Sweet Spot (G- Lick – FLP)
One of the hard parts about playing up the neck is getting back to play the chords, when you switch from “solo mode†to “rhythm mode.†This li…
Archives: Lessons
Dungeon Master (Dm – Lick – FP)
What happens when you pair a backward roll with drop D tuning… pure magic… pure magic is the answer. This lick uses the low strings and sounds dar…
Slapshot (G – Lick – FLP)
This lick is a bit of an anomaly. It is located in the middle of the neck, but it elegantly ties in open strings. These open strings not only add to t…
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…
Sweeter Spot (G – Scale – FLP)
The scale you will go through today is a G major scale that accomplishes the goal of the week rather well… it is an up the neck/closed position scal…
Dungeon of Despair (Dm – Scale – FP)
The beauty of the backward roll continues today, as well as the exploitation of the dropped Low E string. Using a D minor scale on the D string, you w…
Icing (G – Scale – FLP)
A scale that covers some serious ground is on the menu today, and not only does it cover a lot of ground, it also incorporates open strings. This part…
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…
Block Party (G – Rhythm – FLP)
Open chords are wonderful it’s true, I dearly love them with all of my heart… but what happens when you can’t get away from up the neck in time?…
Torture Chamber (Dm – Rhythm – FP)
This chord progression does two things… first, it sounds quite sad (D minor is indeed the saddest of all keys), and two, it shows that the backward …
Hansen Brothers (G – Rhythm – FLP)
The chord progression today is one that seems simple, is very common, and isn't to terribly difficult… so what is the catch??? There is none. This c…
Roadrunner (A – Rhythm – 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…
KC5 Major (Key of G)
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…
KC5 Minor (Key of G)
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…
KC12 Major (Key of G 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…
KC12 Minor (Key of G 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…
WU19 Hammers and Pulls (FLP)
You will think that your picking hand is on a vacation today because today’s warmup is all about hammer ons and pull offs. You will have a chance to…
WU28 Thumb Awareness (FP)
The thumb awareness warmup is one that although rather unconventional will play a huge impact in the confidence and accuracy you have in your thumb. T…
WU19 Hammers and Pulls 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 designed to bu…
WU28 Thumb Awareness 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 designed to bu…
KC6 Major (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…
KC6 Minor (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…
KC8 Major (Key of Am)
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…
KC8 Minor (Key of Am)
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…
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…
Back Asswards (A – Lick – FP)
This lick puts the backward roll in action, and shows how it can be placed over a chord prior to a single note lick. This is a technique that really h…
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 …
Special Swamp Sauce (E – Lick – FP)
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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 …
Parallel Parking (A – Scale – FP)
The powerful interval of the octave is what this scale sequence is all about. So often the backward roll is performed on the higher strings, leaving t…
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…
Raking The Leaves (E – Scale – FP)
The scale for today will allow you to work on the raking technique in conjunction with an E minor pentatonic scale. Now granted in a song where you ar…
Magic Wand (G – Rhythm – 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 …
Nintendo Nuances (A – Rhythm – FP)
Today you will use little chord chunks so that you can see how effective even little pieces of chords can be. All of these chord chunks will be locate…
Brain Stew (Am – Rhythm – 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 …
Clunky Transmission (E – Rhythm – FP)
Today the guitar wizards come down and do a necessary blues rhythm spell for all of us. This rhythm that you are going to work on today has been used …
WU21 Index Reference (FLP)
The whole notion of this warmup is to use your index finger as a reference and find frets based upon it. This particular feeling of having your index …
WU22 Eighth Note Turnaround (FP)
This warmup is one that reaches into the banjo trick bag and pulls out a technique that is very much applicable to guitar. This will help you focus on…
WU22 Eighth Note Turnaround Speed Challenge (FP)
You will get another crack at the warmup from week 3 of this month today, but this time the tempo will be increased :-) The warmups are designed to bu…
WU21 Index Reference 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 designed to bu…
Roller Skating Rink (G – Lick – FP)
The lick for today will show how the forward roll (both with the ring finger and without) can be incorporated into a lick. This lick is a fun one in G…
Brian Boitano (G – Lick – FLP)
This lick is an awesome one for traveling up the neck. This flat picking lick is one that starts out fairly plain jane, and then it migrates up the ne…
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…
Cement Mixer (C – Lick – FP)
The power of one hand position will be revealed today. Just by holding a basic C major open chord and combining that with some pull offs, hammer ons a…
