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

Songwriting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition (9781119675655) was previously published as Songwriting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition (9780470615140). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product.

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.

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