Archives: Lessons
John Lowell – What he learned from Darrell Scott, Ron Block, and Ben Bullington
John Lowell is a true triple threat an incredible singer, songwriter, and player who calls Montana home. Enjoy our wide ranging discussion and be sure…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #13
Laurence Juber Laurence is a multi-faceted musician and one who often lurks in the shadows… but not anymore. Laurence has been the lead guitarist for…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #14
Pierre Bensusan I discovered Pierre in my early stages of exploring instrumental acoustic artists. I bought an album of his never having heard him before…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #15
Riley Puckett Riley, born in 1894, is one of the pioneers of old time guitar… except for when he was playing it was a new…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #16
David Qualey When I was first getting into fingerstyle guitar, there was one song that absolutely mesmerized me. The song was called “Santa Cruz” and…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #17
Peter Lang This is a name that I had seen often, however I didn’t really take the time to listen too much. The reason I…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #18
Russ Barenberg An often times unsung guitar hero, but one who’s praises need to be shouted from the roof tops… make that mountain tops. Russ…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #19
Michael Daves I mean I don’t really know what to say the voice, the playing, the look… I mean Michael is like a bionic flatpicker…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #20
Kenny Smith Kenny is a bluegrass guitar player that brings the definition of tone to a whole new level. His crosspicking, delicate style, and note…
High School Prom (Am – Lick – FLP)
A lick that provides the soundtrack to my dreadful high school prom. A minor tinged lick that has you exploiting the open A minor scale and then zoomi…
WU25 String Locater (FLP)
A true wonder warmup is in store for today. This warmup is one that will surely increase your flatpicking prowess especially if you are looking to imp…
Wallflower (Am – Scale – FLP)
A minor is the name of the game and you get two scale shapes in that key to play with today. Yep, a true two for one special!!! You will harness the p…
Around The Clock (Am – Chord Prog. – FLP)
A chord progression in A minor is on tap for today and this one has some added flare to really drive the minor tonality home. The chords for this prog…
KC14 Major (Key of A) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU6 Forward Roll (FP)
The forward roll is an essential move in the dance that is finger style. It is borrowed from the banjo world, but makes itself right at home on the gu…
Ditka (D – Lick – FP)
Ok so this lick is one that may sound very familiar. It is from a song that I loved growing up and still love to this day… I will just leave that th…
Coach Q (D – Scale – FP)
The scale that you will learn and use today is in the key of D major and it is a harmonized scale. By taking the 1st and 3rd degree of each chord in t…
Phil Jackson (D – Chord Prog. – FP)
You will welcome a new technique into your home today with this lesson. This chord progression is in the key of D and it utilizes a bare hand strummin…
KC14 Minor (Key of A) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU6 Forward Roll Speed Challenge (FP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 2 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designated to …
Boogie Woogerton (A – Lick – FP)
The lick today is one that will have all of the blues hounds howling. This lick is prime for placing into a boogie rhythm in the key of A. It retains …
Total Neck Domination (A – Scale – FP)
The scale that is queued up for today is one that will do just as it's name explains… After you learn this you will be able to dominate the entire n…
Boogie Barn (A – Chord Prog. – FP)
This is a rhythm that will make you smile, laugh and ultimately boogie. This is a rhythm that is commonly picked, but I think it works so well in the …
KC14 Mixed (Key of A) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU5 DDU Crosspicking (FLP)
The warmup today will help you harness the power of the down, down, up crosspicking pattern. This exercise will help you navigate your way through all…
Tribute To Mr. Rice (D – Lick – FLP)
Nothing rocks quite as hard as the D run. I first heard the D run in Tony Rice's version of Blue Railroad Train, it knocked my socks off then, and it …
Five Minute Rice (D – Scale – FLP)
The scale you will learn today is one that will have you feeling a bit more confident during your fretboard navigation and transportation. This D majo…
Quinoa Quickness (D – Chord Prog. – FLP)
A chord progression in A minor is on tap for today and this one has some added flare to really drive the minor tonality home. The chords for this prog…
KC6 Mixed (Key of A)
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU7 Finger Pairs (FLP)
This warmup is one that will most certainly limber up your fretting hand. For this warmup you will be pairing your index and ring finger as well as yo…
Zombie Walk (Am – Lick – FLP)
