There’s a dangerous myth out there that a lot of intermediate guitar players fall for…It’s a myth you don’t want to believe especially if you want to play amazing solos…

…because… it can kill your lead guitar progress fast. It can make you sound boring and stale.  

Like you’re constantly rehashing the same old patterns, solo after solo. Never sounding melodic, or new. Well, today I’ve got GOOD NEWS.

I want to warn you about this myth so you don’t get stuck. And also share a lesson that works like an antidote. 

So grab your guitar and let’s get started!

Myth: "I don't need to learn licks anymore" 

I see it all the time. Guitarists get to a certain level with their playing. They’ve learned some chords, scales, and arpeggios. They can even play through a few songs.

Next, they want to start soloing. They start learning about how chords and scales go together and get into a bit of a theory.

But then it starts to go downhill. They start thinking:

• Once I know the theory I’ll be...

Below is an iconic song that has been played at countless parties, and cover gigs. It only uses 3 chords. It’s so simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Today I’m going to take you through the history of this song, and also how to recreate the iconic electric guitar stylings of Mike Campbell that have rocked the radio airwaves for decades now.

So buckle up, and let’s get cruising with this “Breakdown” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Breakdown?

"Breakdown" is a classic song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was first released as the band's debut single in 1976 and featured on their self-titled album. The song quickly became one of their signature tracks and helped to establish their reputation as a powerful rock and roll band.

"Breakdown" was inspired by Petty's love of the music of the 1960s...

If you’re looking to unleash the swampy bluesy guitar sound you hear on CCR’s iconic recording of “Born On The Bayou”... then this mighty guitar lesson can show you how.

From the guitar chords (of which there are only 3)... to the classic riffs and backbeat groove, we’re going to leave no stone unturned.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Born On The Bayou” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Born On The Bayou?

"Born on the Bayou" is a classic song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, written by the band's lead singer and songwriter, John Fogerty. It was released on their 1969 album Bayou Country. The song has a Southern swamp-rock style, typical of Creedence Clearwater Revival's music. It's set in the bayous of Louisiana and draws on the imagery and mystique of the Southern landscape. The lyrics tell the story of a man who reminisces about his life growing up in the bayou and his longing for that simpler, more primal existence. It captures the essence of the region’s cul...

Calling all space invaders! 

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to start rocking your guitar like David Bowie/Mick Ronson… then this post will show you how.

Using just a couple of chords and some powerful rock guitar techniques you can play this song in your cover band, at an open mic night, or even for a backyard party to amaze friends and family.

So tune up, and let’s dive into this “Ziggy Stardust” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Ziggy Stardust?

"Ziggy Stardust" is a song by British musician David Bowie, released in 1972. It is part of the concept album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," which is considered one of Bowie's most iconic works. Bowie wrote "Ziggy Stardust," both as a song but also as part of a larger narrative for the album. The character Ziggy Stardust is a fictional androgynous rock star who acts as an alien messenger to humanity, bringing a message of hope amidst an impending apocalypse.

The song "Ziggy Stardust" nar...

If you’re looking to “lock in” that fun and funky guitar groove for “Listen To The Music” by the Doobie Brothers…then this guitar lesson can show you how. 

But heads up, this ain’t the easiest song to play.

Playing the “Listen To The Music” chords and guitar parts does require a few advanced guitar skills. For example, techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, and even some muted scratch strumming with 16th notes. 

But fear not, I’m going to explain the secrets behind this guitar style step-by-step in this post. 

So buckle up, and let’s dive into this “Listen To The Music” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Listen To The Music?

"Listen to the Music" is a classic song by The Doobie Brothers, written by the band's lead vocalist and guitarist, Tom Johnston. It was released as a single in 1972 and featured on their album Toulouse Street.

Tom Johnston was inspired by the idea that music could bring people together and create a sense of community and joy. I think the song nailed it, and does ju...

Have you ever turned on your favorite blues recording, started playing along, but then got lost?

It’s frustrating. And, this is super common. In fact, most guitar players can not play through a simple blues without dropping the form. This means playing the wrong chords at the wrong time or getting completely lost.

Years ago when I studied with blues guitar master Kenny Burrell he would always test students with playing a simple blues. He viewed it as a great leveler. It was a quick way to assess how fluent someone is with most American music from the past 100 years.

If this has happened to you, then today I want to share some simple ear training exercises to banish this problem for good.

Now, of course, there’s only so much I can do in one quick video. And, there’s no way I can tell where you are at with your ear. Ear training is a deep topic, and if you practice things out of order, then your results aren’t going to be as solid as following a system.

But the more you can focus...

Have you ever wondered how someone can play just two guitar chords, and make a stadium full of music lovers go crazy?

Well, today I’m going to share with you those two secret chords and more from an iconic song.

It’s been said that this song was inspired by The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love", during the love and peace movement of the 1960s.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Give A Little Bit” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Give A Little Bit?

"Give a Little Bit" is a song by the British rock band Supertramp. Its writing credits are given to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, although it is a Hodgson composition. It was first released in 1977 on their album Even in the Quietest Moments... 

The song sings a simple, positive message about the importance of giving and sharing love and care with others. The track was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, where multiple layers of 12-string guitars were meticulously overdubbed to create its rich, distinctive sound. 

Roger H...

Behold…

A powerful song with guitar parts under the influence of legends like Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield, and Cornell Dupree. 

You only need a couple of chords to be able to start jamming it along with the iconic recording. 

This song has moved the world, and was even placed in a famous TV show in a seaons finale scene for “Friends”. 

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Yellow Ledbetter” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Yellow Ledbetter?

"Yellow Ledbetter" was written by Eddie Vedder (vocals), Mike McCready (guitar), and Jeff Ament (bass). Three members of the American rock band Pearl Jam.  

The music was composed by Mike McCready, and the lyrics were written by Eddie Vedder. The song has a loose, jam-like structure and features guitar work from McCready that is straight out of the Hendrix school of rhythm guitar.

While the exact meaning of “Yellow Ledbetter” is ambiguous due to Vedder's mumbled and often improvised lyrics. Vedder has said that the song's lyrics are abo...

If you’d like a perfect song to delight your audience with this fall…then folk-rock legend Neil Young may just have a solution for you.

There’s something special about this tune that blends beautifully with a cup of coffee, and a chill in the air.

You only need a couple of chords to play it. 

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Harvest Moon” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Harvest Moon?

"Harvest Moon" was written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. It was released as the title track on his 1992 album Harvest Moon.

Harvest Moon is often considered a sequel to Young's earlier album Harvest from 1972. It was recorded at a few different locations, including Young's Broken Arrow Ranch in Redwood City, California.  

The recording sessions involved many of the same musicians who played on Young's original Harvest album, including Ben Keith on pedal steel guitar, Tim Drummond on bass, and Kenny Buttrey on drums. Background vocals were provided by Linda Ronstadt...

If you want to learn how to play all your favorite songs without tabs or watching videos online… then you are going to need to develop some basic ear training skills.

Just like playing your instrument, you have to train your fingers to go to the correct strings and make the chords on the beat.

You need to culture your ear to accurately process the sounds you hear in music. You see most untrained ears when they hear music it’s like watching a fuzzy old television. Everything is just blurred and messy. 

But once you start building up your ear from scratch. That’s when you start to develop a crisp and clear picture in your mind of the sounds you are hearing. 

One of the skills you will need to develop is chord quality recognition.

This lets you figure out…

How To Tell If A Chord Is Major Or Minor 

Have you ever been frustrated playing your guitar with a song trying to figure this out? 

Not knowing if you are hearing a major chord, a minor chord, or perhaps something more myster...