Behold, in my humble but accurate opinion, one of the greatest songs ever. 

Yet so many guitar lessons online make this magical piece WAY harder than it needs to be. In fact, one time I had a student who told me he had been trying to get this song down for 14 years. When I revealed to him what I am going to share with you below, he learned how to play it in 2 days.  

That’s the power of understanding the fundamentals… and… not following fake gurus on the internet. 

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

Who Wrote Blackbird?

"Blackbird" is one of the most iconic songs by The Beatles. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. This magical acoustic track was released in 1968 on what is commonly known as The Beatles’ White Album. 

"Blackbird" is a metaphorical and symbolic song that means something a little different to everyone....

Did you know one of Kansas’ most iconic songs all started with guitarist Kerry Livgren trying to improve his fingerstyle guitar? 

The best guitar players are always searching for how they can improve their skills. They don’t rest on their laurels. In this post, I want to share with you how a tiny little fingerpicking pattern became the genesis for a massively huge hit.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Dust In The Wind” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Dust In The Wind?

"Dust in the Wind" was written by Kerry Livgren the guitarist for the American rock band Kansas. The song has an interesting backstory. You see, it all started with him looking to improve his fingerpicking guitar techniques. He picked up a book that had a bunch of fingerpicking patterns in it, and he started experimenting with them.

One day, as he was sitting at home in between tours practicing, his wife walked by and said, “That sounds really...

Did you know The Beatles used many strange recording techniques when making some of their biggest hits?

In this post, I want to share with you an example of this. This song is rooted in the blues, as many Beatles songs are. But these 4 lads from Liverpool put their own stamp on it. John Lennon also borrowed/stole a very famous riff from the great Chuck Berry.

In fact, He’s even quoted as saying, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry.'” 

Grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “Revolution” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Revolution?

“Revolution” was written by John Lennon (with credit to Paul McCartney as well) and performed by The Beatles. It’s one of their most politically charged tracks. Story Behind the Song

The song was tied to the turbulent political climate of the 1960s. Lennon was influenced by the protests and radicalism of the era but wanted to make a statement that...

If you’re looking to improve your blues rhythm playing and spice up your jams…then this post will show you a fun and powerful way to do that.

Many musicians like to focus a lot on lead guitar. But they often overlook the fact that behind (almost) every great lead guitarist you’ll find an incredible rhythm player. Take for instance, Stevie Ray Vaughan whose iconic blues shuffle rhythms changed the game. Or Jimi Hendrix, who was a master at blending soulful R&B sounds behind his singing.

Or Tommy Emmanuel who started as the rhythm guy behind his brother in a family band.

While many musicians think the blues is boring or limited. This just shows a lack of depth in their knowledge of it. 

So let’s get started with today’s blues rhythm guitar lesson.

For this example, we are going to be in the key of E. Let’s next take a look at the most common…

Blues Rhythm Guitar Chords

The three most common chords found in a blues progression in...

Did you know this iconic cut marks one of the first rock and roll tunes to ever use feedback as part of the song’s production?

It was created by accident when Paul McCartney hit a low bass note that sent John Lennon’s acoustic guitar into a spiral.

The riff is epic. And, of course, you’ll find a ton of essential blues elements you can have fun jamming with for hours.

So, grab your guitar, and let’s dive into this “I Feel Fine” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote I Feel Fine?

“I Feel Fine” was primarily written by John Lennon. However, it is credited to the songwriting partnership of Lennon-McCartney. It’s known for its catchy guitar riff and innovative production techniques. 

One of the cool things that happened at the beginning of the song is apparently Paul McCartney played a low A on his bass while Lennon’s guitar was leaning against McCartney’s amp. The vibrations from the low bass note caused...

Did you know millions of songs from the past 100 years of popular American music, use common blues principles? 

The better a musician understands the fundamentals of the blues, the easier and faster they will learn to play their favorite songs – if they want to play popular American music from the past 100 years.

In this post, I want to share with you a tiny “sample” of this. So grab your guitar, tune up and let’s dive into this “Heartbreak Hotel” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Heartbreak Hotel?

"Heartbreak Hotel" was written by Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, and Elvis Presley. Elvis received a co-writing credit although his contributions are often debated. Mae Boren Axton was a schoolteacher and songwriter, while Tommy Durden was a steel guitarist and songwriter.

The song has a haunting backstory.

The lyrics were inspired by a story Durden read in a newspaper about a man who committed suicide by jumping out of a hotel window, leaving...

If you’d like to skyrocket your rhythm and blues guitar playing and be able to jam grooves like the legends…then this funky "Long Train Runnin'" chords and guitar lesson could help you on your way.

Now keep in mind, this ain’t easy! 

In fact, if you’ve been playing guitar lesson than a year, I’d recommend coming back to this song at a later date. This tune uses a lot of 16th-note rhythms and some sophisticated chords that expand beyond the usual garden variety of most guitar players. It's a blend of rock, funk, and rhythm and blues. Plus, all the other lessons online don’t show you the nuances and subtleties that I’m going to. These make all the difference in nailing it just like the record. 

If you’re still with me, buckle up, and let’s dive into this "Long Train Runnin'" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Long Train Runnin’?

"Long Train Runnin'" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. It was...

If you want to learn a simple song that can potentially make your audience go crazy, cutting rug on the dance floor all night long… then this post can show you how.

We will be primarily looking at The Beatles’ version of this song. But it has been brought to fame through a number of iconic versions.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Twist And Shout” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Twist And Shout?

"Twist and Shout" has an interesting backstory to it. Multiple artists contributed to its fame. The original writers were Phil Medley and Bert Berns (credited as Bert Russell). And, it was first called "Shake It Up, Baby", (a clever title inspired by the twist dance craze which began with the American rock and roll singer and dancer Chubby Checker.)

The song was first recorded by the Top Notes in 1961, and produced by legendary producer Phil Spector. 

However, this version didn’t gain much traction. Bert Berns, unhappy with...

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...

If you’re looking for a fun and groovy song to play without having to learn a ton of chords…then this post might just have exactly what you are looking for.

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...