Yo! Here's this week's lesson. It bounces between scales a little bit, but primarily happens in this C harmonic minor (tabbed below). The galloping rhythm of the melody really contributes to the regal character, it's a rhythm I love to use a ton. This is a good one to practice vibrato as well.
2021-11-04 16:32:47 +0000 UTC
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So I basically had to relearn this for the lesson, turns out I've been playing it wrong live the last few years! But today I can assure you that you'll be learning the most accurate rendition as played on the studio recording!
Here's the blues scale that gave birth to this part:
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2021-10-28 15:48:10 +0000 UTC
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Here's the bridge from Only the Best. This part doesn't have any repetition, but instead plays some complex riffage underneath a groovy and rhythmic piano part.
You can think of it in 2 parts. The first is measures 1-6 which play a repetitive 3 note single note melody in between big power c...
2021-10-21 16:52:42 +0000 UTC
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Here's a part from the bridge in Grand Prix. The band plays this driving groove behind a large epic orchestration. I think this section would be perfect if played at a large sporting event.
This gives you a good opportunity to work on palm muting as well as reaching for triads on strings 2-...
2021-10-14 18:12:37 +0000 UTC
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Today we will be looking at the rhythm guitar in Grand Prix. It's one of the many rhythmic elements that gives the song its momentum.
One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that I'm using a common trick where you take open strings in the key and use them to add some glam to your chor...
2021-10-07 15:48:20 +0000 UTC
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Today we'll be continuing last week's discussion of Black Swan. After the verse covered in the last lesson we will learn the chorus, or at least what I believe is the chorus.
This part is designed to play around the vocals. This is a useful approach to take when writing a part. When the voc...
2021-09-30 14:44:11 +0000 UTC
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I've got an EZ one for you this week. This could be the very first riff you ever learn, it's that simple!
But, if you're jonesing for a challenge, there is a second verse which ups the ante somewhat. Get ready to down hold some shapes and strum your heart out.
TAB is attached. Drop yo...
2021-09-24 15:58:44 +0000 UTC
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This week, one of my several thousand snake plants and I would like to teach you a timeless funky TWRP verse.
I teach the lower part in the video, but there's also a higher guitarmony in the TAB. Lines 1-2 are the low part, and lines 3-4 are the high part. The low part is the main one, and ...
2021-09-16 20:26:07 +0000 UTC
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One more Judge Bitch riff before going back into more TWRP/Phobos stuff starting next week!
This riff sounds like this:
\m/ 👹\m/
If you can play power chords, you can play this riff. The only technique aside from that is sliding. I'd classify it as a 'beginner' ri...
2021-09-09 16:46:17 +0000 UTC
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Here's something I've received a few requests for, so I figured this would be a fun to add to the archives!
Rip your sleeves off. Drop any questions down below.
TAB is attached.
2021-09-02 17:11:55 +0000 UTC
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Yo! This part is one of my favs. It's a longer part so this lesson is a bit on the longer end. There's 2 parts here that create a harmony (I like to call it a guitarmony) - I'll describe the main one, but the other one is also in the attached TAB. Much of the mechanics I describe in this vi...
2021-08-27 16:53:20 +0000 UTC
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Here's part 2 of this tune which we began a few weeks ago. Go listen to PHOBOS IV if you haven't already heard this mystical tune!
The right hand pattern is outlined in the previous lesson on this song. I play though the part at 0:00, and isolate the left hand chords at 0:28.
As men...
2021-08-19 14:08:12 +0000 UTC
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Hey!
This is a part that provides a counter melody to the vocals. It also doubles as a good exercise for unison bends. This is a common rock n roll technique. Description on how to pull off these maneuvers is in the video.
Once you know the techique, the part isn't too hard in theor...
2021-08-13 14:11:40 +0000 UTC
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Have you listened to PHOBOS IV? If you have, grab an acoustic guitar (or any guitar really) and check this lesson out. If you haven't, drop what you're doing immediately and go listen to it right now!
I do not speak in this lesson. Something about the acoustic guitar brings out a more gentl...
2021-08-06 13:35:52 +0000 UTC
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Today we explore the pre-chorus to this smooth jam.
I like to call these kinds of parts Stangs, due to their influence from the guitarist Andy Summers and his association with the musician Stang.
Do you hear the dotted 8th note delay on my guitar? This tone is CLASSIC!
