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Today I want to share with you a 12 bar blues guitar lesson. You’ll discover how to build it from the ground up.

And if you are a guitarist or musician who would like to…

• Learn to play your favorite songs faster
• Jam with other musicians
• Start soloing and have a TON of fun

Then you have just stumbled upon one of the most important pages you will ever read.

Taking the time to really internalize and master this progression is not only a life-long journey, but it is also a mark of a seasoned musician.

So tune up, and let’s dive into this 12 bar blues guitar lesson!

What are the 3 chords used in the 12 bar blues?

For this lesson, we will be looking at a 12 bar blues in the key of A major.

Now typically a blues in the key of A is going to use 3 primary chords: A, D, and E. 

These chords are often referred to using Roman numerals in the context of music theory, with A as the I chord, D as the IV chord, and E as the V chord. 

From ...

One thing so many guitarists would love to be able to do is to play rhythm and then instantly be able to switch over to lead and then back.

To do this, you have to develop your rhythm skills and your picking skills. And then you have to practice navigating going back and forth.

A great way to work on this is to play songs like what I am going to share with you today in this “For What It’s Worth” guitar lesson.

This song only has a couple of chords. In this post, I’ll share how to play the whole thing from top to bottom. 

So grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Who wrote For What It’s Worth:

"For What It's Worth" was originally written by Stephen Stills, the lead singer and guitarist of the band Buffalo Springfield. It was recorded in Los Angeles in 1966, and released on their debut album Buffalo Springfield the following year.

While often considered an anti-war anthem, the song was actually inspired by the Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles that same year. These clas...

Today I want to share with you how to play “ A Horse With No Name” by America in 5 different levels.

We’ll start with an easier version that uses just two chord shapes and a simple strumming pattern. From there we’ll expand on the rhythm through 5 different levels and take the song from beginner to pro.

Also, if you’re newer to guitar and are looking for a good song to begin with, this one is one I would recommend. 

That will be the first part of the lesson (the 5 levels). 

After this, I’ll share with you a more advanced version using the alternate tunings and doubled guitar parts as well.

So grab your guitar and let’s get started with this Horse With No Name guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Horse With No Name?

The song "A Horse With No Name" was written by Dewey Bunnell of the American rock band America. It was the band's first and most successful single, released in late 1971 in Europe and early 1972 in the United States.  

The song topped the charts in Canada, Finland, and the Un...

"Do It Again" was written by Steely Dan’s core members, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

The song was released as a single in 1972 and also appeared on their debut studio album, "Can't Buy a Thrill," which was released the same year.

The recording of "Do It Again" took place at the Village Recorders studio in Los Angeles, California. The song features a fusion of rock, jazz, and blues elements, which is characteristic of Steely Dan's sound.

The band's meticulous attention to detail and studio craftsmanship is evident in the song's arrangement and production.

“Do It Again" received critical acclaim upon its release and has since become one of Steely Dan's signature songs. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

The song's popularity has lasted, and it is often cited as one of the band's greatest hits. Steely Dan has won multiple Grammy Awards throughout their career, and while "Do It Again" itself didn't win a Grammy, it contributed to the band's...

Whelp… 

Today I have something cool for you…

And there really isn't much more to say other than THIS...

Right now, for the first time ever, I'm going to share with you how I play one of the most ICONIC guitar riffs of all time!

I’m talking about THE EPIC, THE LEGENDARY Lynyrd Skynyrd Tune…

 "Sweet Home Alabama."

Apparently, Ed King was the guy who came up with the main signature guitar part. (BTW your friends will recognize this right away when you play it!)

Ed played it on a Fender Stratocaster.

Now I’ve played this tune countless times with band after band… 

It always seems to come a little later in the set when everyone starts to cut loose on the dance floor…

In fact, I even learned a simple version of “Sweet Home Alabama” as one of the first riffs I ever played. (I’ll show you how to play that easy version too.)

My cousin showed it to me.

He taught me the chords and this little picking pattern. 

I remember playing it to my parents and friends as a kid… and even they...

Today I want to share with you an easy way to play “Rocket Man” on guitar.

