BenEllerGuitars

This is Why You Suck at Guitar: You Suck at Learning Scales!!!

Brand new TIWYSAG is here!!!

You ever struggle with learning endless amounts of scale patterns and trying to link them together? Does the Guitar Grimoire make you grimace? Do you think scales belong on the outside of a FISH?!?!

This video is for you!!!

In this new TIWYSAG, I'm gonna show you the 4 ways you gotta learn every scale if you wanna TOTALLY understand them and break outta patterns!

Snag those assets below and follow along for a raunchy theory adventure with y...

Why Do Guitar Players Like Fixed Bridges?!

Lets talk about that!!!

A lot of the most legendary players in history have used fixed bridge guitars, even noteworthy tremolo bar wizards like Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen... but why?! In this video, I'm gonna use my beloved new Schecter USA KM6 Pro to show you 6 reasons why hardtails RULE!!!

Which do you prefer, a guitar with a bar, or not? I honestly like both, but if I was stuck on a desert island and could only have one guitar.... it would be a fixed bridge for sure.

Oh. My. God.

I am STUNNED.

This is a Schecter USA KM6 mkiii Pro from Sweetwater, and it’s one of the most insane guitars I’ve ever played. I had always heard the USA schecter stuff was nuts, but I wasn’t prepared for this…. Everything about this guitar reeks of quality. Plays like a dream, and it sounds massive! The world needs more hardtail super Strats.

I’m gonna use this for a “Why Do Guitar Players Liked Fixed Bridges?” video next week. What else you wanna know about it? A ...

My 5150 tone! A peek under the hood

As promised, here's a special Patreon exclusive just for you all!! What's making that 5150 tone SO MAGICAL?!?! It's a combo of nice things working nicely together, and I'm gonna show you layer by layer. It's SOOOOO fun to play on! Just wait till I do the wet/dry version of this rig, it will seriously blow your mind. Its even closer to that era of Van Halen tone!!!!

Enjoy, and let me know any questions you've got, or if there's a single piece of gear you'd like to learn more about on a M...

How to REALLY Play 5150!!!

Because you demanded it! There's a tiny trick to making the intro riff to 5150 by Van Halen sound RIGHT, and I've never seen anyone talk about it. You're learning the secret today!!

Snag that TAB and enjoy this one. I had a blast making it! What Van Hagar-era tunes should we explore next?!

I've got a special Patreon exclusive video coming later on today with the secrets of that GNARLY tone I'm using, so be sure to watch for that one!

Thanks as always for everything y'all do....

Patreon only! What Scale is James Playing?!

Hey y'all!!!!

Hot off the presses, by request! Todd, thanks for the patience, man. Here's a cool look and discussion about the acoustic intro James played for The Unforgiven at this particular live show: 

https://youtu.be/q7nCvpWADtU?si=OJguNQTeHvEP3dwk

I've put my transcription below, be sure to snag it! But most importantly, this led to a good discussion about what scale James is ...

Our Daily Shred: Hand Synchronization Workout!

I'm so thrilled to start this series and share it with you! When i put out the idea for Our Daily Shred, you all responded so positively that i HAD to do one right away! Thanks for the positive vibes. 

In the debut installment of ODS, we're gonna practice a KILLER workout to improve your hand sync! By playing the same licks with picking (RH dominant), legato (LH dominant), and a mix (both hands working together), we can put our hand sync to the TEST! BOTH hands have to have perfect...

New series idea: OUR DAILY SHRED!

Give us this day.... our daily SHRED!

I've got a new video series i'm thinking of testing out real soon, but i wanna know if you guys dig it first!

I'm inspired by the Yoga with Adriene videos my wife practices on the regular... purpose-driven ("yoga for shoulders", "yoga for abs") play-along style routines that let you choose whatever you need to focus on that day, pop on an 8-10 minute video, work out with it, then move along with your day. Find a few favorites, watch them sever...

Patreon Exclusive! WW366.5, Switchback Sequel!

I know y'all love that switchback phrasing idea we talked about on WW366, so how about we get even MORE out of it?! In this special Patreon exclusive video, I'm gonna show you all how to get even more mileage out of this idea, and bridge it from being a "vertical" idea into a "lateral" phrase, plus some other phrasing options to help you sound like a more better SHREDDER! I love this one!

Snag the TAB below and learn with me! Thanks for all you do!

-BE

WW366: Switchback 6's!

