About
“Every artist needs at least one Muse (acknowledged or not). For songwriters, there is no better Muse than the instrument at hand. Treat your instrument like a lover. Hold it close. Understand how it works; what makes it sing. Care for it. Listen to what it's telling you. Then reap the rewards of passion-fired inspiration that will surely follow. ”
David Rossiter
Reach out to me to schedule a free 10-minute call to talk about your goals and interests.
Many songwriters starting out today are working at a significant disadvantage because their guitar-playing knowledge and abilities lag behind their songwriting skills and ambitions. Over time, this can result in many of your songs sounding more or less the same. Now, if you're a master lyricist like John Prine, as one stellar example, this deficit can be overcome through sheer brilliance. For the rest of us mortals, possessing a solid, theory-based understanding of the guitar is really helpful for writing songs that are inspired, original, unique, and memorable.
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Here are just some of the topics we can cover that will have a huge impact on the sophistication of your songwriting and how it's received by audiences.
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The CAGED + 5 chords and how they relate
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Which chords work in which keys
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Crafting original progressions
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Establishing the song's vibe
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Strumming patterns
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Alternating bass parts
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Hybrid picking
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Chord inversions
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Neglected chords (e.g. the Diminished 7 chord) and how to use them
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Transitional chords (walking up and down; passing notes)
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Discovering your unique style, approach and guitar sound
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Chord embellishments
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Using rhythmic syncopation
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Rates:
$35 for one 30-minute lesson
$55 for one 45-minute lesson
$70 for one 60-minute lesson
$200 for a 4-lesson package of 45-minute lessons (paid in advance)
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Book a lesson today to turn your guitar into a powerful songwriting engine.
