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    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)
    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)
    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)
    Ebook158 pages2 hours

    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)

    By Ralph Murphy

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    About the Book

    Achieving "hit writer" status has always been a formidable goal for any songwriter. Never more so however than in the 21st century. Catching the ear of the monumentally distracted, fragmented listener has never been more difficult. Getting their attention, inviting them in to your song and keeping them there for long enough for your song to become "their song” requires more than being just a "good" songwriter. Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting "The Book" arms the songwriter for success by demystifying the process and opening the door to serious professional songwriting. Hall of fame songwriter Paul Williams said in his review of the book “If there was a hit songwriters secret handshake Da Murphy would probably have included it.”

    About the Author

    Ralph Murphy, songwriter, has been successful for five decades. Consistently charting songs in an ever-changing musical environment makes him a member of that very small group of professionals who make a living ding what they love to do. Add to that the platinum records as a producer, the widely acclaimed Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting articles used as part of curriculum at colleges, universities, and by songwriter organizations, his success as the publisher and co-owner of the extremely successful Picalic Group of Companies and you see a pattern of achievement based on more than luck.

    Passion driven, with a desire to know how, what, when, where and who have him a formidable insider force. He is in worldwide demand as a lecturer on songwriting and has “guested” at universities, colleges, and professional songwriter organizations around the globe. Murphy has served as President of The Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy; ad has been a NARAS National Trustee and President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. As well as serving as Vice President for the International and Domestic membership Group of the American Society of Composers Authors an Publishers, he also has served on the Southern Regional Writers Advisory Board of ASCAP, the Songwriters Guild of America regional advisory board and is a member of Nsai, Naras, Cma, Ccma, Sac, Sga, and Ascap.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRalph Murphy
    Release dateDec 8, 2011
    ISBN9781452414324
    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)
    Author

    Ralph Murphy

    Ralph Murphy, songwriter, has been successful for five decades. Consistently charting songs in an ever-changing musical environment makes him a member of that very small group of professionals who make a living ding what they love to do. Add to that the platinum records as a producer, the widely acclaimed Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting articles used as part of curriculum at colleges, universities, and by songwriter organizations, his success as the publisher and co-owner of the extremely successful Picalic Group of Companies and you see a pattern of achievement based on more than luck. Passion driven, with a desire to know how, what, when, where and who have him a formidable insider force. He is in worldwide demand as a lecturer on songwriting and has “guested” at universities, colleges, and professional songwriter organizations around the globe. Murphy has served as President of The Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy; ad has been a NARAS National Trustee and President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. As well as serving as Vice President for the International and Domestic membership Group of the American Society of Composers Authors an Publishers, he also has served on the Southern Regional Writers Advisory Board of ASCAP, the Songwriters Guild of America regional advisory board and is a member of NSAI, NARAS, CMA, CCMA, SAC, SGA, and ASCAP.

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    Reviews for Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013)

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    • 5/5
      The truly talented author has put in his heart and soul into giving counsel to another generation of songwriters. This book was written with a lot of love for the readers and is extremely beneficial for writers of pop and country music.

    Book preview

    Murphy's Laws of Songwriting (Revised 2013) - Ralph Murphy

    Murphy’s Laws of

    Songwriting written by

    Ralph Murphy

    Copyright © 2011/2012/2013 by Ralph Murphy

    Murphy Music Consulting, Inc.

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic, graphic, or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher and the author.

    Cover and page layout by Lynn Snyder for Nosy Rosy Designs. Front cover design by Kerry Murphy.

    This book is dedicated to all those who fight for the rights of songwriters and publishers to earn a living doing what they love doing.

    Ralph Murphy’s Laws are a new songwriter’s tough truths, and a master class for one who has been a ‘stand alone writer’ for a long, long time (and finds the truths just as tough as they ever were!) Ralph has taught countless grateful students (myself included) and still loves the art and the craft and the process, and now he has taken the time to write it down … lucky us!

    —Don SchlItz

    Grammy award-winning Songwiter Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame North Carolina Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame

    I’ve known Ralph Murphy forever and his knowledge on the passion, heart and soul of songwriting has been an inspiration to me. then when I started to hear him talk about his research and the ananlitical stance on the craft, science, formula and commercial viability of each song, I began telling him to write it down … do a book … called it ‘Murphy’s Laws’ or something cool like that. I wasn’t the only one asking him to do that either … Almost everyone who sat through one of his talks and frantically tried to write his words of wisdom down asked for the same. Finally it is done. this is the bible for everyone from beginners to seasoned writers. Read it, learn it and BURN it so no one else will learn the secrets! Seriously, get yourself one and pass on the news to all your fellow songwriters. thank you Ralph.

    —Randy Bachman

    The Guess Who Bachman Turner Overdrive

    As a professional songwriter for over 40 years, I have met many ‘experts’ eager to share their opinions and tips on ‘how to do it.’ Ralph Murphy has done the research, written the hits, and can communicate the kind of valuable information that can actually help writers succeed in this crazy business – it’s all in this book!

    —Pat Alger

    NSAI Songwriter of the year, 1991 ASCAP Songwriter of the year, 1992 Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame

    Ralph Murphy knows his stuff. he is one of the few advisers that even professional songwriters turn to. there are no shortcuts to success and Ralph lays out the path to success for songwriters clearly and thoughtfully. If you are serious about the songwriting craft, then this is a Must Read!

