Hello friends,
and welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'll be breaking down how to play Tracy Chapman's 1988 hit song "Fast Car." This beginner friendly guitar song contains a variety of essential techniques including fingerstyle picking patterns, common open chord variations and strumming patterns. I'll take you through the songs iconic intro, verse and chorus sections. Let's get started!
Note: PDF has been updated with Audi...
2018-06-06 14:31:05 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends
I hope all of you are enjoying a great start to your week of practice, thank you so much for your continued support this month! Today I'm putting the finishing touches on a new lesson breaking down "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the tune using this new performance featuring the talented Caroline Kane, and the attached PDF study guide. I'll be back ASAP with a complete tutorial breaking down the finer details. Have fun!
...
2018-06-04 20:02:27 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another blues lead guitar lesson. In this mini-tutorial, I'll be breaking down a descending lick that encompasses some of my favorite lead guitar techniques:
- Mixing major and minor pentatonic scales.
- Replacing the 5th with the flat 5 (devil's interval)
- Resolving with a dominant 7 chord double stop.
Be sure to practice slowly and break this phrase up into digestible segments for easier learning. Remember to bo...
2018-06-01 22:35:51 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lead guitar tutorial. In today’s session I’ll be breaking down three impressive licks that you can use to finish a blues guitar solo. These phrases are excellent for players hoping to expand their lick vocabulary outside of the typical pentatonic scale, as they demonstrate how melodic ideas can be formed by following the chord progression in various positions across the fretboard. Let’s get started!
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2018-05-30 21:39:02 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome back to Swiftlessons for another mini-music theory tutorial. In today’s session I’ll be explaining "sus" or suspended chords – how they are built from the major scale, and how they can be used to embellish basic chord progressions. Let’s get started!
Recommended Theory Lessons:
Hello friends,
and welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'll be breaking down Elvis Presley's 1956 hit "Love Me Tender." I'll take you through the chord progressions and strumming techniques for the verse and chorus sections, let's get started!
Links:
Hello friends,
It's been a while since I broke down an Elvis classic, so this week I'll be producing an extra song tutorial on his 1956 hit "Love Me Tender." Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the tune, and see what you can get down using the attached PDF study guide w/ mp3 samples. I'll be back ASAP with a full tutorial and some bonus tips. Let's get started!
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Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial! In today's session I'll be breaking down how to play the 1969 Crosby, Stills & Nash tune "Helplessly Hoping" in it's entirety. This fingerstyle guitar lesson will teach you Stephen Stills general approach to folk-style guitar, as you learn how to perform the song's intro, verse, and chorus sections. Let's get started!
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Hello friends,
This week I've spent my time developing an arrangement and tab for "Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby, Stills and Nash." Additionally, I've experimented with placing mp3 samples into my PDF tabs. Take a moment to review this classic tune, see what you can get down using this resource and I'll be back ASAP with a full video tutorial. Have fun! -Rob
Links:
Hello friends,
and welcome back to Swiftlessons for another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'll be breaking down The Beatles 1964 classic "And I Love Her." I'll show you how to perform the rhythm and lead sections to the verses, and George's iconic guitar solo. Let's get started!
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Hello friends,
Today I'm hard at work on a new tutorial breaking down the Beatles 1964 classic "And I Love Her." Here's a quick demo of my performance for you to jam along with. See what you can figure out on your own and I'll be back later this week with a complete tutorial. Have fun! -Rob
Links:
Hello friends,
And welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lead guitar tutorial. Throughout my two decades as a guitarist, it has often been the simplest concepts that have made the biggest difference in my playing. One simple tip that changed everything was to always learn your licks in multiple positions. In this lesson, I’ll be showing you how to play one classic lick in different octaves and positions of the minor pentatonic scale. Let’s get started!
2018-05-05 23:12:15 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial! In today's session I'll be breaking down how to play the Chris Cornell version of the Prince classic "Nothing Compares 2u." I'll take you through the chord progressions and strumming options of the intro, verse, and chorus sections, revealing essential rhythm guitar techniques. Check back later for a lesson breaking down my method for soloing over the tunes instrumental section. Let's get started!
Associ...
2018-05-03 15:04:00 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
and welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons! In today's session I'll be breaking down how I use major arpeggios to develop my guitar and vocal technique. We'll practice three different exercises that are guaranteed to develop your finger dexterity, picking accuracy, and your vocal range and pitch. Let's get started!
2018-04-29 00:25:51 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Today I'm getting back to song tutorials starting with Chris Cornell's rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U." This version is full of essential techniques including basic chord shapes, and strumming patterns typical to pop/rock music. Take a moment to enjoy Chris's performance, and reacquaint yourself with the tune using the attached chord sheet and strumming guide. I'll be back later with a complete tutorial breaking everything down. Enjoy your practice! -Rob
Note: Chris's ...
2018-04-26 22:25:59 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another fingerstyle guitar tutorial. In today’s session I’ll be breaking down some very beginner friendly “Travis” or folk style patterns over a 1.6.5 progression in C major. Approach these techniques with slow, patient repetition to develop muscle memory, and you will be able to apply them to countless songs, and your own original music. Let’s get started!
