3 Foolproof Ways To Rid Writer's Block

It's a menacing phenomenon that slams us all to the depths of heck. Writer's block can happen to some occasionally, but for others it can last for weeks. Here's some tips to help bring your mind back into a creative state.

1. The good ol' dictionary- One of the most common and old ways of coming up with some inspiration. All you need is a dictionary, or a dictionary site. One of my favorite things to do using this method is to find an uncommon word. Make sure you know how to pronounce it correctly, and put it to use. Find some adjectives, and some verbs. Mix and match them until you find something that you feel is going to be catchy, effective, and easy to remember.

2. Challenge Yourself- A method I use a lot is to go to a random quote site. Go to the third quote (no matter what it is) and build your song around it. I'll do an example*:

*I didn't write a whole song, but you'll get the idea.

I logged onto this quote site, the third quote was "What you've got is what someone else prays for."

This is what I came up with:

What You've Got

You told me you are fed up, you
Can't go on like this
struggling to hold your tears in
It's yesterday you miss
I spoke to your inner soul and
Told you I was sure
You're going to prevail
Don't worry anymore

What you've got is a little hope, and
What you've got is a some patience left
Keep being strong, just don't be unaware. just
Keep holding on, I will stay right there

So there you have it. At least you have a start.

3. "Ghost Lyrics"- There is a proper name for the technique, but I haven't been able to find any information about it online. My music teacher taught me this technique when I was a child.

Find a song that you really like, and was also a big hit. With the lyrics in front of you, begin writing yours based on theirs. How? Don't copy their lyrics, add to them. Add as many lyrics to the song as you would a brand new song. For example, let's say you are finishing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. Here's the original lyrics:

Crazy
Crazy for feeling so lonely
Im crazy
Crazy for feeling so blue

I knew
Youd love me as long as you wanted
And then someday
Youd leave me for somebody new

Worry
Why do I let myself worry
Wondrin
What in the world did I do

Crazy
For thinking that my love could hold you
Im crazy for tryin
Crazy for cryin
And Im crazy
For lovin you

Now, notice that the song is about her obviously feeling very bad about a break up. She regrets wasting her time on some jerk. Let's add on to how the story might have ended. (Very off-the-wall, but this is just another example :-D )

Maybe
Maybe you're feeling so shameful
Just maybe
Maybe you're crying now too

I thought
You wouldn't find some other woman
And then you'd
Rip out my heart strings too

Anger
Why are you getting so angry?
Thinkin'
Did I really find someone new?

Maybe
You're thinking that her your face won't help you
And maybe your hurting
Maybe she's blurting
And maybe
You're missing me too

I have replaced each stanza with my own, but have used the same idea and structure. It's more of a lyrics hack. One thing you must do though, is make the music as different as possible from the song you used to ghost write. Notice how each paragraph has it's own color, both in the song and the ghost written song. The colors correspond to each matching stanza. The idea is to use the song as a backboard.

But as always, be original! (Don't be lazy like I was in the example :) )! As always, thanks for reading!

Making Songwriting Easier

After some time, I have learned different approaches to speed up my songwriting abilities. A few of them are common, a few of them aren't. This is how I approach every song I write. (Some will soon be posted!)


Listen to a lot of music- I don't mean sing along while you are doing something else. I mean sit down, relax, and put headphones on if possible. Choose a genre of music that best matches the song you want to write. Listen closely to the chord changes, rhythm, instruments. Get to know the real science behind the song. Dig deeper into the backbone of it all. After time, you will have more sensitivity to music and a better understanding.

Once you get familiar with it all, THEN you begin writing. If you play an instrument, try playing along. Even if you can't do it right for the first few times, you will catch on eventually. That is one way of training your ears. Take notes about things that stand out in the songs you like. Is it a big drum solo? If so, try writing something similar to it. Just remember, stay yourself!

Learn Your Scales- This one is crucial. Songs will not make any sense, and they would sound awful if there were no scales. Some songs use the same key through the whole song, but some have a few changes. Finding progressions is very easy once you have learned scales.

