Songwriting For Guitar Podcast

Playlist challenge! I challenge you to build better habits around listening to new music. Consistently listening to new and current music in your genre will do more for your music than you know!  As a songwriter, producer, and composer, making and refreshing playlists are a base-line task I do. And, it’s one of the first things I instruct anyone else to do when looking to improve – especially...

You’ve set out to become one thing in music, but it’s transforming into something different. Sound familiar? Seth Mosley knows all about that being a Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, Podcast Host, Publisher and Educator at Full Circle Music Academy... And he has some thoughts on how to get the most out of that transformation. What's it take to become a songwriter? How many van breakdowns...

This is your personal invitation as a podcast listener to the much anticipated 5 Day Songwriting for Guitar Bootcamp! I’m showing up every single day for five days to share my secrets as an Emmy winning songwriter and seasoned guitar coach so YOU can make moves with your music career. Whether you need to break old patterns and stop using the same old cowboy chords, unlock better songs, gain more c...

Have you ever wanted a song critique, but weren’t sure how to go about it? Or maybe you’ve asked for a critique, but you never heard back. It's common even to be intimidated by the idea of sharing your songs with professionals, but that all has the potential to change. Today I'm sharing an insider's perspective on song critiques through my conversation with Josh Seawell from Seawell Studios. Liste...

It was 2020, and Dan Walker suddenly found a lot of time on his hands. He started using that time to hone his skills. He started practicing by recording himself through his computer which turned into a curiosity about different guitar tones and slowly turned into production and recording from home. He then tripped into our Songwriting for Guitar Bootcamp and his journey in songwriting took off. No...

What does the work ethic of an up and coming country artist and songwriter look like? Megan Barker is the person to tell you. From Nashville to Las Vegas and back to Nashville for years on end, the grind is no stranger to Megan. And neither is the music industry. Her parents were both musicians and her Dad was a songwriter for legends like Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Hank Williams Jr. and mor...

Heather Evans has an impressive resume when it comes to DIY music success, but even more impressive is her life story and overcoming huge obstacles to keep music at the forefront. We dive deep with Heather, discussing what's been driving her career development and the mindset it's taken to "make it" as a professional. And the big news? You'll have to listen to find out.

One of the secrets to Mike's success is that he's truly enjoyed the process. His philosophy is that if you don't get any satisfaction from the process, it's frankly not the business for you, and you'll burn out before you get anywhere great. The question is, what part of music lights you up? Or, has the process gotten so monotonous that you can’t think of anything that brings you that joy anymore?...

Rap Queen, Pop Star, and now Author of “From Sync to Superstar”, Tamara Bubble is a force to be reckoned with. Even with major festivals under her belt and countless sync placements, she doesn’t have a big head about it. In fact, she’s here to encourage other artists and share her wealth of knowledge about being a performing artist, getting into sync licensing, and everything in between. This...

Producer, Podcaster, Songwriter, and Entrepreneur, John Clinebell went from busking on the street to having his song used in a Starbucks campaign.   All his dreams came true. His voice was heard singing a positive message to millions of people. He admits what he set out to do doesn’t look like he thought it would fifteen years later, but it's turned out better than he thought and he knows it’...

You may have heard the word "mastermind" being thrown around, but do you know what it is, and more importantly, how it can benefit you as a creative type? Listen in to hear Mike's experience, and why he believes finding one can turn out to be a pivotal career decision.

Guitar coach Mike Meiers sees self doubt as a big flashing sign saying, "Pay attention!". If we don't, it will take over our whole lives. As musicians, it's easy to fall into the self doubt trap and end up never truly doing what we want. In this episode, Mike shares his way to offset this tricky trap. With a new perspective, you can make decisions for your career in a more productive and soul...

We're celebrating episode 50 here at the Songwriting for Guitar Podcast! As a thanks for listening, Mike gives his top tips so you can stay productive, even in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  Even as Mike prepares to move to Nashville during this crazy time, he can stay productive and focused. Why? Because his system works! Listen in to hear how your schedule during the hol...

We have Kevin McCarty on the show today, the CEO & co-founder of “We Should Write Sometime”.  Kevin and Mike talk about the industry today, and why they see collaboration as the best path to success.  Kevin isn’t only a great tech guy, he’s also a musician who’s been in the Nashville scene and understands the issues of the music industry. Known as the Tinder for songwriting...

This week, Mike has Rick Barker as his guest! Rick is former manger of superstar Taylor Swift, the host of the podcast Music Industry Blueprint, a co-author of the book $150,000 Music Degree, and a consultant on growing artist fan bases. Rick is ready to drop some truth bombs on artist mindset, networking, and all things social media! If this has been world that seems overwhelming and co...

Gabe Schillinger is a music producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop like Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Too Short. Gabe's music production business is called Legion Beats, and in addition to that, he also teaches entrepreneurs in music and other industries how to grow and scale their businesses!  In this episode, we hear about his journey from broke studio...

Want to know my biggest secret when it comes to recording impactful guitars? We're talking about the one concept that every recording professional knows, and the key to doing it well.

This week, Mike talks with Atlanta-based producer Anthony Clint Jr. Clint has worked with Grammy-nominated artists such as Tamar Braxton, Case, and Tiyon “TC” Christian, along with success in the TV & film world, having music placed in productions such as Keeping Up With The Kardashians (E!), Black Ink Crew (VH1), Catfish (MTV), Nappily Ever After (Netflix), NAACP Image Awards (TV One), Emmy A...

Wake up! I think you're dreaming! In this episode, we talk about turning your dreams into reality, because I don't want your music dreams to stay a dream. I talk about how you can set yourself up for success with your songwriting & guitar playing. As an artist living his dreams, you can be realistic AND inspired. I'm here to help.

Mike talks with student alumni Neil Turk - a punk guitarist and now budding producer - about his journey through music and the turning points that have guided him into the best year of his life. He credits Mike’s course Riff to Radio as one of those beginning turning points. Take a listen to Neil's story and get inspired…you might hear a lot of yourself in it.

Active listening is beneficial and necessary for the modern day songwriting guitarist.  But why is this so important?  What are the benefits?  Do you really need to do this consistently?  Let me make the case of why you need to be doing this now and why your songs will improve!

Ever wonder what it takes to get your songs into film and TV?  This week, Mike talks with longtime music supervisor Jody Friedman about common mistakes and myths around licensing.  Jody writes and produces for trailers and ads through his company, Collaborate Music.   He’s written and/or produced music for trailer campaigns such as “ Picard ” (CBS) and “ Fantasy Island ” (SONY), “ B...

Legendary Descendents/All guitarist Stephen Egerton opens up about his early influences, the progression of his signature style, and the way his mind processes music.

Much like mixing your plate with too many different types of food at a buffet can leave you feeling sick and useless, so can mixing your practice routine. Focus and developing good routines can elevate your guitar skills, and they can leave you much less likely to reach for the antacid (or give up altogether).

Suzanne Paulinski is the founder of The Rockstar Advocate - a company designed to help artists in developing a mindset of self-care and sustainability. In this episode, she shares with Mike the extremely valuable mindset tools that can help you have similar breakthroughs in your productivity, your career, and your overall well-being.