Song Writing Tips (Guitar Lesson)
What are you waiting for? Get your membership now!
Song Writing Tips
Grammy award winner Steve Stevens talks about writing songs and shares insight into his process.
Taught by Steve Stevens in Lessons With Steve Stevens seriesLength: 12:00Difficulty: 3.5 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Lessons With Steve Stevens
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsTake lessons with rock legend Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol.
Lesson 1
Rock Improvisation
Steve Stevens shows some of his go-to licks and ideas while improvising over a backing track he created for JamPlay.
Length: 20:28 Difficulty: 3.0 FREELesson 2
Blues Backing Improvisation
Steve continues his Artist series with another lesson on improvisation. In this lesson he plays over a blues based backing track and talks about different approaches to playing over it.
Length: 11:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Steve's Warmup Exercises
In this lesson Steve Stevens shows you his warmup routine and talks about the importance of warming up before you play.
Length: 7:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Alternate Picking Exercises
Known for his fierce alternate picking chops, Steve Stevens shows you exercises to beef up your picking.
Length: 9:32 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Whammy Bar Techniques
Steve shows you various whammy or "wang" bar techniques that he uses in his playing.
Length: 7:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Performance and Band Tips
Steve lectures on some topics he is more than qualified to be talking about; performance and being in a band.
Length: 8:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Song Writing Tips
Grammy award winner Steve Stevens talks about writing songs and shares insight into his process.
Length: 12:00 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Steve's Gear and Recording Philosophy
Billy Idol's guitarist, Steve Stevens, gives his opinion on gear and also how he records guitar in his home studio.
Length: 14:19 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Steve Stevens Interview
Topics include: early years, history with Billy Idol, winning a Grammy, recording with Michael Jackson, time with Vince Neil, and lots of good advice on guitar playing and being in a band.
Length: 27:46 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
About Steve Stevens
View Full Biography
Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for playing for his years playing with Billy Idol but is also involved in solo efforts, collaborations, and is an in-demand session guitarist
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Calum Graham
Award winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kroos
Free LessonSeries Details
Pamela Goldsmith
Pamela brings a cap to her first 13 JamPlay lessons with another original etude inspired by the great Leo Brouwer. This is...
Free LessonSeries Details
Robbie Merrill
JamPlay welcomes bassist and founding member of Godsmack, Robbie Merrill. In this short introduction lesson, Robbie showcases...
Free LessonSeries Details
Peter Einhorn
JamPlay is proud to introduce jazz guitarist Peter Einhorn. In this lesson series, Peter will discuss and demonstrate a way...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mitch Reed
Mitch teaches his interpretation of the classic "Cannonball Rag." This song provides beginning and intermediate guitarists...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jim Deeming
Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.
Free LessonSeries Details
Danny Voris
Lesson 7 is all about arpeggios. Danny provides discussion and exercises designed to build your right hand skills.
Free LessonSeries Details
Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.
Free LessonSeries Details
Electric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Guthrie Trapp
JamPlay introduces Nashville session player Guthrie Trapp! In this first segment, Guthrie talks a little about his influences,...
Free LessonSeries Details
Lisa Pursell
Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives...
Free LessonSeries Details
Evan Brewer
Evan Brewer explains everything you need to know in order to get going with your bass guitar. Topics include the parts of...
Free LessonSeries Details
Joel Kosche
Joel Kosche talks about creating and composing a guitar solo. He uses his original song "Sunrise" as an example.
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens shows some of his go-to licks and ideas while improvising over a backing track he made.
Free LessonSeries Details
David MacKenzie
David MacKenzie introduces the tapping technique and teaches a fun exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.
Free LessonSeries Details
Danny Morris
Hone in on your right hand and focus on getting in the groove. You'll only play one note during this lesson, but it'll be...
Free LessonSeries Details
Tosin Abasi
Tosin explains some of the intricacies of the 8 string guitar such as his personal setup and approach to playing.
Free LessonSeries Details
Nick Greathouse
Nick starts his series with Alternate Picking part 1. Improve your timing, speed, and execution with this important lesson.
Free LessonSeries Details
Billy Sheehan
Billy starts his artist series off with a lesson on something he gets asked the most to explain: right hand 3 finger technique.
Free LessonSeries DetailsJoin over 475996 guitarists who have learned how to play in weeks... not years!
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
 |
||||
| Price Per Lesson | < $0.01 | $4 - $5 | $30 - $50 | Free |
| Money Back Guarantee | Sometimes | n/a | ||
| Number of Instructors | 82 | 1 – 3 | 1 | Zillions |
| Interaction with Instructors | Daily Webcam Sessions | Weekly | ||
| Professional Instructors | Luck of the Draw | Luck of the Draw | ||
| New Lessons | Daily | Weekly | Minutely | |
| Structured Lessons | ||||
| Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
| Track Progress | ||||
| HD Video | - | Sometimes | ||
| Multiple Camera Angles | Sometimes | - | Sometimes | |
| Accurate Tabs | Maybe | Maybe | ||
| Scale/Chord Libraries | ||||
| Custom JamTracks | ||||
| Interactive Games | ||||
| Community | ||||
| Learn in Sweatpants | Socially Unacceptable | |||
| Gasoline Needed | $0.00 | $0.00 | ~$4 / gallon! | $0.00 |
Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Yngwie Numbsteen
Always enjoy listening to Steve Stevens talking about guitar. Always insightful tips, always articulately expressed With something useful and helpful to take away to practice. Thank you Steve!
just what i needed, have been recording stuff from freshman to senior year. i am now listening back and putting it all together and making a graduation album with some buddies, going to be very nostalgic and amazing. The one thing i do is overthink a song, hearing you talk about taking ideas to people and having them help you disect it really puts faith in our album, thank you!
Great work Steve just tell it how it is, honest. great mate. Loved rebel yell I was a teenager :) and white wedding :) and eyes with out a face. great songs.
He's an honest,down-to-earth bloke.... many less talented players hide their secrets and make everything they do seem larger than life. In reality many years playing and unswerving belief and hard work pay off and Steve puts that across poetically.
I Have ideas that come to me when I am not playing. Sometimes the ideas I have in my head I don't have the ability to play yet.
I Have ideas that come to me when I am not playing. Sometimes the ideas I have in my head I don't have the ability to play yet.
Thanks Steve, great lesson. Love your insight as much as your playing.
cool stuff.