In this four lesson tutorial, I will explain what alternate picking means, demonstrate and talk about alternate picking technique, then show you two simple exercises to get you started.
In these six lessons, I will talk about the importance of practicing using different styles of picking, and I will show you a few more really useful exercises that will help you get your alternate picking technique up to par.
This tutorial on string bending was inspired by a few subscribers in the forum, that wanted to know how to start bending strings. I started with useful tips, followed by sixteen lessons using whole tone bends on the B string. In the first eight I'm bending the 2nd note of the scale up to the 3rd. In the next eight I'm bending the 4th note of the scale up to the 5th, and close with tips on how to use them.
This B-bender guitar tutorial was inspired by a subscriber in the forum, that had recently gotten one of theses guitars. In the first lesson I'll describe this device, tell you how it works, and use it to complete an A chord. Then I'll show you a two finger bending combination, and then the same one using a bar instead. Both of these concept's are useful, and can lead to some great licks.
This tutorial on prebending strings was inspired by all the other string bending tutorials, and all the legendary guitarists that use this concept. In the first lesson I'll mention a few of them, then show a couple of examples using this trick. Then I use bending positions that work with the 1, 4, and 5 chords in the key of A, and also talk a little about how palm muting works with this too.
This tutorial on prebending strings was inspired by all the other string bending tutorials, and all the legendary guitarists that use this concept. In these lessons I'm sliding up a whole step to the note, prebending the string up to the same note, and releasing the bend. Put these together for a 1, 4, 5, 1 progression in the key of A.
In this series of lessons, Anders Mouridsen will take your bending up a level. First we'll get a brief overview and talk about a bending tone, then we'll explore using double bends in your leads. Bending up on one string and down on another is next; we'll then learn about wide bends. We'll combine all three bending licks together and improvise, and conclude with practice exercises.
In these rock soloing technique lessons, we'll be teaching you some essential bends and vibrato technique that will aid you in your lead playing. You'll be learning four types of bends here: up and down bends, pre-bends, bend and choke, and bending one string but not the other. Next we'll show you some vibrato technique, then put all of it together.
In this next tutorial on rock soloing, Anders Mouridsen will teach you bending and vibrato techniques. We'll start with an overview introducing the techniques and a suggested tone for them. Then you'll learn basic bending, your first bending lick, and do some jamming with it. We'll do the same using our vibrato technique, then combine both techniques. We'll end with some easy practice exercises.
In this tutorial, Anders Mouridsen will teach several techniques to apply to our soloing. Anders will introduce the concepts then dial in a tone for our lessons; then take a look at dynamic picking. We'll follow with an important element of expression: grace notes. After that we'll learn more on bending along with slides, then we'll add vibrato to the bends. We'll cap things off by applying these tools to our go-to and chord tone licks.
In this set of lessons, Caren Armstrong will teach basic Travis picking technique. We'll start with an overview of Travis picking, then get into basic terminology and orientation. Next up is the important hand position, the we'll detail the basic picking pattern and counting the rhythm. A simple exercise follows; then we'll review some reminders of what not to do. Then we'll play some examples in 3 keys, and end with increasing your speed.
Jorma Kaukonen started here. Taj Mahal, and Keb' Mo' too, plus dozens of other acoustic blues masters. Even if you're new to fingerpicking, this tutorial will walk you step-by-step through learning to play the fingerstyle blues, and load you up with an impressive collection of tricks and riffs you can toss in at any time. You'll even learn to write your own blues song!
This fingerstyle instrumental uses skills you've learned in Acoustic Fingerpicking, Step-by-Step. Enjoy learning this piece - and don't worry - you don't have to sing a single note!
This instrumental song project uses a single fingerpicking pattern, and some chord variations There are no other fancy moves, which makes this a great piece for the Advanced Beginner to Intermediate student.
Mastering a Song Project is a great way to solidify your skills and build your repertoire.
In this segment, we'll bring all your hard work and solid skills to work in learning to play 3 full songs, complete with fancy ornamentations and arrangements to learn. You'll learn to play The Water is Wide, John Riley, and Lord Franklin's Lament. Prepare to add these beauties to your repertoire.
Welcome to Acoustic Fingerpicking Step-by-Step, Level 2! In the Fingerpicker's Goldmine featured in this tutorial, you'll find over a dozen ornaments and fancy tricks you can play to add new life and complexity to your song arrangements. Impress your friends with these awesome tricks of the trade. Let's get fancy!
