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Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting
Webb brings his insider's knowledge, experience, and star power to the ultimate guide for aspiring songwriters. With a combination of anecdotes, meditation, and advice, he breaks down the creative process from beginning to end--from coping with writer's block, to song construction, chords, and even self-promotion. Webb also gives readers a glimpse into the professional music world.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Jimmy Webb
39 books23 followersJIMMY WEBB, “America’s Songwriter”, is the author of the musician’s “bible”, TUNESMITH: INSIDE THE ART OF SONGWRITING. Webb’s songs with their complex chord structure have been recorded or performed by artists from Frank Sinatra to Carly Simon, to R.E.M. He tours extensively performing his own works and stories in the United States and around the world. He was the youngest man ever inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top fifty songwriters of all time. A father of six and grandfather of one, Webb lives with his wife, Laura Savini, in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 3, 2016
This was an excruciating read. Self-importance, some sexism, and his songs while hits here and there aren't that good when compared to the greats. The lyrics he suggests (mostly his own) as brilliant are cheesy. And writing songs as he suggests (note I did not get past the middle of he book) would be boring and formulaic. Despite being written in 1998, the only artist I recall that wrote after the 70s was Nirvana. And evidently there are only two female songwriters, Mitchell and King.
There are now better books on songwriting especially if you love rock as roll and breaking the "rules". According to this book recent artists like Jason Isbell or Sturgill Simpson would be breaking his rhyming rules, thus stinking up the joint.
Also unnecessary, blaming rap for the downfall of songwriting. If all you've heard are a few hits, perhaps, but rap is brilliantly done if you care to look.
There are now better books on songwriting especially if you love rock as roll and breaking the "rules". According to this book recent artists like Jason Isbell or Sturgill Simpson would be breaking his rhyming rules, thus stinking up the joint.
Also unnecessary, blaming rap for the downfall of songwriting. If all you've heard are a few hits, perhaps, but rap is brilliantly done if you care to look.
December 10, 2011
I finally managed to finish this book on my second, or maybe even third attempt. It's not an easy read. Who'd ever think a book on songwriting could be 400+ pages long? Jimmy Webb has written a brilliant book, that encompasses history, theory, instruction/guidelines, current affairs, and more, all in relation to this craft of writing songs.
I wouldn't recommend this book for everyone. 56 pages dedicated to form ( eg. A/B/A/A/B/B ) alone almost got me to put this book down for good yet again! Yet, a few chapters later and Jimmy's explained triads, inversions, sus chords, ..., and I'm picking up my guitar and applying some of what I just read. So, there's certainly inspiration to be found within the pages of this book. Also be prepared to be peppered with a million songs, artists, and songwriters that you've never heard of before. Thank God Spotify exists!
This book was published in 1998, and it's interesting to read Jimmy describing both the sense of optimism with regards to sales, and the pessimism with regards to the quality of the music then being written/produced. The Internet is discussed every so often, but as this was really the dawn of the World Wide Web, there's no foreboding of the negative impact it was to have on future music sales.
Finally, one of the most touching finishes to the book was a page dedicated to all the songwriters that had passed away during the time he'd written the book: Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Jeff Buckley, Jerry Garcia, John Denver, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra and many more. At times you get the feeling the Jimmy is dismissive of certain types of music, but this final list pays respect to songwriters of all genres and different generations.
Thanks for a great read Jimmy, and the inspiration to go write more songs!
I wouldn't recommend this book for everyone. 56 pages dedicated to form ( eg. A/B/A/A/B/B ) alone almost got me to put this book down for good yet again! Yet, a few chapters later and Jimmy's explained triads, inversions, sus chords, ..., and I'm picking up my guitar and applying some of what I just read. So, there's certainly inspiration to be found within the pages of this book. Also be prepared to be peppered with a million songs, artists, and songwriters that you've never heard of before. Thank God Spotify exists!
This book was published in 1998, and it's interesting to read Jimmy describing both the sense of optimism with regards to sales, and the pessimism with regards to the quality of the music then being written/produced. The Internet is discussed every so often, but as this was really the dawn of the World Wide Web, there's no foreboding of the negative impact it was to have on future music sales.
