How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised
by Rikky Rooksby
List Price:
Our Price: $12.64
You Save: $10.35 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $9.09 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Rikky RooksbyBrand: HAL LEONARD
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-04-30
ISBN: 0879309423
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Backbeat
Product features:
- Instrumentation - Drums
Book Reviews of How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised
Book Review: The best songwriting book, ever... hands-down.
Summary: 5 Stars
(I wrote this review eight years ago for the first edition of this book. First, some updates and comparisons, between the first edition and this one):
What's new: his writing is a bit toned-down (in the first edition, he knocks on Oasis for being derivative... in this edition, he's much nicer about their music), some of the chord diagrams have been corrected, the color of the diagrams is more streamlined and "natural" (beige, easy on the eyes), full-color photos of the albums in the book of the first edition have been removed (probably to save money), and most importantly- all songs he references now have the ARTIST mentioned right in the same spot he mentions the song (that was really annoying about the first book- he kept mentioning song titles but I was like "who wrote that?!" - oftentimes I didn't feel like flipping to the index of the book), and there are other miscellaneous additions and subtractions. All in all, a very good revision. Now on to my original review from 2002:
This is the best (and most comprehensive/complete) songwriting book in existence. Seriously. I am a 26-year old multi-instrumentalist who has studied my fair share of songwriting books and techniques... I listen to, write, and study virtually every style of music (even oldschool country and some R+B).
What Rikky Rooksby has done is create an easily understood book on modern (and not-so-modern) GOOD songwriting... how to make interesting chord progressions, how to write memorable melodies, what songs use certain chord progressions (from the popular Beatles stuff all the way to The Smiths (!!) and Sixpence None The Richer!) It's the only book I have seen that spotlights lesser-known amazing legendary alternative groups and their songwriting. Too many books these days show you how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.... what the hell is that? Who wants to learn songs like that? Rikky's book focuses on why the great pop/alternative/folk songs in history ARE great, why they work, what elements make them work, etc... you wanna write good solid songs that people will remember? Catchy, full of great hooks, etc... This book is IT.
In the back of the book he even lists 24 CD's you should buy (and/or study) to improve your songwriting, and he cannot be more ON when it comes to what he chooses:
1. The Beatles- 1967-1970
2. Bob Dylan- Blonde on Blonde
3. Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
4. Love- Forever Changes
5. Burt Bacharach- The Look Of Love
6. The Band- The Band
7. Motown Chartbusters Volumes I-V
8. Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
9. Led Zeppelin IV
10. Bruce Springsteen- The Wild the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle
11. Joni Mitchell- Hejira
12. Carpenters- Their Greatest Hits
13. Queen II (EXCELLENT choice)
14. Fleetwood Mac- Rumors (yet another excellent choice)
15. ABBA Gold
16. Siouxsie and the Banshees- Juju
17. Bob Marley- Legend
18. REM- Life's Rich Pageant
19. Kate Bush- The Sensual World
20. Madonna- The Immaculate Collection (quite possibly the most perfect pop record EVER)
21. Nirvana- Nevermind (it's about time SOMEONE recognized Kurt Cobain's genius)
22. Jeff Buckley- Grace (yet another AMAZING artist who tragically lost his life way before he got a chance to impact the music world)
23. Bjork- Post (absolute brilliance)
24. Radiohead- OK Computer
It's such a diverse list, from stuff you might hate that your parents or older sister love (Beach Boys/The Band), to stuff that my generation fully appreciates (Nirvana, Siouxsie, Radiohead, Kate Bush)... even though I love the oldschool stuff, too... the best songwriters draw from ALL decades of music.
Rikky also has a section where well-known alternative and pop songwriters talk about the songwriting process (Morrissey, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Clapton, Peter Buck, etc.)... and he has a section that highlights random pop and alternative songs and why they WORK.... why they're great... I cannot say enough about how brilliantly-written this book is... I would love to contact Mr. Rooksby and let him know how much this book has helped me.
The book is VERY inexpensive (for how much stuff it covers!!!) and I highly suggest it to anyone and EVERYONE, especially an alternative rocker. One band I wished he would have featured in his book is Jets To Brazil... now that is a band which knows about hooks, great lyrics/chord changes... songs that will be remembered for a thousand years. But still.... Rikky pretty much covered EVERYTHING... seriously.
I have been playing guitar off and on for about four years. I've learned a LOT from this book)..... you won't be disappointed if you pick this book up, seriously.
I hope everyone out there reads this review and buys it... it's just without a doubt, something you cannot do without, if you're serious about songwriting (on guitar or ANY other instrument).
Summary of How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised
So you want to write songs, and you want to write them on guitar. This is the book that shows you exactly how. Taking tips and tricks from classic songwriters, from Bob Dylan to the Beatles to Tori Amos, How to Write Songs on Guitar takes you through the four main elements of a song - rhythm, melody, lyrics, and harmony - and inspires you to combine them in exciting new ways. Now with updated songs and tips on writing trends, it's packed with wisdom and practical advice culled from over 1,500 songs, How to Write Songs on Guitar 2nd edition will soon have you producing better, more memorable songs.Instruments & Performers Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Instruments & Performers Books
Instrument of Worship Volume OneBenson Records; Paperback; Book
Season of Peace: GuitarGIA Publications; Published: 1993-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Amazing Love: PianoGenevox Music Group; Published: 1994-07; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Majestic Trumpet Trios Christmas: Volume 2Majestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-09; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Majestic Brass Quartets: Volume OneMajestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
101 Ways to Evangelize: 88 KeysIntrada Music; Paperback; Book
Keyboard Duets for Organ & PianoHope Publishing Company (IL); Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Medium RangeAlexandria House; Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Full RangeAlexandria House; Published: 1991-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companionby Dr. Charles Rosen, Charles Rosen
Yale University Press; Published: 2001-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $26.73
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide)by Jack Perricone
Berklee Press; Berklee Press; Published: 2000-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.94
Price in other shops:
Essential Songwriter's Rhyming Dictionary : The Most Practical and Easy-To-Use Reference Now Available item #16637by Kevin M. Mitchell
Alfred; Alfred Pub Co; Published: 1996-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.60
Price in other shops:
The Complete Rhyming Dictionary: Including The Poet's Craft BookDell Publishing; Published: 1992-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops:
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sellby Robin A Frederick
TAXI Music Books; Published: 2008-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $34.87
Price in other shops:
Arranging Songsby Rikky Rooksby
BACKBEAT UK; Published: 2008-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.74
Price in other shops:
Writing Better Lyricsby Pat Pattison
Writers Digest Books; Published: 2010-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.90
Price in other shops:
How to Write Songs on Keyboards - A Complete Course to Help You Write Better Songs Book/ CD (Softcover)by Rikky Rooksby
Backbeat Books; Published: 2005-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.73
Price in other shops:
The Chord Master- How to Find and Choose the Right Guitar Chords Book/ CD (Softcover)by Rikky Rooksby
Backbeat Books; Published: 2004-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.25
Price in other shops:
Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs (Songwriting)by Rikky Rooksby
Backbeat Books; Published: 2006-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.59
Price in other shops:
The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords into Great Songs (Fully Updated and Expanded Edition) (Fastforward)by Rikky Rooksby
Hal Leonard Corporation; Published: 2011-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.30
Price in other shops: