Until you’ve consumed all of the best Songwriting books, can you even claim to be a true fan?
- Writing Better Lyrics (2010)
- Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell (2008)
- Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice (2012)
- The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians (2000)
- Songwriters On Songwriting: Revised And Expanded (2003)
- Beginning Songwriting: Writing Your Own Lyrics, Melodies, and Chords (2015)
- Great Songwriting Techniques (2018)
- Songwriting For Dummies (2010)
- Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics (Songwriting Guides) (1991)
- Song Starters: 365 Lyric, Melody, & Chord Ideas to Kickstart Your Songwriting (2016)
- The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning, & Emotion (2018)
- The Craft & Business of Songwriting (2006)
Writing Better Lyrics (2010)
Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades.
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell (2008)
Here are 126 Shortcuts that will take your songs from good to great! Discover the melody and lyric writing techniques of today’s top songwriters and learn how you can use the very same secrets to give your songs the power and edge that will make listeners want to hear them over and over again. You’ll learn
Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice (2012)
Writing great song lyrics requires practice and discipline. Songwriting Without Boundaries will help you commit to routine practice through fun writing exercises. This unique collection of more than150 sense-bound prompts helps you develop the skills you need to: Songwriters, as well as writers of other genres, will benefit from this collection of sensory writing challenges.
The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians (2000)
(Instructional). Master chord theory in minutes! The Chord Wheel is a revolutionary device that puts the most essential and practical applications of chord theory into your hands. This tool will help you: Improvise and Solo Talk about chops! Comprehend key structure like never before; Transpose Keys Instantly transpose any progression into each and every key; Compose Your Own Music Watch your songwriting blossom! No music reading is necessary.
Songwriters On Songwriting: Revised And Expanded (2003)
This expanded fourth edition of Songwriters on Songwriting includes ten new interviews–with Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz, Lou Reed, and others. In these pages, sixty-two of the greatest songwriters of our time go straight to the source of the magic of songwriting by offering their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their art. Representing almost every genre of popular music, from blues to pop to rock, here are the figures that have shaped American music as we know it.
Beginning Songwriting: Writing Your Own Lyrics, Melodies, and Chords (2015)
(Berklee Guide). Learn to write songs! This book presents the basic concepts of popular songwriting, such as song construction, creativity techniques, melodic and harmonic development, how to write memorable lyrics, and other core topics. Hands-on exercises make it practical, and the accompanying online recording illustrates the concepts for those who don’t yet read music.
Great Songwriting Techniques (2018)
In Great Songwriting Techniques, veteran composer and teacher Jack Perricone shares years of experience in the art, science, and pedagogy of songwriting to teach readers the craft.
Songwriting For Dummies (2010)
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: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics (Songwriting Guides) (1991)
(Berklee Guide). Veteran songwriter Pat Pattison has taught many of Berklee College of Music’s best and brightest students how to write truly great lyrics. His helpful guide contains essential information on lyric structures, timing and placement, and exercises to help everyone from beginners to seasoned songwriters say things more effectively and gain a better understanding of their craft.
Song Starters: 365 Lyric, Melody, & Chord Ideas to Kickstart Your Songwriting (2016)
Discover an endless supply of exciting, creative concepts that will launch song after song. Use the Starters to spark a brainstorm or set a series of notes in motion, get your feet dancing or fill your head with music. Listen to hit song examples as you work. All of the Starters are based on time-tested concepts used by hit songwriters, but you make them your own.
The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning, & Emotion (2018)
(Berklee Guide). Take your songwriting to the next level! This book breaks down the processes used by hit songwriters and dives deeply into the craft of songwriting. Discover the tools and techniques for melody, harmony, lyrics, and form behind so many great songs. You will access the magic and come out more connected to your heart and craft. Online audio tracks illustrate these techniques in context, showing how they affect your song’s overall impact.
The Craft & Business of Songwriting (2006)
In this comprehensively updated 3rd Edition, teaches you the craft of songwriting and then goes behind the scenes of the music business to unearth insider secrets that will make your songs stand out.
Best Songwriting Books Worth Your Attention
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some songwriting books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
The Art Of Songwriting: How To Write Your Own Complete Song In 60 Minutes Or Less
Author(s): Kulkarni, Reinaldo
ID: 2966851, Publisher: UNKNOWN, Year: 2021, Size: 4 Mb, Format: epub
Songwriting For Dummies
Author(s): Jim Peterik; Dave Austin; Cathy Lynn Austin
ID: 2494515, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Year: 2020, Size: 4 Mb, Format: epub
Easy Songwriting For the Beginner
Author(s): Solomon Igboayaka
ID: 2807123, Publisher: NIELSEN, Year: 2020, Size: 302 Kb, Format: epub
Please note that this booklist is not absolute. Some books are really chart-busters according to Los Angeles Times, others are composed by unknown authors. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.