Guest post: Because I thought you might enjoy, this very good article has been hand-picked by Yours Truly and is being re-publishing with permission. The author is Roger E Lear from www.BanginBeatsByREL.com. 

Editors note: This post is pretty inspiring and very timely for me personally. I am starting to wake up to my true calling – writing, recording and performing – and this is the kind of stuff – from someone who is making it happen – that has me believing. I hope that it inspires you the way it inspired me. Enjoy!

In a book I read not long ago titled “Do You” by Russell Simmons, he shared the discovery he made regarding success and the pursuit of “things” as a benchmark of success. He noted an unnamed MC who spent lots of money on a nice car and rims. Inevitably, sometime after the purchase the question shows up; “Is this it?“ Read the rest of this entry

Guest post: Because I thought you might enjoy, this article has been hand-picked by Yours Truly and is being re-publishing with permission. The author is Richie Gilbert from www.inspired-songwriting-tips.com. Bon appatite!

If you want to learn how to write a song, do what all successful songwriters should do: Study songwriting. If you want to learn how to write great songs, study great songs!

If you want to be a master songwriter, learn from the masters.

If you’ve been writing songs for a while, you most likely are doing something right. When you write regularly you get a feel for it. You develop an instinct for what is catchy, memorable and engaging.

But you can take it further than that. Read the rest of this entry

Are you a guitar player who wishes you had more time to play? Yeah? Well then you need to read this because I am going to give you one very simple, surefire way to get you doing just that. But first, here’s a little background as to how I arrived at this little tip.

Recently a discussion popped up in the comment section over on GuitarFlame.com about why dreams die. This really got me thinking since I have gone through long stretches in my life where I let my passion for music fall by the wayside for one reason or another.

There was always something; either I didn’t feel as though I was good enough, maybe life got in the way or perhaps my guitar was buried under mounds of crap in a storage unit or basement – Out of site out of mind…not good my friend.

So how can you keep the guitar hummin – and the passion burnin – on a regular basis? Read the rest of this entry

This stuff comes right out the “I wish they had this stuff when I was a kid” category. Check out these sites and develop, or start learning, your guitar chops.

Pick your medium. I’ve only found three but I just bet there are quite a bit more

Via video – GuitarTricks.com

Via email – GuitarTips.com.au

Via blog – GuitarMX.com

Like I said, I just bet there are a ton more out there. Come on…share the love brothas and sistas! Show us what you got in the comments below.

Are you thinking about learning an instrument or maybe just sharpening your skills? Check out this cool site. A week or so ago I came across this cool site. The good people over at the Berklee School of Music are offering some free music lessons.

They have a little something for everyone. You can get great instruction from these professionals on instruments like guitar, horns, keyboards and drums as well as tips on being a DJ and using turntables. You can also let them help you develop your singing voice.

Check it out. Very cool.