Top products from r/Songwriting
We found 37 product mentions on r/Songwriting. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
1. Writing Better Lyrics
Sentiment score: 6
Number of reviews: 4
Writing Better Lyrics
2. Murphy's Laws of Songwriting
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
Used Book in Good Condition
4. Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone, Black, Ideal for Project/Home Studio Applications
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
The price/performance standard in side address studio condenser microphone technologyIdeal for project/home studio applications; The noise level is 20 db splHigh spl handling and wide dynamic range provide unmatched versatilityCustom engineered low mass diaphragm provides extended frequency response...
5. Blank Sheet Music: Music Manuscript Paper / Staff Paper / Musicians Notebook [ Book Bound (Perfect Binding) * 12 Stave * 100 pages * Large * Music Panda ] (Composition Books - Music Manuscript Paper)
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
6. Songwriters On Songwriting: Revised And Expanded
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 1
Da Capo Press
7. The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Features 194 Songs from the BeatlesSpecially Transcribed for Strumming GuitaristsIncludes Chord Symbols and LyricsPlaying Guide and a Full Discography400 Pages
8. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface Bundle with Pro Tools First, Microphone, Headphones, XLR Cable, Knox Studio Stand, Shock Mount, and Pop Filter (7 Items)
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
BUNDLE INCLUDES: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen 2x2 USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First, Microphone Suspension Boom Scissor Arm with 5/8-27 Threading, Basic Microphone Shock Mount, and Pop FilterMICROPHONE AND HEADPHONES: The CM25 MkIII condenser microphone enables you to capture studi...
9. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Great product!
10. Take It to the Bridge: Unlocking the Great Songs Inside You
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
11. The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Great product!
12. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
10 Things nobody told you about being creative!A collection of positive messages and exercises to realize your artistic sideAn inspiring and entertaining readBy artist and writer Austin KleonA New York Times Best-seller
13. Writing Poetry To Save Your Life: How To Find The Courage To Tell Your Stories (1) (MiroLand)
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 1
14. Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 1
16. Off the Record (3rd Edition) Your Ultimate Resource for Success in the Music Business
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
17. Song Starters: 365 Lyric, Melody, & Chord Ideas to Kickstart Your Songwriting
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
18. Successful Lyric Writing: A Step-By-Step Course & Workbook
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
19. The Craft of Lyric Writing
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
LYRIC WRITING
20. Essential Songwriter's Rhyming Dictionary: Pocket Size Book
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
This pocket-sized dictionary is an easy-to-use tool geared specifically toward the contemporary songwriterA concise collection of the most-often used words in popular music, the simple format allows for fast reference, while the 15,000 entries provide more than ample rhyming optionsThe Essential Dic...
> I'd much rather write and have a professional singer with professional studio equipment sing it.
A lot of guys do that. And I probably will too, least that's my goal when my skills are up to it. But I'm glad you told me that, if that's your goal then you should want to get better. A hobbyist isn't going to be willing to put in the work.
Anyway, after listening to em all I would give yourself more credit as a singer. A few vocal lessons with the right teacher could get you singing so good you'd surprise yourself.
Of the 3 originals you posted, all 3 have some pretty common issues that can be addressed. I'm not going to go line by line because really the lines can be arbitrary.
I'll use one of the songs as an example of some of this stuff:
..k so I'm getting to have a wall of text here so I'll stop there. I think you get the point. The biggest hurdle an aspiring pro songwriter has to make is the realization that listener's don't give a shit about you. They care about how your song makes them feel. If you can elicit emotion in the right way you may been on to something.
I would recommend, if this is something you're legitimately considering pursuing, that you consider joining Taxi.com. They're a company you can join (for a fee) that will pitch your songs to the majors. They can also give you advice on finding a studio to produce your songs. But more importantly, they'll give you reviews of your submissions for actual industry pros. At the very least you could learn a ton from their forums (http://forums.taxi.com) and watching some Taxi TV.
Here are the books that I've probably learned the most from all most of my critique is based on:
Writing Better Lyrics
Murphy's Laws of Songwriting
The Craft of Lyric Writing
But that's just my 2 cents as a random guy on the internet.
