Fancier chords with Eric Johnson
Plus, 50 blues solos you need to hear
Coming at you with the best I got for this Sunday. I was hit with Flu A and Covid at the same time 🤒, so I’m trying to regain my strength to get back in action. I’ll see you guys next weekend!
🎸 Guitar Scales Simplified With Chris Buono | Guitar Bootcamp - I've been loving TrueFire's Guitar Bootcamp. In this video from week 5, Chris Buono discusses guitar scales, with some straightforward ideas of how to use them in context with what you're playing. Scales are probably the most important thing to learn (especially the major scale), and this is a great starting point. Learn the formulas! 🙂
Minor Pentatonic Homework Assignment For Guitar - Guthrie Trapp put out a great lesson on the minor pentatonic scale, with a bunch of homework you can practice. As long as you keep practicing these 5 notes, using this scale will become second nature, and you'll know how to hit the target notes over the changes. After you get one pattern down, try and learn the other 4 so you have more flexibility in playing all over the neck.
Eric Gales - 6 Strings and The Truth - GroundUP 2025 - Eric Gales uploaded a wild masterclass called ”6 Strings and The Truth" - there was a ton of great guitar advice in here, but about half of this masterclass was about Eric Gales' history, and how he overcame a ton of struggles in his life. If you're a big fan of blues/rock and want to get inspired, you should check this one out.
Solving The Mystery Of One Of U2's Greatest Songs - Josh and co. at JHS Pedals dive into U2's "Wire” - they try to recreate the tone, effects, and techniques used by The Edge. If you're into awesome delay tones, give this video a shot. I think the guys really nailed the tone.
The Ultimate GIANT STEPS Soloing Secret, Explained... - Ben Eunson is a monster jazz guitarist, and in his latest video, he breaks down the ins and outs of soloing over John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." If you're looking to understand what to play on one of the most iconic set of changes, this video can serve as a “quick start" guide.
SHELL CHORDS (a new secret shapes) - And if you want even more jazz, but on the rhythm side, check out this video from Rotem Sivan. He talks about 3 note shell chords that you can start applying to your playing right away. These chords that typically include the root, 3rd and 7th are perfect for not taking up too much space while playing in a band - they'll sound amazing in the context of a full band, and give everyone their own sonic space.
Chordplay - The Chords Of Steve Hillage - I'm always surprised when a guitarist, especially one who has been around for a long time, slips past my radar. Steve Hillage was one of those guitarists! As soon as I saw David Brewster spotlight him on his Chordplay series, I started adding a ton of his albums to my music library. Brewster talks about Hillage's awesome rhythm parts, but I was instantly attracted to his sound because of his use of effects. If you're up on Steve Hillage, what else should I check out?
Embellishing guitar chords is the best way to liven up your rhythm work – and these 5 Eric Johnson-inspired chord voicings will open new harmonic doors in your playing - And if you want even more beautiful chord work, check out this lesson that spotlights some fancier chords in the style of Eric Johnson. Not only do these chords sound "expensive”, they also give you a chance to work on your fretting hand and muting.
50 Badass Blues Guitar Solos You Must Hear - Lists...they are... a thing. Even if you don't agree with any one list, they often give you an idea of stuff you might not have listened to in a while, and at their best, stuff you've never heard before. Guitar Player compiled a list of 50 essential blues guitar solos, spanning nearly a century of music. This list has everyone from Trucks and Danny Gatton, to the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Greg Koch. Lots of great music to listen to!
“Everybody can make decent music at home with their laptop”: Joe Satriani says music production has become “democratised” - Now, more than ever, anyone can make a great song using a laptop, tablet, or even a phone they have lying around. Interfaces, software and everything else that goes into producing a track has become so cheap, and even free sometimes. Joe Satriani talked to WDHA to discuss how all of these advancements have made music accessible to so many more people - and that's always a great thing!
More Links That I Enjoyed This Week