Let's ramp it up yet again by taking fingerpicking patterns in 4/4 time, and combining them to create interesting song arrangements. Learn a secret tone-mellowing technique, and how to play the song Cindy. Then get ready for Acoustic Fingerpicking Step-by-Step, Level 2. Congrats!
Now that you have mastered the 4-Step Pattern and full measure variations in 4/4 time, let's take a look at new patterns in 3/4 time and 6/8 time. Along the way, you'll learn to play several classic songs, including Star of the County Down, Do You Love an Apple, and a beautiful arrangement of Scarborough Fair with an impressive fancy figure you can play!
Now that you have mastered the 4-Step Pattern, let's take things to the next level by adding variations of that pattern to create full-measure classic patterns. Along the way, you'll learn to play several classic songs, including Thyme, Blow Ye Winds of the Morning, and Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor. Get ready to ramp things up!
In this tutorial I'll teach you the first level of acoustic fingerpicking. We'll get started with a basic four-step pattern, then learn how to change chords with it. We'll then do some 2 and 3 chord practice drills followed by two songs. Then it's time for drills to build your speed and play another song. Next we'll learn different styles, play another song, and finish with more drills - and a final song!
In this set of lessons, Anders Mouridsen will teach you hammer-ons and pull-offs. First we'll talk about what they are, then dial-in a good tone. Then we'll learn how to play both hammer-ons and pull-offs, and then combine the two techniques. Then it's time to learn a lick, and after that you'll learn to improvise with it. To conclude, we'll teach you some easy practice exercises.
If you're looking to be more expressive and dynamic in your lead playing, then learning about hammer-ons and pull-offs is a great technique to get under your fingers. The basic concept is fairly simple: a hammer-on is hammering your finger onto the fret without picking it, creating a tone. The pull-off is the equal and opposite. We'll work on building finger strength, using the pentatonic and dorian scale, playing legato, using open strings, and how to "pull-hammer-slide".
In this tutorial I'll show you how much cool stuff you can do with harmonics on the acoustic guitar. We're gonna break down the open harmonics and how to use them to play scales, melodies, and chords. I'll show you how to do the classic “cascading chords” and much more. This is one of those techniques that is nearly impossible to figure out just from listening, but after watching this tutorial you'll know everything you need to go learn some more harmonic tricks on your own!
In this tutorial we're going to explore another lead technique that is very common in rock lead playing. This is the technique where you hit the strings with your thumb along with your pick to create a screeching harmonic. It's called "pinch harmonics", and I'm sure you'll recognize the sound of it. Some players use pinch harmonics in a very calculated and controlled way while others use it more loosely. In this tutorial we'll explore the basic technique and the different approaches in some fun and rockin' examples!
In this short tutorial, Neal Walter will explain two types of harmonics for you: pinch and natural. Pinch harmonics are often used in rock soloing, and natural harmonics are often used to give color. Neal will break down how to approach these harmonics so you can add them to your expressive arsenal.
Hybrid picking is a hybrid of using a pick and using the fingers to get a snappy, chicken picking sound. This series of lessons will get you started with solid techniques that will get your hybrid picking fundamentals down.
This tutorial on basic hybrid picking exercises was inspired by a young man who asked me how to get started hybrid picking. I'll show you a variety of exercises that you can do to develop your hybrid picking. In the first five lessons I'll show you some basic exercises using the A, G, E, C, and D chords. Next I'll show you a couple using barre chords, and then how to alternate the bass notes using the A, D, C, and B chords.
This hybrid picking progression in A was inspired by the basic hybrid picking exercises, to show how adding other concepts to the exercises can make some awesome riffs. First I'll show you the riffs using the 1, 4, and 5 chords in the key of A. I'll also talk about palm muting, and then play them in a progression.
This tutorial of hybrid picking exercises was inspired by pickers I've met while performing, and they wanted to know how to get started hybrid picking. These five easy exercises are all root/5 picking patterns, with alternating bass notes. First I'll show you exercises using E, and then A barre chord formations. Then I'll show you similar exercises using the other basic chords.
What does the left hand do? This tutorial of 3 lessons shows absolute beginner guitarist students the basics of left hand technique. Topics include fretting the strings with fingertips, fingerpads, barring with the whole finger, muting, hammer-ons, pull-offs and trills.