    —Bart Herbison

    Executive director Nashville Songwriters Association California Songwriters Association Texas Songwriters Association

    "Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting is the kind of book I wish I’d had access to when I began writing songs back in the ’60s. Anyone who is serious about a career in the business and craft of songwriting should have a copy of this essential book in his or her kit."

    —Roger Greenaway

    Obe Ivor Novello Award Winner Songwriter’s Hall of Fame

    You are holding an amazing collection of tools on how to reach your audience. If there was a hit songwriter’s secret handshake, Da Murphy would probably have included it. Ralph Murphy has devoted decades to the study of ‘song communication.’ what makes a hit? All the ingredients are here. Simply add authenticity and your own unique voice, and maybe … just maybe … you’ll join a very small club of hit songwriters. I hope so. the book is wonderful. Great stuff!

    —Paul Williams

    Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-Winning Songwriter Songwriter’S Hall of Fame

    Nobody has more information on what makes hits, and a better way of explaining it.

    —Roger Cook

    Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame New York Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Ivor Novello Award Winner

    If you’ve been seeking the holy grail of Songwriting, look no further. It’s in your hand! If the Songwriters hall of Fame could condense the wisdom of all their members into one book, this would be it!

    —Michael Laskow

    Founder & CEO Taxi, Independent A&R

    About the Author

    RALPH MURPHY, songwriter, has been successful for five decades. Consistently charting songs in an ever-changing musical environment makes him a member of that very small group of professionals who make a living doing what they love to do. Add to that the platinum records as a producer, the widely acclaimed Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting articles used as part of the curriculum at colleges, universities, and by songwriter organizations, his success as the publisher, head of, and co-owner of, the extremely successful Picalic group of Companies, and you see a pattern of achievement based on more than luck.

    Passion-driven, with a desire to know how, what, when where, and who, he is a formidable insider force. he is in worldwide demand as a lecturer on songwriting and has been a guest speaker at universities, at colleges, and for professional songwriter organizations around the globe. Murphy has served as president of the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy, has been a NARAS

    National trustee, and served as President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. In addition to serving as Vice President for the International and Domestic Membership group of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), he has also served on the Southern Regional writers Advisory Board of ASCAP, the Songwriters guild of America regional advisory board, and is a member of NSAI, NARAS, CMA, CCMA, SAC, SGA, and ASCAP. In 2012, Ralph was inducted into the Canadian Country Music hall of Fame.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    Ch . 1 What Brought Me to the Dance

    Ch . 2 Your Songs - Make Them Work For You And Pay You

    Ch . 3 The Songwriters Job

    Ch . 4 Know Your Audience

    Ch . 5 The Stand Alone Writer

    Ch . 6 Co-Writing

    Ch . 7 Singer/Songwriters

    Ch . 8 Craft

    Ch . 9 The Title and the Nut

    Ch . 10 More Craft: Detail

    Ch . 11 Yes, Even More Craft

    Ch . 12 The Mighty Pronoun

    Ch . 13 Introduction to the Six Form

    Ch . 14 Quick Recap

    Ch . 15 Watch Out For Landmines

    Ch . 16 Write a Hit! Get It Out There!

    Ch . 17 The Murphy Song Checklist

    Ch . 18 Brief Overview of Copyright

    Ch . 19 Making the Most of Your Songwriting Seminar

    Ch . 20 Looking Back on What’s to Come

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction

    A Lot oF PeoPLe make the assumption that once they cross the line from amateur to professional in whatever their chosen field may be, that there is nothing more for them to learn. they just go about performing their role based on skills they have already acquired, but learning should never stop.

    Just read the back flap of any major novel to see how grateful the writer is to his or her editor. Just watch the post-game show from any major golf tournament, and you will hear the winner compliment the pro who changed his swing, his putting or his chipping. well, just like any other pro, my role is to tweak a songwriter’s approach to his or her craft so that they can produce songs personalized with their own stamp that will resonate with the marketplace.

    Unfortunately, most writers only see their songs from the inside out. Fortunately for them, I am seeing their songs from the outside in. once I start pointing out the weaknesses in their work, they invariably see them and respond by making the work more accessible to the listener.

    Strangely enough, this is a function I can’t perform for myself. I have to seek out my own pros. I’m deeply grateful to them all. this book represents a voyage of discovery. As a child, watching the joy/solace/comfort/pure pleasure people took in singing songs, I wanted to be the creator/provider of those songs. I wanted to write the words and music that became their song. I wanted to hear those songs sung in clubs, on the street, in the car, and in grocery stores. I wanted people dancing, falling in love, falling out of love, skating, or doing dishes to them. In other words, I wanted hits. Not just hits but big hits … hits that would last.

    Riding a wave of rare good fortune, my search – early on – led me to great and patient older hit writers who were willing to share the insights of their professional voyage of discovery with the insanely dysfunctional teen writer that I was. I am forever thankful to them. this book is the result of absorbing all the craft and insight given, applying it over time, successfully to multiple genres, and observing patterns that fulfill listener expectations when applied to those genres. In other words, consumers of music want what they want, like what they like and, as the creators of that music, we are writing for them. In these pages are keys to doors. As you unlock them and walk through, remember, write smart, but write with your heart, and pitch smarter. you are entering the Music Business. welcome home!

    CHAPTER 1

    What Brought Me to the Dance

    Uncle Art: Think Like the Fish

    My uncle art had a passion for fishing. he knew how fast the fish that he wanted to catch swam; what it ate at any given time of day, month or year; when it mated and where it did it, and if candles and wine were involved. he knew every idiosyncratic detail about the fish themselves and understood millions of

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