In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a ragtime blues composition that's played fingerstyle. You can do this one by yourself, no accompaniment is required. In addition to learning how to play the song, you'll learn the 2 main thumb patterns used in fingerstyle compositions, and how they relate to the chords. … [Read more...]
Ragtime Blues Lead on Acoustic Guitar – Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson – EP295
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play lead on acoustic guitar over a ragtime piano rhythm backing track. Even though the backing track has lots of chords, I'll show you an easy way to improvise a lead over it. … [Read more...]
Learn to play the chord changes in this Western Swing guitar lesson – EP287
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a Western Swing style lead by playing the chord changes (changing scales to match the chords). This is designed to teach you how to play more melodic and interesting sounding leads when improvising. … [Read more...]
Have a Jam Session with Yourself in this Solo Blues Shuffle Composition – EP243
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll have a jam session with yourself by playing both the "call" and "response" parts of this acoustic blues shuffle composition. This isn't your typical 1, 4, 5 chord progression. You'll learn how to alternate between the 1 and the 5 chord, which is relatively easy to do and sounds great. … [Read more...]
Useful Fingerstyle Rhythm Guitar Lesson – Perfect For Fast or Slow – EP221
In this week's guitar lesson you'll be learning an extremely versatile and useful fingerstyle rhythm that isn't very difficult to play. It follows the same pattern throughout and can be played over ANY chord arrangement. I'll show you how to play a stand-alone rhythm to demonstrate the technique and will also provide you 2 samples that you can play over 2 different style jam tracks, so that you can see how it can be used in a different context. … [Read more...]
Fingerstyle Blues Rhythm and Lead Guitar Lesson – EP202
This is really 2 lesson rolled into one. You'll learn a very cool blues fingerstyle rhythm (similar to something you'd hear Chet Atkins play). I'll show you how to palm mute the bottom 3 strings and use your thumb as your "bass player". There is a lifetime of fingerpicking in this one lesson! In addition to the rhythm, I've included a lead that is played with a pick (for those of you that aren't into fingerstyle playing). So there's something for everyone in this lesson. … [Read more...]
Ragtime Blues Guitar Lesson – Solo Guitar Lesson – EP189
In this ragtime blues guitar lesson, you'll benefit in two ways. 1) You'll learn a fun composition that requires no accompaniment, a composition that you can play on your own at whatever tempo you want which works on acoustic or electric guitar. 2) I'll explain how to play the chord changes and where all of the notes come from so that you can start to improvise in this style and even write your own compositions like this. Lots of takeaways! … [Read more...]
Ragtime Blues Guitar Lesson (On Acoustic Guitar) EP148
In this acoustic blues guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a ragtime blues in the key of E with no accompaniment. The structure of this song is just 2 chords (and E and a B) and it alternates back and forth between those 2 chords (starting on the 5 chord). In addition to learning this composition note for note, you'll also learn the "why" behind the notes so that you can improvise and continue this structure for as long as you want. It isn't as difficult as it might seem! … [Read more...]
Lonnie Johnson Style Guitar Lesson – Rhythm and Lead – EP140
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a ragtime rhythm and a Lonnie Johnson style lead on acoustic guitar. This is made for two guitars (one playing rhythm and one playing lead), although if you don't have a second guitar player you can use the provided MP3 jam track. The jam track allows you to play the lead the first time through, rhythm the second time through, and you can keep alternating back and forth between rhythm and lead. This is just like being in a virtual jam session … [Read more...]
Acoustic Blues Guitar Lesson in G – No Accompaniment (With a pick) – EP104
In this blues guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a solo blues arrangement in the key of G (played with no accompaniment). I'm also playing this with a pick (so no fingerstyle required for this one). I do use a hybrid picking technique in a few spots, but they're fairly straight-forward and should be easy to pick up. … [Read more...]