Finally, one of the most touching finishes to the book was a page dedicated to all the songwriters that had passed away during the time he'd written the book: Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Jeff Buckley, Jerry Garcia, John Denver, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra and many more. At times you get the feeling the Jimmy is dismissive of certain types of music, but this final list pays respect to songwriters of all genres and different generations.
Thanks for a great read Jimmy, and the inspiration to go write more songs!
April 26, 2017
This book is full of self-centered advice, an ignorance of common-practice classical music and theory (though Webb still references it often enough), and an apparent contempt for most music written after 1970. After writing an incredibly mediocre song through the first ten chapters, the book ends with 100 or so rambling pages about the nature of the music business and the state of music today. That's not to say there isn't anything to be gained from the knowledge Webb shares - he's certainly had his successes and written some great songs - but the good bits are so buried in long-winded personal stories and cheeseball songwriting that the book isn't really worth reading.
November 30, 2018
I've read a number of music theory, production, and songwriting books that I just couldn't put down. It's a topic of significant personal interest and this was a title that has really high average reviews. How could I go wrong? In practice, this is was a book I kept finding reasons to avoid coming back to. At less than a third of the way through it's time to admit that it just isn't for me.
It's not that it's badly written, as the author's written style is moderately engaging. It isn't that the author doesn't know what he's talking about, because he's clearly an accomplished professional with an impressive resume. It came down to the forceful presentation of personal opinion as if it were objective fact, a tendency to rely heavily on his own material to draw examples from that I didn't find especially inspiring, and some serious pacing issues.
Did we really need a visual aid with descriptions of what the axes represent to get across the idea that emotional intensity grows throughout a 2-verse song? I certainly didn't. Did I need another graph a page or two later illustrating how this exact same thing applies to a 5-verse song? This is the point where I just couldn't find the will to continue. I should have known when the author ranted about the evils of "false" rhymes and how nobody who uses them will ever amount to anything that he and I would find little common ground.
So, if you're a huge fan of the author's songs and have a high tolerance for self-importance, this might be the perfect work for you. Maybe there's even a ton of redeeming content later in the book that I'm going to miss out on, but I will sleep well without ever needing to find out.
It's not that it's badly written, as the author's written style is moderately engaging. It isn't that the author doesn't know what he's talking about, because he's clearly an accomplished professional with an impressive resume. It came down to the forceful presentation of personal opinion as if it were objective fact, a tendency to rely heavily on his own material to draw examples from that I didn't find especially inspiring, and some serious pacing issues.
Did we really need a visual aid with descriptions of what the axes represent to get across the idea that emotional intensity grows throughout a 2-verse song? I certainly didn't. Did I need another graph a page or two later illustrating how this exact same thing applies to a 5-verse song? This is the point where I just couldn't find the will to continue. I should have known when the author ranted about the evils of "false" rhymes and how nobody who uses them will ever amount to anything that he and I would find little common ground.
So, if you're a huge fan of the author's songs and have a high tolerance for self-importance, this might be the perfect work for you. Maybe there's even a ton of redeeming content later in the book that I'm going to miss out on, but I will sleep well without ever needing to find out.
February 2, 2022
A ver, después de leer y aplicar este libro, yo sigo siendo un compositor demasiado desordenado y extraño, pero ahora me demoro menos en terminar una idea y mis canciones suenan a una agradable nada, cosa qué tal vez veo así porque este libro me dio el pie a las primeras canciones que en verdad suenan como Martín. A ratos me dieron ganas de mandar todo a la mierda y dejar el metodismo religioso que te pide el autor, pero con un poco de paciencia y algunos chispazos de estupidez irónica logré hacer cosas interesantes. Resulta que la invención nace de mini plagios, una cosita de aquí y otra de acá, así que en vez de esperar a que aparezcan ideas de letras me puse a hacer mezclas dignas de un poquito de interés. Cabe decir que se siente blásfemo mezclar líneas del ready player one con pasajes de las cartas a los cristianos de Corinto, pero todo sea por letras unicas y melodías absurdas.
