The Secret to Explosive Guitar/Musical Growth You’re Probably Overlooking

For many of us, playing guitar or creating music feels like a solo journey. It’s just you, your instrument, and the walls around you.

While that solitude can be a safe space to explore and create, it’s not where true growth happens.

Here’s the truth: explosive growth comes when music becomes a communal experience.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

Back in my early 20s, I was playing in a hardcore band and thought I was hot shit—until I hit a serious plateau. No matter how much I practiced, I couldn’t seem to break through.

There was this crew of older musicians who were everything I wanted to be: insanely talented, successful, and intimidating as hell. They felt totally out of reach, but I managed to weasel my way into their circle.

At first, I felt like an outsider, but I kept showing up, and eventually, they let me jam with them. And let me tell you, that experience flipped my world upside down.

Their feedback and skills raised the bar for me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Sure, it wasn’t folk music, but the lesson stuck: when you surround yourself with players of varying experience levels and share your music, growth becomes inevitable.

Why Sharing Matters

1. Feedback fuels progress. When you share, you open the door to insights you can’t get in isolation. It’s not just about criticism; it’s about discovering new perspectives on your playing.

2. Connection builds confidence. Putting yourself out there helps you feel seen and heard. It’s a confidence booster that carries over into every aspect of your playing.

3. Music is meant to be shared. At its core, music is a communal art. When you let others in, you’re honoring its purpose.

Taking that first step can feel intimidating—believe me, I’ve been there—but it’s a game-changer. Post that video. Play for a friend. Join a jam session. Growth doesn’t just come from playing better—it comes from connecting with others through music.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to make your music a communal experience but don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered.

My fan-favorite mini-course, Unlocking Chord Inversions, is more than just a lesson in nailing that nostalgic folk sound. It’s also your gateway to the Basement Dwellers Club, a private Facebook community where you can share videos of your playing, interact with like-minded folk artists, and get feedback from me and your peers.

For a limited time, this mini-course is just $7 (usually $49). That’s less than the cost of a fancy coffee to level up your playing and join a community that will support your growth.

Click here to get that nostalgic folk sound with chord inversions and join the Basement Dwellers Club.

Don’t let your music stay in isolation. Let’s make it a communal experience and watch your skills explode.

The Underdog's Trick to Packing Shows (It Works)

As an up-and-coming musician, one of the biggest challenges is motivating people to leave the comfort of their homes and attend your local shows. Your diehard fans will always make the effort, but for casual listeners or newcomers, an extra incentive is often needed to get them through the door.

Think about it this way: Your favorite big-name artist is touring, and tickets are $100+. It's an easy decision to go because the experience is worth the cost. Now, consider a $10 show from a local act you're only vaguely familiar with. Depending on your week and mood, it's much easier to skip.

But what if you offered those potential attendees something extra? Research shows that people are heavily motivated by feelings of exclusivity and getting a good deal. By adding a special perk or exclusive tie-in, you can turn curious listeners into paying showgoers.

Here are a few ideas to spice up your next gig and create a "How can I miss that?" vibe:

Surprise Guest Performer: Nobody wants to be the one who missed an incredible collaboration with a buzzworthy touring act or a favorite local musician.

Special Merch Drop: Cap the first 50 people in the door by offering a free, limited-edition shirt or album they can't get anywhere else. Everyone loves free stuff!

Immersive Experience: Let fans be part of the show by having them click handclaps/tambourines on a song or host a pre-show Q&A. Interactive experiences create lasting memories.

Fan Photo Opportunities: Set up a cool backdrop and props, and print some branded photo strips – you've just created a buzzworthy fan experience.

The key is creating an extra layer of excitement and intrigue that converts passive listeners into enthusiastic attendees. It's not about gimmicks; it's about enhancing your basic live show with enough appealing additions that people feel they're getting more than their money's worth.

I’ve used this method over the course of my career and it works. Trust me. The main idea is that you want to do this consistently so you develop the reputation of always adding an extra element to your shows. This way, people will always assume there’s something extra going on!

Don't sell your fanbase short! With creativity and incentives, you can pack the room – no arena-level status required. Let me know if you need help brainstorming fresh ways to make your shows feel like can't-miss events!

James

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Ready to level up your songwriting and guitar skills?

I've got 3 spots left for my Guitarist-Songwriter Coaching Session 4-Packs for May.

These are packs of four intensive 45-minute deep dives to take your guitar playing and songwriting to the next level.

