Latest articles by Simon Barnard
Get to grips with this invaluable and interesting addition to the songwriter's vocabulary used by Paul McCartney and jazzers alike
Whether you're checking into the Hotel California or sheltering from the cold November Rain, the harmonic minor scale is right there with you. This lesson demystifies it with examples you can use now
String skipping can introduce fresh arpeggios and wide interval phrases to your playing. Look no further than Sweet Child O' Mine for an example of its musical effectiveness
Blues heroes like Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan used their first and fourth fingers to bend – without support – to powerful effect. And with a bit of practice, you can learn their expressive solo techniques, too
Taking small chord shapes, single notes and 16th-note strums, we unpack the essentials for funk guitar and target those offbeats for rhythmic intrigue in your playing
From Chuck Berry to Dave Grohl via Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page and more, this rhythm guitar masterclass offers a decade-by-decade study in the evolution of the riff
It's time to throw some shapes on the fretboard, navigating using the CAGED system, and deploying chord choices that makes players like John Frusciante such great rhythm players
Playing two notes together is an essential addition to any guitarist’s arsenal – and can be used in any kind of style
We all know speed is not the be all and end all, but sometimes more is simply more. This lesson will take you to the edge, maybe beyond, following in the footsteps of Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and Gary Moore
It’s one of the essential guitar scales, and this lesson takes the blues scale from its classic context to place it in the style of Joe Satriani, Cream-era Clapton and Dimebag Darrell
Plot an escape route from your routine licks with this tab and audio lesson
Inspired by the great Albert Lee, this lesson takes another pass at the major pentatonic and offers some practical approaches to make it shine in your playing
Be it bottleneck blues, pop-style melodies or rootsy riffs, slide skills are a must-have for any guitarist. Sharpen yours up with this slide deep-dive
Reduce pain and increase your vocabulary of chords and techniques with this Andy Summers and Allan Holdsworth-inspired lesson – just be sure to warm up first
Get your fingers working independently of each other and the fretboard will really open up
Tapping lit up the guitar world with Eddie Van Halen, but in this lesson, inspired by EVH, Joe Satriani, Nuno Bettencourt and more, you'll find all kinds of ways to add this legato superpower to your game
We look at the whammy bar styles of Duane Eddy, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour and Jeff Beck – and how you can incorporate them in your own playing
If the fingering and coordination can be tricky at first, the rewards from mastering arpeggios are great, allowing you to freestyle across a chord's notes while staying harmonically honest
It's time to take your rhythm game to the workshop as we take a look at arpeggios and how great players have used them in their chord work
Make like Brad Paisley, Danny Gatton, Brent Mason et al and combine pick n' fingers to play both bass and melody, skip strings effortlessly, and add a little country sizzle to your playing
Sweep picking is a technique that stumps many, infuriates others, but is unmatched for delivering fluid arpeggio runs. This lesson follows in the pick sweeps of Synyster Gates, Frank Gambale et al
A more efficient way to pick, economy picking will make you a more fluid player, whether you’re playing jazz and fusion or shred à la Yngwie Malmsteen
Alternate picking is among the most vital guitar techniques – just ask Paul Gilbert. Fine-tune your approach with these drills spanning surf, rock, country and neoclassical metal