Hey y'all!!! New WW is here, and it's a steamy one!!! A couple months back, I introduced you all to my new favorite warmup; it's kind of a variation on the Paul Gilbert Lick, but with a longer runway of notes per string so you can really focus on nailing the string changes. This sequence builds on that "switchback" concept, and tosses it into a great ascending or descending phrase you can toss in your soloing, or use to improve your alternate OR economy picking! Snag the TABs for both below!<...

I’m back!!!

Shiprocked 2024 is over and I’m back on dry land!!! Enjoyed a week at sea playing with Andy Wood Trio and the Stowaways (the once a year Shiprocked all star supergroup band)!

It was a LOT of work and prep going in (learning about 4 hours worth of material is always fun), but it paid off. It was a great time. Playing Crue, Van Halen, and Priest with Michael Starr from Steel Panther was DEFINITELY a highlight, and there were so many other amazing players aboard, too (Ron Bumblefoot Tha...

Patreon only! How i choose between Alternate and Economy picking

Hey y'all! 

Alternate and economy picking are both things i use on the daily, but how do i choose? I think this video will help you see my thought process and help you choose, too!

But remember, at the end of the day.... its all about the music and the feeling, not the technique! Remember, Eddie himself wasn't even the most hardcore picking guy, and it didn't stop him whatsoever!!! 

Have fun and let me know if you've got any questions. Thanks as always for all you ...

Alternate vs Economy Picking: Which is More Better? WW365

Hey y'all!!!

One of the questions i get asked the most often is "which picking style is best: alternate or economy"? 

To help you find which one fits you best, i designed this lick, which can be played with either style, and demonstrates the strengths AND weaknesses of both! Try them out and let me know which one works best for you. This is a great test to help you determine what direction you want to pursue (or run away from)!!!

Grab ALL the goods down below, and stay ...

Patreon Exclusive! Scale Relay Superpowers

Just for you all!

How can we use scale relays to learn scales better than ever? You're about to find out. Whether you just want to memorize a scale shape hardcore, or go deeper and learn the intervals and composition of a scale, relays can give you the training you need! And in this video, I'll show you how!

Lemme know any questions you've got, I'm happy to help!!

WW364: Bach and Forth!

Scale relays!!! What are they, and how can we strategically use them to SHRED?! You're about to find out!

This is such a cool trick to use with your 3 note per string playing. Memorize three simple scale relays + an easy formula, and you'll ALWAYS have an easy phrasing option to rip and land on your feet every single time! Its foolproof!!!

Really enjoyed making this video. Grab all the goodies below and shred with me!

Also, stay tuned for a special bonus video later today sh...

WW363: 4's and 6's Will Impress Your Stepmom!

I know y'all are here cause i'm so classy. 

And i also know you wanna keep it real and increase your speed, synchronization, and understanding of subdivisions! Thats why i came up with this killer workout in F#minor.

Subdivisions aren't just for living in, you know. If you wanna shred like the next Francis Bubbletrousers, you gotta understand them and be able to BLAZE them, too!

Grab the TAB, practice tracks, and Guitar Pro file below to start earning that stepmom respe...

This MAY be the MISSING PIECE in your picking... GAME CHANGER!

Patreon exclusive!!!!

Just for you all, the inner secrets of the Shredi Knight sanctuary...

If you've ever struggled with getting a good, smooth, consistent, reliable, and FAST feel from your alternate picking, ESPECIALLY when approaching pick slanting, this is gonna change everything for you. The picking path of least resistance is what you need in your life! This is one of those areas basically NOBODY talks about, but it's a simple to understand principal of physics that just ma...

While we're on the subject of double picking...

Hey y'all!

I just remembered an episode of The Lick Doctor that I did like 3 years ago talking specifically about the Oblivion verse by Mastodon! That's one y'all had asked about yesterday, and this is a little breakdown of it. Enjoy!

I like doing these Lick Doctor videos, lemme know if you'd like to participate in one!

Double Picking Part 2, Patreon Exclusive!!!

Just for you guys!!!

So you've mastered the basics I showed you in the Still of the Night video I posted earlier, and now you're hungry for more? I've got you covered!! In this video, I've got some recommendations on what to learn to take your double picking to the next level. Grab the TABs below and hop aboard!

(I totally forgot to include Oblivion by Mastodon in the video! Whoops.... but I put the verse riff in the tab, too, that's an essential one to learn!!!)

Thanks agai...

Double Picking, Day One: Start HERE!!!

