5 easy ways to make open chords more interesting By Richard Barrett published 26 July 24 Players such as David Bowie and Joni Mitchell have deployed alternate voicings to great effect in their songwriting, and they can be a powerful songwriting tool to have under your belt
5 weird chord shapes that will add mystery, suspense and drama to your songwriting By Richard Barrett published 8 July 24 Aspiring film soundtrack artists, apply within, because with high drama, sometimes you need something more exotic than an open G...
David Gilmour didn’t just take the blues and transform it into epic psychedelic prog – he changed the way we play guitar solos By Richard Barrett published 29 June 24 Here are four tabbed out examples of how Gilmour’s approach changed the way we play the blues, and it’ll whip your phrasing and feel into shape
The tritone substitution is a staple of jazz guitar that’s been used by the greats. Here’s how you can use it to quite literally jazz up your chord progressions By Richard Barrett published 28 June 24 Tritone substitutions are jazz theory 101 – and you don't need a degree from Berklee to put them into practice
30 open tuning chords you need to know By Richard Barrett published 24 June 24 Expand your guitar vocab with chord ideas for Double Drop D, Open G, DADGAD, Open D and Open C tunings, favorite tunings for Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page and more
Dissonant guitar chords: 5 voicings that will add suspense and tension to your playing By Richard Barrett published 15 June 24 The Asus2(addb5) might sound mind-boggling, but it's easy to play, sounds fascinating, and is one of five voicings to add to your chord vocabulary
“I got this tremendous electric shock and fell off stage. I came round with people saying, ‘Are you okay?’ and ‘Is your guitar insured?’” Art-rock’s elder statesman Bill Nelson on his wildest guitar stories – and why he still swears by the Line 6 POD By Richard Barrett published 3 June 24 The Be-Bop Deluxe icon invites us into his guitar-packed home to talk about his endless drive to write and record, his six-string war stories, and why he hasn’t used guitar amps for years
“There’s nothing wrong with a good honest E, C# minor or B, but sometimes it’s nice to give things a twist”: Make like Joni Mitchell, Steve Hackett and Steve Howe and freshen up your chords with alternative voicings By Richard Barrett published 30 April 24 By incorporating open strings, you can give your chords more color and keep the ear interested. Here are five voicings that are certified fresh
Learn the greatest licks from over 100 years of trailblazing blues guitarists, from Robert Johnson to B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales and more By Richard Barrett published 10 April 24 These 15 must-learn licks take you from blues guitar's acoustic beginnings to its electric present day
5 rock ’n’ roll ending chords you need to know By Richard Barrett published 1 April 24 These jazz-inspired chords will class up any set. Simply add to the conclusion of your jam, et voila!
Lonnie Mack is an unsung hero in the development of the modern guitar solo – learn the blues guitar pyrotechnics that lit a fire under Stevie Ray Vaughan By Richard Barrett published 28 March 24 A key influence on SRV classics such as Scuttle Buttin', Lonnie Mack's trailblazing style is worth another look
6 simple but super-effective ways to make easy chords sound great By Richard Barrett published 8 February 24 Simply rearranging the notes can make basic chords sound infinitely more exciting
“Take Jeff Beck, David Gilmour and Allan Holdsworth – Alan should be seen as being in that company”: Remembering the late Alan Murphy, the player Fender trusted as a tone consultant, who played with Kate Bush, Go West, and more By Richard Barrett published 6 February 24 As November 2023 would have marked Alan Murphy’s 70th birthday, we look back at the man and his music, with personal recollections from the collaborators who knew him best
Banish stock phrases with these smart triad chord ideas By Richard Barrett published 5 February 24 It is all too easy to fall into familiar patterns when playing, but these five triads prove that it's just as easy to break out of them and find a fresh perspective on your playing
Understanding alternative chord shapes and inversions can have massive benefits for your lead playing – take a break from scales and give your solos a boost by incorporating these shapes By Richard Barrett published 28 December 23 Step away from your usual scales by peppering your leads with some smart new chord shapes
Introducing contrasting open chords – the open-string shapes used by the likes of Alex Lifeson and Jeff Buckley in some of their dreamiest guitar parts By Richard Barrett published 14 December 23 What is a contrasting open chord? It's simply an open chord that combines high-fretted notes and open strings, and it can be used to great effect on acoustic or electric guitar
If you're playing in a blues trio, you have an awful lot of freedom with your guitar parts – here's how to make the most of being the only guitar player in the band By Richard Barrett published 7 December 23 These major-sounding blues ideas are ideal for those situations where you've only got the drummer and bass player for company
DADGAD guitar tuning: an introduction to the (not quite) open tuning favored by Jimmy Page By Richard Barrett published 28 November 23 Here are five ideas to get started with DADGAD tuning, so you can get on with the important business of writing the next Kashmir
Bored with pentatonics? This lesson in superimpositions will make you think again By Richard Barrett published 24 October 23 Get more out of the guitarist’s favorite scale and make it sound fresh again by learning how the notes relate to each other and their underlying chords
Crosspicking is an advanced picking technique that will lend your licks an authentic country flavor – test your picking skills with this lesson By Richard Barrett published 19 October 23 You can apply crosspicking techniques to all kinds of styles, from country to the blues, bluegrass and more
Keith Richards' use of open G tuning is the stuff of guitar legend – take a leaf out of his book with these 5 must-learn shapes By Richard Barrett published 17 October 23 No sixth string required…
Introducing polychords – the mind-bending guitar shapes that will take your playing into new harmonic and melodic worlds By Richard Barrett published 26 September 23 Polychords are a neat way to expand your musical vocabulary and can be used in your rhythm and lead playing, as the great Larry Carlton has demonstrated time and time again
Your solos and rhythm playing will benefit from learning chords across the fretboard – and major 7ths are a great place to start By Richard Barrett published 25 August 23 The major 7th chord is a favorite among guitarists of all stripes, including Nile Rodgers – here are 5 ways to take the shape to the next level, and your overall playing along with it, too
How to play gospel blues guitar and make something original – and thrilling – out of electric guitar's oldest art form By Richard Barrett published 2 August 23 This lesson draws from the playing of B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer in its off-grid timing and unexpected blues trademarks
30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords you need to know By Richard Barrett published 21 June 23 Increase your musical vocabulary and expand your compositional horizons, in each and every key