Looking for a way to level up your rock guitar skills while also adding an awesome crowd-pleasing song to your repertoire?
Well, this "House Of The Rising Sun" guitar lesson has got you covered.
If you're a fan of folk and blues music, then you've likely heard "House of the Rising Sun" at least once. This iconic song has been covered by countless artists over the years, but perhaps none have captured the haunting melody quite like The Animals.
As a guitarist, learning to play "House of the Rising Sun" can be a challenging task, but it's sure to capture the attention of your audience once you get it down.
In this post, I'll break down the song into simple steps, so you can start playing it on your own in no time. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this guide will help you master this classic tune and add it to your repertoire. So grab your guitar, and let's jump in!
"The House of the Rising Sun" is a tr...
Unlock this instantly identifiable rock riff in this guitar lesson on how to play "I Love Rock 'N Roll" as recorded by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this rock riff should be a part of your vocabulary. In this post, you'll gain deeper insight into essential rock guitar techniques and how you can develop them, so you can use them in your own music and have a lot of fun playing rock guitar.
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was originally written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker, and was first recorded in 1975 by the British rock band The Arrows.
However, later in 1981 it was covered by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and released as a single from her album using the same title. The song became a defining tune for Jett’s career and was her highest-charting hit song which made it all the way up to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I Love Rock N Roll” is all based around just 3 chords. The song is in the k...
Ready to learn the 67th greatest hard rock song of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine?
If so this Tush guitar lesson is the perfect resource for you!
"Tush" was written by American blues rock band ZZ Top and was the single released off their fourth studio album Fandango! in 1975.
Apparently, the entire song was written in just a few minutes during a sound check in Florence, Alabama.
It’s amazing how sometimes the best songs come the fastest. Another great example of this is Freddie Mercury when he talked about how he wrote “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” in just a few minutes as well.
Sometimes inspiration strikes and it’s almost like the songs just fall right out of the instrument. It’s truly amazing!
Tush is a great example of how classic blues progressions made their way into rock songs. This one follows a standard 12-bar blues progression in the key of G and uses the I, IV, and V chords.
I chord = G
IV chord = C
V chord = D
Th...
Do you like rock guitar riffs and singers with cool, raspy voices?
Well, if so, this "No More Mr. Nice Guy" guitar lesson is for you.
From the epic opening rock guitar riff to the big chords in the verse, to even the syncopated bassline part that matches up with the melody in the chorus, this song has a lot to offer the aspiring rock guitar player.
I'll walk you through the whole thing, step-by-step, in this guide, with the goal of unpacking this EPIC rock guitar style.
“No More Mr. Nice Guy" was written by Michael Bruce and Alice Cooper for the American rock band Alice Cooper. The song was first released as a single in 1973, off their sixth studio album Billion Dollar Babies. The song reached number 25 on the US charts and since then, it has become an anthem of rock 'n' roll.
One of the coolest guitar parts in the song is the opening signature riff. It starts off with an A power chord but is played with a root on the 4th str...
If you're a fan of blues and rock guitar, then this “Green River” guitar lesson by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) is perfect for leveling up your skills.
This song skillfully blends the two styles of music and adds a swampy feel for good measure.
I’m going to break it down for you step-by-step so when you're done you'll have an awesome version that will sound great for accompanying yourself, playing along with the recording, or even jamming with other people as well.
"Green River" was written by John Fogerty for the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was first released as a single in July 1969, one month before the full Green River album was released.
The song was written about a vacation spot on Putah Creek, near Winters, California that Fogerty used to go to as a kid.
You’ll only need to know 3 chords to play “Green River” and they are E7, C, and A.
You can play E7 in the open position like this:
C like ...
Looking to expand your blues repertoire and improve your timing and groove?
This ultimate guide to how to play “Got My Mojo Working” on guitar has got you covered.
In this guitar lesson, I’ll share with you how to play the signature blues groove, rhythms, turnarounds, and even talk soloing for this classic blues tune. It follows a typical 12-bar blues progression, and if you practice the tips shown here, you’ll have your audience tapping their feet and swaying to the beat in no time!
"Got My Mojo Working" was written by Preston "Red" Foster, and it was first recorded in 1956 by R&B singer Ann Cole. This version has a great upbeat groove to it. The lyrics of the song describe something called mojo, which has been associated with hoodoo, an African-American folk magic tradition.
Later in 1957, Muddy Waters put his own spin on the arrangement and changed the lyrics just slightly. His most famous version of the song was actually recorded...
When it comes to the roots of rock and roll guitar, it all started with Chuck Berry. In fact, even John Lennon said on The Mike Douglas Show in 1972,
"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry."
In this post, I am going to dive deep into his guitar style and share key elements for playing the way he played. Specifically, we'll cover how he used classic blues progressions and double-stops in his iconic hits.
So grab your guitar and get ready to rock!
“No Particular Place to Go" was written and performed by American musician Chuck Berry. It was first released in 1964 as a single and then later appeared on Berry’s album St. Louis to Liverpool.
The tune has a catchy melody and an upbeat groove that made it an instant hit, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking it as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
...Learn to play blues guitar like a pro with this step-by-step lesson on the blues classic "Further On Up The Road."
“Further On Up The Road” is a blues standard that was first recorded by Bobby “Blue” Bland in 1957. It has a classic Texas-style shuffle feel to it, and it is a pinnacle example of the sounds of the blues transitioning from the early 1940s style into the 60s blues-rock style.
This song has been recorded by many great artists however, in this post, I’ll be breaking down elements of the classic version Eric Clapton recorded live with the Band in 1976, for the concert film The Last Waltz.
You’ll learn the chord shapes, scales, and even some licks in this blues guitar style. So grab your guitar and let’s dive in.
You only need three chords to play “Further On Up The Road” G7, C7, and D7.
For G7 I would recommend this:
C7 can be played exactly the same way just shifted higher up the neck to the 8th position like this:
And finally, D...
If you're a fan of rock music, at some point, you are going to come across this tune. Whether it’s the original version by The Kinks or the version later done by Van Halen, this rock riff should be a part of every aspiring rock guitarist's repertoire.
In this “You Really Got Me” guitar lesson, I’ll be covering the original Kinks version and walking you through the main guitar parts you need to know to get playing in this style today!
The Kinks' original version of this song was first performed in more of a bluesy style, inspired by artists like Big Bill Broonzy and Lead Belly. Two takes were recorded, and the second one was used for the single, which was first released in the UK in the fall of 1964.
“You Really Got Me” was written by Ray Davies, and it was rumored that Jimmy Page played the guitar solo, however, this was a myth that has since been proven incorrect.
The song is in the key of G and kicks off with an iconic riff all based around tw...
Essentially there are just 5 chords you need to know to jam along with this recording. Those chords are E, A, G, D, and B. Here’s how I would play them as open-position chords.
For E I would play all 6 strings like this:
A like this:
G like this:
D like this:
And finally, B is like this:
Now Keith often instead of playing just the straight open chords, would substitute in blues rhythm patterns.
So instead of just strumming ...
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