Masters of Guitar-Based Songwriting
We spend a lot of time discussing guitar virtuosos on this site, and that won’t stop. However, I want to pivot to the guitar’s most vital application: songwriting. While technical skill is impressive, the true value of the instrument is often found in how it serves the song.
Anyone can learn to play chords, but becoming a great songwriter is a different discipline entirely. It is a demanding yet deeply rewarding craft. While nearly anyone could be a songwriter with the right effort, many let the craft fall by the wayside. It’s no coincidence that the vast majority of legendary writers employ either a guitar or a piano as their primary tool. The craftsmanship of the song comes first—without a solid song, you have zero.
There is a profound mastery involved in rhythm, chord arrangement, and the art of simple accompaniment. You don’t need to be the world’s fastest lead player; you just need the elements required to make silence your canvas and paint a picture with a pen, your voice, and six strings. Let’s look at three artists who embody this mastery.
Katie Martin
Alabama-born and now a Georgia resident, Katie Martin is the definition of a Great American Songwriter. She possesses a “not-so-secret” weapon: she is also one of my favorite guitarists of all time. In the right setting, she can deliver some of the most unique and jaw-dropping lead playing you’ll ever hear.
But today, we are talking about “The Song.” I met Katie in 2018 while we were both performing at Little Creek Vineyard in North Carolina. After a brief chat about music, she handed me a copy of her solo album, Hope. It was a game-changer.
“When the Water Flows” – Katie Martin (Unplugged w/ ToneWoodAmp)
After returning home to Ohio, I began digging into her online catalog and was stunned by the sheer volume of her work. Every track was polished, intentional, and moving. One of the best ways to judge a song is whether it moves you emotionally; in Katie’s case, they all do.
Whether on the road, in the studio, or at home, Katie works tirelessly to capture life in her music. “When the Water Flows” is, in my opinion, one of the best songs ever written—period. This particular performance moves me to the edge of tears every time I hear it.
“Purpose” by Katie Martin
You can’t put her in a box or label her style. It is simply Katie Martin Music. She is an artist in every sense—whether she is holding a guitar, a paintbrush, or a camera, she creates beauty.
Support Katie: Visit katiemartinmusic.com to purchase her work and subscribe to her YouTube channel.
Mike Webb
One of the perks of being a session musician is the people you meet. Some sessions are just jobs, but others lead to lifelong friendships. That was the case when I met Mike Webb in Chillicothe, Ohio, while recording the Black Cat Mass album at Chilliworks Recording Studio.
Mike was working on his own project at the time, and I was called in to play lead. I was told the style was “Honky Tonk,” so I dusted off my Telecaster and showed up to record “Where The Hell’s my Truck.” Mike and I have been close friends ever since.
Blame it on Eve
Mike has been writing for 50 years and is one of the most prolific writers I know. He ignores boundaries, blending Country, Bluegrass, and Rock N Roll. His songs aren’t the product of a corporate “songwriting team”; they come from a man, his guitar, and his soul.
Whether he’s writing with tongue-in-cheek humor or digging into the heavy realities of the human condition, Mike’s music is authentic. He’s also a man of character—he’s the kind of friend who drives you to doctor’s appointments or sits silently in the studio just to support you during an interview.
Music on the Mountain: Episode 4
Support Mike: Learn more about his work at Pane in the Glass Music.
Michael Boyle
I met Mike Boyle when I was 15. He let me play a break during his set at Taylor’s Stagg Bar. I had no business being in a bar, but my high school drummer friend and I showed up and played loud. Instead of throwing us out, Mike told us to play more. He has been a friend and mentor ever since.
In fact, Mike is the reason I am a songwriter. Years ago, I told him I’d only written three songs and wasn’t sure if they even “counted.” He told me that inspiration is everywhere—on a bathroom wall or in a newspaper headline—you just have to work at it.
“Don’t Have to Say Goodbye” – Michael Boyle
It took a few years to sink in, but I took his advice. Today, I’ve written over 100 songs, and I owe that second half of my career to him. He is a “hidden gem” of a writer, capable of staggering emotional depth and incredible versatility.
“Little Miss Moonshine” (2021)
One evening, he played me a song called “Bad Boy.” He wasn’t sure about it, but it spoke to me immediately. It was a perfect reflection of our region and certain wayward family members. I asked to adapt it for my own show, and he was completely supportive. I’ve often said that Michael Boyle is our version of Bob Dylan.
Support Michael: Check out his latest work on his YouTube Channel.
