Fundamentals of Songwriting: Essential Tools and Techniques for Serious Songwriters Paperback – February 14, 2026

Fundamentals of Songwriting is a comprehensive, hands-on guide to a songwriter's craft. It's an ideal resource for a self-taught songwriter ready to broaden their lyrical palette, a frustrated songwriter looking to reignite their creative spark, or a novice songwriter searching for a guide on how to finally put pen to paper.The book focuses squarely on craft - the teachable and learnable techniques that make songs unforgettable. Each of the book's twenty-one chapters includes technique-rich instruction, real-world examples, and generous exercise sets, all designed to help songwriters master essential concepts and deepen their own writing abilities. Inside the book, you'll find:studies of five fundamental song forms (strophic songs, verse-chorus songs, AABA, ABAC, and list songs)a list of 30 ways to start writing a song right nowfive special chapters that guide the student through writing five songs in specific formsFAQ sections regarding common stumbling blocks and how to get past theminspiration-oriented analyses of lyrical devices (similes/metaphors, rhyme, repeated sounds and structure, poetic language, "show, don't tell")accessible discussions of musical techniques with real-world examples (understanding harmony, setting text, writing a singable melody, phrasing)QR-code links to a webpage for each chapter with recordings of each example in the text and sample answers to exercise setsThe book is rich with examples drawn from well-known songs spanning genres such as pop, rock, folk, R&B, hip-hop, and musical theater. Artists cited include The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Otis Redding, Cole Porter, Bruno Mars, Fiona Apple, Lady Gaga, Stephen Sondheim, John Mayer, Irving Berlin, Alicia Keys, Chappell Roan, Patsy Cline, Ed Sheeran, Drake, Hozier, Carole King, The Killers, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, Billy Joel, Frank Ocean, Bruce Springsteen, Sufjan Stevens, and many more.AuthorJeremy Siskind'sexpertise in songwriting stems from his dual studies in Music Theory (BM, Eastman School of Music) and English and Comparative Literature (MA, Columbia University). As a hands-on teacher who has taught collegiate classes in songwriting for over 10 years, Siskind is the proud teacher of students who have garnered hundreds of thousands of streams, written and produced for Grammy-nominated albums, and found joy and solace through writing songs.Siskind's own songs and arrangements have appeared on Grammy-winning albums, won grants from Chamber Music America, and received citations from the New York Times and Downbeat magazine. A respected educator, Siskind is the author of over 30 music instructional books including the best-selling instructional book series, Fundamentals of Jazz Piano. Siskind is a full-time professor at Fullerton College and serves as the Chair of the Creativity Committee for the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy. Read more