This week's guitar lesson features 3 boogie woogie style rhythms that can be played over the same MP3 jam track. Each rhythm is slightly more difficult than the previous in that the first one (Level 1) is the easiest and Level 3 is the most difficult. This lesson gives you 3 variations on how to play boogie woogie rhythm as well as the theory behind the boogie woogie root position. This lesson will also help improve your timing and alternate picking with the right hand. Different tempos of the … [Read more...]
Western Swing Style Rhythm Guitar Lesson – EP185
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to spice up your rhythm playing with some jazzy sounding chord substitutes. Western Swing is a great format for this because it combines, blues, jazz, and country and creates techniques that can be applied to any of those styles. In addition to explaining the theory behind the chords, I'll break down the rhythm pattern. The MP3 jam track for this lesson comes in 2 tempos as well. … [Read more...]
Western Swing Style Guitar Lesson – Lead Guitar Lesson – EP171
In this guitar lesson you'll learn how to play a jazzy sounding, western swing lead over a I, IV, V chord progression for a much more melodic sounding lead. I'll show you how to play a few jazz runs by targeting the notes within the chord. This gives you a much more melodic sounding lead, and you'll find it's really not that difficult to do! This works on acoustic or electric guitar. … [Read more...]
James Burton Style Lead Guitar Lesson – EP161
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a lead on electric guitar that is made up of several signature James Burton licks. James Burton is a good combination of country and blues. He's a fantastic "chicken pickin" style player, but he also injects a lot of soul which gives him more of a bluesy tone. He's played with just about everyone you can think of, but is probably best known for his work with Elvis Presley. I'll provide all of the background information in this lesson, including … [Read more...]
How To Play Lead Using Chords – Guitar Lesson – EP156
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a bluesy, up-tempo lead using chords. You'll learn how to play chords using different chord voicings as well as how to play several double stops (lead harmonies) and how they related to the chords. Understanding chord shapes up the neck of the guitar is really the secret behind unlocking the fretboard. … [Read more...]
Vintage R&B (Rhythm and Lead) Guitar Lesson – EP118
I had a chance to spend a few days in Memphis, TN last weekend and while I was there I took the Sun Studio tour. I highly recommend that tour to any musician - so much history in that small building! Throughout the tour they were playing some of the great Sun Records recordings by artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Ike Turner, and the list goes on and on. I created this week's "Call and Response", blues rhythm and lead guitar lesson as a tribute to some of the great … [Read more...]
Rock / Country Lead Guitar Lesson (Part 2 of 2) – EP092
In this guitar lesson, learn how to play the lead part of the rock / country mini series. This is part 2 (of 2). This is a great lesson to learn how to change scales as the chords change, which is more prominent in country lead. Click here if you'd like to learn part 1 - rock country rhythm guitar lesson. … [Read more...]
Rock / Country Rhythm Guitar Lesson (Part 1 of 2) – EP091
In this guitar lesson, learn how to play an up-tempo, driving rock / country rhythm on electric guitar (although you could do this on acoustic as well). This lesson uses a combination of country and classic rock licks. I've included a slower version of the MP3 jam track as well for those that are just getting started with this style of playing. Also, for premium members, scroll down to check out the Soundslice tab / video player! … [Read more...]
Vintage Guitar Rhythm Lesson – EP083
In this lesson, learn how to play a vintage R&B style rhythm on guitar (this works on electric or acoustic guitar). Also included in this lesson is how to follow a key change. There are also some basic, major pentatonic and minor pentatonic leads that are taught. … [Read more...]
Scotty Moore Style Guitar Lesson (Elvis Presley) – EP073
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a Scotty Moore influenced lead and rhythm. Scotty Moore was the classic guitar sound behind Elvis Presley in his early career and played on songs like Mystery Train, That's All Right (Mama), Blue Moon of Kentucky, and most of the Elvis classics. His style of rockabilly guitar is influenced by jazz, country, and blues and you'll hear a little of all 3 of those styles in this lesson. I've included 2 versions of the MP3 jam track (one normal tempo and … [Read more...]