I know y'all want to master double picking so you can crush those riffs and licks by John Sykes (Whitesnake), Mastodon, Jake E Lee, and MORE, right?! Of course you do! Its flippin SIIIICK!!!! But... it can be TOUGH to learn if you're starting off with hyper speed Cynic or Mastodon riffs! THIS is where you should start... I'm gonna show you the technique, the perfect place to start with, and how to practice it and get it down! Still of the Night's middle section is the absolute BEST place to l...

Need a vote on this double picking lesson!! HALP!

Hey y'all! 

We are enjoying a beautiful snowy day here in TN, and i'm gonna be in the studio making y'all some new video stuff that i'm really excited about! 

I've recently had a bunch of people hit me up about wanting to improve their double picking technique (picking a note twice before changing to another note that gets hit twice... ala the bridge licks in Bark at the Moon), and i want to help!!! In the process of thinking up how, i've come up with two different appro...

By request! Archive post: WW190, Hail to the King solo, Avenged Sevenfold

Because you asked for it! Here's an oldie, a pre-patreon post on the solo to Hail to the King by A7X. Enjoy my totally shot old school whiteboard tab photos!!!! Hahaha those were the days.... they'll get the job done, but let me know if you want me to take the time to re-do these as a PDF like my modern TABs. Cheers! 

Patreon Bonus Lesson! How to mentally MASTER 3's and 4's!

Just for you all!!!

3's and 4's are two of the most popular and important scale sequences to know, but they can be tricky to wrap you head (and mitts) around!!! I found a way of thinking about them years ago that made them CLICK right away for me, and I know it's gonna work for you, too. Watch the video and let me know how it goes for you!!!

Thanks for all you do!

-BE

Extended and ad-free! WW361, Why Downstrokes are the KEY to Alternate Picking Speed!

Howdy y'all!!!

Thanks for the patience! I had a super messy kitchen to clean and it pushed my time in my studio back a bit! But, you are being rewarded graciously for waiting....

1: here's an extended and ad-free cut of today's video with even more info and technical goodies in it! (here's the regular cut if you're in a rush: https://youtu.be/P9Vox_HvCg4 )

2: snag those TABs to shred along, and watch that p...

Let’s get those FAQ You questions going!

Y’all talked me into it! Let’s get this series going again. Hit me with questions you’d like to see answered! Whatever you wanna know, theory, technique, musical opinions, gear stuff, anything! Let’s go!!!

Thinking about reviving FAQ You

Hey y’all!!!

I used to do my FAQ You series about once a month, and I’m thinking about bringing it back….

The old format was intro, a music recommendation based on whatever I’ve been into, then 2-3 questions with semi-brief answers. A quality Monday morning coffee break watch is what i aim for, nothing crazy in-depth.

I got a lot of good feedback from it back in the day! I know a lot of folks loved the bands they discovered through the show, and it’s a great way f...

Patreon Only!!! My Brown Sound SECRETS!

Hey y'all!

Just for you guys, a peek behind the curtain at my quest to recreate my favorite tone EVER, the early Van Halen "Brown Sound"!!!

My tone is a bit hotter and a little bassier than the OG, sure, but MAN I'm happy with it! And there's a little secret to nailing it that you'll learn towards the end of this video.... its RAD.

I forgot to put my Plexi and Carl Martin pedal settings in the video, so snag those below. 

Enjoy! Thanks for all you do!!!

-BE<...

What are the LOST Van Halen Riffs?!

Hey everyone! Happy Friday!!!

So stoked to share this one with you all. The other day at the gym, I was checking out the Gene Simmons-produced Van Halen demos from 1976, and I couldn't believe the riffs I was hearing! Theres some incredible stuff on these unused songs that NEEDS to be talked about, and that's what we're doing today!!

Snag those TABs and play the home game!

And stay tuned for the special bonus video featuring the details on how I got this guitar tone... there...

Van Halen tone test!

Ooooh things are getting tasty around here!!! Filming a deep cut Van Halen video today, and I wanted to get your input on these tones. I think it’s pretty doggone close!!! Original probably has less gain, maybe more mids. I can do the dry guitar left/reverb only right thing like the early records did, but I think that would be weird for a lesson video.

Lemme know what tweaks you’d do! Forgive the low production video, made this quickly on my phone.

Setup:

Suhr Modern w...

Happy New Year!

In 2024, we will riff, shred, write, create, gig, focus, practice, and, most importantly, PLAY!!!!

Imagine if we turned all the time we spent dopamine mining on social media in 2023 into time with our instrument in our hands… think of the sick riffs we’d be swimming in, and the progress we could have made! Let’s make sure we have strings under our fingers more than we have screens in our face this year. I’m in it if you are!!

Thanks so much for all the views, likes, comm...