A...
2021-07-29 14:13:06 +0000 UTC
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Yo,
Swap those pants out for an electric guitar today, we have a lot of work to do.
This riff is a favorite of mine, because when we play it live my best pal Meouch and I get to do a fun coordinated dance. And it sounds cool too, I suppose.
TAB is attached. Drop those burn...
2021-07-22 14:39:24 +0000 UTC
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Time for a secret riff this week. (shh, don't tell anyone)
There's a base repetitive riff here, which occasionally has a funky fill thrown in the middle. I'll break these down in the video, as well as the key changes that happen partway through. Also pay attention to the ghost notes that I ...
2021-07-15 16:29:13 +0000 UTC
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Hey!
This week we'll be exploring more of the certified TWRP hit, Only the Best. (look back a few weeks for a lesson on the chorus)
This part is a massive joy to play. It lightly palm mutes the individual notes of the underlying chord progression. That progression is:
G -...
2021-07-08 15:53:18 +0000 UTC
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PHOBOS IV comes out tomorrow so I thought that rather than doing a lesson this week, I would share another track one day early - exclusively for all you patrons!
Really, this is a token of appreciation. Thanks for following this page and tuning in my goofy and chaotic music lessons. I hope ...
2021-07-01 17:35:27 +0000 UTC
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Here's a catchy riff played up on the higher strings. It uses 2 note chords - sometimes called 'double stops'. During each chord in the underlying arrangement, the guitar alternates between a pair of these.
The part itself is somewhat Van Halen-y. The combo of these high figures playe...
2021-06-24 14:36:52 +0000 UTC
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This week we'll be looking at the vocal break section of Destination.
I love writing these kinds of parts where the guitar plays a repetitive figure. Underneath, the other instruments change chords, each time re-contextualizing the guitar and adding a new layer of depth to the arrange...
2021-06-17 14:30:12 +0000 UTC
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Here's a short and spanky part which I am thrilled to share with you today.
Regarding the feel here, the key is to get a nice clean tone and play the notes quick and choppy. It comes from an extended C minor pentatonic scale which looks like:
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2021-06-10 14:08:22 +0000 UTC
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This week we will be continuing our discussion of Body Image. The part uses double stops in 3rds - a very melodic sound with lots of movement. Explanation is in the video, and the TAB is attached.
I take a little stumble at the end here. It's just a demonstration of the extreme lengths we a...
2021-06-03 14:59:44 +0000 UTC
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This funky lesson is a multidisciplinary one, so put some time aside and enter the classroom.
The guitar lesson starts around 2:10. Drop any of those thoughtful questions or comments down below.
Enjoy!
2021-05-27 14:37:31 +0000 UTC
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Here's a very easy one. It all takes place on 1 string and uses only 3 notes. Anyone and maybe even their grandma can play this hard rocker.
Drop any questions or comments down below! TAB is attached.
2021-05-20 17:00:55 +0000 UTC
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This week on the zone of infinite tone we will be studying my contribution to the outro of Starlight Brigade.
One thing I'd like to add is that it more or less happens in two little pockets/collections of C minor notes. The first one in particular has a very lyrical flow to it. Here they ar...
2021-05-13 14:56:10 +0000 UTC
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Revisiting the chorus to Atomic Karate, since there are 2 guitar parts in the section. We did the funky clean part over a year ago, and today we'll be covering the distorted lead part.
What's your favorite of the 2?
Drop any questions down below!
2021-05-06 14:37:52 +0000 UTC
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Do you like chords? I have lots of chords for you today. This part is a sparse textural part, so if you have any chorus, delay, or reverb, they can all go a long way to enhancing this part and turning it into more of a vibe.
TAB is attached. Drop any questions or comments down below!
2021-04-29 16:53:39 +0000 UTC
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Arr. Here's a little sea shanty for you all.
I became a little mixed up near the end of the video and said I was going to play it slow and then played it fast. Don't worry, that's not what slow sounds like!
This is a pretty long one. There's lots of variations throughout the different...
2021-04-22 14:10:26 +0000 UTC
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Hey everybody! Here's a heavy riff for the rockers.
I definitely dropped some swear words in this lesson and for that I apologize. This one is an absolutely joy to play. It's not too difficult as it's quite repetitive and short.
Bonus points for anyone who can tell me more about...
2021-04-15 16:31:13 +0000 UTC
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