I approach composing in different ways. Frequently the impetus for a piece will be a simple phrase or idea that I put down while I am thinking about it. These ideas can come either while playing, or away from the guitar. Then the layering begins. I try to add to the original part by composing complementary lines, or building a texture behind or 'in front' of it.

I often will go through many revisions for a composition before deciding that it is complete. It would be easy for me to continue to work on a song for months and still find ways to enhance certain aspects. There comes a point where, due to time constraints, the piece is deemed 'finished' . However, I am a proponent of the idea that a composition is merely a snapshot in time of an artist's viewpoint that also existed only at that particular moment.