Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another ukulele tutorial. In today's session we'll uncover essential chord shapes and strumming techniques as we learn three melodic outro riffs in major keys. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another blues guitar tutorial. In today's session I've broken down five of my go-to turnaround riffs in the key of A. Learning these techniques will give us the opportunity to hone our hybrid picking skills, as we discover a variety of useful chord shapes across the fretboard. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lick of the week. In today's session we'll be investigating the useful C position of the major pentatonic scale and learning a catchy phrase for blues, jazz and R&B. We'll begin by reviewing a bit of CAGED theory before tackling this impressive lick. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another beginner friendly song tutorial. In today's session I've broken down the rhythm and lead guitar parts for "Learning to Fly" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We'll begin by learning the basic rhythm techniques, before learning Mike Campbell's iconic slide solo. Let's get started!
2020-06-22 22:10:56 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
After several days of technical difficulties, I've finally completed my breakdown of Paul Simon's 1973 classic "American Tune." In this session we'll be learning the fingerstyle techniques for the bridge, third verse, and outro sections. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for video #1 of a two part series breaking down Paul Simon's 1973 masterpiece "American Tune." This is an excellent song for any player looking to develop their fingerstyle technique, and I consider it a must learn for aspiring songwriters. In this session I'll perform the song in it's entirety before breaking down verses 1-2. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another rhythm guitar tutorial. In today's session we'll expand our knowledge of essential chord progressions, and learn a jazzy variation to the 12 bar blues in B major. We'll begin by reviewing some basic music theory before applying a short, staccato strumming technique to this popular chord progression. Let's get started!
2020-06-14 03:42:57 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lick of the week tutorial! In today's session we'll be examining a jazzy I to IV transition lick in the key of B major. Studying this useful phrase will reveal essential jazz lead techniques including:
• The minor second (upper neighbor) root note substitution.
• Chromatic walkups to chord tones.
• Chord arpeggiation.
• Rest stroke picking technique.
Hello friends,
Wow, has it been another challenging week! Here in Philadelphia we've been faced with severe civil unrest, while the majority of city's peaceful protesters and police work to establish common ground. As someone who was raised in the Quaker faith, I love seeing my friends and neighbors exercise their 1st amendment rights, and use the power of non-violent resistance to stand up for causes they believe in.
As if Covid19 and civil unrest wasn't enough, mother natu...
2020-06-04 21:06:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another beginner friendly fundamentals lesson. In today's session we'll be learning another essential skill as we analyze the origins of the dominant 7 harmony, and seven of it's most common shapes in the open position. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
As part of an effort to revamp my First Repertoire Songbook, I've created a new chord sheet for my 2013 beginner guitar lesson on the Ben E. King classic "Stand By Me." Attached you will find a PDF study guide complete with lyrics, and chord/strumming diagrams. Use this lesson to master a basic 1.6.4.5 progression in G, and a percussive R&B strumming pattern. Let's get started!
2020-05-28 18:20:36 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
As part of an effort to revamp my First Repertoire Songbook, I've created a new chord sheet for my 2014 lesson on the Pearl Jam version of the Ed Cochrane classic "Last Kiss." Attached you will find a PDF study guide complete with lyrics, and chord/strumming diagrams. Use this lesson to master a basic 1.6.4.5 progression in G, the common calypso rhythm and muted strums. Enjoy!
2020-05-28 01:38:58 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
This week I'm working on a revamped version of my First Repertoire songbook, and I've designed a new layout for the chord sheets that it contains. Attached you will find an exert from that ebook, a PDF study guide for Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Enjoy!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another music theory guitar tutorial. In today's session we'll discuss how to use our knowledge of the major scale and notes on the fretboard to quickly transpose major chord progressions. We'll begin by reviewing a movable position of the major scale, before learning to transpose a Beatles classic. Let's get started!
2020-05-26 19:22:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for a patreon exclusive tutorial breaking down a fancy jazz/blues arpeggio lick that takes you from the IV chord to the I. We'll begin this tutorial by learning two moveable shapes, A7 and D9, before breaking this phrase up into two easy to learn sections. Let's get started!
