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How to Write Lyrics

Better Words for Your Songs
By Rikky Rooksby
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
How to Write Lyrics by Rikky Rooksby is a comprehensive guide that illuminates every aspect of lyric writing for music. The book encourages both novice and experienced songwriters to feel more confident and inspired in their craft. It covers practical techniques such as channeling personal experiences, overcoming writer's block, crafting lyrics for bridges, and distinguishing lyrics from poetry. Readers will explore the use of imagery, metaphor, and avoidance of clichés, along with various styles including protest songs, spirituals, confessionals, narratives, and comic songs. This edition features updated artist and song references, as well as a new section demonstrating the drafting and re-drafting process through contrasting approaches.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$6718
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for songwriters of all levels who wish to improve their lyric writing — from those struggling with their own lyrics to seasoned writers seeking fresh creative techniques. It will also benefit those collaborating with composers and anyone interested in the craft of songwriting.

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Lyrics sheds light on all aspects of writing lyrics for music and will make lyricists and songwriters feel more confident and creative when they tackle lyrics.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Lyrics sheds light on all aspects of writing lyrics for music and will make lyricists and songwriters feel more confident and creative when they tackle lyrics. It's perfect for all songwriters: those who don’t like their own lyrics and find lyrics difficult to write, experienced writers looking for a creative edge, and those offering lyrics to set to music in a partnership.

The book discusses channeling personal experiences into lyrics, overcoming writer's block, the right lyrics for a bridge, the separation between lyrics and poetry, exploring imagery and metaphor, avoiding clichés, and more. It also offers tips on the various styles of lyrics, from protests, spirituals, and confessionals to narratives and comic songs.

New to this edition are artist and song references throughout to reflect musical history to date. Also, a new section provides examples of taking lyric ideas right through the drafting process, illustrating development and re-drafting and using a handful of contrasting approaches.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781493056156

Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 September 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Backbeat Books

Edition: 2nd Revised edition

Illustration: 60 b/w illustrations; 200 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 192.0mm

Height: 237.0mm

Weight: 626g

Pages: 304

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Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Rikky Rooksby

About the Author

Rikky Rooksby is a guitar teacher, songwriter/composer, and writer on popular music. He is the author of How to Write Songs on Guitar (2000, revised edition 2009), Inside Classic Rock Tracks (2001), Riffs (2002, revised edition 2010), The Songwriting Sourcebook (2003, revised edition 2011), Chord Master (2004, revised edition 2016), Melody (2004), Songwriting Secrets: Bruce Springsteen (2005), How to Write Songs on Keyboards (2005), Lyrics (2006), Arranging Songs (2007), How to Write Songs in Altered Guitar Tunings (2010), and Songs and Solos (2014). He has also written fourteen Fast Forward guitar books and arranged over three dozen chord songbooks, including The Complete Beatles. He has written entries on rock musicians for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and published interviews, reviews, and transcriptions in many UK music magazines. He is a member of the Society of Authors, Sibelius One, and the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society.

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