[Mr.Chainsaw]

Hey guys.

Tone recommended I read Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Was just wondering if anyone had any other recommendations to help us song writers?

Really, anything from music theory, philosophy, trashy novels, etc. What books have helped you most?

I'm reading This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel Levitin. He's a neuroscientist that studies how music is processed and effects the brain. Really, really interesting stuff! The bit where he explains exactly how timbre works and how it makes a trumpet sound like a trumpet, and a piano a piano kinda blew my mind.

Ta!

Peter

[Ramshackles]

In terms of pop music (and I include rock indie etc in all that), I'm a big junkie for reading how classic tracks were recorded and created. Magazines like soundonsound are packed full of these. Apart from that I've only ever looked at theory lessons when learning piano. I wouldn't say it directly influenced me (I don't ever think well I'm going to employ this piece of theory here), but it certainly opened my eyes to all possibilities.
The biggest thing that helps is listening to and playing all kinds of music. Reading books about songwriting when an instrument is right next to you and other songs are all around is kind of like reading a book about physics when Einstien is sat right next to you

[HillbillyJim]

A web page rather than a book, but "Alan Pollack's Notes on ..." is a fairly detailed deconstruction of every song the Beatles ever released by a doctor of Music Theory. You'll need a bit of music theory but it's not too bad, especially if you start at the beginning where he explains some of the terms as he goes along.

http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml

[shucky2011]

This suggestion might be a bit square but I read stephen fry's book about writing poetry called "the ode less travelled" which really explains a lot about how poets make words flow into each other.  I found a lot of the stuff i learnt was easily transferred into song writing.  Another book i also dip into sometimes if im running dry on ideas is the oxford dictionary of symbolism - its a really interesting book which instantly brings intense imagery to the fore of the mind.

[Mr.Chainsaw]

Stephen Fry is the earthly avatar of the god of Awesome, far far from square my friend!

Definately gonna check that one out. The Dicionary of Symbolism sounds good too, the kind of thing I'd enjoy looking through even if it doesn't help with writing.

Thanks shucky

Peter

[chrislong170273]

Hi Chainsaw,

I'm not a natural lyric writer so these are the books that have helped me recently:

Stolpe, Andrea: "Popular Lyric Writing, 10 steps to Effective Storytelling", (Boston, Berklee Press, 2007)

This really helped me to start balancing different types of imagery and to look at balancing odd an even patterns, and also hook placement, and key word placement.

Blume, Jason: "Six Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs" (2008) cant remember publisher
 
This one is ok, gave me a REALLY useful technique called the 'lyric palette'

Davis, Sheila: "The Songwriters Idea Book", (Ohio, Writer's Digest Books, 1992)

This one is great, a sourcebook, with tons of ideas in it. I use it to dip into just to spark ideas off, (when I can prise it out of my students hands!)

There are others but these were the most useful
hope thats useful

CHris
www.chrislong.me.uk

[mihkay]

I've never found a book that's helped me creatively. Eg. Inspired an idea or given me a theme. But there are a couple that have helped me technically.
Steven Fry's The Ode Less Travelled was the book that enabled me to start writing lyrics I was happy with.
Guerilla Home Recording by Karl Coryat. Not really about song-writing but about recording with minimal gear. A subject that has formed quite a long thread on this forum.

[chrislong170273]

oh, sorry, and another one I've used that does into a lot of detail regarding syllable rhythms and balancing rhymes etc

Pattison, Pat: "Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure", (Boston, Berklee Press, 1997)

If nothing else books like this just help you reevaluate what you are doing, and maybe learn a trick or two

Chris