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Californication Guitar Lesson (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

rock Aug 24, 2023

Today I want to share with you how I play “Californication” as recorded by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

This song has some amazing guitar playing in it done by the legendary guitarist John Frusciante.

We’ll start off with the iconic opening riff, then we'll go through the chords and different patterns you can use to start playing the whole song today! 

So make sure you’re in tune and let’s get started!

Who wrote Californication? 

“Californication” is a song by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s the title track and lead single from their seventh studio album, released in 1999. The song was written by the band members Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith, and it explores themes of the dark side of Hollywood and the cultural impact of mass media on society.

Musically, "Californication" is a blend of alternative rock, funk, and psychedelic influences that are all characteristic of the Red Hot...

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The Ultimate Black Magic Woman Guitar Lesson (Santana, Eric Clapton)

blues Aug 19, 2023

Today let’s dive into a “Black Magic Woman” guitar lesson. "Black Magic Woman" is a song that has captivated music lovers for decades. It started with Peter Green and the British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac. 

But the song found its true magic in the hands of Santana, becoming one of his most iconic and beloved tracks.  

In this post, I’ll break it down for you step-by-step. So make sure you’re tuned up, and let’s get started! 

Who is Black Magic Woman originally by?

"Black Magic Woman" was originally written and recorded by the British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac. The song was released as a single in 1968 and was included on their album English Rose in the United Kingdom. 

But Santana's cover of "Black Magic Woman" is undoubtedly the most famous and well-known version of the song. It was included on his 1970 album titled Abraxas and released as a single. Santana's interpretation of the song took a different direction...

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Heart Of Gold Guitar Lesson (Neil Young)

rock Aug 15, 2023

Today I want to share with you how to play “Heart Of Gold” by Neil Young on guitar.  

This song is a classic, and it’s not too hard to play.

Taking a look at how Neil Young approaches the different rhythms, chord progressions, and even his catchy licks off the chords will help elevate any guitarist’s playing.

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

Who originally wrote “Heart Of Gold”

"Heart of Gold" was originally written by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. It was released as a single in 1972 and later appeared on his album "Harvest." The song became one of Young's most successful and lasting hits, reaching the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Heart of Gold" is characterized by its mellow acoustic guitar melody, simple chord progression, and introspective lyrics. Young wrote "Heart of Gold" during a time when he was struggling with fame and the pressures of his career. He later...

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While My Guitar Gently Weeps Guitar Lesson (Beatles)

rock Aug 13, 2023

Today I want to share with you one of the most LEGENDARY guitar songs of all time.

In fact, for the first time ever I am going to peel back the curtain on this timeless song. 

I’m spilling the beans on how to play “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on guitar.

We’ll cover the background of the song, the chord progressions, the strumming patterns you need to know, and even how to solo over it in the style of Eric Clapton.

So grab your guitar. Get tuned up, and let’s get started!

Who wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps?

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. It was written by George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the band. And it was included on The Beatles' self-titled album, commonly known as the White Album, released in 1968.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is one of Harrison's most iconic compositions and is often regarded as one of The Beatles' finest songs. 

Harrison wrote the song in 1968, during a...

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How to Play Folsom Prison Blues on Guitar

blues Aug 12, 2023

Today I want to share with you a “Folsom Prison Blues” guitar lesson. This song is a great example of a 12-bar blues chord progression. Learning it will help you with both your rhythm and lead guitar playing.

Now for this lesson, I will be using a capo on the 1st fret. With the capo on I will be playing in the key of E. But the concert pitch (the actual key) is F major. But for this lesson, I will be referring to “capo chords”. 

If you don’t have a capo. You can play the same thing without one. You just won’t be able to play along with the recording as all the recordings that I have heard are in F.

Ok! Are you ready? Cool.

Onward.

Who wrote Folsom Prison Blues?

"Folsom Prison Blues" is a renowned country and blues song written and originally recorded by the legendary American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Released in 1955, the song became one of Cash's signature tunes in his career. 

The lyrics of "Folsom Prison Blues" tell a...

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Money Guitar Lesson (Pink Floyd)

blues rock Aug 10, 2023

Do you have the courage to play the blues in a 7/4 time signature?

