This is the second post in a series called Rutbusters. Check out the first post if you haven't already. The idea for this second rutbuster is super simple...play without a pick. This is not a lesson on fingerstyle guitar. It's just my attempt to get you electric...
For this new Cookin' Up Tones series I'll be demoing an interesting tone that I've come up with. Then I'll let you hear the dry amp tone, followed by samples of each pedal in the signal chain added one at a time. This allows you to hear what each pedal or effect does...
This is the first in a series of blog posts intended to get you out of a rut with your guitar playing. It's all too easy (and common) to lose momentum with learning the guitar. Your playing becomes predictable, repetitive, boring. Enter the rutbuster. The first...
Most of the time I'm playing guitar in a band context, but occasionally I get to play unaccompanied solo guitar arrangements. Here are my top 7 tips for creating interesting and memorable solo guitar arrangements. 1. Transpose the Melody to Different Octaves The...
This is a session I recently did for a client in Canada who composes and produces lots of music for film/TV/commercials. My approach for this type of work is very different from a typical song that will be released by an artist. I usually give this client several...
Here's a quick look behind the curtain of a recent overdub session I did from my home studio. A friend sent a song over with a pretty strong 80s pop vibe. He wanted me to add some lap steel and a couple electric guitars doing a modern Nashville country lead thing. He...
My new instrumental EP Songs from Home Volume 2 is out now. This release picks up where Songs from Home Volume 1 left off. Volume 1 was mostly acoustic with a little bit of electric guitar thrown in for texture. Volume 2 features my electric guitar playing and a full...
A while back I detailed my new touring pedalboard here and here. Now let's talk about my new session pedalboard. I've been dreaming up this board for a couple years now. Most of my session work happens in my home studio, so it hasn't been a priority. But the session...
Ever heard a story and instantly thought "yeah right..." Well, here's one of those stories. It was the summer of 2013, and Shanna and I had finally made the decision to pack up and move up to Nashville. I was teaching guitar lessons during the week at a very cool...
I've heard it said that anyone who knows anything is self-taught. There's some truth to this statement. If you're a self-taught guitarist, this post will provide a 4 step process for deeply learning any new musical concept. Of the dozens of students I've taught over...