No le doy 5 porque fue una paja leerlo en kindle y además el sistema es larguísimo, no tengo tiempo para andar juntando palabras de libros por días para terminar una wea que no pienso tocar muchas veces.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Martin Abbott
No le doy 5 porque fue una paja leerlo en kindle y además el sistema es larguísimo, no tengo tiempo para andar juntando palabras de libros por días para terminar una wea que no pienso tocar muchas veces.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Martin Abbott
April 26, 2017
Very informative but laborious read. Some very solid and useful advice ranging from the practical to spiritual if you're willing to wade through a huge amount of information for the parts pertinent to you.
It's worth noting that, since the music industry has changed so dramatically since it was written, there are 100 or so pages that discuss the music industry that are now historically informative rather than relevant. Obviously not a real complaint about the book, just something to be aware of.
An excellent book for the songwriter and musician for the most part.
It's worth noting that, since the music industry has changed so dramatically since it was written, there are 100 or so pages that discuss the music industry that are now historically informative rather than relevant. Obviously not a real complaint about the book, just something to be aware of.
An excellent book for the songwriter and musician for the most part.
September 22, 2023
'Tunesmith - Inside The Art Of Songwriting' by Jimmy Webb (1998).
This book could easily have been titled "The Music Business 101." If you're serious about making it in the music industry, Webb's book is an absolute must-read. It covers essential insights, including his personal anecdotes of triumphs and failures.
What truly captivated me was his detailed guide on creating lyrics and melodies that seamlessly blend together to produce a great song. For anyone keen on mastering music theory or the art of songwriting, Webb is an exceptional instructor with a remarkable background.
The book is packed with numerous pages of musical notations and insightful explanations, which transported me back to my own music lessons and gave me a fresh outlook on my own writing.
#WordsAndMusic
This book could easily have been titled "The Music Business 101." If you're serious about making it in the music industry, Webb's book is an absolute must-read. It covers essential insights, including his personal anecdotes of triumphs and failures.
What truly captivated me was his detailed guide on creating lyrics and melodies that seamlessly blend together to produce a great song. For anyone keen on mastering music theory or the art of songwriting, Webb is an exceptional instructor with a remarkable background.
The book is packed with numerous pages of musical notations and insightful explanations, which transported me back to my own music lessons and gave me a fresh outlook on my own writing.
#WordsAndMusic
March 15, 2013
This is one of those books that will be on my shelves forever as a definitive volume on the subject it sets out to cover. I aspire to write songs and I've written a few but I'll admit I've been slow if not stale for a few years but this (and I was inspired to read it by the Sodajerker podcast which really deserves a shout-out for inspiring me as much) really got me in the mood to put a lot more time into the process again. There are a couple of chapters on music theory which I'll have to read a couple more times to even understand let alone take on board, and the last few chapters are more about actually *being* a songwriter and I'm sure they'll have more value in future too… but his ideas about lyric-writing and substitution in basic chord structure and just his ideas about being a creative person are utterly indispensable if, like most creative people, you frequently find yourself consumed by self-doubt. He doesn't just blow smoke up your ass, he's honest… but *god* does he make you wanna do better…
July 13, 2007
Absolutely, completely, ridiculously, inarguably the greatest book about songwriting ever written. Webb's one of those "behind the scenes" master songwriters of the twentieth century whose name most people have never heard but whose songs everyone has heard - "Wichita Lineman," "Didn't we," "By the time I get to phoenix," "The moon's a harsh mistress," and classic groaner "MacArthur Park" only scratch the surface. This isn't some sort of "how to write better songs" workbook for aspiring songwriters, but rather a scholarly and informed exploration of the true craft of songwriting. At the same time, it's readable and humorous enough that non-musicians will get a kick out of the anecdotes and dissections of songwriters from Gershwin and Porter to Cobain and Corgan.
