Recommended Songwriting Books - Part 3

In two of my prior blogs, I mentioned some songwriting books that I think every serious songwriter should have in their songwriting library. Having a songwriting library will help you solve a lot of problems that you may encounter as a songwriter. Problems with melodies, lyrics, rhyming, writer's block, publishing, mixing, mastering, etc are things that songwriters face often. So buy some songwriting books. They will help you save money and time! Here are my recommendations:

Audio Recording Books:

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Home Recording Studio Books:

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Mixing and Mastering Books and DVDs:

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The Do's and Don'ts of Networking - Part 3

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In my last two blogs on the do's and don'ts of networking at music conferences and via email, I gave you over 40 tips on how to effectively network in the music business. I've also shared with you my own personal success story about how networking has continuously changed my songwriting career. Because I believe you can never know too much, continue honing your networking skills! Continue building your songwriting library! So, in addition to buying some of the melody and lyric writing books as well as music business books, music production books, music publishing books, and music industry resource books, buy and read one or more of these well known, inexpensive, and practical networking books:


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Think you got great networking skills already? Then register to attend and network at this music conference!!! Click on this image for more information!

Again, if you like reading my blogs, subscribe today and tell a friend! Thanks for reading.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

myspace.com/hitsamillionllc - network with me!

hitsamillion.ning.com - network online here!

Recommended songwriting books - Part 2

In addition to the songwriting books I recommended in my prior blog on recommended songwriting books, here are some additional songwriting books that will help you with the business of songwriting, promotions and music publishing so click on the links below and purchase your books today!

Music Business Books:
1. Music, Money And Successby Jeffrey Brabec and Todd Brabec - (a must have! This is the only book on the market that I know of that teaches songwriters how to make a lot of money with their music)
2. 6 Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume (Jason Blume is an awesome teacher on the subject of songwriting. He also has an audio book on melody writing but I couldn't find that book to list it).
3. All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald Passman-(a must have! - this book answers some of the legal issues that arises with your songs)
4. Everything You'd Better Know about the Record Industry by Kashif with contributions by Gary A. Greenberg - (another must have! - helps with not getting scammed in this business)
5. The Truth About Record Pools, Music Conferences, Talent Shows and Open Mics Ebook by JaWar (a must have! If you want to know how to get the most out of going to a music conference, showcase, talent show, etc- this book will teach you how)
6. This Business of Global Music Marketingby Ted Lathrop (just bought)
7. This Business of Songwritingby Jason Blume (just bought)
8. This Business of Music Marketing and Promotionby Ted Lathrop (just bought)
9. Confessions of a Record Producer by Moses Avalon - good book that talks about how not to get conned in the music business).


Music Industry Resource Books:
1. Atlanta Music Industry Connection Ebook by JaWar - (a must have - helps with starting a business, finding an attorney, manager, distribution company, and pretty much anything else a musician, artist, or manager will need)!
2. Los Angeles Music Industry Connection Ebook by JaWar - (a must have - same book as the Atlanta book but it has all the contact information for LA attorneys, managers, etc.)!
3. The Official Contact Pages: The Music Industry Dictionaryby James Hickman

Music Publishing Books:
1. How to Pitch and Promote Your Songsby Fred Koller - (so far, a little slow - lot of stories, not enough info)
2. Getting Noticed: A Musician's Guide to Publicity and Self-Promotionby James Gibson - (book is old, some info may be out of date but some info is still applicable)

Music Production Books:
1. Sound Advice on Recording & Mixing Vocals by Bill Gibson (this book is okay -it's probably great for sound engineers though)
2. Pro Tools for Dummiesby Jeff Strong - (love this book since I'm still a beginner on Pro Tools! it answers most questions that I have!)
3. Reason 3 Powerby Matt Piper & Michael Prager - I haven't been using my Reason program so I haven't read this book yet.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc

Recommended songwriting books - Part 1

As promised in one of my earlier blogs on melody first or lyrics first, here's my list of some songwriting books that I use or bought to help me with songwriting issues that I come across as a songwriter. (I might also add here that in addition to the first blog I did on creative ways to use your music money and the second blog on the same subject where together I listed over 14different ways to be smart with investing your money in the music business, I am going to add investing in good books as creative way #15.) I have also included a one line opinion about the books if I have an opinion. My list is definitely not exhaustive and grows all the time as I am a complete bookworm! But my list will at least get you started in the right direction. So click on the links below and buy the books today to get started!

Lyric Writing Books:
1. The Craft of Lyric Writing by Sheila Davis - (a must have in my opinion! It will take your writing to a whole different level!)
2. Successful Lyric Writing- a workbook - (another must have! This is the companion book to the first book. Excellent!)
3. The Songwriter's Idea BookThe Songwriter's Idea Book by Sheila Davis - (a little hard to read at first but still very good. Shows you how your personality type helps or hinders your writing and how to overcome your bad writing habits, including writer's block)
4. The Songwriter's Handbook by Tom T. Hall - this was my first ever book on songwriting and I still have it. Good book as well.
5. How to write a hit songby Molly-Ann Leikin - (has a good section on overcoming writer's block and if you are wanting a shorter, easier read, it's a good book too)
6. Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison (this book is okay)
7. 88 Songwriting Wrongs & How to Right Them - (a really good book to help you critique your songs yourself so you don't have to pay a song critiquing service and helping with getting your songs published)
8. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting by Joel Hirschhorn - (great because it covers broad subjects on songwriting and makes you think of more things you can do with your music)

Lyric Writing Resource Books:
1. Songwriter's Rhyming Dictionary by Jane Shaw Whitfield - (cool, but I like Random House's better)
2. Roger's International Thesaurus (Fifth Edition) edited by Robert T. Chapman - (really good book - helps you expand your vocabulary and thus your lyrics)
3. Word Menuby Stephen Glazier - (haven't quite figured out this book yet)
4. The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers - (good if you use cliche's as lyrics).
5. Random's Rhyming Dictionary by Random House - (I love this little book!)

Melody Writing Books:
1. Creating Melodies by Dick Weisman (this book includes lessons with the keyboards or guitar so get a piano or guitar to get full use of this book but it's still pretty good information on how to write melodies even if you don't play an instrument)
2. The Songwriter's Workshop Harmony by Jimmy Kachulis
3. The Songwriter's Workshop Melodyby Jimmy Kachulis
4. Melody in Songwriting by Jack Perricone
5. Melody: How to Write Great Tunes by Rikky Rooksby