During our one-on-one sessions, we'll:

1. Analyze your current songs and playing to identify strengths, and opportunities for growth. I'll provide personalized feedback to refine your artistic voice.

2. Explore songwriting techniques like chord progressions, melodies, lyrics, inversions and song structures. We'll work through practical exercises to expand your creative toolkit.

3. Dive into guitar techniques spanning various genres - fingerstyle, strumming, chord voicings, rhythms, and more. I'll break down ways to elevate your guitar parts.

4. Develop a practice plan and creative process tailored to your goals, whether it's writing songs, releasing music, or taking your live show up a notch.

5. Have dedicated time for Q&A to ensure you leave with clear next steps.

*You'll pick the time of each of your sessions from my calendar - whenever it works for you!

The investment is $320 ($80 off). Only 3 spots left for May and the price increases in June.

If you're ready to level up your songwriting and guitar skills, click here to book your first of four sessions.

Smart Musicians Strategically Book These 3 Types of Shows

Are you playing shows in this phase of your music career? The gig I played last night really drove home an important realization about the different "types" of shows musicians play and the purpose each one serves.

It was a two-hour set where I performed for virtually no one. Seems like a dud on the surface. But because I knew it was a "Woodshedding Show" (more on this below), I understood its value wasn't in building an audience or making money. It served a different role entirely.

It's all too easy to lump every performance together, but the truth is, not all shows are created equal. Based on my latest experience, I've identified 3 distinct categories that all serve their own function. Recognizing which type you're playing is crucial for properly managing your expectations, efforts, and emotions.

1. Money Shows These are your bar gigs, wedding gigs, corporate events - any situation where you're hired as background music. The pros? They pay well and require minimal promotion since you've got a built-in audience. The cons? Long hours, lots of covers, and you're not exactly the main event.

2. Woodshedding Shows From certain bar gigs to coffee house shows, these are the lower-pressure gigs designed for trying new material and tweaking your sound/gear. Don't expect huge crowds, but that's the point - use these to experiment and build your performance muscles without the spotlight.

3. Marquee Shows These are the real career-pushers - hard ticket concerts where your ability to promote and rally YOUR audience determines success. The high-risk, high-reward shows where you get to shine with your original music. High stakes in terms of promotion, but that sold-out room creates lifelong fans. Use the other two types of shows to get in peak form, then book a Marquee show to show the world what you've got.

Every phase of your career requires relying more heavily on one category over the others. When you need income, chase money shows. When you need rehearsal time, book woodshedding gigs. And when you're ready to truly elevate, go all-in on promoting that marquee show.

Pro Tip: If you aren't playing Marquee shows, it's almost impossible to grow your career as a songwriter. You must take the leap and start adding them to your schedule if you want to build your tribe.

Hopefully breaking it down like this provides some helpful clarity! Which type of show do you play most currently? Or which would you like to play more of?

Steal this sneaky chord trick from The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood"

Ever since I started playing guitar and writing songs, I've been completely obsessed with figuring out what made The Beatles so brilliant.

I've spent years geeking out over their tunes, analyzing every melody and chord progression, trying to crack the code. Wise beyond their years, they just had a gift for taking simple ideas and putting mindblowing spins on them.

That's why their music feels both warmly nostalgic and exhilaratingly fresh at the same time. It's wild how their songs have captivated millions across generations - there's some serious Tolkien-level wizardry at work there.

One of my favorite examples of their progressive-yet-tasteful genius? The chords underpinning the verse and chorus of "Norwegian Wood."

That Static, Simple Verse

The verse is brilliant in its stripped-down simplicity. The entire section rides on just one big, warm E major chord created by throwing a capo on the 2nd fret and playing a D-chord shape.

No chord changes at all through the verse - just that lush E major bedrock while John lays down his wistful melody. Totally unorthodox to avoid any chord movement, but it just works.

Then Comes the Curveball Chorus

After lulling you into that hypnotic, singular major drone, the chorus pulls a clever bait-and-switch that hits you right in the feels.

Instead of keeping us in friendly E major territory, the chorus abruptly pivots into the parallel E minor chord to kick things off. Cue the moody vibes!

The whole chorus rundown goes:

Em (i)

A (IV)

Em (i)

F#m7 (ii)

B (V)

[That's Dm, G, Dm, Em, A if you're playing along at home with a capo on 2]

With that minor detour, the vibe morphs from bright and breezy to Blue Period melancholy in an instant - all through some savvy modal maneuvering.