July 17, 2008
there's good stuff in here: helpful tips and explanations on songs and songwriting. Unfortunately he meanders a lot, and often gets into such fine detail that it gets uninteresting. probably could have been 100 pages sorter. It's also a lot of autobiography that really is uninteresting (to me at least). I'd lose another 100 pages right there. Of course, I don't have as many hit songs as he does. Or any, really. The most helpful stuff I found was near the beginning, like through the first 4 chapters, maybe 5 and 6. I skimmed the rest of the book.
November 20, 2013
So far so good, a literate look into the mind and practices of a world class professional songwriter. From coarse to sublime.
I put it aside when he started writing musical notation (which I am quite rusty at) to illustrate his points.
I intend to get back to it - review and finish. There are so many other books on songwriting. And it seems to me that reading about it is not doing it. You want to write songs - write! David Francey wins awards and doesn't even play an instrument. He just writes words and does melody with his voice. Excuse .... I rant.
I put it aside when he started writing musical notation (which I am quite rusty at) to illustrate his points.
I intend to get back to it - review and finish. There are so many other books on songwriting. And it seems to me that reading about it is not doing it. You want to write songs - write! David Francey wins awards and doesn't even play an instrument. He just writes words and does melody with his voice. Excuse .... I rant.
September 2, 2008
Excellent meditation on the art and science (yes, there are actual rules) of songwriting, by one of the greatest practicioners of the craft. Webb's best contribution is his simplification of complex music theory for use in the popular song, and his ideas, while not new, are amusingly presented and convincingly articulate. An excellent book for the beginner and advanced composer alike. I rated it just short of five stars because it is a bit verbose and could have been streamlined somewhat.
April 8, 2010
A facinating view of what goes on inside the songwriter's head along with observations on the nuts and bolts of the music industry. Jimmy Webb wrote some of the big hits of the 70's while not having a hit record of his own. He is engaging as a book writer as well. Note: I skipped the material on writing tunes, I mostly wanted to read about the music business.
October 1, 2019
A fabulous insight into one of the best songwriters. Anyone who is interested in behind-the-scenes music would enjoy reading this.
March 26, 2018
His writing: smugly wordy; his ideas: those of an artsy simpleton.
October 2, 2019
This is between 3 and 4 stars for me. I've read it more than once because it contains so much helpful information, so I erred higher.
The information on the craft is pretty useful, but not written in the most concise, comprehensive, or organized way, and the chord/harmony part was overly focused on the piano and techniques that are specific to it. As a guitar player, though familiar with how a piano works, my preferred book on the craft is How to Write Songs on Guitar by Rikky Rooksby (who also has a similar one about keyboards, and I'm inclined to say it's better/more comprehensive than Tunesmith). I did like that Webb took you through the process of writing an entire example song from the spark to the gathering of ideas to the lyrics and chords and melody and finished product. He also wrote it in a way that was suitable for a beginner to get a good overview, but also inspire new directions and ideas for someone who's already been writing for a while like myself.
The business-related portion towards the end was obviously grossly outdated, which I can't blame the author for, but it does reduce its utility. However, some of the stories about what had happened to him and other songwriters in the business were interesting even if only for historical knowledge.
Overall the entire book also suffered from, in my opinion, too much ego and lack of focus. There was quite a bit of boasting about awards, hit songs, and famous friends in the guise of stories and determining credibility. He often either directly or implicitly criticized other songwriters and genres, especially newer ones (at the time). Sometimes, egotistical or not, he seemed to go off on random tangents and personal stories that I couldn't figure out what they had to do with the subject at hand. Personally I felt like this was mostly not useful or interesting, and the book would have been better and at least 25% shorter without them. However, some people might prefer this type of conversational, storytelling, lighthearted tone to keep their interest in an educational book like this. But I'm boring and I prefer drier, more academically written prose.
