The Music Producer's Reading List: 3 Game-Changing Books
I've seen two types of talented artists in my career: those who soar and those who stall. What's the difference? Often, it comes down to their willingness to learn and collaborate.
I once knew an incredible singer who couldn't write good songs. Despite their amazing voice, their career stalled because they tried to do everything alone. On the flip side, I know a gifted singer-songwriter who struggled with production. Once they started collaborating with a dedicated producer, everything changed – they're now shopping deals with major labels.
Today, I'm sharing three game-changing books that taught me these lessons the easy way (so you don't have to learn them the hard way).
1. Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison
When John Mayer, Gillian Welch, and Joelle James credits someone as their songwriting teacher, you pay attention.
Pat Pattison, a Berklee College of Music professor, has developed techniques that transform good writers into great ones. It is considered an essential guide for great songwriting and it includes concepts for beginner to advanced levels.
At its core, Pattison teaches how to write lyrics that resonate with diverse audiences - a crucial skill for expanding your reach and success. His signature 'object writing' method isn't just another writing exercise – it's a proven approach to creating lyrics that forge deep connections with listeners.
2. Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory by John Seabrook
Seabrook reveals an industry truth that transforms how we think about hit-making: extreme specialization in songwriting.
Through interviews with legendary hitmakers like Max Martin, Ester Dean, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, and Stargate, he uncovers how modern hits are crafted by strategic partnerships - from chorus specialists to bridge writers, each bringing their unique expertise.
This isn't just casual collaboration; it's a sophisticated system that's generated countless chart-toppers.
3. Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone
Another Berklee master, Perricone has studied hundreds of hit songs to decode what makes them work.
Lessons in this book cover melody, harmony, rhythm, lyric writing and form. The book also includes 100s of examples from well known songs from artist such as Ed Sheeran, Prince, and Bruno Mars.
This book is nothing short of an in-depth instruction manual for writing great songs. Both newbies and die-hard songwriting nerds will be delighted by the wealth of concepts and practical exercises for internalizing those techniques which will no doubt lead to some great songs..." - Blue, songwriter and producer for Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez
Two immediate takeaways you can use today:
For memorable melodies: Focus on the interplay of repetition, rhythm, intervals, and phrase placement
For song idea generators: Start with chord progressions and their rhythmic groove – this focus will naturally generate melodic ideas that standard long note (static rhythm) chord progression would not spark. Experiment with different subdivisions for complexity.
The Real-World Impact
These books completely shifted my approach to music creation.
Pattison's object writing exercises boosted my lyrical depth in weeks. Seabrook's insights led me to embrace collaboration, resulting in my best work yet. Perricone's technical breakdowns gave me clear targets for improvement, from harmonic rhythm to writing riffs.
🎯Challenge for the Week
Ready to level up your songwriting? This week's challenge is simple but powerful:
Watch two object writing tutorial videos (links provided below).
Practice object writing for 10 minutes each morning.
Notice how your descriptive abilities and emotional depth improve.
🧠 Quote of the week
"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it." - Pablo Picasso
📚 Book and Video Links
Note: The book links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I'll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Writing better lyrics by Pat Pattison
Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory by John Seabrook
Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone
Object Writing Explanations
Object Writing explanation 1
Object Writing explanation 2
Enjoy your week,
Melvin Darrell
