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Post Questions HERE for Tomorrow's Live Q+A (Patreon)

Published:
2024-09-29 15:22:53
Imported:
2026-06

Content

About time for another Q+A session! Post your questions below and I'll prepare an answer for them and share it tomorrow night at 8PM CT. Make sure to include any relevent links to sheet music or songs if you're asking about a recording - and if Patreon deletes any of your links, just email the files directly to signalsmusicjake@gmail.com.

Questions are answered in the order they're received, so if you choose to watch later, you'll have a good idea of when I'm answering your question. I'll post the link tomorrow night an hour before broadcasting begins.

Ask away!

Comments

Flare

Hi, Jake. I hope you've been doing well. 1. I have stopped progressing as a guitar player. It's been almost five years since I started learning and I feel like all the "new things" I learned were in the first 2-3 years of my playing: scales, chords, rhythm. I still practice but I either end up randomly hitting notes, or I play the things I am already good at. I have set goals for myself, I have tried develop arpeggio soloing as well as learn some speedy solos, but I haven't been able to overcome this block. What would you suggest? 2. I have composition ideas, I have been recording ideas in Reason and in my phone. I want to record and release preferably in a studio. You often say about your compositions that they "won't be a hit song". Why do you think so? I don't compose to get hits necessarily but is there a degree of perfection one needs to get to to be accepted or is the music industry too saturated to welcome new artists?

Sean Murphy

How do you factor for vocal range in your arrangements when writing songs? I've played in a couple of (very bad) garage bands and I've noticed that often my voice will get lost in the music, I'm guessing because it's right in the same range as most of the instruments are playing. Is this something you find yourself having to account for when you're writing or arranging?

Wolfy

Heya Jake! So, bit of an odd question. I recently graduated from college with a Bachelors Degree with honours in Composition for the Media. And to be honest, I've not been super well in that regard. It's tough to get myself to make music, and while I do still love it, I just can't get myself to sit down and make something, or even work on projects I've already been working on that I still need to finish. How do you go about handling this type of situation?

Jake Lizzio
>>150842154

Huge congrats on finishing your degree! Great question too, I can 100% empathize, so I have plenty to say in regards to this one.

Flare
>>150840723

@Jake Lizzio Thank you. Look forward to your valuable answers.

Captain Byte

Hi Mr. Lizzio! I'm late to this one hahaha, hope you're well! Do you have any tips for mixing electric and acoustic guitar together (at the same time) without one overpowering the other? I find some people bring the electric down by playing with palm mutes over an acoustic pattern, but what about playing both as they are in full?

Anna Jansson

Hi Jake, I’ve sent you a song via email that I would love to get your honest feedback on. What can I do to improve it? I’ve written some lyrics and I’m thinking about adding my own vocals. I didn’t write it with vocals in mind; could there be too much ”going on” in the arrangement such that there is no room for vocals? It’s only my second song, I wrote it more than a year ago and haven’t written much since. I’m stuck, partly due to lack of time but also because I keep telling myself the few unfinished songs I have must be made better before I can move on to compose new songs. I feel like the songs deserve to get finished, and I want to see how good they can get. But I also feel like I can’t assess whether they are any good because I lack perspective, I’ve listened to them a million times. I feel so embarrassingly amateurish, I’m afraid to share my music with family/friends and ask their opinion. I would greatly appreciate your feedback on the song and your perspective on my inability to move on.

Edvard Noel

Hi Jake hope all is well ! Love the content. I emailed you this small idea i've been working on but I can't seem to progress past that, any advice on where to go from here with my song ? what's the best course of action for breaking out a shell of an idea.

Joel

Hi Jake, I have a question about melody. When you write melody do you base it on the scale notes regarding the key or do you keep it to the 1-3-5 over the cord being played? I know there is not a simple answer to creat a great melody but I’m getting my b()tt kicked on this one. Also have you concerned PreSonus Studio One for a DAW? Thanks anything you can suggest.

Cliff Kushler

Hi Jake - First, thanks for your ability to convey information and underlying structure in a clear and concise way, and work an energy that just really works for me. There are countless things I could use help with, bit what comes to me in this moment is that I seem to be able write a song (I won't speak to the level of quality in the end product - obviously still works in progress), and come up with a verse, a chorus, some lyrics that at least strike me as acceptable, and maybe an intro and an ending. But I seem to struggle mightily when comes to writing a bridge! I would love to hear your advice, and any strategies or approaches that might be helpful. Thanks!

Mike L

Hey Jake! Can you recommend any circle of 5ths exercises? Thanks!

EXUREI

Hi Jake, do you have any tips to how to memorize the notes names on the fretboard ? I've always been lazy to do it, even more that I play on standard tuning and 1 full step down tuning (+7 string guitar 1 full step down) ? Maybe there is no tip, "Just do it" :-)

Jake Lizzio
>>150874712

No problem - awesome work! I forgot to mention - I think it's fine to start a new track and from scratch and return to this one when you feel you're better equipped to revise some of those layers I mentioned. No need to rush this song to completion! It'll also help if you start the composing process with lyrics and vocals in mind first. I find it much harder to add lyrics to songs that were initially written as instrumentals.