The information on the craft is pretty useful, but not written in the most concise, comprehensive, or organized way, and the chord/harmony part was overly focused on the piano and techniques that are specific to it. As a guitar player, though familiar with how a piano works, my preferred book on the craft is How to Write Songs on Guitar by Rikky Rooksby (who also has a similar one about keyboards, and I'm inclined to say it's better/more comprehensive than Tunesmith). I did like that Webb took you through the process of writing an entire example song from the spark to the gathering of ideas to the lyrics and chords and melody and finished product. He also wrote it in a way that was suitable for a beginner to get a good overview, but also inspire new directions and ideas for someone who's already been writing for a while like myself.
The business-related portion towards the end was obviously grossly outdated, which I can't blame the author for, but it does reduce its utility. However, some of the stories about what had happened to him and other songwriters in the business were interesting even if only for historical knowledge.
Overall the entire book also suffered from, in my opinion, too much ego and lack of focus. There was quite a bit of boasting about awards, hit songs, and famous friends in the guise of stories and determining credibility. He often either directly or implicitly criticized other songwriters and genres, especially newer ones (at the time). Sometimes, egotistical or not, he seemed to go off on random tangents and personal stories that I couldn't figure out what they had to do with the subject at hand. Personally I felt like this was mostly not useful or interesting, and the book would have been better and at least 25% shorter without them. However, some people might prefer this type of conversational, storytelling, lighthearted tone to keep their interest in an educational book like this. But I'm boring and I prefer drier, more academically written prose.
November 4, 2019
There aren't very many good books about songwriting. I'm fairly confident that this is the best one. Its breezy, easy-going style is wrapped around dense payloads of information on everything from song forms to chord voicing to working with producers and accountants in the record, movie, and TV businesses. Webb (known for songs like "MacArthur Park" and "Wichita Lineman") has the skills and experience for the material, and the insight and empathy to understand how difficult the subject is. In his introduction he says:
Webb is a remarkably articulate and precise writer, with a backpack full of Los Angeles anecdotes and wry wisdom. He's also an excellent teacher, presenting small chunks of musical material and inviting the reader to play, experiment, and discover. Like many creative disciplines, songwriting demands a lot of structured, purposeful goofing around.
Webb spends a big chunk of the book walking us through an example song as he improvises various melodies, lyrics, and structures. His commentary throughout walks the line between acknowledging the creative mind as full of mysteries, and pointing out that some methods and approaches just seem to work better than others, at least for some people, some of the time.
The author is also forthright about the distant chances and constant changes in the music business. He has followed the work from Motown to LA to Nashville, and although the book came out in 1998 his perspective still feels fresh - although I do wonder what he thinks about our new musical landscape, dominated by apps and streaming services.
Songwriting is by definition a lonely sort of pursuit, and it's a great comfort to discover someone like Jimmy Webb, an elder statesman of the art who has generously decided to share some of his own experiences with an eye toward helping amateurs and others understand how to make the most of what time and energy they have available.
"At the heart of the struggle has been the fact that logic, instinct and experience indicate that much of the material presented here is useless for the following reasons:
1. Inspiration comes from the guts.
2. Technique is a personal and very private conceit.
3. Creativity as a concept is perhaps not well understood by the people who practice it most successfully."
Webb is a remarkably articulate and precise writer, with a backpack full of Los Angeles anecdotes and wry wisdom. He's also an excellent teacher, presenting small chunks of musical material and inviting the reader to play, experiment, and discover. Like many creative disciplines, songwriting demands a lot of structured, purposeful goofing around.
Webb spends a big chunk of the book walking us through an example song as he improvises various melodies, lyrics, and structures. His commentary throughout walks the line between acknowledging the creative mind as full of mysteries, and pointing out that some methods and approaches just seem to work better than others, at least for some people, some of the time.
The author is also forthright about the distant chances and constant changes in the music business. He has followed the work from Motown to LA to Nashville, and although the book came out in 1998 his perspective still feels fresh - although I do wonder what he thinks about our new musical landscape, dominated by apps and streaming services.
Songwriting is by definition a lonely sort of pursuit, and it's a great comfort to discover someone like Jimmy Webb, an elder statesman of the art who has generously decided to share some of his own experiences with an eye toward helping amateurs and others understand how to make the most of what time and energy they have available.
