Whether you have been playing guitar for 30 days or 30 years you will, at some point, more than likely be struck by the urge to write your own songs.
I have often said in my guitar lessons courses that the real goal of any musician is to transcend from "thinking" about playing to "not thinking" about playing. To move from re-creating to creating.
Turn on Your "Radar"
Where do song ideas come from? The answer is everywhere! They are all around us. Ideas can spring from anywhere.
The key to finding these ideas is to "turn on your radar" and always be on the lookout for them. When you are of the mindset that a song idea can come up, no matter where you are, or what you are doing, it is amazing the number of inspired moments you will have throughout the day.
Read more: How to Find Song Ideas For the Guitar Player
I recently bought a case of my favorite guitar strings for my PRS, my main gigging guitar, and put a fresh set on before a show.
Halfway into the third set I broke my "B" string, which is highly unusual. I have used this same brand and gauge of strings on this particular guitar for many years, so I am normally pretty confident that I can get at least a couple of gigs out of a set before changing them.
Previously we have discussed various ways to come up with song ideas by simply becoming more "in-tuned" to the world around us.
The next step in that process is to make a record of those ideas as they hit. I can promise you that when a great idea hits, although it might be clear in your mind at that moment, as you progress through the typical meanderings of the day - that "great" idea will be forever gone.
Read more: Songwriting Tips For the Guitarist - Start a "Hook Book"
"I've got blisters on my fingers..."
Allegedly Ringo Starr uttered these words as he tossed his drum sticks across the studio after numerous takes of the Beatles song "Helter Skelter". Reportedly there is a dispute as to whether it was actually Ringo who said those words on the recording, or if it was John Lennon. One of the arguments is that Ringo, a drummer, was not as likely to develop blisters "on his fingers" as Lennon, a guitar player.
If you are just starting out on guitar, maybe just beginning guitar lessons or even shopping for your first guitar - you are soon to discover the results of pressing virgin flesh to metal...Ouch!
Read more: Got Blisters? The Painful Side of Learning Guitar
