Hello friends,
I hope you all are enjoying your weekend practice, and jumping into the new year with renewed focus on your goals as a guitarist. To get 2023 off on the right foot, I'd recommend adding a few new tunes to your repertoire. With that in mind, today I'm offering a new soundslice resource, this time featuring my tutorial on The Beatles classic "And I Love Her."
As many of you have seen in previous post, the soundslice platform allows you to view my video content a...
2023-01-07 16:59:59 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another lick of the week. In today's session we'll learn a unique variation to our basic blues progression and how to solo over it using the CAGED system and the major mixolydian blues scale. Once you've added this ear-catching phrase to your repertoire, I invite you to jam along as I hold down the rhythm. Let's get started! -Rob
Recommended Lessons:
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another rhythm guitar tutorial. One of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal as rhythm and lead guitarist is the CAGED system. This simple method of visualizing the fretboard allows guitarist to play every chord triad in five positions, while also revealing overlapping scales for easy lead work. In today's session we'll employ the CAGED system to unlock major chords up and down the neck. Let's get started!
Recommen...
2022-12-21 16:27:54 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another by request song tutorial. For today's session, I've broken down an original arrangement of the 1934 Bernard & Smith composition "Winter Wonderland," based off of Dean Martin's 1966 recording. We'll begin by learning a chord-melody approach to playing the tunes main melody, before mastering the chords & rhythm options for verse and chorus sections. Let's get started!
Links:
Hello friends,
Today, I'm so excited to add another Soundslice resource to this growing library! let's head back to my 2018 tutorial featuring the wildly talented Chelsea Mitchell. Together we broke down how to play the Patsy Cline version of the Willie Nelson classic "Crazy." Click the link below to enjoy this popular lesson with scrolling tabs and a suite of powerful playback tools. Have fun! -Rob
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another mini lead guitar lesson. For today's session we'll borrow a lick from Eric Clapton's vocabulary, and learn how to solo over the common 5 to 4 chord change that occurs at the end of a 12 bar blues. In addition, I'll reveal how to improvise over the complete 1.4.5 progression by simply transposing a variation to the blues scale. Let's get started! -Rob
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- 0:00 - Introduction
2022-12-05 20:14:46 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for session #8 of the Daily Player Series. At the core of famous progressions and solos are the scales from which their notes and harmonies derive. In today's lesson, we'll delve into the minor tonality and learn how to perform the natural minor and pentatonic scale patterns. Let's get started!
Today's Lesson Plan:
- Natural minor scale (single string).
- Natural minor scale (common position).
- Minor pentatonic...
2022-12-02 21:33:20 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
For today's lesson, we'll further expand our lead guitar vocabulary and our understanding of harmony as we learn to create lush double-stops in the key of G major. Double-stops are two note chords, also known as "dyads," which can be used to create melodic fills, riffs, and solos. We'll begin this session by reviewing positions of our G major scale, before learning to harmonize this scale using major and minor 3rds. Let's get started!
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2022-12-01 17:16:08 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another country/bluegrass lead tutorial. Today, let's sneak in a little thanksgiving practice and learn a classic lick that is tailor fitted to the 1 to 5 chord change in C. This phrase is comprised of several techniques that are at the heart of the genre, and also serves as an excellent example of how we can use implied chord changes to achieve jazzier lines. Let's get started! -Rob
P.S From my family to yours, we wish you a...
2022-11-24 19:38:41 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another fingerpicking tutorial. In today's session we'll uncover classic folk techniques in the style of 1960's acoustic pickers like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and John Denver. Together we'll master ear-catching patterns and embellishments in the context of a fun and entertaining practice routine. Let's get started!
Links:
2022-11-12 19:13:20 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Today I'm excited to bring to you another tutorial for absolute beginners. In session #7 of our Daily Player Series, we'll build upon our knowledge of basic chords and note values to master three essential strumming patterns.
If you're seeing this new series for the first time, I intend to produce 100 exclusive videos designed ...
2022-11-11 15:49:36 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another living room teaching session. To cap off your weekend practice, let's learn to spice up your original compositions and arrangements with flavorful diminished chords. This tutorial is exclusively for my generous patrons, but feel free to share the link with friends. Let's get started!
P.S. I'm considering making these patron only "living room sessions" a regular thing. Would you like to see stripped down mini lessons posted to...
2022-10-23 21:02:53 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
I hope you're all enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning and having an excellent week of practice. For today, here's a mini-lead lesson just for you, my generous patrons. In this session, I've broken down an elegant transition lick in the key of C, which provides a seamless transition between the F7 and C7 chords. Lastly, we also have a classic jazz-blues ending riff to add to our weekend practice. Let's get started! - Rob
2022-10-22 15:26:56 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another mini-lead tutorial. Every once in a while, a guitarist receives a wonderful "ah-hah" moment where they happen upon something that forever changes their playing. One such technique for me is the concept of string-skipping, which allows a soloist to access less predictable notes and create more evocative melodic ideas. In today's session, Ive broken down the basic approach in the context of two beautiful phrases in the ...
2022-10-19 17:59:33 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another bluegrass tutorial featuring special guest, violinist, educator and author Joseph Arnold. One of the most effective ways of breaking out of a creative or technical rut is to explore melodic lines written for other instruments. For this reason, we have broken down three classic bluegrass fiddle licks adapted for the acoustic guitar, while exploring the mindset of a high-calibre musician. Let's get started! -Rob <...