Well, that’s exactly what we are going to do in this “Money” guitar lesson. 

"Money" by Pink Floyd is an iconic masterpiece from the legendary album The Dark Side of the Moon, released in 1973. 

It's got a super catchy bassline and some unique time signature changes that really set it apart for a rock song. Plus the solo sections of the song follow standard blues progressions!

I’m going to break down for you the chords, soloing, time signatures, and even how to capture that iconic Pink Floyd guitar tone. 

So make sure you’re tuned up and let’s dive in!

Who wrote Money? 

The song "Money" by Pink Floyd was written by the band's bassist Roger Waters. It was included on their iconic album "The Dark Side of the Moon," released in 1973. "Money" became one of Pink Floyd's most popular and recognizable songs. Its catchy bass line and thought-provoking lyrics about...

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Tuesday's Gone Guitar Lesson (Chords and Lead)

rock Aug 08, 2023

Today I want to share with you how to play “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar. This tune is a beloved classic rock ballad in the key of A major. In this post, we’ll dive into the origins of the song, the chord progressions, strumming patterns in a 6/8 time signature, and even some music theory. 

So make sure you’re in tune, and let’s dive into this “Tuesday’s Gone” guitar lesson!

Who wrote Tuesday’s Gone?

"Tuesday's Gone" was written by Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins. Ronnie Van Zant, the lead vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, was known for his songwriting skills and contributed significantly to the band's repertoire. 

Allen Collins, the guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, collaborated with Van Zant on many of their songs, including "Tuesday's Gone." Together, Van Zant and Collins created the heartfelt lyrics and bluesy melodies that have made the song a beloved classic.

What key is Tuesday’s Gone in?

...

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C Major Scale Guitar (Beginner Lesson)

beginner theory Aug 05, 2023

Let’s talk about how to play the C major scale on guitar. This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the C major scale on guitar. How to practice the C major scale. Songs that are in the key of C and use the C major scale. Plus we’ll even cover some music theory and a few other common questions about the C major scale.

So make sure you’re tuned up. And let’s get started!

What is the C major scale on guitar?

The C major scale on guitar is just a series of 7 notes in a row. It is a way of grouping together a specific set of notes. The C major scale serves as a foundation for understanding music theory, chord construction, and melody creation. It’s used as a reference point for establishing keys and building chords and harmonies within the key of C major.

What notes are in the C major scale?

The notes in the C major scale are:

C - D - E - F - G - A...

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10 AMAZING Blues Rhythms Every Guitarist Should Know (Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson)

blues Aug 03, 2023

If you want to become great at playing blues guitar it’s super important to have a strong foundation in rhythm. For example, take a look at Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yes, they played amazing blues leads, but when they played rhythm guitar it was just as incredible.

So today I want to share with you a fun blues rhythm guitar lesson. I am going to share 10 AMAZING blues shuffle patterns every guitarist should know.

So grab your guitar, get tuned up, and let’s get started!

Blues Rhythm #1

This rhythm is a foundational rhythm. It’s often one of the first blues shuffle patterns guitarists learn. It uses a root-fifth to root-sixth movement. Let me explain what that means. These patterns are all going to be in the key of E. So E would be the root, the note B on the 2nd fret of the 5th string would be the fifth of the scale. So that is the root-fifth part. 

We’ll strum that twice with 2 downstrums, and then move on the 4th fret on the 5th string....

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How to Play Johnny B. Goode on Guitar

rock Aug 01, 2023

Today I want to share with you how to play “Johnny B. Goode” on guitar.

This song is iconic and has a number of quintessential Chuck Berry guitar moves in it. We'll unpack rhythm & blues rhythm patterns, early blues rock licks, his signature double-stops, and even how to get a Chuck Berry-style guitar tone.

In this guitar lesson, I am going to highlight specific areas of his playing with the goal of players being able to take some of his guitar style and infuse it into their own music.

So with that said let’s get started!

Who wrote Johnny B. Goode?

"Johnny B. Goode" was written and first recorded by legendary guitarist and singer Chuck Berry. The song was released in 1958 first as a single and it reached #2 on the Billboard charts.

This song is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music, and it was even ranked #33 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Johnny B. Goode Chords

There are...

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