Writing your own guitar composition and feeling stuck? Not sure what to do next? Try this! - EP503

In this week's guitar lesson, I'll help site member, Simon, finish a guitar composition and walk you through the thought process. You'll also learn how to play it!

[simonthorpe]

What a privilege to have you take my initial idea and expand on it. Brian, you took it to a wonderful piece and while it's late at night right now, i'll be working on this over the weekend :) So thank you so much for responding and creating. I'm obviously biased, but this video was a very different tone to many of the ones i've watched in the past. You gave me insight into some of the decisions you made around a simple concept. Yet this led to giving me a load of new areas I need to learn from, specifically...

- I need to understand the circle of fifths better. While I struggle with theory, knowing how you connected it to get to the addition of the minor chord was an eye opener.
- "It's just chords, you need a melody". Something I now need to start trying to develop. I so often find a set of chords I like, but i'm not developing melody. I saw what you did here, and it helps me to see how I can apply it.
- Space... You are 100% correct that I often feel the need to fill space. Yet the space you added to this by slowing it down and also reducing complexity to develop space, again another thing I need to work on.

So yes, your input and final arrangement is more than what I expected. Thanks once again for another great video. And now I just want to send you more of my ideas that i'm struggling with! But instead I expect you might get videos from other subscribers.

Finally, I realized I recorded my video while I was recovering from a bad cold. My voice is all deep and croaky!

[marileeeverett]

I've probably learned more from active melody than any other music instructors keep up the good work Brian, . Noel Thomsen Australia

[Pyth]

By the way, Kudos to you again for being the master of not overplaying! The internet is crowded with <great> guitar player-teachers but I don't think anyone but you has the taste and quiet chutzpah to take that student composition and add a (beautiful) melody so minimalistic... it's like you are showing off by ostentatiously not showintg-off 😀.

[happycampers]

3 am is exactly what I heard as soon as Simon began playing.

[joerivers]

Really interesting lesson… understanding the mental process behind your compositions is what help us to connect the different learned blocks in our heads 👍

[PatrickBall]

Congratulations, Brian and Simon! This lesson has so much value added. First, how many get to this level of instruction, even with a personal guitar instructor? Second, what selfless vision; Bryan was willing to take the essence of a fundamental chord progression and create a lesson (a piece of music) from the inspiration of one of his involved members. And third, the cognition to tie the lesson to previous studies as a reminder that the circle of fifths is an important concept that needs to be reviewed. We love your instruction and freewheeling style. Keep up the great work, Brian!

[pinepienaar]

Wow Brian, another great lesson, as they all are! But this one was an entire series of lightbulb moments! And thank you Simon! 👏🏻🎸

[freeflyesperance]

Sorry, I’m not sure if it’s just me. Simon’s video sounds really quiet and electronically muffled. I love the lesson though. Great idea!

[bungalowbluesman]

Thanks for this Brian & Simon. I routinely find myself in this situation, this is accesible and inspiring guidance - just what i need. 👍🏻

[fishzebra]

Great lesson and insights I can learn from too, that kind of interaction is what you'd get from a personal guitar instruction and adds something extra to this kind of youtube style channel. Keep on innovating in your teaching methods and thanks to Simon too.

[ginagriffin]

LOVELY composition! THANKS! Brian AND Simon...LOVE it! THIS is SO helpful to me.

[markgoodwin]

Simon seems like a super nice dude and his guitar space is cool as hell.

[ronniewilliford]

This was a brilliant explanation for song construction, Brian. So simple and straight forward. Awesome, bro. THX.

[paullowe]

Brilliant! Love this video/lesson and confirmed to me why I joined active melody as a premium member!! Thanks to Simon for posing the questions (and the open chords!), but of course thanks to Brian for another brilliant lesson! As ever, presented in a way that is so understandable and helps us progress, learn and understand!

[pktdbgnzwl]

Song writing is the highest art imo.
Thanks for the instruction & encouragement

[nickmcauliffe]

Thanks to Simon for providing the idea that lead to this lesson. It gave so much insight and inspiration to make me want to improve on some of the simple chord ideas I play around with by myself, showing that with a bit of added theory and inventiveness ts possible to create something great like this - really enjoyed it.

[GuitarJoLa]

Now you made Simon famous, Brian! 🤩🎸
It's great to see you directly addressing your student's struggles and making it into a full lesson. It feels a lot like a private lesson and it's a nice change of pace. Plenty of takeaways as always, too! Great lesson, love the open chords, the added (minor) chords, and the Dan Fogelberg transition - beautiful! 🎶💕💯

[garywalters]

Wow, thanks to Simon and you Brian.
I had got stuck like Simon on other compositions. Certainly it gave some ideas. I guess Simon is in UK like me

[wlillico]

A great lesson connecting chords always helps

[stephenworkman]

That is a great lesson! Simon has led us to understanding more about structure. I find myself noodling in ‘open chords’ frequently and searching for expansion, there is a path. I will definitely now dig deeper into the Circle of Fifths. Many thanks to you Brian … and Simon.