November 22, 2023
I first read this book about 15 years ago and recently re-read it. It is Jimmy Webb's autobiographical account of his career as a young rookie song writer to accomplished composer. He analyses his writing styles and gives guidance on many aspects of song writing and the music business. He explains how it worked before the advent of the digital age and the changes that took place. The music industry has evolved so much in the 25 years or so since it was written and it stands as a historical moment in time between the way it was and what it was to become. Music released on Vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, computers in their infancy, record companies selling content, signing and promoting bands and singers. Prior to this dedicated song writers who wrote the songs that recording artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark sang. Next came the singer songwriters like Bob Dylan and the Beatles who had the cheek to write their own material about issues which were important to them. So much in this book and yet so much more to happen in the 25 years since it was written. Computers, MP3, Pirate Bay, Spotify etc. I do not know how the music industry operates today but I hope the songs complete their eternal journey and find butterflies wonderously listening and trying to make sense out of it all. A great read.
February 11, 2019
Tsja, ik weet het niet goed met Jimmy Web. Af en toe is de inhoud wel goed, maar die zit zo verdomd diep ondergesneeuwd onder eindeloze pagina's zelfverheerlijking en uiterst langdradige beschrijvingen. Alsof iemand die denkt dat hij prachtig en humoristisch kan schrijven (maar het net niet kan) een boek over songwriting schrijft (wat hij wellicht beter kan, maar ik vind zijn stijl persoonlijk nogal vlakjes en onnozel - maar dat is een smaak natuurlijk) en zich niet kan inhouden om ellenlange *grappige* onderschikkingen op te nemen. Na een pagina of 300 kreeg ik het echt op mijn zenuwen en begon ik diagonaler te lezen. Zo ontdek je dat er toch mooie dingen in staan, maar je moet verduveld veel karakter hebben (of échts niet te doen) om je daar doorheen te worstelen. Tot overmaat van irritatie zijn de notenbalkjesvoorbeelden bijna onleesbaar op mijn kindle paperwhite, wat de feestvreugde verder verminderde.
Ik houd het als naslagwerk en zou het ook eerder zo aanraden, al vrees ik dat het daarvoor als doorlopende tekst met weinig ademruimte ook niet ideaal georganiseerd is...
Ik houd het als naslagwerk en zou het ook eerder zo aanraden, al vrees ik dat het daarvoor als doorlopende tekst met weinig ademruimte ook niet ideaal georganiseerd is...
June 24, 2024
This is helluver book, on a subject that isn't widely thought about - the songwriter/composer who doesn't principally sing his or her own songs.
My generation was raised on singer-songwriters who I like to think never had need of a rhyming dictionary. This book is in some ways a glimpse into the forgotten world of Tin Pan Alley and the Brill Building.
Jimmy Webb has done it all, from mega hits when he was very young, to writing musicals, and knocking out advertising jingles. He works as a lyricist, composer, arranger and sometimes as a singer.
The book is nothing if not thorough. We learn about melody, harmony, lyrics - and surviving in the tough world of freelance songwriting.
I'm a writer and music lover who has never tried to compose a song, so this book was a fascinating journey into an adjacent profession about which I knew little. Thanks for the insights, Jimmy.
My generation was raised on singer-songwriters who I like to think never had need of a rhyming dictionary. This book is in some ways a glimpse into the forgotten world of Tin Pan Alley and the Brill Building.
Jimmy Webb has done it all, from mega hits when he was very young, to writing musicals, and knocking out advertising jingles. He works as a lyricist, composer, arranger and sometimes as a singer.
The book is nothing if not thorough. We learn about melody, harmony, lyrics - and surviving in the tough world of freelance songwriting.
I'm a writer and music lover who has never tried to compose a song, so this book was a fascinating journey into an adjacent profession about which I knew little. Thanks for the insights, Jimmy.
September 22, 2018
I have a hard time believing someone called this "perhaps the finest book about songwriting of our time". To be fair, I got what I wanted out of this book: to watch Jimmy Webb go through his own process for writing a song; and those parts of the book are pretty good. But there were way too many times I put down this book saying, "Jimmy Webb is a hack".
