How To Compose Your Own Guitar Music

For a guitar player, the challenge to write your own songs can certainly be an intriguing one - playing your own music on the instrument that you love. It can also be tremendously rewarding when you get it right.



Whatever it is that you have in mind when it comes to writing your own music on the guitar, you will find that it's a wonderfully creative process. It will really encourage your ability to understand the rhythms and the sounds that you hear every day. Reading from a book when you learn the guitar can often make you feel robotic - you must obey the conventions and the details laid out in the book. If you write your own music, however, then you have all the freedom in the world.

There is no magic formula for songwriting, and that is one of the reasons why it is such an exciting process. Music, by definition, is meant to be free-flowing and creative - not just in the notes themselves but in creating emotional responses from the listener.

Despite the absence of the magic formula, there are a number of tips and techniques that you can learn in order to create your own music on the guitar:



·    Think of a word such as, for example, 'snow'. Think of all the things that the word 'snow' means to you, and play that. You may start out with just a few notes and mistimed chords, but keep at it. Think of how you would represent snow musically on your guitar.

·    Try some other words - 'rain' or 'sadness', for example. It doesn't have to signify the same word to other people - music is best when it is objective. Try to create something which best represents those words in your own way. You'll find that you will fuss around with the notes a bit, but eventually you will find a finger-picking motion that you like.

·    If you are writing lyrics to go with your music, then there are two ways you can approach this: start with the music and fit the lyrics around that, or do the opposite: start out with the words and apply the music. Try both and see one best fits your individual songwriting style. What works for one person may not work for another.

If you're still struggling, take a look at these more simplified steps:



·    Change some of the notes around on a chord that you are familiar with (like G or D). See what happens - experiment with it.

·    Move your fingers around to different strings, leaving one finger in place.

·    Listen to the sound when you strum, as well as the individual notes of your new finger positions.

·    Once you hear something you like play it again and again in order to commit it to memory.

·    This is the starting point for your song, and can now build around it - this first series of notes will soon start to grow!



It's all part of the creative process when you sing complete nonsense or the first things that come into your mind. Relaxing and enjoying it are probably the most important things to remember when it comes to songwriting on your guitar. Keep going - you'll find that you will stumble upon a chord (or a variation) that you really like, or a lyric that fits perfectly. As soon as you do, make sure you write it down and build on it.



Looking back over time, some of the most beautiful and emotive songs have emerged from collaborations between two or more musicians. A great tip when it comes to composing your own guitar music is to get a friend to help you. Also, a musically-minded friend can give you some great feedback on how things are progressing.



Liam Gibson of LearnGuitar-User-Reviews.com, specializes in helping aspiring guitarists get the info that they need to make the right choices. Liam, a stage guitarist himself, leads his team of guitar experts to constantly review new courses and products in the market and make sure you get the best value products that work for you. Check out actual user reviews and feedback of the most popular guitar courses at LearnGuitar-User-Reviews.