Hey all

This blog has been running in neutral for the past couple weeks, mainly because I wanted to really figure out what kinds of things that I want to talk about here. On one hand, I’ve been trying to inspire creativity in songwriting, but on the other hand, I’ve been trying (probably too hard) to write posts with the idea that 100% of what I write has to appeal to 100% of the musicians reading the blog.

I think I’ve come to the conclusion that that just can’t happen. Too many of us have too many different talents and different interests. So instead I’m going to write the posts trying to appeal to as many people as I can, but I’m going to realize if I do write some posts that specialize in a certain aspect of music every now and then, it’s not that big of a deal!

So, today I’m going to talk about guitar playing a bit.

This topic will come the easiest to me, because I’m a guitar player first when it comes to music. I like writing lyrics, I like playing the piano, drums, bass, and whatever else I can get my hands on, but guitar will always be my musical true love.

So for you guitarists out there, I’m going to give you a tip.

Around a year ago or so I found myself feeling that my songwriting, riff writing, and playing in general were getting a big stale. After playing guitar for 13 or so years by that point, I really felt like I was struggling to create songs that were new or inventive in any way.

I actually feel like I got over that hump by looking into alternate tunings and open tunings. I sat down in front of YouTube one day and just started searching for phrases like “alternate guitar tunings” “Open guitar tunings”.

I actually found some really interesting ones!

I thought about posting a YouTube video on that topic, but instead I think it’d be more beneficial for you readers to go search for your own… I don’t think you have to get inspired in the exact same way that I did. Find a creative avenue that interests you when it comes to guitar playing, and explore it on your own.

So instead of posting a specific video for you, I’ll just get you started on some YouTube searches:

Click here for a YouTube search for “Guitar Open Tuning”

Click here for a YouTube search for “Alternate Guitar Tunings”

Or maybe you want to search for a specific tuning, like:

Click here for a YouTube search for “Open G Guitar Lesson”

Click here for a YouTube search for “Open D minor tuning”

Finally, here’s a list of some more alternate guitar tunings you may want to look into

Wikipedia list of guitar tunings

This is definitely a topic I’ll come back to. I don’t want to turn this into a “guitar-only” blog, so I’ll probably limit how many guitar posts I make during the week, but if you enjoy exploring the creative aspects of guitar, please let me know.

Song Title Ideas

Hello

Here are some more song title ideas. Try not to look at them so literally. Read the idea, and if nothing usable jumps out at you, try to twist it around and look at it from different angles. Keep in mind I’m trying to inspire some creative thought, rather than just trying to give you some free song titles.

-Inside Rejection

-His Conscience Brings Confusion

-The Sweet Maturity

-Rolling Explanation

-My Imprisoned Truth

Click here to see previous song title ideas

Hey there!

Here are some more song title ideas. Try not to look at them so literally. Read the idea, and if nothing usable jumps out at you, try to twist it around and look at it from different angles. Keep in mind I’m trying to inspire some creative thought, rather than just trying to give you some free song titles.

Since the Super Bowl is this weekend, I’m going to give you some Super Bowl song titles.  Of course you could take these ideas and apply them to your own big day or special occasion.

-Super Bowl Irritation

-Super Bowl Apathy

-Indianapolis Hope

-His New Orleans Story

-The Big Game

Click here to see previous song title ideas

Hey all

Here are some more songwriting topic ideas for you.

Try not to look at them literally (unless of course the literal meaning inspires you!) Twist the meaning of the words… see what you can come up with!

-String these random words into a usable topic.  (Try to think outside the box)   – Vivaciously, Importance, Epic, Virginia, and Ignoring

-What is a typical Sunday like for you in August?

-Find out what holiday falls on November 3 and write a song for it

-Write about your growth as a person.

-Write a song about feeling fat

Click here to see the previous Song Topic Ideas

Hello

Here are some more song title ideas. Try not to look at them so literally. Read the idea, and if nothing usable jumps out at you, try to twist it around and look at it from different angles. Keep in mind I’m trying to inspire some creative thought, rather than just trying to give you some free song titles.

-Her Inner Rockstar

-Sorrow Plays The Violin

-Will Power In The Key Of A Major

-I Am Tough

-Tenderly Obtaining Your Perfection

Click here to see previous song title ideas

Hey all

Here are some more songwriting topic ideas for you.

Try not to look at them literally (unless of course the literal meaning inspires you!) Twist the meaning of the words… see what you can come up with!

-Write a song about a great day

-Write about the world turning evil

-Try to pick out an extra from the movie Full Metal Jacket, create a backstory, and write a song about that character

-Write about wanting to start over in life

-Write about something that makes you unique

Click here to see the previous Song Topic Ideas

Hello

Here are some more song title ideas. Try not to look at them so literally. Read the idea, and if nothing usable jumps out at you, try to twist it around and look at it from different angles. Keep in mind I’m trying to inspire some creative thought, rather than just trying to give you some free song titles.

-Outside This Boy

-Under The Sky

-Terror In Long Island

-He Who Analyzes

-I Long To Be In Boise

Click here to see previous song title ideas

Hello

Here are some more song title ideas. Try not to look at them so literally. Read the idea, and if nothing usable jumps out at you, try to twist it around and look at it from different angles. Keep in mind I’m trying to inspire some creative thought, rather than just trying to give you some free song titles.

-Inside Shyness

-Steering Lisa

-Chasing After Lonliness

-My Impression

-Retiring Deep Within

Click here to see previous song title ideas

Uh… check this out…

Very interesting.

When I see things like this, I don’t see it as a “replacement” for a guitar… I don’t think the guitar will ever go away.  Instead I see it as an innovative new instrument that most guitar players will be able to pick up and make use of.  Obviously if there are no real strings, it should be possible to change the types of sounds that are coming out of this thing.

This is the only video I’ve seen on it, but my mind can already see lots of different possibilities.

For more info you can go to the creator’s website:  Click Here

Hey all

Here are some more songwriting topic ideas for you.

Try not to look at them literally (unless of course the literal meaning inspires you!) Twist the meaning of the words… see what you can come up with!

-Write about an important meeting between two wizards

-Write a song about getting to spend the entire day with Peyton Manning

-Find out what big events happened on January 10.  Pick one that sounds interesting, read about it on wikipedia, and write a song based on the facts

-Try to write a Cuban love song

-Do a random word association with the following words, then try to take all of those associations and combine them into a single topic.  Here are your words:    Russet – Will Power – Wyoming – Ultra Fat

Click here to see the previous Song Topic Ideas