The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords Into Great Songs
Originally published in 2003, and now revised and updated, The Songwriting Sourcebook: How to Turn Chords into Great Songs is the third entry in Rikky Rooksby's bestselling How to Write Songs series.
This easy-to-use book will help you write better songs by explaining the art of writing effective chord sequences It shows:
• How three and four chords can lay the foundation for a simple song, and how to move on to progressions using five and six chords
• How to give your chord sequences additional color by adding chords that are not strictly in key, including blues chords
• How to write chord sequences for songs in minor keys as well as major keys, and how to take progressions into new territories by changing key
• How to fine-tune the color of your chords by understanding the emotional potential of sevenths, sixths and ninths
All examples come with easy-to-read guitar chord boxes, and the accompanying 20-track audio CD features original recordings that illustrate some of the points made in the book.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
The Songwriting Sourcebookis available now at the Guitar World Online Store for $24.99.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Since 1980, Guitar World has been the ultimate resource for guitarists. Whether you want to learn the techniques employed by your guitar heroes, read about their latest projects or simply need to know which guitar is the right one to buy, Guitar World is the place to look.
Players like Larry Carlton use chords as a launching pad for improvisation, and you can, too. Learn how polychords and slash chords hold the key to musical exploration, just as scales do
“We’ve all played them, but how many of us can say we know how 7th chords actually work?” Get more out of one of guitar’s most important shapes with 5 chords that demystify the dominant 7th