2018-04-25 17:09:31 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
In today’s session I’ll be breaking down two useful phrases that can be combined to form an impressive flatpicking run over a Cmaj chord. We’ll get started reviewing our source scales before adding these classic licks to your repertoire. Let’s get started!
Quick tips for learning and retaining challenging techniques:
1) Take your time - Speed and accuracy is obtained by playing a snails pace.
2) Break things up - It's very important to ...
2018-04-23 21:21:51 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome back to Swiftlessons! In today's session I'll be sharing with you a couple of activities that you can use to train your ear. The ultimate goal is to develop a connection between your mind and the notes on the fretboard, so that you can anticipate what a given note will sound like before you play it. Let's get started!
Activity #1 - Retrace Your Steps
This first exercise is useful for developing your memory, while also associating position...
2018-04-18 21:13:18 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another bluegrass licks tutorial! In today’s session I’ll be sharing a routine that combines rhythm and lead techniques in the style of guitar legend Norman Blake. These licks can be used to embellish a basic 1.4.5 progression in the C position. Let’s get started!
2018-04-17 19:55:39 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another rhythm guitar tutorial! In today’s session I’ll be showing you how to add percussive elements to a common finger-style groove in 4/4 time. We’ll begin by applying the pattern over a single chord shape before experimenting with variations of A minor, and a progression in the open position. Let’s get started!
2018-04-13 17:22:05 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial! In today's session I'll be breaking down a fairly easy fingerstyle tune in Simon and Garfunkel's 1967 classic "59th Street Bridge Song" (Feelin' Groovy.) This is a fantastic song for beginner finger-pickers to learn because it features one simple chord progression and a basic "Travis" technique throughout it's entirety. Remember to practice each section with slow, patient repetition. The goal is to fully commit the tune to m...
2018-04-11 00:42:46 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another lead guitar tutorial. In today’s session I’ll be showing you some of my favorite Memphis soul style licks over a grooving 1.2.4.5 progression in C major. We’ll begin by learning the rhythm section, and a few applicable scale positions, before adding these smooth, melodic phrases to your repertoire. Let’s get started!
Section #1: The 1.2.4.5 Progression
Here’s a common soul style progression that you can use in your ow...
2018-04-10 01:46:07 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Today I'm hunkered down with a cold, but still working on lesson plans for upcoming videos. This week you can expect an extra song tutorial in Simon and Garfunkel's "59th Street Bridge Song" (Feelin' Groovy.) This is one of the best songs for beginner fingerpickers to learn because it makes use of just one simple folk progression, and a basic finger-style pattern. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the tune, and see how far you can get using the attached PDF. I'll be bac...
2018-04-03 20:29:49 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial! In today's session I'll be breaking down a unique way of performing Cat Stevens 1972 classic "Morning Has Broken." I'll show you how to adapt the classical style piano sections to fingerstyle guitar, and teach you the chord progressions and strumming patterns for the verse sections. Let's get started!
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Hello friends,
This weekend I'm creating a new tutorial on a unique way of performing Cat Stevens 1971 rendition of "Morning Has Broken." The goal in mind will be to adapt the piano sections to fingerstyle guitar for a complete solo performance. Familiarize yourself with the tune, and see what you can accomplish on your own with my demonstration. I'll be back tomorrow with a full break down. Have fun!
Note: The attached tablature is a rough draft, expect an update.
As...
2018-03-30 21:14:55 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another lick of the week! In today’s session I’ll be breaking down a progressive blues lick that takes you from Amaj to Dmaj and can be applied to any major 1-4 transition. The lick mainly utilizes notes from the major and minor pentatonic scales, while including a tension note outside of those common positions. Let’s get started!
Section #1: Our Source Scales
In this section we’ll review our major and minor pentatonic scales. ...
2018-03-28 22:52:17 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Hello friends, in preparation for an upcoming blues soloing course, I'm posting this standard blues backing track in Bmaj. Jam along with me using the major and minor blues scales and be sure to polish your licks with plenty of repetition. Let's get started!
Note: I'll be posting this in more keys, check back!
Links:
Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'll be taking our picking to the next level with a full break down of The Beatles' 1965 classic "Norwegian Wood." I'll take you through the main guitar part for the verse and chorus sections, and the chord progression and strumming options for the chorus. Let's get started!
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Hello friends,
And welcome to another blues lead guitar lesson! In today’s session I’ll be breaking down one of Gary Clark Jr.’s “go to” licks, as heard in his recent jam with blues legend Jimmy Vaughan. We’ll begin by learning the soloing positions that Gary is using, before breaking this useful phrase up into easy to learn sections. Let’s get started!
Section #1: “BB’s Box” Key of Emaj
Gary’s lick is almost entirely made up of notes...
2018-03-20 02:10:42 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
and welcome to another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'm breaking down Pearl Jam's 1993 ballad "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town." This is a beginner friendly song that contains some very useful techniques for rhythm guitar. I'll take you through the chord progressions and strumming options for the verse, pre-chorus and chorus sections to get you performance ready. Let's get started!
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