Remember, a song will always be in tune if you play the chords of the scales. Lets say you are in the key of C, and you want to change chords. You can use:

C Major

E Minor

A Minor

D Minor

G Major

If you don't know how to play an instrument, learn- I was lucky enough to have piano and violin lessons until I was 17. I was able to pick up a guitar easier than I would if I didn't know anything about instruments. If you have an idea in your head for a song, it's great to just pick up (or sit at) your instrument and make a tune. I imagine it must be much harder for folks who haven't had music experience.

Letting The Song Write Itself- Having a bad day? Having a good day? Something on your mind? Write about it when you get an idea. Let the song write itself. Don't procrastinate and say that you will remember the song. We've all done it, later to forget everything. Write it down as soon as possible. It's usually harder to sit down and come up with a song idea that really has nothing to do with your life. If you are writing something (let's say a child's song called C-A-T) imagine yourself in the listener's shoes (which would be a child). Would the music bore the child? Will it get the child's attention? Always focus on the listener's needs.

More Coming!

The Perfect Girl Guitar!

Daisy Rock Guitars

I am very impressed with my new guitar. A few days ago, I decided to visit my local Guitar Center. I wasn't even planning on buying a guitar (I just bought a used one not too long before.) But the little pink guitar screamed my name as I walked past.

My mother was nearby and I started jumping around, just like a 6 year old. I thought "that guitar must be extremely expensive!" Just to be on the safe side, I finally asked the salesman. It was only $200.00! It came with:

• Electronic Tuner
• Carrying Case Strap
• 3 Picks
• Song Book
• CD/PC CD
• Extra Set Of Strings

The man explained that Daisy Rock guitars are made specifically for women. They have a slightly smaller fretboard for small hands. I picked it up before making up my mind. I could play a Bm with no sweat, unlike my other guitar. Let's face it ladies- I think most guitar companies pretty much expect men to buy their guitars. Daisy Rock is truly a blessing.

I am not out to pick on other guitar companies though, because it is possible to find a smaller guitar. Thing is- once you find a guitar that fits you, your selections will be very limited. And who could resist a Candy Apple pink guitar (Plus many other cute, unique colors and shapes)? Plus, it's lightweight and much easier to handle. They are great for a first time guitar, as well as a professional musician. The sound is great, along with everything else about it. I have no complaints.

In conclusion, I am very pleased with my guitar. Before, I had problems with certain chords. I felt as if I just wasn't holding the guitar right, or somehow I was doing the chord wrong. But now I realized that my fingers were just too short to properly reach the notes. My playing has improved so much just in the few days that I have had my Daisy.

So now you say you want one? (Or you want to get your lady friend one?!?) Cool. Check out the Daisy Rock FAQ's. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!

Internet Musicians That ROCK!

Just for fun, I thought I'd find some good videos with even better musicians. I was pleasantly surprised to find the following. Sit back, relax, and watch these people rock out!


Four Hands Guitar
*Popular!* These two guys play some blues- but on only one guitar!

Amazing Kid


This little guy will make it far in this world. Keep it up, kid.

Superb Pianist/Singer


This guy has loads of talent! He really knows how to jam.

Amazing Little Girl




This little girl is one big spark of amazing energy. Her parents should be proud!

Young Man With Great Vocals


Why isn't he famous? All I can say- Dang.

And just for laughs- People singing in the drive thru. It takes nerve and talent to do this.


From one musician to all of you out there: Great work. All of these videos deserve a bigger spotlight than my blog! Thanks for reading.

Writing Your First Song Part I

Yes, YOU can do it!

With so many people writing in so many genres, choosing your genre and style can be difficult. Here's my ways of coping and managing the many steps in writing a song.

Planning- As you know, most songs have lyrics and a story line. It's up to you to write a story line, and put it to your own music. Most people like to start out with lyrics before writing the notes to go with them. If you don't, you will probably end up taking much longer (unless you've had plenty of experience.)

Every song must follow a specific song structure. If your song doesn't have structure, the listener will easily become distracted. All songs usually have a repeating line or chorus which draws the listener in. Sounds hard doesn't it? Well my friend, it isn't. Once you read and follow the steps, you will be making songs left and right.

Dealing With Writers Block- Life in general follows the concept I am going to use. Everything happens for a reason. Good or bad, you must deal with it. So what's the reason you can't think of anything to write? You need inspiration.

