Songwriting FAQ

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 ...