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In My Life Guitar Lesson (Beatles)

rock Dec 24, 2023

A fan on Reddit said this about today's song:

"Those opening lines, 'There are places I'll remember/All my life, though some have changed' - they just take you right back to your childhood." 

I would agree with that.

I’ve played this song at:

Weddings…

Anniversaries…

Private events… 

I’ve played it all over. And it always seems to hit an emotional note with the crowd. 

Today I want to break it down for you step-by-step. We’ll look at the signature guitar parts, the chords and progressions, and even an unexpected twist at the end. 

I’ll dive deep into how George Martin recorded and played the piano solo in this In My Life guitar lesson.

Who wrote In My Life?

The iconic song "In My Life" is credited to the legendary songwriting duo Lennon-McCartney. But its origins are a bit murkier than that.  

While John Lennon wrote the lyrics and is considered the primary author, there's been debate about the extent of...

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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,...

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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,...

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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'...

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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...

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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...

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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.  

...

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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...

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Sweet Home Alabama Guitar Lesson (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

rock Nov 21, 2023

Whelp… 

Today I have something cool for you…

And there really isn't much more to say other than THIS...

Right now, for the first time ever, I'm going to share with you how I play one of the most ICONIC guitar riffs of all time!

I’m talking about THE EPIC, THE LEGENDARY Lynyrd Skynyrd Tune…

 "Sweet Home Alabama."

Apparently, Ed King was the guy who came up with the main signature guitar part. (BTW your friends will recognize this right away when you play it!)

Ed played it on a Fender Stratocaster.

Now I’ve played this tune countless times with band after band… 

It always seems to come a little later in the set when everyone starts to cut loose on the dance floor…

In fact, I even learned a simple version of “Sweet Home Alabama” as one of the first riffs I ever played. (I’ll show you how to play that easy version too.)

My cousin showed it to me.

He taught me the chords and this little picking...

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Rocket Man Guitar Lesson (Elton John)

rock Nov 16, 2023

Today I want to share with you an easy way to play “Rocket Man” on guitar.

This song has touched generations of listeners and was written by two legendary songwriting collaborators Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

In this post, you’ll learn the chords, strumming patterns, and even cool ways that piano parts can be interpreted on guitar.

So tune up and let’s dive into this “Rocket Man” guitar lesson!

Who wrote Rocket Man?

"Rocket Man" was written by the British singer-songwriter Elton John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. 

It was released on Elton John's 1972 album Honky Château. The song is one of Elton John's most iconic hits and remains a staple of his discography.

"Rocket Man" was recorded at the Honky Château Studio in France. This studio was known for its unique recording methods, including the use of a mobile recording unit.

The song reached the top ten on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2018, "Rocket...

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