Part of the problem is that he tries to do too much, poorly. I wonder if the book was rewritten several times with different intents. Also, clearly no one bothered to fact check this book. "Silence is wisdom when speaking is folly" is a saying that came to mind frequently, in both factual and biographical sections of this book.
Part of the problem is that he tries to do too much, poorly. I wonder if the book was rewritten several times with different intents. Also, clearly no one bothered to fact check this book. "Silence is wisdom when speaking is folly" is a saying that came to mind frequently, in both factual and biographical sections of this book.
December 3, 2023
Don't waste your time Mr. Webb has no idea what he is talking about. I don't know how anyone can read past page eight and think they are going to learn something from this book. "...I was engaging him on the subject of the abysmal ignorance that young writers exhibited toward even fairly recent material like that of the Beatles" (pg. 8). Art is subjective thats just common sense. To think someone is "ignorant" for not agreeing with your completely subjective opinion tells you everything you need to know about whether or not you should take artistic advice from this book.
March 25, 2021
Enjoyed this!
This songwriter/author really can write interesting prose. Although parts of this are a little dated, there is a lot of material here. I especially liked the part on music theory, explained so clearly that even one with just a little prior knowledge can learn all the basics. The anecdotes relate a world of which beginning songwriters can only dream, as much of that world is no longer around. Still, this work educates and inspires.
This songwriter/author really can write interesting prose. Although parts of this are a little dated, there is a lot of material here. I especially liked the part on music theory, explained so clearly that even one with just a little prior knowledge can learn all the basics. The anecdotes relate a world of which beginning songwriters can only dream, as much of that world is no longer around. Still, this work educates and inspires.
July 20, 2024
Some interesting stuff on the complexity of writing songs - lyrics ('use a rhyming dictionary!'), chords, and melodies - and how shifting any part of the system is a massive headache. This made me appreciate songs a bit better and some of the music theory on chords was interesting.
However the book was a bit meandering, out of date (1998), focuses on 50s-70s, and a bit boring in the last few chapters about the industry.
However the book was a bit meandering, out of date (1998), focuses on 50s-70s, and a bit boring in the last few chapters about the industry.
January 31, 2018
Eh. Some of it was interesting, much of it wasn't. It was surprisingly well-written, but I think fundamentally it's the disparity between his and my musical & lyrical taste that made it a bit of a snoozer. Much of what he cites as "good"--in terms of both music and lyrics--is really cheesy in my opinion.
March 10, 2022
I primarily read this book because of the influence of a songwriter friend who considers Jimmy Webb one of the best songwriters ever. I found it interesting to learn more about him and his process, and I did glean a few helpful ideas for my own songwriting. However, I did find it tedious enough that I didn't really finish the book.
January 3, 2019
I could write an essay about this book.
This is not a book on how to write music.
This is a portrait of a person whose industry is going through digital transformation. He is right dab in the middle of it. It’s fascinating to see him try to understand what’s going on.
I’d love an updated version!
This is not a book on how to write music.
This is a portrait of a person whose industry is going through digital transformation. He is right dab in the middle of it. It’s fascinating to see him try to understand what’s going on.
I’d love an updated version!
October 1, 2022
If you’ve ever wanted to write a song…
this is the book for you! Jimmy Webb is a giant in his profession, and he has written the ultimate primer for anyone looking to break into to a very competitive business. Every side of the industry is covered here.
this is the book for you! Jimmy Webb is a giant in his profession, and he has written the ultimate primer for anyone looking to break into to a very competitive business. Every side of the industry is covered here.
July 6, 2024
I enjoyed the first couple of chapters of this book, where JW talks about his work style. It felt like a friend talking to a friend over a cup of coffee. After that, though, it turned into just another songwriting tutorial, of which I think there are already plenty.
May 3, 2020
Sometimes irritating, always interesting. Tips and tricks from the guy who left the cake out in the rain then went up, up and away in a balloon before giving Glen Campbell a singing career.
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