In this set of lessons, Caren Armstrong will teach you how to develop good left hand technique. We'll start with an overview of the lessons, then look at the elements of basic left hand technique. Following that we'll look at chord position and placement; then learn about strength versus finesse in making our chord shifts. Chord connections are up next, and we'll conclude by wrapping up all the concepts.
This introduction to the musical term legato will show you what it is, what it means, how it sounds and how to play in a legato manner. It is contrasted with staccato and characterized as a technique used in musical phrasing or articulation.
Palm muting is an essential technique for every rock guitarist, and is simple to learn! This tutorial will walk you through the mechanics of how to use palm muting with power and barre chords, accents, and more.
In this set of lessons, Anders Mouridsen will take your palm muting to the next level. Anders will introduce the concepts of right hand control, then dial in a suitable tone. After that we'll look at where and when to mute, followed by how to apply and release your palm. Palm muting arpeggios is up next, then we'll learn how to palm mute bass notes. We'll put it all into a practice tune, and finish up with some easy practice exercises.
This series of lessons will teach the user how to combine barre, power and open chords along with palm muting and arpeggiation to create chord progressions that rock.
Slapping is a technique that is most often thought of in the context of bass playing- but you can do it on guitar too! In this set of four guitar lessons you'll be introduced to slapping techniques on guitar; how to use your thumb to get the slap in the lower notes, and fingers to get that pop in the upper notes. We'll use a backing track to help you get in the groove.
Using a bottleneck slide is an expressive technique often used in blues. In this tutorial, we'll look at basic slide technique, open D tuning and standard tuning, some Duane Allman approaches, how to play slow blues slide, and pedal steel 3rds. We'll conclude by jamming along with a backing track.
In this tutorial we'll answer questions about the tonal differences between using your fingers instead of a pick. We'll also look at the bottleneck slide, then how to use a capo. All these are important components of getting great blues tone and style.
Strumming is essential to playing the guitar, and in this tutorial Anders Mouridsen will teach you some basic techniques and patterns to give you a solid strumming foundation. We'll start with holding the pick and right hand/arm technique for optimum strumming. Next we'll examine a basic 8th note strumming pattern and a basic 16th note pattern in 4/4 time, followed by a pattern in 3/4. Anders will conclude with a synopsis of everything he taught. You'll be strumming in no time!
In this set of rhythm lessons, Anders Mouridsen is going to examine strumming in rock. We'll talk about strumming and get an appropriate tone, then look at palm muting and strumming with both eighth and sixteenth notes. Then we'll learn about ghost strums, and apply everything to two practice tunes. We'll finish with a lesson on how to derive strum patterns from the drums.
Let's start with the basics of strumming, and then teach you to strum in a variety of keys, tempos, and time signatures. Along the way, you'll learn to play 10 songs! A solid foundation in strumming basics is essential to playing folk, rock, pop, blues, and more. Get started right here!
When you are strumming in 3/4 time, the moves and skills are very much the same as what you are already comfortable with, but the feel is quite different. Discover how 3/4 time gives a song a "dance-like" feel, and learn to play the song 'With You I Am Whole'.
In this technique tutorial, Caren Armstrong will get you focused on your strumming. Caren will start by look the right hand with basic 1/8th notes, then she'll spice it up in the next lesson. Caren will explain her concept of "zoning" in the following lesson, and get into some syncopation. Next up is a look at "extreme zoning", then a look at damping (or muting). To finish, Caren will take all the elements and mix them up.
Let's learn to understand the nuts and bolts that lie behind the strumming rhythm we have been working on so far in this course. Applying this new info to what you can already do will vastly expand your strumming grooves and options! You'll be amazed at how easy, and how very cool this is going to be.
This tutorial on the Boom-Chick Strumming pattern was inspired by our site to show you how useful it is. In the first four lessons I show you the pattern using the 1, 4, and 5 chord in the key of A, followed by a progression in the next lesson. I change to a 16th note pattern with a D chord in the fifth lesson, and then finish up with a D progression using the 16th note strumming pattern.
I will start by introducing you to boom chick fingerpicking, and in the four lessons that follow, I will teach you a little song I wrote just for this tutorial. We will start with the thumb, then add some chord hits, and ultimately we will learn the melody and put it all together. Let's dive in!
In this series of lessons I will teach you a nice way to play unaccompanied blues on just the acoustic guitar. I will show you what to play over the I chord, the IV chord and the V chord, and I'll show you a cool turnaround that you can add to your personal library of turnaround licks. Let's go!
