Hey y'all! As promised, here's a little more to keep you busy this weekend (and beyond)!!! This lick is based around the same inside/outside pattern we riffed on in WW321, only this time, we're applying to a cool shreddy A Lydian lick. Practice tracks and TABs are included down there, so be sure to snag them and get to mashing on those ropes!!!
Cheers, y'all, have a great weekend and PLAY NICE!
2022-02-18 18:28:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys!!!!
PLAY.... don't practice! It works! Early music educators knew it, too, which is why they started writing etudes for students instead of assigning them boring exercises. Whatever you need to learn, there's a song that will show it to you, and its a lot more fun than running scales all day!
With that in mind, i designed this fun Mastodon style etude that actually focuses on the two variations of the Paul Gilbert Lick: the inside string change one, AND the outside ...
2022-02-17 16:27:56 +0000 UTC View Post
I can’t believe it, but through the powers of Sweetwater, I finally snagged one of my ultimate dream guitars: a black Les Paul Custom!!!! It arrived yesterday morning. It was the last one they had in stock, and they didn’t know when they’d be getting any more in, so I had to do it.
After letting it acclimate in the case for about 12 hours, I figured it was safe to open it, so I thought I would bring you guys along for the ride. What should be the first thing I use this...
2022-02-15 18:17:51 +0000 UTC View Post
New Meet the Machines is up!!! The MXR Poly Blue octave was sent to me recently, and i fell in love with it. Y'all know i only make videos about stuff i ACTUALLY use on gigs and in the studio, and this guy is definitely getting some mileage on it. 4 octaves of range, plus two modes of modulation AND a GNARY fuzz, all in one box!!!!
What do you want to see next on Meet the Machines? I just got a Wampler Gearbox, the signature two channel overdrive of my buddy Andy Wood, and it is SO SICK...
2022-02-09 15:56:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Because you asked for it! Here's another one from the pre-patreon archives, one of the hottest WW videos ever. What an insane solo! What other Marty Friedman gems should we break down? I've had a lot of asks for Lucretia lately!
Grab the old school paper tabs below and get to it!!!
2022-02-07 16:09:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Sykes is the KING. His singing, soloing, and especially his riffing are the stuff of legends, and on today's video, i'm taking you through his entire career to show you what a monster he is!
This Riff Retrospective concept was REALLY fun to put together! Who should we cover on the next one? Dime? Jake E Lee? Satriani?
2022-02-03 16:22:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's another pre-Patreon video with old white board TABs included! Man alive... i do NOT miss drawing those things out hahaha my Remarkable makes my life SO much easier!
This is a great melodic solo that you don't have to be a monster shredder to play, absolutely worth learning! Grab the TAB and get after it!
2022-02-02 16:28:36 +0000 UTC View Post
happy Wednesday, y'all! Here's one from the pre-Patreon days that needed a repost. This is actually a killer lesson to help you learn how chords are formed inside of scales, plus its just a cool lick to practice. Grab the TAB and give it a stab!!
2022-02-02 16:22:46 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's another pre-Patreon request! What a sick riff. SRV was the king, i really need to do more of his stuff!!!! My favorite blues player ever. Grab the old whiteboard tab and get Scuttlin'!!!!
2022-02-01 18:49:21 +0000 UTC View Post
By request!!! Here's one from the pre-patreon days, WW209, in which we learn the REAL way Eddie laid down this legendary track! Grab the old school whiteboard TABs and get swinging!
Hey guys!!! Got a fun new super brutal project here. As many of you know, I’ve hosted my own horror movie podcast, Dead and Lovely, for some time now. My buddy Jessup also has his horror podcast (say you love Satan 80’s horror podcast), and we decided to put our heads together and make some horror-themed brutality for you to enjoy. Plus Corpse Master is like the sickest band name ever, hahaha
This song is based on the 1985 werewolf classic “Silver Bullet”. I did all the guitar ...