Double Axle (G – Scale – FLP)
Today’s scale is a two for one special, yes it is your lucky day two scales all in one day… well kind of. You will execute a G major scale way up …
Falcor Flies Again (G – Scale – FP)
A scale that contains double stops in the key of G is in order for today, but there is a beautiful thing that lies within todays scale… the use of t…
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…
Construction Zone (C – Scale – FP)
The C major harmonized scale is up on tap today and this one really focuses on the lower strings and it integrates sixteenth notes as well. This scale…
Ice Dancing (G – Rhythm – FLP)
Chord progressions can sometimes feel as though they are all the same, but this one today will take some common chords for a whole different ride. You…
Merlin’s Mutant Brother (G – Rhythm – FP)
So often the forward roll is associated with a driving, almost momentum building effect, but today you will see a side of the forward roll that is muc…
Two Of A Kind (A – Rhythm – 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 …
Orange Safety Cones (C – Rhythm – FP)
The rhythm technique used in this chord progression is one that really provides a huge punch on the one beat of the first measure of each rhythmic seq…
KC7 Major (Key of B)
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…
KC7 Minor (Key of B)
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…
KC7 Accidentals (Key of B)
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…
KC7 Mixed (Key of B)
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…
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 …
WU3 Adjacent Strings (FLP)
The warmup on the schedule for today is one that will begin to help you maintain proper pick direction even when picking two different strings. This e…
WU3 Adjacent Strings 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 designed to bu…
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…
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 designed to bu…
Wedgie (B – Lick – FLP)
This lick has a bit of everything, but mostly what it has is attitude. Today's lick is in the key of B and it is bluesy, just plain gritty and bluesy.…
Tin Man (Dm – Lick – FP)
The lick today is in open D minor tuning and it is one that will give you some creative experimenting grounds. You will use an open position D minor s…
Weeble Wobbles (G – Lick – FLP)
This lick is an awesome one for traveling up the neck. This flat picking lick is one that starts out fairly plain jane, and then it migrates up the ne…
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…
Swirly (B – Scale – FLP)
Bends are the name of the game today. The scale you will learn may very well be a familiar minor pentatonic shape in the key of B, however you will be…
Scarecrow (Dm – Scale – FP)
The scale for today will use the low D string as a drone string while you play a D minor scale on the higher four strings. Now you might be thinking 
Rock’em Sock’em Robots (G – Scale – FLP)
The scale that awaits you today is one in the key of G major, and there is a very important technique combined with it. You will notice as you perform…
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 …
Wet Willy (B – Rhythm – FLP)
Today's chords progression is a prime example of not using chords in a chord progression. Yes it's true, today you will not use a chord in a chord pro…
Cowardly Lion (Dm – Rhythm – FP)
This chord progression is one that involves three really crucial things, and the cool thing is that they aren't all that complicated either. So here g…
Lite Brite (G – Rhythm – FLP)
The chord progression that lies before you today is one that although it contains common chords gets a bit of a rhythmic curveball. You will be playin…
Grendel (A – Rhythm – FP)
This chord progression is in the key of A and it truly is a thumb workout of epic proportions. This chord progression is a standard 12 barre blues, bu…
KC9 Minor (Key of Bm)
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…
KC9 Major (Key of Bm)
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…
KC9 Accidentals (Key of Bm)
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…
KC9 Mixed (Key of Bm)
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…
WU23 Mixed Values and Strings (FLP)
Deceiving is the one word I would use to describe this warmup. Today’s warmup will mix up strings as well as rhythmic values of notes. Due to the in…
WU23 Mixed Values and Strings 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 designed to bu…
WU4 String Awareness (FP)
The warmup for today is a little one, but it will go a very long way in helping your fingerpicking fingers find the strings they are looking for. Usin…
WU4 String Awareness 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 designed to bu…
KC10 Minor (Key of Dm)
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…
KC10 Major (Key of Dm)
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…
KC10 Accidentals (Key of Dm)
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…
KC10 Mixed (Key of Dm)
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…
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…
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 …
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 …
Two of a Kind (A – Rhythm – 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 …
Boogie Barn (A – Rhythm – 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 …
Quinoa Quickness (D – Rhythm – FLP)
The name of the game for this chord progression is quick changes. One thing that you should be aware of is that the chord changes that occur in this p…