Home Artists Posts Import Register

Content

New here? Visit my Where To Start page.

Scroll down to the bottom for more helpful links.

Hi Everyone,

It's going to be a busy but fun season here! Taylor and I are nearly packed for our journey back to the Pacific Northwest. I've got a new, spacious studio waiting for me to set up my camera guitar and main desk, plus room to experiment with a lot of other camera angles and situations. I have plans to build a top down camera set for pedalboard assembly and simple guitar setups. I also plan to set up a little interview area to chat with musician friends about writing music, gigging, gear, and whatnot. I've got some other ideas too, but those are the exciting ones! Anyhow, I still have lessons to post while going through this big transition, and I'll give you updates on the studio progress as I set it up!

Community Challenge - Write something with a big transition!

For every community challenge, all you have to do is write a chord progression or melody - something simple that takes you ten seconds or less to play. If you want to write more (a whole song with guitar, bass drums, etc) you're more than welcome, but you only need to write a little blurb - the equivalent of a napkin sketch. Sloppy is OK! This isn't about perfection or performing, but about finding creative and fun ways to push yourself.

Sometimes my community challenges are very specific, sometimes they are a little more etherial. This one is open to interpretation.

Here are a couple ways to approach this challenge: 

1. You could think of it as a position transition. For example, this could be a jump from the 3rd fret to the 12th fret in either your melody or chord progression. For example, if you're playing a D Shape D Chord down in open position, you could write a progression where you zoom that shape up to frets 7&8 for that G chord. To be more general, write something that takes you up and down the fingerboard.

2. If you like writing lyrics, write about a big transition in your life.

3. If you want to be more etherial, think of the big transition as a transition from one section of a song to another section. Maybe the first section is playing low low bass notes, the chord progression is also using low voicings, and the melody is using lower notes. The second section could be an explosion into a higher register for each instrument, creating the effect of "woah that was a big transition from one section into the next."

Remember, keep it simple. Good music does not equal difficult music.

Post what you write to the community forum and don't forget to explain which approach you chose and how you went about it.

Check out the Lesson Archive for more Community Challenges

Other helpful links:

Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan

Searchable Lesson Archive

How to Join the Community Forum

Scott's Jam Tracks

Scott's Main YouTube Channel