2022-02-01 17:51:44 +0000 UTC View Post
As promised, here's the bonus lesson to go along with WW320! In this video, i'm gonna show you all how to take that WW320 lick and turn it into a descending burner. We're also gonna cover some more phrasing ideas you can use no matter which direction you're taking a frilly shirt shred lick. Enjoy, and let me know if you want MORE neoclassical lessons on here!!!
2022-01-27 16:28:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys! I've gotten a ton of requests from you all to do some neoclassical sequenced harmonic minor licks, so here's a hot one to add to your vocabulary! In this lesson, i'll show you a very handy shape i use to avoid awkward harmonic minor stretches, and some sequencing ideas that'll turn you into the next Yolo Mousemeat. Grab the tab and practice tracks, put on your puffiest shirt, and shred away!
2022-01-27 16:11:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys!!! Wanna get into some classic hair metal licks, but are finding a tough place to get started? Here you go! The bluesy solo to Gypsy Road by Cinderella is just a blast to play, and its pretty easy on the mitts!
What classic hair metal solo should we tackle next?!?!
2022-01-21 16:31:11 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys!!!! This is a video i made last month while i was out at Sweetwater, and it was a BLAST to do! Me and the legendary Nick Bowcott of Grim Reaper got to sit down for a super extended length chat about our favorite riffs our respective countries put out in the 80's. In addition to all the riffs, theres sooooo many amazing stories Nick has to tell about all the bands we love, he's such an awesome story teller.
What are YOUR favorite hard rock riffs of the 80's?!
Hope y'all en...
2022-01-12 16:59:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys! Got a message with a request to add this one up on here, so here you go! Just remember, if there's some pre-Patreon TABs you wanna see on here, just message me! And most WW episodes can be searched on here by using the tags, like looking for WW300, for example.
This solo is soooooo fun to play. Have some fun with it, and please if you're having trouble with it, hit me up and we will talk about doing a Lick Doctor episode about it! Cheers!
Hey guys, its new video time!!!! You want the TIGHTEST tone possible???? You need this pedal. The Dirty Tree is a STEAL at only $129, and i have a feeling they're about to get SCARCE as word is getting out about this thing. In this video, i take you all the way from E standard to DROP E on an 8 string to show you how tight this pedal stays no matter how flubby the amp or low you tune. Check it out! And snag the isolated guitar tracks below if you wanna get an even better listen to them! ...
2022-01-05 16:34:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Lets get it!!!! 2022 is the year you dominate the guitar, and you're gonna do it by kicking the doors down on the New Year with a GAME PLAN! These resolutions are going to help you learn the board, expand your chord voicings, target notes, get your mitts in shape, make friends, and influence others! This is a really comprehensive video, you're gonna get something good out of it!
What are YOUR resolutions for 2022??? Let me know in the comments, and i'll help get you there!
2021-12-30 17:03:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Hope everyone has had a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season! I had a BRUUUUUTAL case of food poisoning that started on Wednesday that put a *bit* of a damper on my Christmas fun, but I’m feeling a lot better now. Hahaha that was NOT something I wish to repeat!!!
Anyway, thank you all so much for all the support. You guys keep this machine running, and I couldn’t appreciate you more. Cheers!
2021-12-26 04:04:25 +0000 UTC View Post
New video time!!! Can the adorable Friedman BE Mini keep up with its macho big bro, the BE 100 Deluxe?!?! We about to find out!!!
You're also gonna get the ultra top secret story of how Dave Friedman came up with the idea for the legendary BE100, and it involves a LOT more bog witch than you're anticipating. I guarantee.
Enjoy!!! Hope y'all are having a great holiday season!
2021-12-22 17:27:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys!!!! Newest video is up, in which we tackle a Steve Vai classic: his amazing solo from Now You're Gone by Whitesnake! This is probably my favorite era of Vai's playing, the DLR/Passion and Warefare/Whitesnake period. He was so unabashedly weird and vicious on guitar, it really sounded like he was proving himself to the world at that point. And he DID!!!! This solo is really fun to play and covered in Vai-isms, so have fun with it!
