Guitar Lessons
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to go to the next level, our guitar lessons will help you get there.
More Lessons // Intermediate, Lead Guitar, Theory, and Gear
Barre Chords:
Alternate Chord Voicings:
- Alternate Chord Voicings – Key of E
- Alternate Chord Voicings – Key of A
- Alternate Chord Voicings – Key of D
- Alternate Chord Voicings – Key of B
Finger picking
- Introduction to Finger Picking, First Finger Picking Pattern
- Finger picking 2: A more complicated pattern
- Finger picking 3: Intermediate Patterns
Lead Guitar
- The A Major Scale
- The F# Minor Pentatonic Scale
- Joining the Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales
- How to learn lead parts in songs using scales
- Practice making up your own parts over a backing track
- The D Shape: Playing lead lines and chords
- Simple lines using the A Major Scale and Dotted 8th delay
- Using Chord Shapes to Find Lead Lines
- Single Note Rhythm and Lead Lines
- 5 tips to maximize your electric guitar playing
Capos
- What capos are and how they work
- How to make a song higher or lower
- How to use different chords to play the same song
- Recommended capos
- Why some people say you shouldn’t use capos, and why I think they’re wrong (most of the time)
- The capo cheat sheet
Thanks for the lessons, 60 yrs old & just started, amazing never thought I would ever play an instrument, great teacher, thank you.
Awesome – best of luck to you!
Hey Brian,
When I am strumming 10-15 times(playing a song), my guitar pick slips.How to avoid this? Good luck.
I had and sometimes still do have the exact same problem… what I did was go down to the music store and get a “cool pick” (trademarked). The ones that I got are made with a little abrasive patch on both sides which helps the grip. I also choose to go with the one that looks most like a triangle than a traditional pick, that way I could use any corner of the pick in case of rotation. Practice will help you grip your pick better too.
Thanks ,Mate.
I myself have smallish hands (and therefore, smallish fingers also). A recent pic I found is a great solution for me (and probably you too). Check out Orbit’s ZeroGravity medium pic:
(https://www.amazon.com/ZeroGravity-Orbit-Guitar-Medium-Single/dp/B0002E1UNU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489034568&sr=8-2&keywords=orbit+pick)
… and also MonsterGrips:
(https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Grips-Ultimate-Guitar-Picks/dp/B00JER27MO/ref=pd_bxgy_267_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00JER27MO&pd_rd_r=6X11718SBWV5A30QEQ3K&pd_rd_w=qyrNK&pd_rd_wg=YCiqZ&psc=1&refRID=6X11718SBWV5A30QEQ3K)
Thanks Russell!
Hi Dan – you can get picks that have grips or textures on them to keep them from slipping out of your hand. Or just hold on harder, ha.
Hello Brian,
When I do strumming(down and up strumming),while with a good tune I hear the noise of the guitar pick like a saw cutting wood. 🙂 How to reduce this unwanted noise?Thank you.
Hi Dan – you may be strumming so the pick is in contact with the string too much (not sure, though) – otherwise a different thickness of pick might sound better to you.
Hello Bryan,
How to sing while playing the guitar?How do you do that?You know when I do that ,the strumming pattern and the chords,they get mess up.Good Luck!
Hey Dan – that’s a good idea for a video (or series). The bottom line is it just takes practice.
Hello Bryan,
How many seconds do we have to change a chord ?For instance F#m chord to A takes a lot of time than G to C.. 😐 Thank you.
Hi Dan,
For chord changes, the only real answer is practice. When i was wanting to practice my barre F, i selected a song which had a quick change from G to F to C. (Night Moves by Bob Seger) I would keep practicing until i got it down. The way i play it is a down strum on the G, up then down on the F, then up and down on the C and continue with the C until it’s time to reverse the pattern… that’s 1/2 a beat! pretty quick. Now I can pretty much hit the F any time… also it’s an easy adjustment from F to F#m. Good luck and keep practicing. 🙂
Thanks Mike! 🙂
Hi Dan – it totally depends on the song.
I have followed you up-to your fourth lesson (basics) and I feel satisfied with your way of teaching. I am having problem in playing G chord and I want some tips for upstreaming,I it difficult as well.Thanks.
Hi Rullen – thank you. Just keep practicing and it will get easier and easier.
Thanks for your tutorial on how to play your first cord. You were very thorough on explaining all basics. I am 65 and just learning my first instrument.
Thanks Eric – good luck to you!
Hello ,
What’s the suitable pick size for strumming? 🙂 Good Luck.
I like picks around .7 to 1mm thick.
Hey brian, this site has been an amazing help. I wish you would do Open Eyes Of My Heart Lord. It’s a classic song i’d love to learn.
Thanks Chris! That one is old school – it would be fun to do some tutorials on older songs like that.
Hello Bryan,
1.I started to learn barre chords ,I can ring only high & low E,A,and D…I followed your bar finger technique…How long does it take to push all the strings??
2.Are there any barre chords friendly acoustic guitars ?
3.Are barre chords for big hands??
Hi Dan – it just takes time and practice. You can do barre chords with smaller hands if your hands aren’t large. Just keep at it and it will get easier and easier.
Hello Bryan,
When we do strumming ,do we have to hit hard on the strings?
Hi Bryan,
I have seen some guitar fret boards are wide and some are really small …I mean the guitar nut …Why is that? Are guitars with bigger nuts easy to place our fingers? Now I can play 5,6 songs..Thank you Bryan.Next hurdle is barre chords.
It’s all about preference. Typically classical guitars having wider nuts because it lends itself better to finger style guitar.
Hello Bryan,
This is a strange question…..When I play chords for instance D major chord.I cannot place the fingers at once..So I place my finger 1 and 3 first.Then finger 2…For that I take 2 seconds …Is it okay?
Sure that’s fine. The more you practice the faster you’ll get.
Hello Bryan,
barre chords doubt, when I play BM bar chord can I mute low E and bar A,D,G,B,high E only??
Hello Bryan,
Do you make songs?If so ,how do you do that?What do we do first ?
Hi bryan! Please teach me how to strum the guitar string?. Every song has a different way of strumming?
Hello Brain,
My guitar is a beginner acoustic guitar.
I have seen on internet and I was told after learning the guitar we must go for a more advanced acoustic guitar(live performance).
What’s the reason for that?Is it like first driving a truck and then driving a Porsche?
Is it very easy to Play compared to beginner guitars?
Hey Dan – if your guitar works for you definitely keep using it until you feel like you need to step up into something different.
Hello Bryan,
There are electric guitars,but why people started make acoustic electric guitars?Do they sound good than acoustic guitars?
Plus Bryan, What’s the difference between a semi acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic guitar?If I have money what’s the best one to buy ? semi acoustic or electric acoustic? Thanks. Really Sorry for asking so many things.I am curious. 🙂
An acoustic-electric is just an acoustic guitar that has a pickup in it so you can amplify it through a sound system.
Hello Bryan,
How to choose the suitable guitar neck size a person?
Hi Dan – it’s pretty much all just personal preference.
Hi Brian,
I’ve been playing guitar for a while now and I have always wanted my little brother to learn it too. The first thing that came to my mind was your lessons. I myself don’t have much time to sit and teach him. He’s been using your tutorials and having the time of his life. I’m very proud of him.
Thank you for your work value you bring…
Cheers from Poland!