Let’s go back in time to the early 1980s…

The story goes legendary guitarist Mike Campbell was about to get his house foreclosed on then suddenly had this smash hit song.

It was supposed to be a Tom Petty tune. But he passed on it. He thought it sounded too jazzy to be a Heartbreaker’s tune.

It wasn’t until Don Henley got into the mix and as they say, the rest is history.

Below I’m going to break it down for you step-by-step. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Boys Of Summer" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Boys Of Summer?

“Boys of Summer” was written by Don Henley and Mike Campbell. It started off as a simple instrumental track Campbell was putting together using a LinnDrum drum machine at his home studio. Originally it was meant to be a Tom Petty tune. But when Petty heard the vibe, he felt it was too jazzy.  

So he didn’t want to record it.

Shortly after the song was pitched to Don Henley. Henley felt it was a good fit and added some lyrics, changed the ...

Recently a fellow asked:

​​===

I'm struggling to understand the blues scale: is it the same thing as the minor pentatonic?

===

Major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, blues scale, mixolydian… there are so many terms being tossed around by guitar players out there – it makes sense why this player feels this way.

Not knowing what scale to use for a solo, or where to even begin on the neck can be downright frustrating.

Often guitarists feel like they are getting traction learning theory etc. For example, they unlock how an A minor pentatonic scale can work over a C major chord. But then they get completely confused when someone is playing a blues in the key of C but uses the C minor pentatonic…

How does that work?

Well, to answer their question… 

No the pentatonic and the blues scale are not the same. They are two different scales. Two completely different sounds. In fact, many times guitarists think the go-to scale for soloing over the blues is the pentatonic. But that’s actually...

Here’s a smash hit song with an interesting backstory that now spans over 40 years.

It all started off as a classic country tune first recorded by David Allan Coe… then George Jones…  

But it wasn't until American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Stapleton got a hold of it, and he mashed it up with a soulful old blues groove. And as they say...the rest is history.

In this post I’m going to unpack some insider tips to help you understand the guitar style behind it – and whether you want to do an easy strumming version, or dive into the solos and lead parts, I’ve got you covered. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Tennessee Whiskey" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Tennessee Whiskey?

"Tennessee Whiskey" was originally written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove – two famous songwriters out of Nashville, Tennesse. Although now the song is most often associated with Chris Stapleton’s cover version. The first recorded version of "Tennessee Whiskey" was done by Da...

Have you ever wondered what exact steps you should take to learn blues guitar?

Many guitarists discover basics like how to read tabs, maj/min scales, a few chords, and maybe even a bit about the pentatonic scale.

But when they search videos online the lessons often only focus on one area. And they often have pre-requirements or things that aren’t explained the players don’t know about yet.

This can be frustrating. So in this post, I’d like to walk you through a powerful framework (I’ve developed over the past 26 years of teaching and playing blues guitar professionally) to become blues proficient fast.

It’s all built around 3 easy steps, starting with…

1) Unlocking the "Freedom Palette"

I learned this from my old mentor (blues guitar maestro Kenny Burrell.) He called it a palette because he saw the blues as a simple framework any artist could use. This opens a door where other musicians and listeners can really look at you. What you do with this freedom palette shows your stor...

Behold the magnificent title track from the eighth studio album by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

This album was the second album that Petty produced with the incredible Jeff Lynne. 

I’m going to break it down for you step-by-step.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Into The Great Wide Open" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Into The Great Wide Open?

"Into the Great Wide Open" was written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, it’s the title track off the band’s 1991 album, Into the Great Wide Open. Lynne, who was a key figure in Petty's supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, co-wrote and produced the song. 

The song’s lyrics sing a story about a guy named Eddie. He’s a young man with dreams of rock stardom and moves to Los Angeles. At first, he finds success, but as he rises, he loses his way, caught up in fame’s superficiality. The lyrics depict both the allure of the music industry and its inevitable letdowns. 

The song was recorded at Sound City Studios i...

