Guest Columnists
Getting Started With Writing Lyrics
The basis of all lyric writing - you may know one or two of these, but even then you need to practice the third one.
Three Myths That Have Been Keeping Musicians From Reaching Their Potential
Tommaso argues these myths are designed to keep your playing stagnant.
Four Reasons Why Music Theory Is The Key To Learning Guitar
It isn't difficult to learn to study theory the correct way. It can actually be easier and more fun than you expect.
Why Not All Music Theory Is Equal, And How To Spot A Hack
Music theory isn;t learning how to write down different notes, or practicing and reciting scales on a guitar. It's about experiencing the way notes interact and the effect they have on the listener.
Working With Odd Meters
Without a strong sense of melody and phrasing your music will never have that magical sense of wonder.
Behind Scott Allen Project's "III"
A guided tour of the 2015 album by the Scott Allen Project.
Creating Killer Sounding, Unplugged Acoustic Guitar Songs
Awesome tools, tricks and techniques that you can use again and again to create your own killer sounding, unplugged acoustic guitar song.
Eight Ways To Find Your Inspiration
UK guitarist Sam Russell shares his personal methods on finding the inspiration to be creative musically and lyrically.
How To Write Emotional Songs Without Hurting Yourself
Stay alive. Stay sane. Stay healthy. There are methods to achieving compositional greatness that do not involved personal pain.
How To Write Great Melodies On Guitar
Without a strong sense of melody and phrasing your music will never have that magical sense of wonder.
Sophisticated Simple Music
Simple music is about balance. It is about taking 1 to 2 musical ideas, weaving them together and manipulating the musical elements just right.
Use Your Favorite Singer's Voice To Write Guitar Solos
You're going to like having the ability to write guitar solos that are highly melodic, expressive, and passionate.
Composing Without Your Guitar, Part 2
Mike Campese is back with additional ideas on how to compose - anytime, anywhere.
Writing Songs While Eliminating Songwriting Mistakes
There are four mistakes that you can fix that will drastically increase your musical creativity and help you come up with songwriting ideas much faster.
How To Compose Original Phrases On The Pentatonic Scale
You might think that the pentatonic scale is just an easy scale but with no depth - well, you are wrong.
Composing Without Your Guitar, Part 1
Mike Campese is back with ideas on how to compose - anytime, anywhere.
Become A Highly Expressive Songwriter With This Crucial Musical Element
It does not necessarily have to take you a very long time to gain the skills needed to accurately express yourself through music.
Start Writing Better Songs By Learning To Use Unity And Variety
Unity and variety in songwriting are essential to keeping a song balanced and maintaining interest throughout the entire piece of music.
Write Better Songs On Guitar By Avoiding These 3 Songwriting Errors
Most guitar players have a tendency to use a single (often limiting) approach to songwriting that holds them back from achieving the results they want.
Theory For The Weary
Connect with our audience; stirring up emotions while avoiding negative emotions.
Confused by Modes?
Shedding light on modes for those of you that are reaching out for new ideas to add to your musical armoury.
Competitive Composition
When you find a group of musicians that you write, perform and hang with and can trust, well you may have won a lottery in life.
Songwriting Tips From Singe
Here are nine songwriting tips you can use right away, regardless of your current level of technique.
Craft, Creativity And Customization
Kole teaches three essential and very effective concepts for making music.
Songwriting Tips
Is the ability to write songs a gift, or can it be learned? Lou Lombardi has the answer.
5 Priceless Composition Tips for the Young Composer
No matter your level, these five tips will greatly improve your compositional ability.
Adding Color to Your Music (Replacing 1 With 9)
Adding color to the bland, unifying lyrics, and other compositional techniques.
The Minor 2nd
The often misunderstood and underappreciated interval - the minor second.
Vivaldi On Electric Guitar
Kevin Ferguson offers guiding principles used to transcribe and arrange Vivaldi (and other Baroque) violin concertos to electric guitars.
Getting Into The Flow: Opening Yourself To The Muse
Kole goes beyond rut-busting, with tips on how to surpass all ruts.
3 Ways To Get Out Of A Songwriting Rut
Kole supplies you, the songwriter/composer with three tools that will help you kick writer's block 'night in the ruts'.
Horizontal And Vertical Thinking, Part 1
An introduction to the most familiar way of analyzing and composing music for many of us.
The Importance of Musical Exploration
You can get so much from exposure to unfamiliar music styles.
The Theory Of Appreciative Comparison
A theory borrowed from psychology but adapted by the author to the musical realm.
Songwriting, Part 4
Tom Hess with his fourth installment on songwriting, with more advanced, yet simple and overlooked concepts.
Songwriting, Part 3
Tom Hess with his third installment on ideas on selecting and using a compositional process that works best for you.