicians, engineers and music industry professionals from around the world from Brian Eno to John Cage, Bob Dylan  to Duke Ellington, Pat Metheny to Maya Angelou. Topics span all aspects of the musician’s life, from composing, performing, and recording songs to overcoming writer’s block.

Answer by farnan
03/11/2013

The Craft of Lyric Writing by Sheila Davis http://www.amazon.com/dp/0898791499

Answer by fozzy
08/06/2013

Fozzy, can you say more about why Craft of Lyric Writing is the best? How is it different from others?

Answer by kevin kelly
08/07/2013
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