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Beginner's Course

It's really an honor for me to teach guitar from the very beginning.... I waited a decade to start this course because frankly I felt it took me a long time to become qualified to teach beginners. I can honestly tell you, that in some ways as guitarists, the beginners mind is eternal. And that's a great thing. The guitar is always rewarding, but it's also a constantly changing relationship... In some ways we are all beginning again every single day :)

For Late Beginner/Early Intermediate Guitarists

Teaching near beginners is the newest and most exciting frontier for me. I love drilling down into the basics and making the ride fun, relaxing, and pleasurable. If you can form a few basic chords, and perhaps strum a little on the guitar, you are READY, and I can take it from here!

Lead Guitar

The possibilities are Infinite. That being said I've always chosen some very simple approaches that always work well..I often combine (1)simple melodies, (2)aggressive and/or soulful blues phrases, and (3)arpeggios based on small chord shapes. Play simply, play soulfully, and then add a burst of speed. That's my favorite kind of solo . Many episodes include downloadable jam tracks, tabs and GPX files. The links are just below the first video in these episodes.

Blues

Blues electric guitar was at the forefront for a lot of us in the late 60s. Learning to play Blues Lead Guitar was an obsession, I started my quest at age 12. Blues lead guitar licks are literally the words in your soloing vocabulary. They very naturally transition to all other genres. The blues is a conversation and it’s a very easy one. The phrases can start out simple, and be very effective. When you see the word “downloads” just click and you’ll have access to jam tracks, tabs, and GPX files.

Rhythm

Rhythm Guitar is job number one when you are playing a song or playing in a band. I like to say that the right hand needs to function like the pendulum of a clock..Always moving and always steady... whether it’s grabbing “air”or grabbing the strings. For the left-hand, it becomes second nature very quickly to mute any strings you are not using. I often show how it happens naturally when you lay your hand on the neck. When you open an episode Just click “downloads” And you’ll have access to jam tracks, PDFs and GPX files.

Theory, Studio Techniques and Exercises

Music theory is easier than you might think. I love the simpler genres of rock, pop, country, blues funk and soul. In this world of simpler music, Theory can be easy to get your head around and ,can actually be kind of fun. Studio Techniques are important for anyone, at any level, who wants to record a song, an idea, or a project. These practices are very valuable when you are collaborating with others.

Gear, Tones & Tips

The search for Gear and Tones actually gets easier as you progress. When I look at the guitar players I love these days, they all seem to gravitate toward simple rigs. Get a good tone out of an amp have some trustworthy pedals.. And here’s where the “TIPS” part comes in... It’s in the way you use your tools, and as they always say about tone “it’s in your hands”.

Special Guests-Special Events

I’m very fortunate to know some of the worlds best guitar players. It can be quite humbling at times! That said there is nothing better for our growth as musicians than to be surrounded with others who are smarter and further along than we are. My advice: Just bite off the smallest piece you can chew. Even if another guitarist is way beyond me, I can always grab a little phrase or technique, and incorporate it into my style.

Masterclass only Livestreams

As a member of the Masterclass, you will have access to Member-Only Livestreams where you can get your questions answered and be part of this very special community.

Making The Song

"Making the Song" was my first guitar tutorial. Brett Papa made the long commute from Newport beach countless times with his cameras as we crafted this during gaps in my busy session schedule. It took us an entire year :) I'm Incredibly proud to offer this 100+ video course, to all of you in the Masterclass. Marco is creating tabs and adding them very soon...

Full Spectrum Guitar: Lead

This course is another collaboration with Brett Papa, with the emphasis, as always, on soloing over changes. In this series of videos and in multiple genres, i solo spontaneously. Then I Immediately talk about the reasons and the psychology behind the choices I made. These decisions are instinctive and second nature, but in analysis, there are very strong reasons for every note and phrase. I'm very proud to add this course the masterclass :)

Full Spectrum Guitar: Rhythm

This rhythm course completes the trilogy of courses I created in partnership with Bret Papa. This course reflects my 40 years plus as a studio musician, creating rhythm parts for songs. As guitar players when we layer parts and sounds on songs it is the very definition of orchestration.