NEW RESOURCES:
One of my biggest frustrations when I was teaching myself how to play the guitar and piano was that all of the basic chords sounded… well, basic. I wanted to be able to play things that sounded beautiful, lush, and emotional right out of the gates. Can you relate?!
I’ve chosen 12 of my personal favorite chord shapes—one for each key—and broken them down into easy-to-play diagrams for piano AND guitar, and you can grab the downloadable PDF right here...
Want to know exactly how I play my version of "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles?
I've received hundreds of requests over the years to post chords/tabs for it...
Today I'm showing you the full "how-to" of my cover version, exactly as I play it in my YouTube video (now with over 400,000 views!). I'm breaking down my arrangement, the exact "pinky power" method I use with video, every single chord shape (with diagrams!), the intro, and all of the tricks I use so you can easily play my version too: all packaged in a free PDF guide you can save & print!
Wherefore art thou, O Creativity? Here's my top personal 50 favorite ways to jumpstart creativity! These are great for any musician, artist, writer, or creative. (Riana really loves these, too— her favorites are #23 and #39!)
Hi, I'm Derik!
I'm a touring singer, songwriter, music producer & educator. Together with my brother and sister, I tour all over the country to perform my original music professionally, and teach songwriting & performance workshops.
I help students overcome their performing & lyric writing fears, and to craft their own unique and honed composition style so their songs stand out. Through working professionally in Hollywood (as the lead guitarist on the TV show "Glee" for four years) and playing my original music in over 150 performing arts centers all over the USA, I'm able to confidently perform my original music in ANY public performance situation. Through a lot of creative struggles in the last 15 years of professionally writing, recording, and performing music, I've refined my creative process so I can finally help you fearlessly write powerful lyrics and awesome music.
I was born and raised in Olympia, Washington and I'm the middle child. When I'm not touring, writing, arranging or recording, you'll find me drinking strong black coffee, eating cheese enchiladas, listening to my dad's old records from the 70's, shooting hoops, or ferry-hopping the often stormy seas of the Puget Sound.