‘Unpredictable Songwriting’ by Tony Conniff
This Top 10 Songwriting Bestseller is now available in paperback (on Amazon)!
In this book I explore the inspiration you can derive and lessons you can learn from the methods of songwriters who are successful, skilled… and adventurous.
“I’ve always appreciated Tony Conniff as a sublime musician and songwriter, but with this book he has also become the coolest teacher in town. I wish I had such an excellent book when I started out.” – Marc Shaiman (‘Hairspray’, Grammy-winning songwriter; 7-time Oscar nominee)
“Tony beautifully breaks down all the techniques we use daily in pro songwriting rooms. Any writer at any level will benefit from reading ‘Unpredictable Songwriting’.” – Clay Mills (Multi Grammy–nominated, 16-time hit songwriter)
“A hands-on primer, indispensable for a creator hoping to raise their songwriting to a new level.” – Seth Godin (Author; ‘The Practice’)
“Tony has a unique ability to spot trends and changes in the form and process of songwriting and recognize the effects they’re having on the listener.” – Eric Beall (Author; ‘Making Music Make Money’, ‘The Billboard Guide to Writing and Producing Songs that Sell’)
“’Essential reading for all songwriters, beginning or highly experienced. A sophisticated, original perspective on examining the art and the craft – clear, unique, and invaluable.” – Doane Perry (Jethro Tull)
“Tony has a signature sound in his songwriting and strives to teach songwriters the value of being original while stressing the importance of learning the craft of songwriting.” – Jeff Franzel (Songwriter; 20 Top-10 singles)
CONTENTS:
Preface
Introduction
Interlude 1: Why Imitation Is The Sincerest Way To Get Better
WORDS
1) How To Change A Lyric P.O.V. from Verse to Chorus (Michael Jackson)
2) Bob Dylan’s Verbs… and What I Learned From Them
3) The Greatness Of Becker & Fagen (Steely Dan)
4) The Indirect Style And Sound Of Sam Beam’s Songwriting
5) Under The Hood Of An Exceptional Song (Katy Perry/Max Martin)
6) The Evolution Of Rhyme (Taylor Swift/Max Martin)
7) Jay-Z and Bruce Mythologize Themselves In Their Songs… You Can Try It Too
8) The Listener Writes Most Of Your Song’s Lyrics
9) Songs, Like Art, Can Range from Realism to Abstraction
10) Why You Sometimes Like Songs With Bad Lyrics
11) Get the Throat Clearing Done Before The Song Starts
12) Trying To Surprise The Listener (and Myself)
13) Don’t Limit Yourself To Self-Expression
Interlude 2: Cutting What’s Not Essential Strengthens What’s Left
MUSIC
14) The Harmonic Misdirection of ‘Wichita Lineman’
15) Stevie Wonder’s ‘Overjoyed’
16) How To Use A Minor Chord… When The Ear Expects Major (Amy Winehouse)
17) How To Harmonize A Simple Melody Creatively – by NRBQ
18) Creative Harmonization – Radiohead’s ‘Karma Police’
19) What Makes Rihanna and Drake’s ‘Work’… Work
20) Addition By Subtraction: FKA twigs’ ‘Pendulum’
21) The Art of the Pre-Chorus: Justin T, Max Martin, & Shellback
22) How To Use Every Chord In The Book and Still Have A Hit Song (Bruno Mars)
23) 3 Ways To Make Your Chord Progressions Less Predictable (Outkast, Burt Bacharach)
24) A Trick That Works… Sometimes
25) Bowie – A Look Inside ‘Young Americans
26) Inside An Indie Song That Became A Hit
Interlude 3: Turning Strangeness Into Beauty
27) The Whys & The Ways To Improve A Melody
28) Why And How To Avoid The Root In Your Melody
29) Let The Words Change The Melody
30) What A Difference A Note Makes (In A Melody)
31) What A Difference A Note Makes (In A Chord)
32) The Most Overlooked Aspect Of Good Songwriting?
33) Staying Off The Downbeat – with The Clash
34) Think Out Of The Songwriting ‘Box’: Drop A Bar
35) Change The Tempo, Change The Groove
36) ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza’ – Your Ballad Might Be A Dance Hit
37) Modern Songwriting’s Freedom From Traditional ‘Continuity’
Interlude 4: Getting Past The Clichés
Acknowledgements
About The Author