Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide)

  • 182 pagesSize: 12″ x 9″Composer: Jack PerriconeISBN: 063400638X

(Berklee Guide). Melody is a subject too often neglected in the teaching of music. This unique resource gives melody that attention it deserves, and proves that melody writing is a skill that can be learned. Through proven tool and techniques, you will learn to write interesting melodies, how melodic rhythm influences rhyme, what makes harmony progress, and the many dynamic relationships between melody and harmony. This clear and comprehensive approach to songwriting unlocks the secrets of popul

List Price: $ 24.95

Price: [wpramaprice asin=”063400638X”]

[wpramareviews asin=”063400638X”]

Find More Writing A Hit Song Products

By: wildsPosted on Categories : Categories : Uncategorized

2 Replies to “Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide)”

  1. 84 of 86 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    TRIPLE-A FOR “STUCK” SONGWRITERS!, June 12, 2000
    By 
    middlemoo “maraschino” (United States) –

    Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
    This review is from: Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide) (Paperback)
    Jack Perricone is a great admirer (and practitioner!) of the pop song, and in this book he outlines successful strategies for songwriters to get back IN the groove, or to break OUT of their writing “ruts”. Granted, this material may seem rather “heady” at times, and less intuitive than we like to think creativity is, but when you need a jumpstart to get back on track, you’ll be glad to have this assortment of options at hand. Although this book is nominally about Melody only, the author includes all other song components as they interact, and provides a fresh perspective and analysis on how and why certain songs reach us and connect with the public. There’s as much respect shown toward rock and blues songs as more traditional pop, and a lot of very valuable stuff for writers of ALL styles of songs.

    0

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

  2. 70 of 71 people found the following review helpful
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A great book on melody, May 28, 2004
    By 
    Jack (oslo Norway) –

    This review is from: Melody in Songwriting: Tools and Techniques for Writing Hit Songs (Berklee Guide) (Paperback)
    This is a good book, well written , and clearly laid out. It offers the reader a methodical approach to writing better melodies by showing you that good melodies are the result of contrast, balance and fluidity. It also covers harmony and its relationship with melody giving examples from popular songs. The book is a refreshing change as it does exactly what it says on the cover; it looks at melody within song writing, and approaches it as a serious subject to be studied and learned. If like myself you get slightly lost every now and then, read the chapter through, go back and read it again, its really worth it because once this stuff begins to sink in, you go away and see what he’s talking about as soon as you turn on the radio or listen to your favourite music. I say a refreshing change because it differs from other song writing books that I have recently purchased with titles such as “How To Write That Hit!” etc which seem to spend about 3 pages telling you how to write songs then divide the rest of the book between telling you how to “Pitch that song in the market” or patronising the reader with little cute stories about how they wrote their half a hit that came out 200 years ago “Oh and then Bruce, as in Springsteen, called up asking how the song was coming along, it was all so hilarious”. We don’t want cute stories , we want guide lines to the craft of writing beautiful songs. Lastly, in this book, Perricone does not attempt to suggest that technique is more important than inspiration, indeed he says that both work hand in hand, each one necessitating the other. As an aspiring young song writer myself I have often heard this debate between those that believe in the dreaded technique, and those that believe in inspiration alone. The argument on the one hand goes, the decline of the modern pop song is due to the fact that writers no longer learn their craft, long gone are the golden years of song writing (Berlin, Porter, Rogers and Hart etc.). On the other hand, I’ve heard lots of song writers (none of whom ever got a publishing deal!) saying “you dont need to learn technique, inspiration is what I use”. often said with a kind of religious conviction. The example people in this camp always wheel out is the fact that, yes neither Lennon nor McMartney read or wrote music. What these people seem to fail to comprehend is that both Lennon and McCartney were almost musical scholars when it came to the popular songs of their time, analysing, dissecting and pinching sections of these songs. Anyone who’s ever read “Revolution in the Head” by Ian Mcdonald (a fantastic book!) will tell you so. My own point of view is consistent with that of Perricone. Having read his book I feel that the knowledge of a little technique has only propelled and projected my creativity and to me at-least it seems preposterous that song writers should think that they need not learn a little craft. Try and become a painter or a carpenter with out a little technique. Now after years of heart ache, not knowing how to develop that little melody in my head and putting the guitar down after five minutes to make a cup of coffee, with a little know how, I am writing better songs. At least my girlfriend thinks so!!! Go and create people! We need good songs to wrap up our memories. Best wishes, jack.

    0

    Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes
    No

Leave a Reply