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...]
Part 2 of 2: How to Improvise (Jam) on Guitar When Playing Lead – EP100
This lesson is a follow-up to EP099 How To Jam (Improvise) On The Guitar (Part 1), so be sure to watch that if you haven't already. This lesson provides you with an additional 8 bars worth of licks so you can now combine these 2 lessons together (EP099 and EP100) and have a decent jam session with the jam track (or with another musician). I've included a bonus version for Premium members that show's you how to play this style with no accompaniment - just a single guitar. I've included the … [Read more...]
Part 1 of 2: How to Jam (Improvise) on Guitar When Playing Lead – EP099
One of the most common emails I get from folks that are learning to play the guitar is, “Ok, so I know my chords and scales… now what?” There seems to be a mental ceiling that we all hit at some point and knowing how to improvise is a big one. In this lesson, I’ll go over the technique used in changing scales as the chords change, and show you the minor and major pentatonic boundaries that you can work with for each chord. This is part 1 of a 2 part mini series on how to jam. … [Read more...]
Ragtime Blues Guitar Lesson on Acoustic – EP096
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a ragtime blues on the acoustic guitar (although you could also play this on electric if you wanted to). This lesson has several licks that contain open strings, which gives more of a ragtime / bluegrass feel. I'll show you how to transpose these licks into other keys as well. … [Read more...]
Blues Fingerstyle Lesson – Delta meets Ragtime – EP076
In this lesson, I'll show you step by step how to play an original blues composition on acoustic guitar (played fingerstyle). Fingerstyle means playing without a pick, so the focus of this lesson will be on the right hand. You can play this delta blues / ragtime composition on either acoustic or electric guitar (although it sounds better on acoustic. You need to be a premium member to access any of the lesson material associated with this week's lesson. … [Read more...]
Chet Atkins Finger Style (Blues) Guitar Lesson – EP057
This is an original composition that has several Chet Atkins licks incorporated into a bluesy format and can be played on acoustic or electric guitar. If you’re new to fingerstyle playing (without a pick) and have always wanted to learn, this would be a great lesson to start with. It will be slow at first and even frustrating, but just stick with it and don’t try to play it fast – just try to be accurate. … [Read more...]