This lick is one that once you get it down you will 100% absolutely love it. This lick has it all, moving up and down the neck, three different chord …
Skull and Crossbones (Am – Scale – FLP)
A roller coaster of a ride is in store for you today as you navigate through this combination of two different A minor scale shapes. These two scale s…
Brain Stew (Am – Chord Prog. – FLP)
This chord progression reveals an extremely important pattern on the fretboard and a beautiful connection that barre chords have to offer. All of the …
KC15 Major (Key of D) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU26 Ring Finger Roundup (FP)
This warmup will help you, in great detail, to examine the fingerpicking relationship between your thumb, index, middle and ring finger. You will take…
Hrothgar (A – Lick – FP)
The lick that will be under your fingers after today’s lesson is in the key of A and it is a bluesy one at that. This lick is a classic blues turnar…
Beowulf (A – Scale – FP)
The scale for your playing and listening pleasure this week is an A blues scale. It will be performed out of an open position, and the technique that …
Grendel (A – Chord Prog. – FP)
This chord progression is in the the key of A and it truly is a thumb workout of epic proportions. This chord progression is a standard 12 barre blues…
KC15 Minor (Key of D) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU7 Finger Pairs Speed Challenge (FLP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 1 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designated to …
Bingo Bango (G – Lick – FLP)
Today's lick is focused mostly on the high two strings. This G major lick is one that shows the power of phrasing and combinations. Through different …
Oingo Boingo (G – Scale – FLP)
This scale is one that is more of a mutation than a true scale shape. The scale you will learn today is in the key of G and is oriented in a "horizont…
Flippety Doo (G – Chord Prog. – FLP)
A chord progression in the key of G that targets the high 3 strings is in store today. At first listen you might think, "just three strings, how can t…
KC15 Accidentals (Key of D) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU26 Ring Finger Roundup Speed Challenge (FP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 2 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designated to …
Call and Response (D – Lick – FP)
The lick on the menu today will exploit the D chord in a way that shows how incredibly useful that little buddy can be. You will use the D chord as yo…
Movement and Location (D – Scale – FP)
Using the D chord shape again today, you will complete a D harmonized scale and this time you will use the interval of a 5th. This scale sequence has …
Stack’em High and Watch’em Fly (D – Chord Prog. – FP)
Again with the D chord shape today!!! Today you will combine what you did earlier in the week and create a chord progression with a unique rhythm. Thi…
KC15 Mixed (Key of D) Barre
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
The Tools You Need to Play Slide
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Left Hand Slide Technique
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Right Hand Slide Technique
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Put it All Together
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Play The Blues!
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5 Day Pinky Challenge 1 – Dusting off the Digit
Here it is.. the first in a series of exercises designed to whip your pinky into shape!!! This particular exercise will focus on "dusting it off." Thi…
5 Day Pinky Challenge 2 – Getting Along Well With Others
The pinky by itself is a bugger... but when you start pairing it with other fingers it is a bugger times two. The exercise that awaits you today is on…
5 Day Pinky Challenge 3 – Strength In Numbers
My oh my talk about pairs of fingers... I should have called this one pinky pairs. This exercise gives you a little bit of everything, some pinky mobi…
5 Day Pinky Challenge 4 – Slide Away
The pinky callous development continues today with a down and dirty pinky training that will go down in the record books. Things seem to be adding up …
5 Day Pinky Challenge 5 – The Gauntlet
The Gauntlet... a beautiful way to combine all of your pinky efforts into one bite sized exercise that will have your pinky screaming "uncle!!!" This …
Live Q&A
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Guitar Inspiration • Artist #21
Parker Millsap Parker is one of the most unique artists I have heard in a long time. His voice can go from a whisper to…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #22
Rory Block Somehow, someway Rory has conjured the tone and feel of Robert Johnson. She plays slide, she finger picks and she sings like crazy……
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #23
Dan Tyminski The voice, the playing, the knack for always playing the right thing… it’s all there!!! Dan is not only a member of Union…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #24
Alex De Grassi A finger style player who uses percussion and slap harmonics with precision and expertise. His tunes are engaging and very thoughtfully arranged,…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #25
