In Episode 19 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols down with Ben Travers, a monster guitarist, thoughtful musician, and Grammy-nominated songwriter — for a deep, honest conversation about guitar, creativity, technique, and the mental side of being a musician.

This episode goes far beyond chops. Ben opens up about insecurity, social anxiety, discipline, effective practice, alternate picking, theory vs feel, songwriting, touring realities, and what it really takes to keep growing as a guitarist in today’s world. Expect jaw-dropping playing, real talk, and practical insights you can apply to your own guitar journey.

Whether you’re into shredding, blues, songwriting, or just love thoughtful guitar conversations, this episode delivers.

Check out all things Ben Travers

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The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge. Plug in and hang out.

What an incredible year it's been! Although we only launched this show a few months ago, it feels like something we'll be doing for a long time, thanks to you, our guests, and the power of ROCK. We are humbled and grateful for all of your support, and we'll see you in 2026! Happy New Year!Love,Tyler & Jared

⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.Plug in and hang out.

In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols take on the timeless creative challenge: writing a song in an hour. With no plan, no pressure, and a room full of guitars, amps, and pedals, they build a rock song from scratch in real time.

Watch as riffs turn into verses, choruses emerge organically, and a full song takes shape through tone chasing, odd time signatures, gear experiments, and pure musical instinct. This episode pulls back the curtain on the songwriting process, showing how musicians collaborate, problem-solve, keep it real, and follow inspiration wherever it leads.

If you love guitar tone, songwriting, creative process, or watching music get made from nothing — this one’s for you. The song isn't half bad either ;)

⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠

⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠

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0:00 - Writing a Song in One Hour

0:31 - Rules of the Songwriting Challenge

0:48 - Guitar Pedals and Gear Overview

1:38 - Choosing Guitars and Amps for Songwriting

1:58 - How Guitar Tone Sparks Song Ideas

2:29 - Cranking a Marshall for Riff Writing

3:03 - Finding the Groove and Tempo

3:54 - Building the Main Guitar Riff

4:23 - Turning a Riff into a Song Structure

5:04 - Songwriting Advice: Don’t Overthink It

6:06 - Using Fuzz and Texture for Inspiration

7:52 - Creating Verses and Choruses

9:04 - Switching Guitar Amps for New Sounds

10:34 - Using Alternate Tuning for Songwriting

11:46 - Writing a Chorus That Hits Hard

13:01 - Adding Harmony and Movement

15:49 - Avoiding Blues Clichés in Rock Songs

17:16 - Choosing the Right Drum Groove

18:40 - Writing a Bridge That Creates Contrast

22:28 - Experimenting with Odd Time Signatures

24:57 - Locking in the Bridge Section

25:38 - Preparing for Guitar Solos

30:29 - Adding Ambient Guitar Layers

38:09 - Final Song Structure Comes Together

40:48 - Recording Guitar Solos

47:05 - The Creative Process Explained

51:40 - Final Song Reveal: Dr. Death

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

Thank you to the sponsor of our show, ⁠Roswell Pro Audio!