This book was pretty helpful for me in creating more descriptive, tangible strings of words, along with a ton of other wildly helpful ways to create more meaningful lyrics:
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Better-Lyrics-Pat-Pattison/dp/1582975779
This one, which I've only read a few chapters of, has been pretty helpful in getting me out of my own way. If we just tell the truth about our experience as a person (the real truth, the one we usually just think), we'll be saying things that mean more, and are more universal than any surface level or constructed truth:
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Poetry-Save-Your-Life/dp/1550717472
Example, from an 80s hair metal ballad that was a big hit:
VERSE
We both lie silently still in the dead of the night (specific situation)
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart, inside (storytelling, relatable situation, specific scene)
Was it somethin' I said or something I did
Did my words not come out right (storytelling - you know exactly the emotion but all he's said so far is "feel miles apart inside")
Tho' I tried not to hurt you
Tho' I tried (storytelling)
But I guess that's why they say (note how he interrupts the verse cadence leading into the chorus - adds emotional weight)
CHORUS
Every rose has its thorn (specific metaphorical imagery, asserts a theme (good things are always difficult))
Just like every night has its dawn (familiar metaphor, also turns around the metaphor from the previous line)
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song (wtf? do they? I dunno. This line is just weird but for some reason it works for a hair metal ballad. but notice they don't go with "I feel like a sad cowboy" - they just show you the image)
Every rose has its thorn
Yea it does
VERSE
I listen to our favorite song playin' on the radio (storytelling, specificity)
Hear the dj say love's a game of
Easy come and easy go (listen to the song and notice how they use the rhythm to reinforce the emotional weight of this line, which also relates to the theme)
But I wonder does he know (reinforces and relates to the story and a theme of distance - in the first verse, he's lying next to someone close to him and feeling far away - in this verse, he's listening to someone far away and wondering how they're feeling)
Has he ever felt like this
And I know that you'd be here right now
If I could have let you know somehow I guess (notice how at the end of the first verse, they are wondering if they are at fault, and at the end of the second verse, they are admitting it)
CHORUS
etc
In the rest of the song, they start leaning on more direct stuff "I feel so much pain" and "cuts life a knife...but the scar remains" and it gets kind of cliche. The last verse returns to the story, so the bridge being more direct kinda works in that way, but for me the success of this song is the first two verses and choruses. Seems like they got a little lazy about the middle of the song. Still a very successful song about a breakup, full of relatable storytelling, specific imagery, decent rhymes, good emotional use of lyrical rhythm, and a catchy chorus that sets off against the verses really well.
EDIT: Also, check out the work that "Just like" is doing in the chorus. "Every rose has its thorn" is pretty much the opposite idea of "every night has its dawn" - but, by relating them with "just like", the song is creating this kind of philosophical malaise - all good things are kind of bad, all bad things are kind of good, the good is like the bad and the bad is like the good, and it's hard to even tell what's bad or good, just like people feel when they suffer a painful breakup. Checkout how much weaker it would be if it was: "Every rose has its thorn / But every night has its dawn". Totally different meaning, totally different song. That would be a song about how everything is going to be alright in the end. Relating contrasting ideas like that to get at an underlying feeling can work really well.
If you're really serious about learning how the industry works, here is a music industry textbook that a few of my undergrad professors wrote. There aren't a lot of textbooks on the subject, so I found this to be a great resource, and the authors wrote it to be used in collegiate studies of music business. It generally strays away from giving advice (unlike many business books) and strives to teach you the fundamentals of how selling songs works, what kind of deals you can get, what professionals want when you deliver material, royalties etc., in addition to a whole host of other info like touring and promotion. Every situation is different and advice that is great for one person may not be great for you.
The book is called Off the Record - Larry Wacholtz et al. Normally it's priced like a textbook but I found used copies of a slightly older edition on Amazon for like $12 so I thought I would share.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0984057226?ref=olp_product_details
Buy a Scarlett 2i2 USB interface
Download Reaper (a free Digital Audio Workstation)
Buy an Audiotechnica AT2020, a great all-purpose mic
Take songwriting classes and production classes, or try and find lessons on Youtube or something. Learn music theory and how chord progressions and good melodies are written. It doesn't matter how good your hardware/software is if you don't first spend a lot of time learning how to create a well-structured song.