This song has touched generations of listeners and was written by two legendary songwriting collaborators Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

In this post, you’ll learn the chords, strumming patterns, and even cool ways that piano parts can be interpreted on guitar.

So tune up and let’s dive into this “Rocket Man” guitar lesson!

Who wrote Rocket Man?

"Rocket Man" was written by the British singer-songwriter Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. 

It was released on Elton John's 1972 album Honky Château. The song is one of Elton John's most iconic hits and remains a staple of his discography.

"Rocket Man" was recorded at the Honky Château Studio in France. This studio was known for its unique recording methods, including the use of a mobile recording unit.

The song reached the top ten on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2018, "Rocket Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame...

Jimi Hendrix was one of the greatest rhythm guitar players ever. 

Now sure he came out onstage and did circus stunts like playing guitar solos with his teeth and behind his back. But too often his rhythm playing gets overlooked. 

The truth is, Hendrix changed the game in this area as well. 

He combined the influences of players like Curtis Mayfield and Cornell Dupree and had some of the most beautiful and inventive rhythm guitar playing you’ll ever hear.

Today I want to share an example of this with you in this Wind Cries Mary guitar lesson. 

So grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Who originally wrote The Wind Cries Mary?

"The Wind Cries Mary" is a blues rock ballad written by Jimi Hendrix. He wrote the song as a reconciliatory love song for his girlfriend in London, Kathy Etchingham. The song was originally titled "Katherine" before Hendrix changed it to "The Wind Cries Mary."

This groovy song was recorded at Studio One in London in July 1967. It was produced by Chas Ch...

Today I want to share with you a classic song that is perfect for beginners and even advanced players as well.

The riff is iconic and immediately recognizable. Your friends will love it.

PLUS it’s a great example of how the blues shaped rock n roll.

So grab your guitar, tune-up, and let’s get started with this Sunshine Of Your Love guitar lesson!

Who wrote Sunshine Of Your Love?

"Sunshine of Your Love" was written by the British rock band Cream with lyrics from (Pete Brown). Cream was a psychedelic blues rock trio consisting of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton, and this track was released on their second album Disraeli Gears in November 1967. 

The song is considered one of Cream's most popular and influential tunes. It has also been covered by many other artists.  

The song is notable for its distinctive bass riff, which was written by Jack Bruce. Eric Clapton later added the guitar solo, and Ginger Baker's drumming provides a polyrhythmic counterpoint to the bass a...

Hey Friend, 

I’m a big fan of blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Did you know Stevie collaborated with David Bowie on an album produced by another legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers?

Well, the story I’m about to tell you is the honest truth.

And it involves this track, they all made together. 

But first, if you’re new here, you may not know that years ago my wife worked at Fender guitars…

So that’s how this came about… 

Alright, let’s go back in time…

…to the height of the 2020 pandemic 

People were scared and thought the world was going to end.

This was when overnight jumping on Zoom or a video call became the norm…

My wife was working from home and we hadn’t set up an office for her yet…

She was taking calls right from the living room… 

Early one morning I was fixing some breakfast in the kitchen… 

Just spreading some peanut butter on an English muffin – with our tiny jack russel dog at my feet just praying I drop some human food.

I was still a bit sleepy and didn’t ...

Few guitarists are able to fuse together the roots of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll better than Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin. 

In fact, songs like ‘You Shook Me’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’, ‘Bring It On Home’ and ‘The Lemon Song’, are almost all directly ripped off from old blues classics. 

So it’s safe to say that Page’s style has come straight out of artists like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon…

But he did take their sound and styles to a new place. And played some amazing guitar parts with Led Zeppelin. 

So today, I’m going to share with you one of them…

You’ll learn a great tuning for blues guitar. How to blend bluesy riffs right into your rhythm playing, and even some more advanced concepts about theory, chords, and scales…

So grab your guitar, tune down, and let’s jump into this “Hey Hey What Can I Do” Led Zeppelin guitar lesson.

Who Wrote Hey Hey What Can I Do?

"Hey Hey What Can I Do" is a classic rock song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It...