Let’s talk about how to play the harmonic minor scale on guitar. This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. 

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the A harmonic minor scale on guitar. How to practice the A harmonic minor scale. And finally, a few examples of songs that use the harmonic minor scale, so you can hear the sounds in context. 

So make sure you’re tuned up. And let’s get started!

What is the A harmonic minor scale on guitar?

The A harmonic minor scale on guitar is just a series of 7 notes in a row. It is a way of grouping together a specific set of notes similar to the A natural minor scale but with one change. The A harmonic minor scale has a very specific sound to it, and the notes form the foundation for putting together chords in a minor key.

What notes are in the A harmonic scale?

The notes in the A harmonic minor scale are:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G# - A

This scale is based on the A natural minor scale...

Have you ever wondered how to hold a guitar pick?

Or which one you should use?

Or if you should even use one at all.

Well, in this post I’m going to share some insider tips for these questions. 

So grab your guitar and let’s start off with…

How To Hold A Guitar Pick

If you’re using a standard flatpick, I believe the best way to hold it is between two fingers. I use the thumb and the index finger.

First, curl your index and place the pick with the point of the pick following your index finger:

Then simply place your thumb on top like this:

I think gripping the pick with your thumb and index is best. However, there are players that have broken this rule. For example, Eddie Van Halen was known for holding the pick between his thumb and middle finger. This allowed him to keep his index finger free for fret tapping – another key technique in his playing style.

This approach gave him a more fluid transition between picking and finger-tapping. 

One thing I don’t recommend doin...

Behold…

A moody, vibey, and iconic song inspired from an absolutely tragic divorce.

There are not that many legendary hit songs tunes where the drummer is the writer, and also the lead singer. But this is one of them. You only need 3 chords to play it.

So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “In The Air Tonight” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote In The Air Tonight?

In the Air Tonight" is one of Phil Collins’ most iconic songs. It’s got a haunting atmosphere, dark lyrics, and one of the most famous drum fills in rock history.

Phil Collins wrote "In the Air Tonight" entirely on his own. It was the lead single from his debut solo album, Face Value (1981). The song is often interpreted as being about anger, betrayal, and personal loss—largely inspired by Collins' painful divorce from his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli.

Collins has said that Andrea was the one who initiated the breakup. As most women do, statistics show about 7 to 8 out of 10 divorces are initiated by women. Ac...

Here’s a song from an interesting period during the Rolling Stones’ career.

It has a slightly mellow feel to it in contrast to many of their more high-energy tunes. But the groove is deep and the song also features legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins

Grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Waiting On A Friend” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Waiting On A Friend?

“Waiting On A Friend” was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. But like many Rolling Stones songs, it was a collaborative effort. It all came together with significant contributions from the other band members and also some guest musicians.

Lyrically, the song is a departure from the Stones’ usual themes of love, sex, and rebellion. Instead, it leans more into the value of friendship and companionship. Mick Jagger has said in interviews that the song isn’t about waiting for a woman but rather about the camaraderie between friends. Given the Stones’ turbulent history, particularly in the 1970s, many interp...

You might get a kick out of this…

In 2006, I went to Borders bookstore and bought John Mayer’s new album Continuum.

I came home, popped the CD into my player, opened up the jewel case to look at the liner notes, and got lost in the music. The first track is “Waiting On The World To Change”. 

Shortly after this, I played “Waiting On The World To Change” to my friend who was the bass player in my band at that time. He said, “Oh… these are some gospel changes.”

My ear wasn’t as developed as it is now. But his comment got me thinking.

I later learned the chord progression to “Waiting On The World To Change”, and noticed it was (almost) exactly the same as “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield.

But then something else happened…

I figured out the solo too. It's all played on one string… it just slides up and down the neck and uses bluesy bends. Then later, I learned the solo on Stevie Ray Vaughan’s, “Lenny” and discovered John Mayer’s solo on “Waiting On The World To Change” is ...

Would you like to start something up?