The Power of Parallel Modes

Borrowing chords from the relative major/minor is one of my forever go-to tricks for adding intrigue to chord progressions.

To use the parallel minor, simply borrow a chord from the minor mode.

For example, the major (Ionian) mode’s chords are: I ii iii IV V vi vii°

The minor (Aeolian) mode’s chords are: i ii° III iv v VI VII

To make use of the parallel minor, simply play in the major key and swap in a chord from the minor key.

In “Norwegian Wood,” that chord is the first chord of the chorus, which should be a Major I, but instead is expertly changes to a minor i.

The Beatles nail it here by first anchoring us in a straightforward major tonality, then subverting expectations with that poignant minor twist in the chorus. Genius level stuff.

So if you want to grow as a songwriter and start injecting more dimension into your chord changes, learn to get comfortable dancing between parallel major and minor modes.

Introduce a stock major progression, then try retooling it by swapping in the relative minor at certain points. Hear how it instantly recontextualizes the entire harmonic landscape and creates this enticing push-pull tension?

It's those kinds of tricks that made The Beatles such a innovative force to be reckoned with in rock music. Their unique chord moves continually prove to be a bottomless well of inspiration for musicians at every level.

James

—

Want to level up your song writing or artistry? Book an intensive 1-1 45-minute deep dive to take your guitar playing and songwriting to new heights.

During our one-on-one session, we'll:

1. Analyze your current songs and playing to identify strengths, and opportunities for growth. I'll provide personalized feedback to refine your artistic voice.

2. Explore songwriting techniques like chord progressions, melodies, lyrics, inversions and song structures. We'll work through practical exercises to expand your creative toolkit.

3. Dive into guitar techniques spanning various genres - fingerstyle, strumming, chord voicings, rhythms, and more. I'll break down ways to elevate your guitar parts.

4. Develop a practice plan and creative process tailored to your goals, whether it's writing songs, releasing music, or taking your live show up a notch.

5. Have dedicated time for Q&A to ensure you leave with clear next steps.

*You'll pick the time of each of your session from my calendar - whenever it works for you!

If you're ready to level up your songwriting and guitar skills, click here to book your session.

Songwriting Alchemy: How Bass Motion Elevates Your Progressions

Ever wondered about the secret sauce behind captivating chord progressions? Enter bass motion—an often-overlooked hero that can elevate your musical creations. So, what exactly is bass motion?

In essence, bass motion is the melody formed by tracing an imaginary line along the lowest notes in a chord progression. One of our greatest tools to sculpt bass motion is inverting chords. 

Without diving into the technicalities, inversions involve making the lowest note in a chord something other than the root note (C is the root note of a C chord, G is the root note of a G chord, etc), making them the architects of catchy and melodic bass motion.

Without inversions, bass motion might feel a bit jerky, characterized by significant jumps between notes. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, inversions add a layer of emotional depth and finesse to your chord progression by creating bass motion with smaller, more fluid jumps or even staying on the same note despite changing chords—a game-changer.

Take "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac as an example. 

The basic verse progression is: C (x32010), G (320033), Am7 (x02010), G

Notice how, without inversions, the bass motion takes a sizable leap down by a perfect fourth when transitioning from C to G. 

The verse progression with inversions: C (x32010), G/B (x20033), Am7 (x02010), G/B

When you introduce G/B—one form of an inverted G chord—it creates a seamless bass motion that gracefully descends stepwise all the way to Am7 and then back up to C.

Let’s use G to C to illustrate a different scenario. When you play those two chords back to back, it creates that same perfect 4th bass melody jump. No issue on its own, but if you wanted to smooth out the bass motion, but try inverting the C chord and listen to what happens. The result? Staying on the same bass note while transitioning between chords. Can you feel the emotional weight that the lingering G note in the bass adds to the mix?

Creating melodic bass motion offers a plethora of possibilities, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. However, integrating inversions into your toolkit provides you with more tools to sculpt your bass melodies into something irresistibly catchy and beautiful. So, the next time you're crafting a chord progression, don't forget to let the magic of bass motion work its wonders.

Questions or comments? Email me at james@guitarlessonswithjames.com!

// James

PS: If you’d like to know more about inversions, check out my ebook HERE to discover:

• The secret to using chord inversions to fill your playing with emotion effortlessly

• A simple reference guide to help you remove the guesswork and easily pick the perfect inversions every time

• The 2-step process to knowing how and where to use inversions