Are you new to string skipping? Are you loing to assimilate new techniques to include in your repertoire as a guitarist? Want to test out the cool new strings you’ve just bought? The amazing thing about a seemingly simply technique like string skipping is that it can go from easy and simplistic all the way […]

A guitarist’s collection of gear inevitably grows, shrinks, and fluctuates over time. This is because a beginner often starts on inferior equipment – instruments, cables, pedals, amps and accessories that may be good enough to practice on, but aren’t ideal for recording or performing. And then, as they continue to grow and learn, guitarists usually […]

There are many different ways to play the guitar. The instrument is so adaptable, in fact, that it would be nearly impossible to learn every style, every genre, or every technique. But finger picking is a technique that’s definitely worth learning, even if you’re a dedicated metal guitarist that could care less about “slow music”, […]

Chromatic scales aren’t terribly musical, but they do make for good exercises or speed drills. They can help you build your finger strength and dexterity, coordination, speed, and so on. As you probably know, there are 12 notes in the 12-tone western scale. A chromatic scale is merely a scale with all 12 pitches in […]

Learning guitar by ear has become a bit of a lost art. It could be because guitar tablature is accessible than ever, and we’d much rather get the gratification of learning and playing our favorite songs as quickly as possible instead of going through the trouble of figuring them out note for note. I […]

Scales are the foundation of melodies, riffs, licks, solos, and improvisation. Rhythm guitar can be a lot of fun. But if you want to break out of just strumming and picking chords, and start throwing in some cool flourishes in your playing, you’ll have to learn your scales. At first, scales aren’t that interesting, so […]

Something a colleague of mine said has stuck with me over the years: Chords are frozen arpeggios, and arpeggios are melted chords. I can’t remember exactly who it was that d that with me, but I am thankful for that description, because it’s exactly how I explain arpeggios to my students today. And – just […]

Here’s the good news about beginner guitar chords – there are only eight you need to know. The bad news is that some beginners find it difficult to pick these up. You may want to start with some simple single note, double stop, triad, or flatpicking exercises before you start pulling your hair out trying […]

You don’t want your guitar students to treat your lessons like they treat any other class in school. Why? Because music is supposed to be fun, and your students aren’t going to stick with it if it isn’t. This doesn’t mean that your students won’t come and go. Inevitably, they will hit certain milestones in […]