What is the goal?

Writing more music? 

Recording more songs? 

Releasing an album?

Reaching more people?

Having fun?

Becoming a better musician?

Telling good stories?

Making money?

Playing live shows?

Connecting with people?

...

Keeping the promise to yourself?

Imitation

 "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay greatness." -Oscar Wilde

I'm making it a point to learn more covers this year. 

And yes, I currently reside in the realm of mediocrity, but the goal is to always be in the process of progressing towards greatness. 

Put the time in. 

"2 minutes everyday is worth more than 2 hours on Saturday." -David Meltzer

If You're a Musician...

 ... you are competing with every single musician that has ever existed because it's become that much easier for people to find all of that music. 

And even deeper than that, you are competing with every single source of entertainment and seeker of attention that has ever existed. 

But rather than figure out how to win the competition...

... why not just focus on being fulfilled through the process of getting that which is in your head out into the world?

Art as a hobby just might beat art as a revenue stream...

Art as a hobby certainly gives the artist more permission to say "Fuck it" and create for themselves. 

Songs I'd Like to Write

A song that's one chord the entire time. 

A song that starts with the chorus. 

A song where every verse, chorus, bridge, etc. is based on a completely new musical motif but it all still fits. 

A song that starts with only bass. 

A song that starts with only drums. 

A song that starts with a harmonized riff on bass and guitar. 

A song that's just acoustic guitar and vocals. 

A song that's full band instrumental. 

A song that's traditional intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-outro. 

A song where the first chorus is a half version of the actual chorus. 

Even better if I can have all of these songs on a 10 song album. 

Merry Christmas

 This holiday has the best marketing team for sure. 

I love Christmas music and the Christmas season. 

For me, it's about family and the nostalgia of all the great memories collected over the years. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours. 

Start the Day

Start the day thinking about music. 

An idea for a riff. 

The latest cover I'm working on. 

Reference songs for what I want the suitcase album to sound like. 

The various placements for single mic drum recording.

It's never a bad thing to have music on the mind first thing in the morning. 

Things I Need to Work On: Guitar Edition

Finger endurance, strength, and flexibility. 

Learning more covers. 

Writing (documenting) more, but also not forcing it. Just turn on the faucet and catch the water, adult. 

Chord transitions but also the transitions within the transitions. Sometimes the fingering doesn't need to be fully formed at the beginning of the phrase. There are micro adjustments and movements and placements that exist among each transition. Figure out these moments and fit them in to the musicality of the phrasing. Yes, there is a script. But there's also room for tone, inflection, dynamics, nuance. The what should be enhanced by the how. 

Pick up a guitar everyday, even if it's only for 120 seconds. 

Have fun. If it's not fun, put it down after the prescribed 120 seconds.