2020-05-24 00:36:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another beginner friendly guitar tutorial. In today's session we're back to fundamentals as we discuss the origins of the major 7 harmony, and it's finger positions in the open position (first three frets). In total we will learn eight common shapes that you are likely to see in popular songs. Let's get started!
2020-05-16 21:30:52 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
Today I reworked the PDF study guide to my 2016 lesson on Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." My hope is that you will walk away from this tutorial with a few new chords, strumming techniques and an idea of how to solo over this type of chord progression. The solo I performed in this demonstration had a few important elements that, in my opinion, lend to a great guitar solo:
Hello friends,
welcome back to swiftlessons for another early rock & roll tutorial. In today's session I've broken down how to play Elvis Presley's 1957 classic "Jailhouse Rock." In this tutorial you will learn the rhythm technique for the verse sections, the boogie-woogie bassline for the chorus sections, and Scotty Moore's iconic guitar solo. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another mini lead guitar tutorial. One of the best ways to grow as a guitarist is to focus on adding one simple but effective concept to your repertoire at a time. In today's lesson we'll be learning a beginner friendly chord transition lick that takes you from the I to the IV chord in the key of A major. Combine this idea with your favorite rhythms, or implement it into your solos and improvisations. Let's get started!
2020-05-09 18:35:12 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for an advanced chords practice routine. In today's session i've broken down a jazzy progression that makes use of major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, diminished and dom7add13 chords. We'll get started learning each shape individually, before applying a basic arpeggio pattern for added practice. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lead guitar tutorial. One of the hallmarks of an advanced guitar soloist is the ability to play licks that fit melodically over the chord changes. In today's session I've broken down how a simple major pentatonic lick can be altered to accommodate each chord in a standard 12 bar blues in C. We'll get started reviewing our source scale before learning to target chord tones in a 1.4.5 progression. Finally, we'll tackle a complete pra...
2020-05-03 18:23:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for a rhythm guitar crash course. In today's session I'll be breaking down the basic techniques to strumming your guitar. We'll begin by reviewing the five types of note values, before learning how to count and strum useful strumming patterns. Let's get started!
2020-04-23 21:40:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another rhythm guitar tutorial. In today's session I've broken down how to play essential "buskers style" chord shapes - These are super beginner friendly chord forms that allow you to perform various progressions while moving only your first and second fingers. We'll begin this lesson by learning each chord individually before implementing strumming techniques for a complete practice routine. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lick of the week. In today's session I'll be sharing techniques I've discovered while studying the playing of prominent gypsy jazz guitarist like Django Reinhardt. In this lesson I'll break down useful chord shapes and soloing techniques that you can apply to your next composition in the key of Am. Let's get started!
2020-04-17 21:18:44 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another by request song tutorial! In today's session we'll tackle another Tom Petty classic in his 1989 smash hit "Free Fallin." This is an excellent song for beginners, because the entire tune is comprised of only three chords, and variations of the same recognizable riff. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
Today I'm back with another blues lead guitar tutorial breaking down five classic B.B King licks! We'll begin this lesson by reviewing prerequisite scale patterns, and a condensed 7 bar blues progression before tackling these useful phrases. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another by request song tutorial. In today's session I'm breaking down my intermediate level arrangement of Elvis Presley's "Lover Doll" from the King Creole soundtrack. In this lesson we'll brush up on music theory as we learn a variety of riffs, chord progressions and strumming techniques. Let's get started
<...
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lick of the week. In today's session I've broken down a classic 2.5.1 lick that you can apply to jazz and blues chord progressions. In this lesson you will learn our source scale, the major scale key of C, and useful chord shapes before tackling this catchy phrase. Let's get started!
Hello friends,
welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another beginner friendly song tutorial. In today's session I'm breaking down one of the most recognizable American standards, "You Are My Sunshine." We'll get started learning a basic chord melody approach, before learning to strum through the verse and chorus sections. Let's get started!
2020-03-26 01:25:57 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swift Guitar Lessons for another lick of the week. In today's session we will expand our knowledge of minor soloing as we learn a dissonant descending pattern built from the melodic minor scale. This lesson will begin with a break down of the source scale in it's D shape position (CAGED), from there, I'll break down our lick of the week in small, easy to learn chunks. Let's get started!
2020-03-23 11:29:40 +0000 UTC
View Post