Ask yourself: "What is on my mind right now?" Even if it's something simple like "I want a Hot Pocket." Go for it. You could write about feeling hungry. You could go on to write something that explains "I am glad I have food, so greatful I don't starve like others." Think outside the box and let your mind go.

If you are bold, or you just want a clean idea, try something I like to call "letting the words mind your muse." Go to a website such as this one. Find yourself a nice quote, and build from it. For example, let's say you use the quote "Every rose has it's thorn." Sure it's cliche, and I'm not telling you to use it. But if you did, ask yourself some things. "What kind of things in my life can I compare to that?" For instance: Your new music teacher is a tad crazy, kind of pushy, but he or she is the best teacher you've ever had.Voila! There's your story line.

Finding The Right Key For Your Song: My suggestion is to start your FIRST few songs in the key of G Major. It tends to be the easier for beginners. Many, many songs are written in G Major. It's always easier to know the progressions as well. Check out this site.

Choosing A Genre: What kind of music touches you the most? Nearly everyone has their own favorite genre they can fit right into. What kind of songs are you most "in love" with? What kind of songs do you see yourself playing in the future? For me, it is classic rock. I have adopted the style, along with some blues into my songs. Many artists have used more than one genre, but they mainly stick to the same one (or same variations). Once you get your fans (if you don't already) they will most likely be disappointed if you changed your music style just out of the blue. Find one that fits you, that you feel great being a part of. This way, you can start making more important decisions regarding your musical career.

Keep tuned in for part II!

Learning The Guitar and SURVIVING

Remember when you were a child and you wanted to take off your training wheels? The first few times you tried to ride your bike without them, you probably fell. When you fell, you probably got hurt and maybe even cried. The tears and pain didn't hold you back from learning though, you prevailed.

Same goes with learning the guitar. It's just a little more complex. Once you learn the basics, you keep on learning. You never stop learning. You get sick of learning. You feel the urge to learn more. It's a complicated scenario, but it all adds up to the big ticket. Once you feel comfortable with your skill level, you may feel like moving up to a faster song. Just as a child grows, he or she may feel like moving from a bicycle to a motorcycle. The challenge is hard, long, and takes a lot of patience. But as you learn, you WILL have fun along your way (unless you are being forced along the way.) Which leads me into my tips. All of the following will most likely happen to you while learning the guitar. Honestly, they still happen to me. I've just taught myself how to deal with them.

#1. Sore Fingers- Sore may not even describe the pain for some of us. Let's face it- if you haven't picked up a guitar and played a chord, look into it before you decide to take it on. The good thing is, it isn't going to be painful forever. In order for the pain to subside, you must develop calluses. Don't worry ladies, they aren't as noticeable and weird as you might think. To get your hand (or hands if you play with your fingers) ready for the guitar, make sure you start out with healthy hands. Any sores on your fingers or pain elsewhere can dramatically effect your playing. Unless of course you are as gifted as Iommi!

You must play at least 4 times a week, or the callouses will begin to heal. Then you will have to rough them back up, which doesn't feel too good.
Take it easy on the smaller strings. They are significantly more painful than the thicker, lower strings.

Be sure to soak your hands in warm water after playing, and use a little Vaseline on the tender areas before you attempt playing. Most importantly, DON'T over do it. If the pain is too severe to play, try resting your fingers overnight and take it easy. If you do happen to over-play, try wrapping your fingers in bandages before you play again.

#2. Frustration
I am frustrated right now. I haven't been able to come up with a bass line for my song, and I have just stared at it for three weeks with no luck. I am trying to find a website that can meet my band-site needs. I am still a beginner at the guitar, and I can't do an F chord. But I realized one day, it's all part of being a musician. I can remember being a little girl and crying because I couldn't play Twinkle Twinkle little star on my keyboard. I eventually passed that, and realized that it is NOT impossible. When I finished playing Moonlight Sonata at the age of 12, I knew then that it will always be worth-while.

If you feel like you can't go on, and it's just not your thing, it's time to have a reality check. YOU have the desire to become a great musician, you have the heart, and you wouldn't have picked up the instrument if you didn't think you could do it. Don't let mental blocks set you back.

Take plenty of breaks. Like I mentioned before, don't strain yourself. There's a professional guitarist in you that is ready to emerge. It just takes patience, self-respect, hard work, and you're set.