Also, be sure to watch the intro of the video to...
2021-12-15 17:09:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Y'all know i aim to please! By request, here's the old school tab to go along with WW111! Lemme know any other pre-patreon TABs you guys need and i'll post them up!
2021-12-11 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's a lesson you all have been asking for for a LONG time! This is probably the best legato workout i've ever found! Also doubles as a killer alternate picking exercise, too.
In this lesson, i'm going to show you the workout, plus a TON of legato tips to turn you into a hammer-on HERO!
Watch the video, and be sure to grab the tabs and practice tracks below!
What technique do YOU struggle with??? Maybe i make a workout on that next!
2021-12-10 16:02:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey guys! Y'all are always looking for ways to incorporate lots of different techniques into your licks, and this one is PERFECT for that! This lick is in A minor Pentatonic and takes you all over the neck whilst adding in some economy picking, groove-matching, and cool harmony tricks! Its definitely gonna give you some ideas of how to make your phrasing more better. Grab the TAB and practice track below and get cooking!
2021-12-02 15:11:50 +0000 UTC View Post
BY REQUEST!
Hope you all had a great thanksgiving!!! I know i did. I am SO thankful to have gathered a community of awesome guitar maniacs like yourselves through my goofy youtube channel! Thank you all so much for everything you do!!!
A number of you all have been asking for this one for a while now, and i can see why! This thing is BONKERS and easily one of the hardest Metallica riffs ever. It was a blast breaking it down!
What Metallica classics do you want to see covered...
2021-11-26 15:31:53 +0000 UTC View PostHey everyone! I'm back from vacation and ready to BRING IT!!!! A week off is exactly what i needed, i was getting SOOOOO burnt out. But now that i'm good and relaxed again, i'm so excited to get back to work for you all!
SO.... what is something you've always wanted me to make a video about? A particular riff/solo/technique? A piece of gear? How to declaw kittens? ANYTHING! I aim to please, and you all mean more to me than anyone else who watches my channel!!! Drop your suggestions belo...
2021-11-22 20:52:32 +0000 UTC View Post
This week, I’m the guest on Rusty Cooley’s Guitar Autopsy podcast! We talk swirl secrets, teaching, hand health, all kinds of good stuff. Hope y’all enjoy!
No new video this week on my channel since I’m just finishing up my vacation. It’s been absolutely fantastic and relaxing! Expect a newly-energized and slightly more tan Ben coming at you next week :)
2021-11-17 21:11:10 +0000 UTC View Post
Sorry y’all!!!! I posted the wrong tab like a ding dong. I’m on vacation right now so I can attach a PDF, but here’s screen shots to make due until I’m home next week!!! Shred it up, y’all!
2021-11-11 18:21:31 +0000 UTC View Post
***EDIT: I attached the wrong tab to this and I just landed for day 1 of my vacation!!!! I’m so sorry, y’all! I can’t put the PDF attachment on here from my phone. In the meantime, I’m gonna post screen shots of it above, ok? I’ll fix it next week. Thanks y’all!***
*edit 2 HOLY MOLY i never uploaded the right TAB PDF for this one!!! So glad y'all let me know, thank you! PDF is down there with the downloads now. Cheers!*
Hey guys!!!! I get questions from you ...
2021-11-11 15:30:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey everyone! I think you all will dig this one. Its been a little too long since we dove into some LICKS on an episode of WW, so i thought i would share some of my 3 note per string tapping ideas with y'all! This is a great way to spice up your phrasing and add some new ideas to your vocabulary and get you out of the typical EVH tapping patterns we all use and abuse!
Grab the TABs and practice tracks below and get to shredding!!!
2021-11-05 15:40:33 +0000 UTC View Post