Back when I was struggling with learning some more advanced western swing chords I remember putting this chord progression together and...

My dad used to sing this song, and he still does sometimes. It's an old one. There are versions as early as the Carter Family, and it...

In 2015, the Martin Gilmore Trio, played a tour in the west of Ireland. Our good friend John Nyhan booked several shows for us all around...

When I was a sophomore in college I had gone home for the weekend to visit my family. My dad and I were playing guitar around the kitchen...

A few years ago I assigned myself a songwriting project with the goal of writing, recording and releasing a song each week. Whenever I...

Over the next couple of weeks I thought I would post a bit about each one of the songs on my new record "The Martin Gilmore Trio". It is...

Howdy Y'all, 2020 has been a hard year for all of us, but it has hit musicians especially hard. I, and all of my friends, watched all of...

I think the time has come to shift formats on this blog. For the last year or so I have tried to focus on mainly songwriting education,...

Write a song about complexity Write a song about social justice Write a song about George Floyd Write a song about a policeman Write a...

Write a song about the last frost Write a song about later sunsets and earlier sunrises We build relationships with things we own. Cars...

Write a song about a virtual conversation Write a song about distance Write a song about COVID-19 Write a song about hard times Write a...

What is your favorite part of songwriting? The moment of "spark", I'll call it, when simple words or melodies ignite in my mind. It's...

Local legend and accomplished songwriter Danny Schafer answers a few questions about songwriting. He's a fantastic songwriter, singer and...

Write a song about St. Valentine Write a song about Paris Write a song about the movie Casablanca Write a song about someone you love...

Write a song about the new year Write a song summarizing last year Write a song about last summer Write a song about being warm Write a...

I sorted through the new Fresh Air Interview archive at https://freshairarchive.org/ and found some interviews with great songwriters....

Write a song about being snowed in Write a song about the shortest day of the year Write a song about a blizzard Write a song titled...

Here's the first installment of "Short Questions" where song writers answer a short list of questions about their writing. The first...

Write a song beginning with the words “I’m Grateful” Write a song with the title “Thankful everyday” Write a song imagining fall colors...

Welcome to my songwriting blog! I am an instructor of songwriting at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver, Colorado where I have...