Here’s a nostalgic tune that sounds like you're floating out to sea into the haze.

You only need a handful of chords to play it, and it also has an incredible groove.

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

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

Who Wrote Into the Mystic?

"Into the Mystic" was originally written by Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It’s a vibey song that blends elements of folk, jazz, and pop into a very unique sound. Morrison wrote it during a time of great creative freedom in the late 1960s.

The original title was “Into the Misty”. But it was changed last minute. Though the lyrics are poetic and slightly ambiguous, the title change gave the song a deeper meaning. It made it transcend from a song of scenic imagery to having now a deeper philosophical meaning. The sea becomes a metaphor for the vastness of life’s seasons and cycles.

"Into the Mystic" was recorded i...

I still get the chills every time I hear the Bee Gees harmonize. 

They’d been singing together since they were kids and had an incredible sound. 

Below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on one of their most famous songs.  

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “How Deep Is Your Love” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote How Deep Is Your Love?

"How Deep Is Your Love" was originally written by all three brothers in the Bee Gees: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb.

The song was specifically created for the soundtrack to the 1977 film, Saturday Night Fever. The Bee Gees were initially given the film script and asked to write songs for specific scenes. “How Deep Is Your Love” is a soft and sophisticated pop ballad with incredible vocal harmonies. The lyrics capture a feeling of vulnerability in a relationship. 

The Bee Gees wrote it in a recording studio in Château d'Hérouville, France. The melody came together quickly at the French chateau, a setting pe...

I still get the chills every time I hear this song. 

Cat Stevens is a masterful songwriter, and this is one of his most famous tunes.

Below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. (Including a way to combine lead and rhythm.) 

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

Who Wrote Father and Son?

“Father and Son” was originally written by Cat Stevens, who later changed his name to Yusuf Islam. It was released in 1970 on his monumental album Tea for the Tillerman. 

The narrative is a fascinating conversation from a father to his son. It addresses many issues in life, of struggle, freedom, and happiness. The father sings from experience and caution, telling his son to slow down and think before he makes big decisions. 

“Father and Son” was recorded at Morgan Studios in London, with Stevens performing acoustic guitar and vocals. The arrangement is subtle, but Islam’s vocals are powerful and theatri...

Tony Lewis sang:

=== 

Josie's on a vacation far away

Come around and talk it over… 

===

Here’s one of the most famous tunes from the epic English pop-rock band The Outfield. 

It’s chock-full of mighty rock guitar techniques. In this post, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.  

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

Who Wrote Your Love?

“Your Love” was written by John Spinks, guitarist for the English rock band The Outfield. 

Like many legendary tunes, it came together fast when Spinks, living in East London at this time, invited the lead singer for the band, Tony Lewis, to his flat to work on some song ideas.

The song sprang to life when, according to Lewis, the opening line “Josie’s on a vacation far away” came together in about twenty minutes on Spinks’ porch. The song tells a promiscuous tale of a young man inviting an older woman over while his main girl is away. Although the song blatan...

Here’s another legendary tune that's been recorded by a whole horde of famous musicians.

In this post, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Gentle On My Mind” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Gentle On My Mind?

“Gentle On My Mind” was originally written and first recorded by American folk, country, and bluegrass composer and musician John Hartford in 1967.

Like many legendary songs, Hartford reportedly wrote it in just twenty minutes. The inspiration came after his girlfriend departed. The lyrics have a bittersweet feeling to them, and they’ve resonated with many listeners.   

However, the song really took off when Glen Campbell recorded his version later that same year. Hartford had the gift to pen it, and Campbell’s rich arrangement complemented the song beautifully. The recording sessions for Campbell’s cover were done in Los Angeles, at Capitol Records, and the production has a gentl...

Let’s talk about how to play the minor pentatonic scale on guitar. This scale is one of the most important scales to know, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player.

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the A minor pentatonic scale on guitar. We’ll cover how to practice the scale, songs that use the A minor pentatonic, and even some music theory behind it. Plus, I’ll even dive into how legend Eric Clapton uses the minor pentatonic scale as well!

So make sure you're tuned up, and let’s get started!

What is the minor pentatonic scale on guitar?

The minor pentatonic scale is a series of 5 notes per octave. It’s a simplified scale from a full minor scale that’s extremely versatile for playing solos, riffs, and melodies. The scale serves as a foundation for blues, rock, pop, and many other styles, and it’s often the first scale guitarists learn for improvisation.

It’s a great tool for understanding how melody, phrasing, and rhythm work together over chords in a ...

Mick Jagger sang:

===

“It's the honky tonk women

That gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues…” 

=== 

I heard no lies. 

In this post, I’m going to share with you some insider guitar tips on one of the Rolling Stones’ most popular tunes.

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

Who Wrote Honkey Tonk Women?

“Honky Tonk Women” was originally written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. It’s a fascinating song about a man’s run-ins with female nature. It describes the chaos and unpredictability found in bars and honky-tonk venues.

Richards said the song was inspired by a mixture of real-life experiences and his passion to blend the feel of country and rock. While Jagger said he wanted to highlight the charm and danger of these women.

The original recording was done at Olympic Studios in London and released as a single in 1969. The arrangement is raw and famously features a strong, cowbell, bluesy guitar ri...

Years ago, I was rehearsing with this combo band led by blues guitar legend Kenny Burrell...

One day, he walked into the rehearsal, and the band was trying to decide which tune to play first. I suggested this tune.

There was this large window lining the top of the room we were in, and you could see the trees outside during the fall.

Kenny pointed up to the window and said, “Yeah, I guess that’s ok because... 

the leaves...”

It’s one of the most famous tunes from the American songbook, and in this post, I cover Eric Clapton’s powerful version.

It’s a perfect song for fall. Someone commented online saying this: “The guitar is the screaming voice of love and pain.”

I don't disagree. 

There’s a whole horde of guitar lessons online explaining the “Spider” exercise on guitar…but guess what?

I disagree with all of them.

The exercise they are playing is the old 1234. Which is a fine exercise; however, it doesn’t look like a spider.

The reason why it’s called the “Spider” exercise is that as your hand crawls up the neck, it’s supposed to resemble a spider.

But the one everyone is showing you makes your hand look more like an ANT. Not a spider.

However, since tomorrow is Halloween, in this post, I want to share with you the ACTUAL “Spider” exercise, which I learned decades ago from an old classical musician.