8 Assorted (But Hopefully!) Very Useful Piece Of Advice On Time Feel, Composition, And Technique

Just a few things that I tend to think about a lot. These are in no particular order, but each is a simple lesson in and of itself. Hope it helps!

1) When working on your groove / pocket, make sure that your micro time is good. As in, make sure your subdivisions are even and that you aren't speeding up between the beats. Do this and your time feel will be awesome! 

2) Are you stuck on an idea? Try to think about the themes and concepts in previous ideas. What can you develop from that other music you've already written? Can you repeat something from before? Often times, I find the answer is closer than you think it is

3) On that (2) point, do you understand the melody in your own part? Do you know what degree of the scale you're on relative to the root, and can you actually hear your current note relationship with regards to the root? Try to get in touch with this as it will make part writing so much easier. If you can hear where you are melodically, that should open up avenues in terms of what to do next 

4) When was the last time you practiced in front of a mirror? Never done that before? Today's a good day to start. 

5) On 5, check your posture, sit up straight! 

6) "If it doesn't groove, what's the point" - KM. Such solid advice from a teacher of mine at music school. 

7) Play as close to the frets as you can. That will make your intonation so much better, and it will also make it so that you need to use far less force in your fretting hand in order to get a sound. 

8) Circling back to number (1). Are you actually lining up with the metronome? is that note you're putting on the backbeat actually landing right on it? Remember that in most cases, the appropriate groove is a relaxed groove.