In this second tutorial in my Boom Chick Blues series, we will build upon what we learned in the previous tutorial and take it to the next level. We will add a few licks to the mix, and play around with the chords a bit more. Watch out for the blazing fast ending lick! The very last lesson contains a slowed down performance to make it easier to follow.
In this tutorial, Eric Barnett gives you the essentials of sweep picking, to get you started on this rock and metal guitar technique. We'll go through what sweep picking is, the right and left hand functions, and detailed exercises on both and how to put them together.
By the end of this tutorial, you understand the basics of sweep picking technique and be able to play a simple 3 note triad chord sweep in major and minor chords and keys.
By the end of this tutorial, you understand how to apply sweep picking technique to a simple chord progression in a variety of ways using major and minor chord tones and scale notes.
By the end of this tutorial, you understand more about how to apply sweep picking technique to a simple chord progression in a variety of ways using major and minor chord tones and scale notes.
Sweep Picking Series 6: More Advanced Applications
In these five lessons in this final tutorial on sweep picking, I'll be teaching you some more advanced applications of this technique. First I'll show you a shred sweep lick over an A minor based progression, then we'll look at an E harmonic minor arpeggio pattern. I'll follow that up with using diminished arpeggio sweeps, and using shred sweeps in a "bluesy" way. I'll finish with playing sweeps over a long descending chord progression.
In this tutorial, Eric Barnett takes you up into advanced levels of sweep picking. Picking up where he left off in "Introduction to Sweep Picking", Eric will show you how to embellish 5 string shapes in a couple of different ways, how to sweep tap, and moveable shapes.
This tutorial will be very beginner friendly. Over the course of seven lessons I will teach you the basic tapping technique, and we'll practice it over a few backing tracks. Let's go!
In this tutorial consisting of 9 lessons, I will get you started with learning your fretboard horizontally, so you know what notes to pick for your tapping licks. We'll start with scales and then move to arpeggios. As usual, there are 4 examples with backing tracks so you can put theory into practice.
In this tutorial, I will teach you how to tap harmonics, and we will work on three fairly advanced tapping examples over backing tracks. At the end of the tutorial, I included slower versions of the backing tracks that gradually increase in tempo, so you can take your time and build speed.
Are you curious about touch and tapping on guitar? This unusual technique can produce some beautiful, distinct sounding chords and melodies. In this tutorial, HP Kruesi will delve into this fascinating approach in the style of Stanley Jordan using both your left and right hands on the neck. HP will get you started by showing you the basics, put the technique into use in the context of jazz and blues styles, and some exercises.
Here I'll be teaching you some more essentials on touch technique in the style of Stanley Jordan. I'll be talking briefly about touch tapping, then we'll work from the beginning up to some more advanced techniques and ideas in four parts. At the end we'll put it all together into a classical style song.
In this series of lessons, Sharon Aguilar will teach you about the legato technique called trills. Sharon will introduce the concept, then go over the basics of trills. Next we'll look at using different intervals for your trills, then how to use different rhythms. A couple of exercises are next, first using combinations of intervals on one string, then vertically across strings using the A minor pentatonic scale.
If you combine a hammer-on and a pull-off you've got the beginning of a trill. A trill is a musical ornamentation technique hat consists of rapidly alternating between two notes. In this tutorial you'll learn some exercises that can help building your trilling technique. We'll systematically work each finger into the routine.
The use of vibrato is an effect that is unique to all string instruments and all the more effective when used on the guitar. In blues playing, the use of vibrato is key and each blues player has his or her own vibrato. When used wisely, it can make even the simplest phrases and solos sound very effective. In this tutorial we are going to take a look at a few different types of vibrato that are both artist specific and usable by any guitarist at any level. Let's get started!
In these lessons I will introduce you to some really useful techniques like bending, vibrato and hammer-ons and pull-offs, so that you can start working on your feel. Great feel doesn't come from these techniques alone, but learning them will help you get in touch with that side of blues playing.
In this tutorial, we'll learn some rock whammy (or "vibrato") bar techniques. I'll start by looking at some basic techniques and licks, then talk about how the whammy bar works and some insights into tuning issues. Then I'll teach you a rock riff with whammy, some "divebombing", and some ornamental dips. Next up are a few lessons using hammer-ons and pull-offs, followed by "harmonic dipping and screaming". We'll end with a play along.
Technique
