Songwriting FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about songwriting.

This FAQ about songwriting was compiled and written by Greg Skinner gds@best.com.

0. Introduction (rec.music.makers.songwriting): Welcome to rec.music.makers.songwriting! This document is intended ...

1. What is the purpose of this newsgroup? (rec.music.makers.songwriting): rec.music.makers.songwriting exists for the purpose of discussing ...

2. What topics are usually covered here? (rec.music.makers.songwriting): We have touched on many topics relevant and related to songwriting....

3. I'm new to songwriting. What do I do?: There are several ways of answering this question, depending on ...

4. I'd like to write songs, but I don't play an instrument/don't sing. What can I do?: Again, you can just dive right in and try it for a while. Many ...

5. What methods do people use to write songs?: It varies between individuals. Some people set aside a ...

6. What's a good instrument to use for songwriting?: There are several schools of thought on this issue. Some people ...

7. Should I start with lyrics or melody first?: This also varies between individuals. Some lyrics suggest a melody,...

8. What are the different types of lyric forms?: There are several types of lyric forms, and variations on those types....

9. How do I set a melody to chords, and vice versa?: This question actually deserves a detailed explanation such as ...

10. What do I do about writer's block? (Songwriting): This is a topic that deserves its own FAQ. Actually, you may be ...

11. Should I join a songwriter's organization?: There are several benefits to participation in songwriter'...

12. What can I do if there is no songwriter's organization in my area?: You can start one yourself! It's a great way to meet ...

13. I've got several songs written. I want to start a band. How do I do that?: There are several ways to go about this. Some of the methods ...

14. I've got several songs written. I want to send them to a publisher. What should I do?: A few words about publishers: They are often inundated with material....

15. How do I copyright my material? (Songwriting): You should check with the Copyright Office of the country you live ...

16. I have heard of something called the "poor man's" copyright. What is it, and can I use it? (Songwriting): The poor man's copyright method does not involve registering one'...

17. Should I register my material with a copyright office before sending it to a publisher, posting it to the net, etc? (Songwriting): If you are at all concerned about protecting your material and ...

18. For making demos, should I invest my money in a home recording system, or should I use a recording studio? (Songwriting): This generally depends on your budget and your inclinations....

19. How do I get a record deal?: This is a difficult question to answer. You could write a FAQ on ...

20. How do I get a publishing deal? (Songwriting): This is also a difficult question to answer for the same reasons ...

21. How do I get a staff writing deal? (Songwriting): Some publishers offer writers staff writing deals. In this case, ...

22. What are royalties? How do they work? (Songwriting): Royalties are money that is paid for the sale or use of music....

23. Do I need to join ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or a similar organization in order to collect royalties?: You need to join one of these organizations to collect royalties ...

24. Should I self-publish? (Songwriting): This is a difficult question as well....

25. Should I join a musician's union? (Songwriting): It depends on your goals and personal situation. Some music ...

26. Why do I keep getting rejections, despite the fact that many people think my music is good?: Another difficult question. In general, try not to take it ...

27. I get conflicting messages from music business people. They tell me I need to be different, but on the radio I keep hearing the same old things. What's the story here?: Record companies and artists tend to be somewhat conservative when ...

28. How do I get my music played on the radio?: Generally speaking, to get your music played on the radio, the ...

29. Do I need to move to a place like LA or Nashville to get recognition? (Songwriting): Again, this depends on your goals, financial situation, etc....

30. Where can I find lyrics on the Internet?: There are several archive sites for lyrics on the Internet. ...

31. Where can I find music on the Internet?: There are lots of places to find music on the Internet. As I ...

32. Are there places on the Internet where I can make my music available so others can listen to it?: Yes. If you have access to an Internet site with WWW service, you ...

33. What other songwriting-related newsgroups are there?: Many of the newsgroups in the rec.music and alt.music ...

34. What references exist for music theory, songwriting, the music business, etc?: There are many sources of information on these topics. Here are a ...

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