Jon MacLennan

My Library Blog FREE BLUES SCALE GUIDE Login

The ULTIMATE Wichita Lineman Guitar Lesson

rock Dec 23, 2023

Bob Dylan is often thought of as one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

But in an interview, he was once asked what he thought was the greatest song ever written…

What was Bob’s response?

“Wichita Lineman”

And many people agree with Bob… 

In fact, this song has moved the world.

So today I want to share with you the ULTIMATE Wichita Lineman guitar lesson.

We’ll unpack the history of this song, the chord progressions, and even the iconic guitar solo.

So tune up, and let’s get started! 

Who wrote Wichita Lineman? 

"Wichita Lineman" is a classic song written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb. It was made famous by the iconic American country singer Glen Campbell, who recorded and released it in 1968 as a single and included it on his album of the same name. 

The song was recorded at the famous Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California. It featured the skilled and emotive guitar work of session musician James Burton, which contributed to its distinctive sound. The song's ...

Continue Reading...

The Ultimate AMERICAN WOMAN Guitar Lesson

rock Dec 22, 2023

Let's go back in time and play an epic song from 1970… 

Currently, this tune has over 50 million views on YouTube (cumulatively between the two versions I share below.)

And here’s the crazy part, you only need 3 chords to play the main riff.

So grab your guitar, tune it up, and let’s dive into this American Woman guitar lesson.

Who originally sang American Woman?

"American Woman" is a legendary rock song originally sung by the Canadian band The Guess Who. It was primarily written by Randy Bachman (lead guitarist and vocalist) with contributions from the rest of the band. The Guess Who recorded this iconic hit at RCA Studios in Chicago, Illinois, in December 1969. It was produced by Jack Richardson.

The song has received quite a few accolades like:

  • Ranked No. 3 on Billboard's "100 Greatest Canadian Songs of All Time" (2005)
  • Certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

Covered by numerous artists, including Lenny Kravitz, Mötley Crüe, and KISS...

Continue Reading...

Ticket to Ride Guitar Lesson (Beatles)

rock Dec 19, 2023

Few guitars capture the essence of the pop and folk-rock sounds of the 60s as the Rickenbacker 12 string does. 

So today I want to share with you a classic example of this sound in action. You’ll learn a catchy tune that only uses 6 chords. Plus we’ll break down how you can use a technique called arpeggio picking to create memorable and melodic guitar parts.

So grab your guitar, tune-up, and let’s dive into this “Ticket to Ride” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Ticket To Ride?

"Ticket to Ride" is a classic song by the British rock band The Beatles. It was primarily written by John Lennon, with some contributions from Paul McCartney. The song was released as a single on April 9, 1965, in the United Kingdom and on April 19, 1965, in the United States. It also appeared on their album Help! which was released in August 1965.

The song was recorded at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London, England. It was produced by George Martin, who was the Beatles' longtime producer and collabor...

Continue Reading...

Miss You Guitar Lesson (Rolling Stones)

rock Dec 17, 2023

Ever tried to explain a song real quick to some bandmates or fellow musicians for a jam?

Well, if you have, you’ll notice this cold truth I am about to tell you right now…

Songs with simple structures and not a lot of chords are best for this…

Think about it.

If your bandmates don’t know the song, is it easier to explain a complex tune with a bunch of twists & turns, and unexpected changes? 

Or is it easier to say, “Hey the chords are G, C, and D, and it repeats this same part over and over.”

The answer is the ladder.

Now today’s lesson is not quite as simple as that.  

But it’s pretty close… 

And that’s why this song is played at jam sessions and in cover bands all the time…

Because musicians can pick up the meat of the song pretty quickly.

And then just get to the PLAYING! 

So that’s what we are going to do today in the Miss You guitar lesson. 

Who Wrote Miss You?

"Miss You" is a classic rock song by the Rolling Stones, one of the most legendary rock bands in music ...

Continue Reading...

C Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar Lesson (Tips & Tricks)

beginner theory Dec 10, 2023

If I had to pick just one scale to know, I would choose the pentatonic scale.

The pentatonic is the basis of so many great songs. 

It’s a scale every guitarist needs to know. 

So today I am going to share with you some fundamentals of the scale. And also some tips and tricks for practicing it.

Tune up, and let’s get started! 

What is the C major pentatonic scale on guitar?

"Pentatonic" comes from the Greek words "pente," which means "five," and "tonos," which means "tone" or "note." So, "pentatonic" literally means "five notes." In music theory, a pentatonic scale is a scale consisting of five notes within one octave.

The C major pentatonic scale is very similar to the seven note C major scale. It just has 2 less notes. 

The notes of the C major pentatonic scale are: C, D, E, G, and A.  

Here are the notes of the C major pentatonic scale in order:

C (the root note)

D (the major 2nd)

E (the major 3rd)

G (the perfect 5th)

A (the major 6th)

This can be played on guitar l...

Continue Reading...

Stevie Ray Vaughan's First Guitar Lesson (From A Rare Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview)

blues Dec 09, 2023

Stevie Ray Vaughan was one hell of a player!

Trying to play some of his music can be FRUSTRATING…

In fact, anytime I’ve actually come close to getting it right.  

I’ve only been able to maintain playing for about 30 seconds before my hand feels like it’s gonna fall off…

From the outside, the majority of people place a wall around such levels of mastery… 

Chalk it up to natural talent or being born an innate genius…

They typically think of it as inaccessible…

But this isn’t true…

There is actually latent power within us all…

The right process and the right effort bring it out… 

That’s what SRV did… 

In fact, he didn’t start much different than you and I…

Today, I want to show you an example of this…

Ever wondered how SRV got started? 

What did he practice?

What was his first lesson?...

Was it the riff to Scuttle Buttin’?

Nope…

He started with a simple blues shuffle…

You see I dug up this old interview with him talking about the first thing he learned…

He said “The...

Continue Reading...

EASY 12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson

blues Dec 07, 2023

Congratulations on checking out this post!

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 ...

Continue Reading...

For What It's Worth Guitar Lesson (Buffalo Springfield)

rock Dec 04, 2023

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...

Continue Reading...

Horse With No Name Guitar Lesson: 5 Levels Beginner To Pro

rock Nov 28, 2023

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...

Continue Reading...

Do It Again Guitar Lesson (Steely Dan)

rock Nov 24, 2023

"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...

Continue Reading...
Close

50% Complete

You're Seconds Away

Enter your best email address to get an instant download link + exclusive content direct to your inbox every week.