A new relationship?

A new skill?

An exciting night out on the town?

Well, here’s an iconic rock song to get you going. 

Below I’m going to break down the guitar style behind it. You only need 4 chords and a couple of blues guitar moves to make it all happen.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Start Me Up” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Start Me Up?

“Start Me Up” was originally written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the two primary songwriters for the Rolling Stones. Their collaborations produced some of the band's biggest hits, and this song is no exception.

The lyrics for “Start Me Up” sing about energy, confidence, and the excitement of getting going — both literally and metaphorically. "Start Me Up" is one of the Rolling Stones’ most iconic songs. It was released in 1981 and was a part of their Tattoo You album. 

The song had an interesting journey before it become the version we hear now. It all started as a slo...

​​Are you struggling to get your guitar in tune?

I don’t think there is anything worse than circling round and round, trying to get each string in tune, then finally playing a chord, and it STILL sounds off. 

Perhaps you even broke a string trying to tune your guitar.

Well, in this post I am going to share with you 3 easy ways to tune a guitar. These work for both acoustic and electric guitars. Need to tune a guitar at a music store, home, on stage, or even in the middle of nowhere camping without electricity? No problem. After this, you’ll know how to tune a guitar so you sound like a pro anywhere and all the time.

Now, I must give you this one sweet caveat.

You see, I’m going to share with you 2 of the most common ways to tune a guitar – which you absolutely should try first. And then, I’m going to share with you my own special way of tuning. I came up with this special method that you won’t hear about anywhere else on the internet. It just might change your life, and be one ...

One of my early mentors was a guy named Ron Anthony who has gone on to join the choir invisible. But he played guitar for Frank Sinatra. 

And one day in a guitar lesson he told me, “Jon all music is patterns.”

And it’s true.

So in this post, I want to share with you 5 super common chord progressions every guitarist should know. But before we begin, let’s first talk about…

How These Common Chord Progressions Work

In any major key, we have seven diatonic chords. In the key of C major they would be:

C - Dm - Em - F - G - Am - Bdim

These chords are built by stacking thirds on each note of the scale. They follow a specific pattern of major, minor, and diminished chords:

• I (C): Major
• ii (Dm): Minor
• iii (Em): Minor
• IV (F): Major
• V (G): Major
• vi (Am): Minor
• vii° (Bdim): Diminished

This pattern applies to every major key, and understanding it is key to identifying and playing common chord progressions. These progressions are combinations of these chords, often grouped t...

When you find yourself in times of trouble, here’s a comforting song to pull you through.

You see, we all go through seasons in life.  

Seasons of happiness and seasons of pain.  

I believe, wherever you might be right now, playing this song can help. And also, it will level up your guitar playing at the same time. While many think this song is about the Virgin Mary, there’s a twist, and I’m going to get into it below. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Let It Be” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Let It Be?

"Let It Be" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership. It’s become one of the most iconic Beatles songs ever.

It all started with a dream McCartney had about his mother, Mary McCartney. It was during an intense period of recording with the Beatles. In the dream, his mother came to him and reassured him saying, ‘It’s going to be okay. Just let it be.’"

This dream deeply moved Paul, and he channeled that comfort ...

Picture this… 

You’re in a giant stadium for an event.

The crowd is stirring, feeling rebellious and rambunctious…

They’re wondering what is about to happen. Who will hit the stage or field? Suddenly, a guitar riff comes through the speakers…

What riff is it gonna be?

Well, a very common one is the mighty “Seven Nation Army” guitar riff.

In this post, I’m going to break down some insider tips on Jack White’s guitar style, and how you can get playing like this too.

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

Who Wrote Seven Nation Army?

"Seven Nation Army" is one the most famous songs by the American rock band The White Stripes. It was written by Jack White, the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary writer. 

The song beats with a strong feeling of defiance and empowerment. As the lyrics sing of fighting back against forces and obstacles the narrator faces.

“Seven Nation Army” was featured on the band's fourth studio ...