#3. Meet People Who Play Instruments
I have learned a lot by myself, but I wouldn't have known how to approach some things without the guidance of my guitar-playing friends. Sometimes, there are actual cases where my question can not be correctly answered without talking to an experienced person. If you are a student, try taking some music classes at your school. Most of the time they are free, and filled with valuable resources. I am not taking lessons for guitar, so I am only going on the internet and friend's advice. Don't get me wrong, the internet can be a great place for finding excellent musician resources, which leads me onto the next tip.

#4. Using The Web As Your Music Teacher
I have learned so much from different websites. The only problem I had was having unanswered questions. (That's where #3 comes in.) I am not much of a forum-type person, so I found an even better way to find sites that suite my needs. Stumbleupon. If you don't know what it is, it's an add-on for Firefox and Internet Explorer. You just need an e-mail address to join. Once you install the toolbar you can search for websites that you could never find on Google or Yahoo. It's feature-rich for musicians of every type. Just select guitar as one of your interest (along with 100's of other topics you enjoy) and you will be showered with gifts from the website Gods. I have found musician sites that have helped me more than I could ever expect. There's loads of video tutorials, and even guitar tabs.

Join websites that offer tutorials for beginners. If you are willing to spend a little cash, there's even websites that will show you step-by-step secrets and tricks for learning at a high rate of speed. (Please, just make sure they're legitimate!)

These are just a few of the tips I have shared with others seeking advice about learning. I hope I have answered your question. As always, thanks for reading!

Tips and Links For Beginning Songwriters

Alas, I have started the blog I have been planning for a while. In October 2008, I will be releasing my first album. Not more than a year ago I wouldn't have even been able to carry a tune, unless it was on a piano or violin. I don't prefer playing those, and and picked up a guitar. I am learning guitar at a high rate of speed, and am writing songs like wildfire. But I really focused, and am using what I have learned to help others who are like I was.

Like you probably do, I had a lot of questions. Example: "What kind of chord progressions should I use?"

Most of the questions are hard to find answers for. Here's where this blog comes in. Whether you are a guitarist, vocalist, pianist, or a do-it-all-yourself type, I hope this post along with all of my future posts will continue to help you and others.

Fruity Loops AKA Fl Studio
This is the program that opened the doors to my music writing career. My friend, who is a professional musician gave me a copy of the old version. I just fell in love with it. The program is a music creation science lab. It's where you can learn to make professional sounding songs at the click of a mouse.

Pros: Fully interactive interface, numerous add-ons, numerous effects, synths, VST Plugins, instruments, drum kits, and even recording. Not to mention it can be used for every kind of musician with every kind of genre. Free trial download here!

Cons: For those of us less tech-savvy it takes a while to learn. If you do decide to take it on, there's plenty of great tutorials out there that will lead you on your way. The cost of buying the CHEAPEST version is around $130.00 (US). Let me tell you though, it is worth it if you are really down for it.

Band Name Maker: If you still haven't came up with a good name for your band (or yourself if you are solo) there's a few great websites that help you come up with something creative, that fits your needs. My favorite is this one. (I also used some of these for song titles!)

There's also:
~~~~~~~~~~
Death Metal band namer
Name Your Band
The Random Bad Bluegrass Band Namer
Rigel 7: Techno Band Namer

Song Structure: This is one of the most important lessons you will ever need to learn to write music. Song structure isn't about being ordinary, it's about making your song come to life. A song is like a house. First, you must build the foundation to build a frame, which in time turns into a song. You must have at least some understanding of structure if you are a beginner. A lot of us (if not all of us) have made the mistake of just jumping into a song. It may be sucessful for few, but not all of us. For instance, I always find it necessesary to start my songs off with some kind of drumming. These guides will teach you the essentials of song construction.

Wikipedia Song Structure
Guitar Song Structure (But useful for everyone)

More useful links:

Learn The Chords You Must Know -Especially useful for guitarists.
Top 10 Mistakes Guitarist Make When Learning Chords
How To Write Song Lyrics

Thank you for reading my first entry, and I will continue to post more about my stuggles and successes. I hope I have helped you, or at least entertained you. Please stop back by!