Category Archives: Beginner Guitar

Angels We Have Heard On High: Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Angels We Have Heard On High is a traditional carol set to the hymn Gloria. In this fingerstyle guitar arrangement we’ll look at two variations in the key of G. The basic version is very accessible and is well suited to the advanced beginner fingerstyle picker. The second variation introduces further harmony, is more technically demanding, but well suited to the intermediate picker. Go to lesson...

Soldier’s Joy: Beginner Guitar Lesson (D)

Soldier’s Joy is a wonderful traditional fiddle tune in the key of D and very popular amongst bluegrass pickers. This arrangement of the tune is a beginner friendly version, played in the D position (no capo), capturing the essence of the tune while keeping the phrases on the easier side, making it quite accessible for the beginner picker and a great way to approach the tune without the capo. Go to lesson...

Whiskey Before Breakfast: Beginner Guitar Lesson

Whiskey Before Breakfast is a wonderful traditional fiddle tune in the key of D (capo 2) and very popular amongst bluegrass pickers. This arrangement of the tune is beginner friendly, capturing the essence of the tune, while keeping the phrases on the easier side, making it quite accessible for the beginner picker. Go to lesson...

Lesson 16: Banks Of The Ohio (Crosspicking) – Flatpicking Crash Course

In lesson 16 of the Flatpicker’s Crash Course, we’ll dive in to the crosspicking technique! As part of the lesson we’ll learn an arrangement of Banks of the Ohio in the key of G that features the crosspicking technique and some cool beginner friendly bluegrass licks! Breaking down the technique during the lesson, we’ll also cover 4 great exercises that cover the forward and backward style crosspicking patterns.  Go to lesson...

Go Tell It On The Mountain: Christmas Guitar Lesson

Go Tell It On The Mountain is a traditional Gospel Christmas Carol. This arrangement on the guitar is in the key of G, played at a medium tempo, and will be a great tune for the advancing beginner picker as there are a variety of techniques worth spending time on which will help develop your playing. Go to lesson...

We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Bluegrass Guitar Lesson

We Wish You A Merry Christmas is a traditional English carol, and in this guitar arrangement we’ll look at a bluegrass style version in the key of G, with two variations of the melody. The first variation is the basic melody, suited to the advanced beginner; while the second is a bluegrass inspired take on the melody, suited to the advancing picker. Go to lesson...

Southwind: Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Southwind is a traditional Irish waltz, played in the key of G. It has a very beautiful melody that we’ll learn in a fingerstyle arrangement, in 2 different variations. First, we’ll first learn it in its basic form, with minimal support from the bass notes found in the harmony. Then we’ll spice it up with a more advanced arrangement that features more support and embellishment around the melody. Go to lesson...

Lesson 15: Arkansas Traveler | Flatpicking Crash Course

In lesson 15 of the Flatpicker’s Crash Course, we’ll spend some time working out of the D Major scale in the 2nd position, while we learn a fun arrangement of Arkansas Traveler. We’ll develop strategies to improve our picking, tempo, control and fluency, all while working our way through this fun fiddle tune.  Go to lesson...

Star of Munster: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this Star of Munster: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at an arrangement of this traditional Celtic reel for the advancing beginner/intermediate picker. The arrangement is played in both position 1 & 2, in the key of Am (dorian mode).

A feature of this arrangement is the lack of articulation, which makes for a great picking study, but also gives the tune a real drive. Go to lesson...