One thing I love about the best rock artists out there is their...

SHOWMANSHIP.

Yes, I spend a ton of time talking about the minutiae of guitar playing like chords, scales, techniques, and so on.

These are important.

But don’t forget your SHOWMANSHIP.

Yesterday, I shared an example of how Kiss did this with the lesson on “Rock and Roll All Nite”.

Today, I’ve got another example from the great Bryan Adams. 

This was one of the songs that made him a star.

So, if you’re a fan of classic rock... then I think you might enjoy this.

Jon MacLennan

This week, the music business lost a bright light.

Dolly Parton has gone on to join the choir invisible.

And with all the stories and clips of her flying around, I was reminded of my favorite riff of hers.

It’s like French toast on Sunday morning.

(mmmm...)

I’ve played it for years with various bands. 

But upon looking up the song online, I noticed most guitar instructors don’t teach it accurately to the recording.

They show you how to play the chords and a campfire strummy version.

Which is fine, but the real guitar parts (played by top Nashville session musicians) are much more powerful.

At the root of this riff is a mighty technique called Travis picking.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

* Why Travis picking is the key to sounding like the original recording.

* How a song with 195 million plays on YouTube Music is built around just 3 chords.

* The instantly recognizable riff broken down step-by-step in more detail than any other lesson on Al Gore's internet.

* What spe...

One thing I love about Greg Lake's guitar playing is his ability to arpeggio-pick.

This is a great guitar technique you hear on many of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's biggest songs.

Below, I want to share with you a perfect example of this.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Lucky Man” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Lucky Man?

“Lucky Man” was originally written by Greg Lake when he was just 12 years old. It began as a simple acoustic folk-style tune way before Emerson, Lake & Palmer even existed.

In 1970, when ELP was recording their first album, they needed one last song to put on the record. That’s when Lake demoed the song, and they decided to add it to the end of their debut album, Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

It was recorded at Advision Studios in London, England. Lake handled the vocals and guitars, Keith Emerson played keyboards, and Carl Palmer laid down the drums. 

The most famous part of the recording is the ending: Keith Emerson’s Moog synthesizer solo. At t...

Here’s a song that carries with it the spirit of Rock & Roll.

It’s about a confident, independent man who's got style and class.

The guitar parts are also quite sophisticated, with fancy augmented and half-diminished chords.

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Stray Cat Strut” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Stray Cat Strut?

“Stray Cat Strut” was originally written by Brian Setzer and recorded by his group, the Stray Cats. It first appeared in 1981 on their self-titled album. The song carries with it the spirit of Rock & Roll. It’s about an independent man who's got style and swagger. 

Brian Setzer wrote this ditty when he was just eighteen years old. 

While rehearsing in his parents' garage on Long Island, he wanted to write something slower than the band's usual high-energy rockabilly material. 

At the time, the group was still called the Tomcats. But after moving to England, t...

Here's a song that's awesome to play for parties and sing-alongs.

And, in many ways, it's to Cat Stevens what "Imagine" is to John Lennon...

You only need a couple of chords to play it.

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Peace Train” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Peace Train?

“Peace Train” was originally written by Cat Stevens (also known as Yusuf/Cat Stevens). It was released in 1971 on his legendary album Teaser and the Firecat. 

Now, in contrast to a few other Stevens songs like “Father and Son” and “The First Cut Is The Deepest", “Peace Train” is an anthem.

It’s a song of hope and optimism.

In many ways, it is to Cat Stevens what "Imagine" is to John Lennon — a timeless musical statement about the possibility of a better world.

Stevens wrote it during a very turbulent time. The Vietnam War was happening, and there was a lot of social division and political unrest. But “Pe...

Here’s Green Day’s…

Here’s Green Day’s…

(expletive...)

Here’s Green Day’s biggest hit.

While you only need a few chords to play it, the guitar part is quite tricky. 

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on Billie Joe Armstrong’s magic picking.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Good Riddance” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Good Riddance?

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” was originally written by Billie Joe Armstrong. It was recorded with Green Day for their monumental 1997 album Nimrod. The song has become one of the most famous acoustic guitar songs of the ‘90s, and is Green Day’s biggest-selling single.

While the song is often played at graduations, weddings, and nostalgic life moments, it’s actually a breakup song. Billy Joe Armstrong’s girlfriend moved to Ecuador and dumped him. While painful, he let it go and wished her the best with this song. The lyrics “I hope you have the time of your life” reflected that message.

The song is about li...

Here’s one of Paul McCartney’s most moving ballads.

He plays it on the piano, but below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “The Long And Winding Road” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote The Long And Winding Road?

“The Long and Winding Road” was written primarily by Paul McCartney but credited under the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. It’s widely regarded as one of Paul McCartney’s most emotional ballads.

The song is a slow metaphorical journey with themes of heartache, pain, and a sense of exhaustion. But it also has a hint of positivity as well.  

The song was recorded during the Let It Be sessions at Apple Studios and later at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London in early 1969. It was produced by Phil Spector, who ended up adding a larger orchestration with a full choir and strings. McCartney was hesitant at first because he didn’t want the song to lose it’s intimate, piano-base...

Have you ever thrown a pebble into the water and seen what happens?

Well, here’s a song about exactly that.

It’s got great acoustic guitars, and many Deadheads consider this tune to be the band’s unofficial anthem. 

Below, I want to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. (Including both the LEAD and RHYTHM.) 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Ripple” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Ripple?

“Ripple” was originally written by Jerry Garcia with lyrics by Robert Hunter. It was recorded by Grateful Dead and placed on their iconic 1970 album American Beauty.

At its core, “Ripple” is almost like a folk hymn. It’s deep, reflective, and flowing. The song is a part of a change in sound the band went through, transitioning from an earlier psychedelic electric sound to more of an acoustic, country-influenced approach.

It’s a great example of the Garcia/Hunter melodic and poetic songwriting partnership.

The song was recorded in 1970 at Wally Hei...