2022-10-17 19:34:14 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another song tutorial. For today's session I have broken down the timeless classic "Smile," as heard in Nat King Cole's 1954 recording. In this arrangement for solo performance with vocals, we will employ moveable chord shapes for easy transposition. Let's get started!
Links:
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another blues/rock soloing tutorial. There comes a time in every soloist development when they find themselves aimlessly running through pentatonics with no real direction. Sure, these notes may be in the right key, but to truly compliment progression you will need to dig deeper. So, in today's session we'll be learning how to follow the crucial 1 to 4 chord change as I break down six pro-level licks that are tailor fitted to this ...
2022-09-29 17:08:17 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another mini blues tutorial. In today's session I've plugged into a beautiful Classic Vibe Squier Stratocaster to break down a stylish and transposable blues turnaround. We'll begin this lesson by examining the core elements - overlapping chord shapes and scales - before mastering this ear-catching conclusion to your 12 bar blues. Let's get started! -...
2022-09-21 16:04:43 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another lead guitar hack! Time and time again I have heard from frustrated students who are struggling to move beyond the basic minor pentatonic box. So, in today's lesson I'll show you how targeting the major 3rds of each chord can add brightness and direction to your solos, and break you out of the dreaded pentatonic rut! Let's get started!
Enter to Win a Classic Vibe Stratocaster at 2022-09-15 21:27:27 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another essential rhythm guitar tutorial. In today's session we'll be learning the 7 must know chord shapes in the key of A minor. I'll begin by showing you how to play these harmonies in the open position (first three frets), before breaking down transposable barre chord options. Let's get started!
Note: Updated PDF will be added shortly. Thanks for your patience and support!
Links:
Hello friends,
Today I'm so excited to return to making song tutorials! For today's session, I've broken down another classic Elvis tune titled "Crying in the Chapel." We'll use this opportunity to strengthen our barre chord technique, while focusing on the elements of drama and dynamics with our vocal and guitar work. Let's get started! -Rob
Note: Chord sheet, printable tabs and Guitar Pro added 9/23/22
2022-08-30 20:05:50 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another music theory pop quiz. In today's session I will be testing your knowledge of 20 essential chord harmonies, and breaking down the intervals they contain. Be sure to track your score and share your results in the comment section. Let's get started!
Note: Guitar Pro and chord chart will be added shortly. Thanks for the continued support! -Rob
2022-08-27 15:03:07 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another essential rhythm guitar tutorial. In today's session we'll be learning the 7 must know chord shapes of a major key. I'll begin by showing you how to play these harmonies in the open position key of C, before breaking down transposable barre chord options. Let's get started! -Rob
Recommended Lessons:
Hello friends,
An essential step in your progress as guitarist will be understanding the inner-workings of your favorite music. A firm grasp of just a few music theory concepts will allow you to break down the sounds you hear into raw materials, which can then be applied creatively in countless ways. In today's session, let's test your knowledge of music theory and brush up on essential concepts like scales, chord harmony and progressions. Let's get started! -Rob
Note: A PDF quiz ...
2022-08-10 12:28:02 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Playing essential progressions doesn't have to be difficult or include finger-bending chord shapes. In this beginner friendly guitar tutorial, I'll be showing you how to perform your basic major and minor harmonies with just one finger and apply them to basic progressions. This technique will allow you to free-up your hands to mix in lead techniques and stunning chord embellishments. Let's get started! -Rob
2022-08-04 22:21:44 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another mini lead tutorial. In today's session we'll uncover the secret to achieving that classic country/pedal steel sound on an electric guitar. Together we'll learn the theory behind bending in harmony, before mastering a beginner-intermediate level practice routine. Let's get started! -Rob
Recommended Gear:
Spark Amplifier by Positive Gri...
2022-08-01 23:38:42 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another blues guitar tutorial. In today's session let's learn to play a minor blues progression in the simplest way possible, fretting minor 7 chords with just one finger! This beginner friendly guitar trick offers a stress free way of performing a 12 bar blues, while freeing-up your other fingers for spicy licks and percussive fills. Let's get started!
Personal Update:
Today little Adelka is celebrat...
2022-07-21 16:36:32 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another lead guitar tutorial. Well before Hendrix and Clapton wowed audiences with their psychedelic brand of blues rock, guitar legend Scotty Moore helped lay the foundation for all that was to come. Today, let's dig into his go-to tricks as we master his iconic solo from "That's Alright, Mama."
This solo will serve as an excellent introduction to double-stops, major pentatonic licks, travis style fingerpicking, and melodic ...
2022-07-14 16:19:37 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another lead guitar hack. In today's session, let's delve into a technique that has been used extensively in neo-soul and R&B style guitar playing, major pentatonic stacking. Together we'll learn to harmonize three positions of the major pentatonic scale, before mastering a melodic practice routine. Let's get started!
Tab Sample:
2022-07-05 18:47:50 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for Session #5 of my Daily Player Series. In today's lesson we'll discover the most important element of music theory - the reference point for virtually everything in western music - the major scale. Together we'll learn how to perform this essential scale in its common position, and how to transpose it across all 12 keys before learning the basic pentatonic (5 tone) variety. Let's get those fingers moving!
Watch More ...
2022-06-29 04:01:01 +0000 UTC
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