Interview With Josh Woodward
Next up in our blogumentary is Josh Woodward, an accomplished guitarist and songwriter with a catalog of over 70 songs, all of which are freely available from his site. Below is a clip of a song of his entitled "Cherry."
We spent some time with Josh to get his unique insight on songwriting and guitar playing.
On your site you list what guitars you use. What advice can you give about how to pick out a guitar that is right for you?
I'm personally lucky when it comes to choosing guitars - my father is a luthier, so I can have him build me one to my exact specifications. They reflect some of my quirks as a musician, for instance, the neck is flatter because I wrap my thumb around to play bass notes, and the top is thinner because I keep my guitar detuned by a full step.
While most people don't have the option for quite that level of customization, the same applies. Think about your specific needs, and try to find a guitar that fits them. There's no substitute for finding an instrument store with tons of guitars to play with. You'll know when you find the right one.
You play both six string and twelve string guitars. Is there really a difference between the two in terms of how difficult they are to play? Can a six string guitarist pick up a twelve string and make it work pretty much the same?
I remember the first time I picked up a twelve string, and was struck with how easy it was. It sounds hard because you have to fret twice as many strings, and the neck is wider, but if you're decent at the six string it should become second nature fairly quickly. One exception is finger-picking, which is a different animal, because you need to hit two strings at a time (although you can get interesting effects with one at a time).
You have a lot of experience in writing songs and playing live. What advice can you give regarding developing the discipline needed to make it happen?
With songwriting, nothing is better for motivation than just doing it. Last year, I had a project of writing and recording 40 songs in one year. It was a huge task, but it worked. And surprisingly, I still like almost all of the songs that came out of it. Just write, and write often. When you stumble upon that one-out-of-ten song that really clicks, put some more work into it.
As for playing live, if you've got the songs, the rest of it comes together. If you don't have any songs that you feel proud and excited about playing, it's better to go back to the drawing board and write some that do excite you. Once you have 'em, you'll be motivated to book gigs, and the audience will notice.
For more on Josh Woodward, visit his web site at www.joshwoodward.com.++
We spent some time with Josh to get his unique insight on songwriting and guitar playing.
On your site you list what guitars you use. What advice can you give about how to pick out a guitar that is right for you?
I'm personally lucky when it comes to choosing guitars - my father is a luthier, so I can have him build me one to my exact specifications. They reflect some of my quirks as a musician, for instance, the neck is flatter because I wrap my thumb around to play bass notes, and the top is thinner because I keep my guitar detuned by a full step.
While most people don't have the option for quite that level of customization, the same applies. Think about your specific needs, and try to find a guitar that fits them. There's no substitute for finding an instrument store with tons of guitars to play with. You'll know when you find the right one.
You play both six string and twelve string guitars. Is there really a difference between the two in terms of how difficult they are to play? Can a six string guitarist pick up a twelve string and make it work pretty much the same?
I remember the first time I picked up a twelve string, and was struck with how easy it was. It sounds hard because you have to fret twice as many strings, and the neck is wider, but if you're decent at the six string it should become second nature fairly quickly. One exception is finger-picking, which is a different animal, because you need to hit two strings at a time (although you can get interesting effects with one at a time).
You have a lot of experience in writing songs and playing live. What advice can you give regarding developing the discipline needed to make it happen?
With songwriting, nothing is better for motivation than just doing it. Last year, I had a project of writing and recording 40 songs in one year. It was a huge task, but it worked. And surprisingly, I still like almost all of the songs that came out of it. Just write, and write often. When you stumble upon that one-out-of-ten song that really clicks, put some more work into it.
As for playing live, if you've got the songs, the rest of it comes together. If you don't have any songs that you feel proud and excited about playing, it's better to go back to the drawing board and write some that do excite you. Once you have 'em, you'll be motivated to book gigs, and the audience will notice.
For more on Josh Woodward, visit his web site at www.joshwoodward.com.++
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