If you've ever been to Colorado... then you may have experienced the Denver Blue and "Rocky Mountain High".

This is what inspired John Denver to write this acoustic country folk classic in the 70s.

The song has a gem of a guitar part, combining fun riffs, beautiful chords, and syncopated rhythms. In this post, I’ll break down what every guitar player needs to know.

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

Who Wrote Rocky Mountain High?

"Rocky Mountain High" was written by John Denver and Mike Taylor. It was released in 1972 on Denver’s album Rocky Mountain High and has gone on to become one of his most signature songs. He wrote many great tunes, but this one was inspired after he moved to Aspen, Colorado in the early 70s. He fell in love with the majestic Rockies and felt a strong connection to the outdoors. This along with the Perseid meteor shower he experienced while camping in the mountains, which...

Have you ever wondered how to actually get good at fingerstyle guitar?

Many players try to learn but give up quickly when they feel like they aren’t making progress. Or they don’t have the “natural” talent required. But this can be easily fixed when you know how. And fingerstyle guitar can easily be one of the most rewarding ways to play – especially alone. 

It gives you easier access to be able to cover multiple parts at once on guitar. This is how legendary fingerpickers like Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, and Jerry Reed are all able to sound like a full band by themselves – without singing.

In this post, I want to share with you 7 mistakes beginner fingerstyle guitar players make, starting with…

1. Playing patterns that are way too complicated

I see this all the time. In fact, in Los Angeles where I live, there are very few fingerstyle players. There are more in Nashville for this style. But many times a guitar student will ask their...

There’s a sneaky little chord that comes up in many songs. And if you’re a guitarist who wants to play all your favorite songs, then you might want to know about it. It’s called a “sus” chord.

In this post, I want to reveal some insider tips on what every guitarist needs to know about sus chords and how you can start playing them like a pro today.

Let’s get started with…

What are suspended chords?

Many guitarists I’ve spoken with over the years think that “sus” stands for sustained. But it actually stands for suspended. 

A suspended chord is a type of chord that on guitar typically replaces the 3rd note of the chord with the 2nd or 4th degree from the scale. Suspended chords in music create an unresolved feeling. They give the music a slight sense of tension and anticipation.

They can be applied to simple major and minor chords, as well as sophisticated jazz chords. In a typical major or minor chord, the third note...

Here’s an iconic song, that can at first feel slightly romantic. Until you dive deeper into the stories behind it and uncover a sinister undertone.

Now, I’ve got to let you know upfront, this song ain’t for beginners. Playing the iconic guitar parts requires seriously stretchy chords and articulate playing. It’s an advanced guitar song for sure.

So, you’ve been warned…

If you’re still with me, grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Every Breath You Take” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Every Breath You Take?

“Every Breath You Take" was written by Sting (a.k.a. Gordon Sumner) the bassist and vocalist for British rock band The Police. It’s become one of their most iconic songs and has an interesting history.  

Sting wrote the tune during a rocky period in his personal life, specifically around his separation from his first wife Frances Tomelty. While the vibe of the tune can feel romantic at...

If you're looking for a song to play on guitar that taps into deep blues roots, but still keeps the sound mainstream… then this could be a perfect tune for you.

The song is a mix of blues, pop, and folk styles. Over the years, it’s appealed to a wide audience. Because of this, I think it’s a good one to add to your setlist or call at your local blues jam. 

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Give Me One Reason” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Give Me One Reason?

"Give Me One Reason" is a hit song written and performed by American blues and folk artist Tracy Chapman. She wrote the song in the 80s and began performing it live during her early shows. The bluesy groove resonated with audiences and by the time she went to record it – in the mid-90s – the song had already shown promise. 

(Playing live like this is a great litmus test for your new material. You can get an immediate gauge on whether or not a song...

If you’re looking for some great beginner fingerstyle songs to learn… then in this post I’m going to share 10 that could potentially be just right for you.

Now, obviously everyone is different, and the majority of these songs are what I would call more “picking pattern” songs. These are simpler kinds of fingerstyle songs to start with and don’t require a lot of finger independence. (More on that later) But they are good if you’re new to fingerstyle. They can also help advanced players too, and they are just a lot of fun to boot. 

Now before we go any further let me first define fingerstyle guitar, as I define it, and that is simply anything not using a standard flat pick. The idea is that you can’t tie up two fingers with your pick. So a thumpick is ok, you could also go bare fingers or use nails. That’s what I would consider fingerstyle, and those are the approaches I would take for these examples.  

So grab...

Here’s an iconic song that came straight out of a heated battle between Tom Petty and MCA Records.

He was in a fight over the ownership of his own music. He wasn’t going to stand down or be manipulated by the many thieves and bureaucrats of the music industry. Mike Campbell came up with the guitar riff and wasn’t going to show it to Tom Petty. He thought it was too simple and was about to toss out the whole idea.

Below I’m going to get into the juicy facts behind this epic rock anthem. 

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

Who Wrote Refugee?

"Refugee" was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell. It is one of the most iconic songs recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. “Refugee” was released as the second single from their third album, Damn the Torpedoes in 1979. The song was written during a period of struggle for the band, both personally and professionally. 

Tom...

Here’s a brilliant tune that’s been called "a song that won't die."

It seems to keep striking a chord with new generations and new audiences ever since the 60s. It all started when guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward was gifted by his then-girlfriend (and later wife), Ann Marie Guirron, a set of satin bedsheets.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Nights In White Satin” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Nights In White Satin?

"Nights in White Satin" was written by Justin Hayward, the guitarist and vocalist for the English band The Moody Blues. It was first released in 1967 on their album Days of Future Passed.

Amazingly, Justin Hayward wrote "Nights in White Satin" when he was only 19 years old! The song was inspired by a gift of satin bedsheets given to him by a girlfriend. In interviews, Hayward mentioned the song came together rather quickly. It was all based on the emotions he was experiencing at the time. It was a very raw and immediate...

Behold, in my humble but accurate opinion, one of the greatest songs ever. 

Yet so many guitar lessons online make this magical piece WAY harder than it needs to be. In fact, one time I had a student who told me he had been trying to get this song down for 14 years. When I revealed to him what I am going to share with you below, he learned how to play it in 2 days.  

That’s the power of understanding the fundamentals… and… not following fake gurus on the internet. 

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

Who Wrote Blackbird?

"Blackbird" is one of the most iconic songs by The Beatles. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. This magical acoustic track was released in 1968 on what is commonly known as The Beatles’ White Album. 

"Blackbird" is a metaphorical and symbolic song that means something a little different to everyone....

Did you know one of Kansas’ most iconic songs all started with guitarist Kerry Livgren trying to improve his fingerstyle guitar? 

The best guitar players are always searching for how they can improve their skills. They don’t rest on their laurels. In this post, I want to share with you how a tiny little fingerpicking pattern became the genesis for a massively huge hit.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Dust In The Wind” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Dust In The Wind?

"Dust in the Wind" was written by Kerry Livgren the guitarist for the American rock band Kansas. The song has an interesting backstory. You see, it all started with him looking to improve his fingerpicking guitar techniques. He picked up a book that had a bunch of fingerpicking patterns in it, and he started experimenting with them.

One day, as he was sitting at home in between tours practicing, his wife walked by and said, “That sounds really...