Books by Dick Weissman

Blues: The Basics gives a brief introduction to a century of the blues; it is ideal for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this treasured American artform. The book is organized chronologically, focusing on the major eras in blues's growth and development. It opens with a chapter defining the blues form and detailing the major genres within it. Next, the author gives the beginning blues fan points on how to listen to and truly enjoy the music. The heart of the book traces blues's growth from its folk origins through early recordings of city blues singers like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith and country blues stars like Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Finally, the author gives an overview of the blues scene today. The book concludes with lists of key recordings, books, and videos.
Blues: The Basics serves as an excellent introduction to the players, the music, and the styles that make blues an enduring and well-loved musical style.

The ABCs of music-making, from love ballads to protest songs, film scores to commercial jingles. Weissman teaches aspiring songwriters how to marry music to lyrics, orchestrate songs, put together demo tapes and much more.

For many beginning-to-intermediate level guitarists, guitar tunings are a mystery. Everyone begins with "standard" tuning and knows its basic strengths - and limitations. But, once a guitarist gets beyond basic skills, the desire to play in different styles and achieve individual sounds leads inevitably to exploring alternate tunings.

Guitar Tunings: A Comprehensive Guide is the first book to offer practical advice for how to use the most common special tunings for the greatest creative and musical effect. Illustrated throughout with examples in standard notation and guitar tablature, the author introduces different musical styles through the use of appropriate tunings. Including an audio CD, this book gives clear and concise instruction for the guitarist who has mastered basic skills but wants to go beyond them. It will appeal to guitar students of all ages, and can be used for individual self-instruction or in one-on-one or group teaching situations.

In short, Guitar Tunings:

You can survive happily as a musician in your own local music market! The newly revised and expanded edition of this book will show you how. It includes detailed analysis of the latest regional music scenes that have developed; an extensive new section (written by Ron Sobel - vice president of ASCAP in Los Angeles) on opportunities for musicians and composers in developing and selling music in new mediums including the Internet, Greenhouse Channels, Theme Parks, and Desk Top Films; info on how music distribution and retailing is changing the meet the challenges of the 21st century; and many more essential tips. Also features a new appendix and a helpful Resources section after each chapter.

A comprehensive guide to getting started and succeeding in all facets of the music industry, from songwriting to performing to studio engineering and instrument manufacturing and repair, The Music Business is an indispensable reference for anyone in the music business--or anyone who hopes to be.

The Music Business provides advice on careers in all areas of the music business and offers information on how to get started and move along in all facets of the industry. The book explains how record companies operate, the functions of agents and personal managers, the field of commercials, the roles of performing and studio musicians. It also covers music publishing, contracts, record production, unions, radio, music video, and cable television. This new, revised edition contains information about current computer programs, the Internet, music journalism, individual entrepreneurship, DATs, and an extensive discussion of current provisions of recording company contracts. The bibliography of books on music and the music business and the list of music industry organizations have been updated and expanded. Dick Weissman explores career opportunities in today's music world. While the emphasis is on popular music, the author deals with careers in all areas, discussing the many stepping stones, the inevitable roadblocks, and the numerous opportunities that are available in the industry.