Articles by: Joel Hoekstra

How to craft chord progressions using 10th intervals

By Joel Hoekstra published 6 November 20

Joel Hoekstra walks us through the acoustic section of Whitesnake's After All for a fingerstyle lesson in music theory

Joel Hoekstra teaches you the dizzying guitar solo of Whitesnake's Get Up

By Joel Hoekstra published 29 September 20

Exercise your hybrid picking and two-finger tapping chops with these searing leads

Joel Hoekstra teaches you the guitar solo for Whitesnake's Always and Forever

By Joel Hoekstra published 4 September 20

With hybrid picking and two-finger tapping, this one'll certainly test your chops

How to play the solo in Whitesnake's Trouble Is Your Middle Name

By Joel Hoekstra published 24 July 20

Guitarist Joel Hoekstra teaches you the winding leads of this attitude-driven rocker

Joel Hoekstra teaches you how to play the intro and opening solo to Whitesnake's Shut Up and Kiss Me

By Joel Hoekstra published 30 June 20

This classic-rock belter is taken from the group's latest album, Flesh & Blood

Whitesnake's Joel Hoekstra: how to solo over a ballad

By Joel Hoekstra published 26 June 20

The hard-rock virtuoso walks you through the essentials of power ballad soloing, where melody is always king

Using hybrid picking to create unusual, unique melodies

By Joel Hoekstra published 19 August 19

Spice up your rhythm and lead work with these essential tips

How to Play Jimi Hendrix-Style Rhythm Guitar

By Joel Hoekstra published 7 June 19

Learn a few of the rhythm guitar techniques Jimi would most often employ to spice up his rhythm parts and make them melodic.

Hybrid Picking Power-Chord Arpeggios

By Joel Hoekstra published 9 April 19

Learn some cool ways to create angular single-note arpeggios that are based on root-fifth-octave power chord shapes.

Enhancing a Basic Progression with Unusual Arpeggios

By Joel Hoekstra published 22 March 19

Learn how to craft a lead that will fortify and enhance the primary rhythm part without overshadowing it.

How to Use Dominant Seven Arpeggios in Blues-Based Soloing

By Joel Hoekstra published 12 March 19

Incorporating dominant seven arpeggios into your improvised lines is a simple way to expand note-choice possibilities.

Applying Second Intervals to Arpeggiated Riff Ideas

By Joel Hoekstra published 21 February 19

Learn how to use second intervals in different areas of the fretboard and on different string groups.

Adding the Ninth to Arpeggio-Based Licks

By Joel Hoekstra published 11 February 19

Learn what adding the ninth can do for your arpeggio-based lines.

Skipping Scale Steps on an Ascending Run

By Joel Hoekstra published 11 January 19

Skipping certain scale steps can lead to more engaging, less predictable ascending runs.

Using a Pedal Tone to Forge Fast, Keyboard-like Phrases

By Joel Hoekstra published 7 January 19

How to use a signature element in baroque classical music to great effect in your own playing.

Using Odd-Numbered Intervals to Create Interesting Licks

By Joel Hoekstra published 21 December 18

Being aware of the intervallic relationships between notes is useful in many different ways.

Exploring Ways to Utilize Diatonic Thirds in the Key of G

By Joel Hoekstra published 3 December 18

Learn some creative, appealing ways to utilize diatonic thirds.

Tips on Precision String Bending

By Joel Hoekstra published 21 November 18

A variety of ways to fortify and improve one’s string bending technique.

Understanding Suspended Seconds and Fourths

By Joel Hoekstra published 9 November 18

In this brand-new Joel Hoekstra lesson, take a look at rhythm guitar and the incorporation and understanding of suspended chords.

How to Add "Color" to a Short Series of Notes Using 15 Different Techniques

By Joel Hoekstra published 6 November 18

Joel Hoekstra demonstrates 15 different ways to add “color” your notes and improve your riffs.

A Guide to Fretboard Tapping Using Multiple Fingers

By Joel Hoekstra published 29 October 18

Learn how to utilize multiple taps with different fingers of the pick hand.

“Mirroring” Fretboard Shapes 12 Frets Higher with Taps

By Joel Hoekstra published 16 October 18

Learn how to take a fretboard shape for a given note sequence and “octave mirror” it by “previewing” each note an octave higher.

Using Monster Three-Notes-Per-String Pentatonic Patterns to Efficiently Traverse the Fretboard

By Joel Hoekstra published 25 September 18

Learn the technically and melodically rewarding three-notes-per-string approach to playing pentatonics in this lesson.

How to Shift Pentatonic Licks to Create "Outside" Sounds

By Joel Hoekstra published 13 July 18