Dan Crary Dan’s version of Forked Deer is one of the reasons I started to flatpick… I don’t know what it was; his technical proficiency,…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #26
John Renbourn Commonly associated with the group Pentangle, John’s solo finger style pieces are jaw droppingly beautiful. His sense of melody and phrasing are of…
Guitar Inspiration • Artist #27
Roy Book Binder A fingerstyle player steeped in old time blues and ragtime tradition. His tone and style are straight out of yesteryear. A master…
Foundational Five
The foundational five are just what they sound like: a foundation for you to construct your fretboard knowledge on top of. Most importantly these foundational…
How to Find the Key by Ear
Important Please Read First: To get the most out of each lesson, quiz, replay, and challenge I strongly recommend going through the material in the…
How to Find Chords by Ear
Important Please Read First: To get the most out of each lesson, quiz, replay, and challenge I strongly recommend going through the material in the…
Transposing the Easy Way
Important Please Read First: To get the most out of each lesson, quiz, replay, and challenge I strongly recommend going through the material in the…
The Improvisation Framework
Important Please Read First: To get the most out of each lesson, quiz, replay, and challenge I strongly recommend going through the material in the…
Your Final Project – Put it all Together
Now that you have your guitar theory toolbox filled with the right tools for the job, it’s time to go to work. In this final…
WU27 Syncopation (FLP)
A curve ball will be heaved your way today, but it is the best possible curveball that could ever happen. Today’s warmup takes an in depth look at h…
Ace Up Your Sleeve (A – Lick – FLP)
Nothing is better than a standard sounding lick with a tweak at the end. Today's lick fits that bill to a T. Placed in the key of A, this licks starts…
Jokers Are Wild (A – Scale – FLP)
I love double stops… just plain love them and today I wish to share that joy of double stops with you. You will have a look at an A major double sto…
Two of a Kind (A – Chord Prog – FLP)
The boom chick-a rhythm is one that warms the hearts of guitarists across the world. Today's chord progression uses the boom chick-a rhythm, but adds …
KC1 Major (Key of C)
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU10 Staggered Pinch (FP)
This warmup will no doubt get your picking and fretting fingers ready to rock. The focus of this warmup is what I like to call the staggered pinch. Th…
Bugs Bunny (A – Lick – FP)
A bluesy infused lick is on tap today and it is one that utilizes the open position A pentatonic scale in glorious fashion. Starting with a slide into…
Elmer Fudd (A – Scale – FP)
The A minor pentatonic scale can be interpreted in so many different ways, and today you will learn another interpretation of it. Today’s scale is i…
Roadrunner (A – Chord Prog. – FP)
This chord progression is one that I know you will find incredibly useful. This is a blues chord progression that involves the A7 chord. The A7 is not…
KC1 Minor (Key of C)
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU27 Syncopation Speed Challenge (FLP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 1 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designated to …
Fairy Godmother (G – Lick – FLP)
The lick on tap for today is a somewhat whimsical one… Whimsical in title, of course, but also whimsical in sound. This lick is one that will take y…
Hidden Sea of Awesome (G – Scale – FLP)
The scale for today is one that seems rather common, however I have added some extensions so that you can go from the low end of the guitar way up to …
Magic Wand (G – Chord Prog. – FLP)
The magic continues today and the chord progression you will have under your fingers after today’s session will leave you in awe. By using the same …
KC1 Accidentals (Key of C)
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU10 Staggered Pinch Speed Challenge (FP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 2 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designated to …
Hulkamania (C – Lick – FP)
It’s all about utilizing double stops today with this lick. Focusing on the high two strings, this lick offers some punch and has a unique timing tw…
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (C – Scale – FP)
The scale for today is all about double stops on the high two strings. This scale is in the key of C and it features some punchy little two note pinch…
The Ultimate Warrior (C – Chord Prog. – FP)
This chord progression is a very useful one in the key of C. You will become familiar with the chords in the key of C all the while using a three fing…
KC1 Mixed (Key of C)
Today's lesson is focused on helping you roadmap keys with common chords that you will likely run into. This category is designed for a couple reasons…
WU11 Strong Pairs (FLP)
The warmup today is centered around pairs of fingers that are commonly used when executing scale patterns. You will focus on your index finger and rin…
Multi-Tool (G – Lick – FLP)
The lick on tap for today is one that upon first glance looks like one lick, but upon further review you can pull it apart and generate at least two l…