Music Composition & Songwriting

*Guest Teacher Series - Tom Hess*
Songwriting - Part 1 - Guitarist Tom Hess gives some important tools to help with songwriting.

Songwriting - Part 2 - Guitarist Tom Hess continues his series on songwriting by discussing the process of writing a melody first vs. writing the chords first.

*Guest Teacher Series - Randy Ellefson*
Writing Guitar Licks - Guitarist Randy Ellefson breaks down how to write hot guitar licks into several easy steps.

*Guest Teacher Series - Randy Ellefson*
Structural Chord Progressions - Learn how to create more tension and resolution in your songs by using progressions not just within sections, but across them. A free jam track is included.

*Guest Teacher Series - Randy Ellefson*
Interval Riff Basics - Chords aren't your only option when playing and composing for rhythm guitar. This article is the first in a series designed to introduce richer sounds to your music, including the use of counterpoint.

*Guest Teacher Series - Randy Ellefson*
Interval Riff Ornamentation - This follow up to "Interval Riff Basics" continues with ornamenting thirds and fifths to create melody and cooler guitar riffs. Many examples, chord charts, and mp3s are included.

*Guest Teacher Series - Kole*
The Art of Pre-Composition: Part 1 - Guitarist Kole teaches a technique that involves charting specific details of what you want to express in a composition before actual writing begins.

*Guest Teacher Series - Kole*
The Art of Pre-Composition: Part 2 - Guitarist Kole continues his series on Pre-Composition on the guitar.

*Guest Teacher Series - Kole*
Horizontal and Vertical Thinking - Part 1 - Guitarist Kole explains the concept of vertical thinking in composing music.

*Guest Teacher Series - Kole*
3 Ways to get out of a Songwriting Rut! - Guitarist Kole gives some tips on how to spark your songwriting creativity.

*Guest Teacher Series - Mike Philippov*
Voice Leading Tips for Writing Better Progressions: Part 1 - Guitarist Mike Philippov shows how your can improve the chord progressions that you write on the guitar.

Recording

*Guest Teacher Series - By Chris Standring*
The Challenges Of Recording Solo Acoustic Guitar - Recording solo acoustic guitar in its exposed isolated form can present some technical issues for sure. This article by guitarist Chris Standring looks at this challenging procedure and shows you things to watch out for.