THIS IS NOT A FREE EBOOK.

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1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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3 All original music samples within this book are the exclusive copyrighted property of Pantomime Music Publications, except where otherwise noted within the text. Copyright 2017, 2015, 2010, 2005 by Pantomime Music Publications All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. This book is protected by Copyright. Permission must be obtained in writing from Pantomime Music Publications for the use of any original text or musical materials contained within this publication. Permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. THIS IS NOT A FREE EBOOK. 3

4 Table of Contents Introduction to the 4 th Edition...11 PREFACE...19 The Desire to be Creative It s Human It s You...19 WHEN GOOD SONGS GO BAD...24 LISTEN!...27 WHAT IS GOOD MUSIC?...30 CHAPTER 1: An INTRODUCTION TO WRITING MUSIC: An Overview...37 The Sound of Music...38 Good Music is Good Partnership...40 MAJOR SONG COMPONENTS...44 Form...44 The Chords You Choose...47 Why Great Melodies are Great...48 How To Say What You Need To Say...51 Hooking the Audience...51 Is There a Composer in Me?...55 What You Need To Be a Good Songwriter...57 Let s Get Started!...61 Make a Demo Recording Yes, already!...61 Get It Done!

5 Chapter 1 SUMMARY...65 CHAPTER 2: Your Music From the Inside...66 The Success of Great Writers...67 Form...70 How Important is Form?...70 Good Form Means Good Design...71 Good Form Can t be Accidental...73 Song Components Defined...75 Intro...75 Verse...80 Pre-Chorus...83 Chorus...87 Bridge...89 Outro...92 Getting to Know Your Song...94 Chapter 2 SUMMARY...97 CHAPTER 3: Designing a Song...98 The Blueprint: Putting the Parts Together...99 The Contrast Principle of Composition Energy the Forgotten Formal Element What Song Form Is Doing For Your Song Chapter 3 SUMMARY CHAPTER 4: Chord Progressions Some Straight Talk on Chord Progressions I. Chord Basics

6 The Basic Triads of Any Major Key How We Refer to Chords II. How One Chord Moves to Another Chord The V-I Progression Why Some Progressions Work and Others Don t Strong Progressions Fragile Progressions The Chart of Two-Chord Progressions When Progressions Sound Muddled When to Use Strong Progressions -When to Use Fragile Ones155 What About Minor Keys? Looking for the Killer Chord Progression How Long Should a Chord Progression Be? III. Integrating Balance When Building a Longer Progression Building Longer Progressions Incorporating Balance IV. Expanding Your Chord Vocabulary I. Adding a 7th to a V-Chord II. Modal Mixtures III. Secondary Dominant Chords IV. Suspensions V. Inversions Key Changes Don t Go Changin Without a Reason Chapter 4 SUMMARY

7 Chapter 5: Melody and Lyric How Good Melodies Work The Melodic Journey: How Yesterday Works When Melody and Lyrics Are At Cross-Purposes: Don t Write Counterintuitively What is Falsetto and Tessitura? Writing Good Melodies Getting Notes in the Right Place Song Sample: You Belong With Me Shaping a Melody Writing Good Song Lyrics Too Many Words Developing Better Lyrics: Tips and Techniques The Songwriting Process Other Ways to Compose Songwriting Dissatisfaction Dissatisfaction Is Normal Balancing Lyrics and Melody The Balance of Hotel California Dealing with Unremarkable Lyrics Don t be Weak The Pay-Off Line The Melody and Lyrics of a Bridge A Bridge That Diminishes Song Energy More About Bridge Melodies When a Bridge Isn t Necessary

8 Chapter 5 SUMMARY Chapter 6: The Hook and the Motif Hook and Motif The Danger of the Hook A Hook s Main Characteristics The Various Types of Hooks The Chorus Hook The Intro Hook The Instrumental Background Hook The Hook as a Basis for Your Song The Subtle Hook The Myth of the Hook The Hook s Main Responsibility Chapter 6 SUMMARY Chapter 7: Inspiration The Role of Inspiration Misunderstanding Inspiration The Steps to Honing Your Songwriting Craft Starting Without Inspiration Chapter 7 SUMMARY Chapter 8: The World Beyond Composing Now What?311 The Most Important Principle of All And now what? Getting Your Song Ready: A Brief Tutorial COPYRIGHT

9 Publishing and Other Matters Creating Your Own Publishing Company Mechanical Rights Performing Rights Organizations In Conclusion Chapter 8 SUMMARY Index of Song Samples