If you don't understand how chords and melodies fit together, and how to make a well-structured lyric (at least subconsciously) at a music theory level, it will be very difficult for you to progress if you are trying to make catchy music - Find a professional and invest in classes!
Thank you for all the information! It’s all super helpful :) is this the bundle you would suggest I buy, and will it basically be everything I need?
Since music covers such a broad stylistic range there cannot be songwriting "rules". Genres can be broken down into idiomatic terms but I think what you're looking for is related to tonal harmony. The foundational "rules" of music theory can be applied to all musical styles and will teach you how to analyze a song to extract the patterns that indicate the musical style.
https://www.amazon.com/Tonal-Harmony-Stefan-Kostka/dp/125944709X
This is a pretty standard book which will teach you the basics of theory from the ground up. Hope this helps :)
Get yourself this book.
The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/0634022296/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4b6UAb59XFX6N
Imo it's the best beatles book for guitar. Every day open it up and learn a new song. Some of their compositions are just genius. You will be exposed to brilliant progressions, strange new chords, and a new insight into songwriting.
I guarantee it will change the way you write and play.
I like the way this one is setup. It'll also fit in your back pocket. Good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0882847295/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=pe_385040_30332200_pe_309540_26725410_item
There is actually a book - "songwriters on songwriting"
https://www.amazon.com/Songwriters-Songwriting-Expanded-Paul-Zollo/dp/0306812657
I have read through it a couple of times looking for secrets - but here is the wierd thing... they dont really seem to have a formula. I felt like reading these people talk was no different to hearing a bunch of redditors talk. They make great songs, but they are not sure how they do it. The only solid advice is "keep doing it"
What's your budget?
Yeah, get a decent mic, and an audio interface (so you're not limited to USB mics or using you laptops crappy 1/8" input.
If you want to go super cheap, this interface doesn't suck.
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-PHORIA-UM2-BEHRINGER/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478820786&sr=8-1&keywords=uphoria+um2
and neither does this mic
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478820827&sr=8-1&keywords=at2020
That combo is only $136 and will do wonders for your recordings. If you have a bigger budget, you can do better all the way around.
Well, I feel like that's music theory in general, no? My city has something called the Old Town School of Folk Music and they have a ton of classes that discuss the subject. Super affordable, too. If I were you I'd look for something similar to that in your area, unless you'd prefer to just read a book. In which case, one of the instructors there wrote this one. https://www.amazon.com/Take-Bridge-Unlocking-Great-Inside/dp/1622772113
On songwriting specifically, Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison
On harmony and melody, Writing Hit Songs by Jai Josefs
You may need to know basic theory for that one though
I've got this one (https://www.amazon.com/Successful-Lyric-Writing-Step-Step/dp/0898792835/) which I like. I hear Pat Pattison is the one to go with though. I watched his Coursera class online and it was good.
Some suggestions:
Get yourself a copy of Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting. I had a songwriter in Nashville recommend it to me, as well as other NSAI members. They call it the Nashville Bible and it breaks down all the elements that make a hit song.
In researching this stuff yesterday I actually found quite a few on Amazon with that exact purpose. Like this one.
If she can read/write music, a cute notebook with staff paper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1519108834/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HV33VB7TMW9F36DTXEGW&dpPl=1&dpID=61j0gPnFBML
When I was about that age, I had a cassette recorder and MIDI keyboard to play around with recording my songs... unfortunately I’m not sure what the equivalent would be these days!
Every artist you have ever heard has done covers.
Probably the best thing that you can do is to take each one of those influences and mimic it. Create a small 2 minute song which duplicates that influence well. That will become your palette of musical colors.
Once that is created, you can mix them together in different portions.
You will always be a ripoff. No one may notice it but you, but you will always be borrowing and being influenced by other sources. That is how we get new stuff.
​
Book: Steal Like an Artist
Many musicians and singers work with specialist lyricists. Try /r/BedroomBands/
I like this: https://www.amazon.com.au/Writing-Better-Lyrics-Pat-Pattison-ebook/dp/B008Y0XH1C
Also these guys have some videos on writing lyrics to melodies https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDKiHSPstsj0silp519gt6w
Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting by Jimmy Webb