Ever felt pain and the longing to be in another place? 

Well, this song symbolizes that along with the freedom and beauty of the California lifestyle. 

It’s a simple song, but the emotions run deep. 

Below I’m going to break it down for you step-by-step.

So grab your 6-stringer and let’s dive into this "California Dreamin'" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote California Dreamin'?

"California Dreamin’" was written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas. It came about during the winter of 1963 in New York where these two were living at the time.

They were longing for an escape from the cold weather and were dreaming of the California sunshine. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness, isolation, and the desire to return to the warmth and freedom associated with the West Coast.

Initially, the track was offered to Barry McGuire (famous for "Eve of Destruction"), and it was McGuire’s producer, Lou Adler, who saw potential in the song for The Mamas & the ...

Are you struggling to play the F chord on guitar?

This chord can be quite the bugaboo for guitar players. In fact, there’s a reason why it’s called the “F” chord. 

Many guitarists hate and avoid it like the plague.

But I can show you how to not become one of those players - pain-free. In this post, I want to reveal some powerful tips to help you overcome what may feel like an insurmountable mountain.

So grab your guitar, and let’s learn how to play the F chord step-by-step!

What notes are in an F chord?

From a theoretical point of view, the F chord is built the same as any other major chord on guitar. However, because of the way the guitar is tuned (in standard tuning) only the open A string can be used in an F chord. But because it’s such a low note, it’s not ideal to have ring out. This means essentially you need more guitar skills like muting and bar technique.

Let me explain…

Major chords are built from a specific interval set. An interval is the distance between 2 notes...

How many classic rock songs can you think of that use odd time signatures?

If you’ve learned a lot of popular songs, you’ll know that not very many venture away from the common 4/4 time signature. However, here’s a cryptic tune that does just that.

It’s become one of Cream’s most iconic songs, and the guitar part is a blend of blues, rock, and psychedelic sounds.

In this post, I’m going to break down the mystery behind Eric Clapton’s guitar style to it. 

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “White Room" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote White Room?

"White Room" was originally written by bassist Jack Bruce and a poet named Pete Brown. Brown wanted to create surreal imagery rather than straightforward storytelling. Many have often described this tune as cryptic – the lyrics are very open to interpretation. 

But the song became a hit for the British rock band Cream – featuring Jack Bruce on bass, Eric Clapton on guitar, and Ginger Baker on drums. Bruce was the primary son...

Here’s an epic tune that brought about one of the first times in music history where Indian music was blended with Western pop.

George Harrison was hanging around with a new guru, sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. And started learning to play and this sparked what became known as “raga rock.” 

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Norwegian Wood" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Norwegian Wood?

"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is a fascinating Beatles track primarily written by John Lennon. But it was credited under the typical Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. Lennon later remarked that this song was about affairs he was having while married to his wife Cynthia. 

There wasn’t a specific one, but it was more about his clandestine behaviors of feeling attraction, and then frustration.

“Norwegian Wood” was released on The Beatles’ epic album Rubber Soul in 1965. Rubber Soul was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. During this time George Harrison was hangin...

I’m sitting down to write you this today, about 2 miles away from where rock legend Tom Petty wrote “Free Fallin”.

Back in the day he lived in Reseda, California in the San Fernando Valley.

There’s a famous quote from Harlan Howard, a world-renown songwriter, who said, “All you need for a great song is three chords and the truth”. 

I think Petty shows this powerful point in this classic song.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Free Fallin" chords and guitar lesson! 

Who Wrote Free Fallin'?

"Free Fallin'" was written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. They had been writing a lot of tunes together and this track became one of Petty's most iconic songs. It debuted as a lead single for Petty's solo album, Full Moon Fever, in 1989. 

It’s a very simple tune, that apparently started off as a joke. Lynne was playing the chords and Petty was improvising lyrics about "free fallin'."  

As they developed the idea, the song took on a deeper meaning. Petty reflected on his quintessen...