Articles by Stuart Ryan

Guitar World

Stuart Ryan is best known for his acoustic guitar playing, from Celtic fingerpicking and traditional folk to modern percussive phrasing and fresh interpretations of popular pieces. He has released several solo albums, written pieces for UK examination boards and created nine tutorial books ranging from acoustic guitar arrangements to Americana styles.

Articles by: Stuart Ryan

John Mayer and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are two of the biggest names in modern blues – and boy, do they know how to introduce a guitar solo

By Stuart Ryan published 25 April 24

Learn how to phrase spellbending blues intro licks in the style of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer

Janis Joplin covered his songs and he was in a supergroup with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings – Kris Kristofferson is a movie star and outlaw country icon with a classic acoustic style

By Stuart Ryan published 25 March 24

Kristofferson is one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, one of its biggest movie stars, and a master of making open chords work to a song's advantage

Willie Nelson wrote his first song at 7 years old. Now he’s one of the music world’s true ‘hitmakers’ – and an outlaw country icon with a unique guitar style

By Stuart Ryan published 27 February 24

Fusing country, folk, jazz and blues, the Nashville country legend’s rhythm and lead playing approach is difficult to emulate

Intro licks are different to solos – they have to be concise and melodic, with a real start and end. Here's how to open your solos like the pros

By Stuart Ryan published 19 February 24

These five ideas will get you thinking about crafting intros like Joe Bonamassa and friends

Ed Sheeran isn’t just a fingerpicker or a strummer – his ‘guitar orchestra’ approach sells out stadiums. Here’s how he does it

By Stuart Ryan published 16 February 24

Sheeran is proof you can become a megastar with only an acoustic, a looper pedal, and, oh, a ton of talent. Here, we’re going to workshop your DADGAD fingerstyle chops so you’re stadium-ready, too

Improve your blues soloing now with 10 tasty B.B. King-inspired intro licks

By Stuart Ryan published 8 February 24

With B.B. King, an intro was a meal in itself. Here are 10 examples with tab and audio on how you can grab your audience's attention from the first bars of your solo

How to play the Holly and the Ivy on acoustic guitar

By Stuart Ryan published 18 December 23

A Christmas cracker popularized by Steeleye Span, his traditional song dates back to the 19th century – and will entertain the family as only an acoustic waltz in 3/4 can

Waylon Jennings was an outlaw country pioneer – and his clever open chord modifications were at the heart of his rhythmic acoustic strumming style

By Stuart Ryan published 13 December 23

Jennings was country's original bad boy and lived a life less ordinary. His style might be simple but deceptively so, with strums complemented by embellishments that all served the song

Your acoustic blues playing will come on leaps and bounds with new fingerpicking patterns – here are 10 you need to know

By Stuart Ryan published 28 November 23

Ditch the pick and dive into these fingerpicking style guitar lessons on some of blues guitar's finest fingerstylists, including Eric Bibb, Rory Gallagher and Leo Kottke

Country icon Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs, but her trademark ‘thumb and flick’ playing style is essential learning for acoustic players

By Stuart Ryan published 10 November 23

Develop your alternating bassline picking and bluegrass soloing techniques with this country rhythm workout

She's a Grammy winner who's been writing songs since she was 8, but Kacey Musgraves also has a fingerstyle approach that will give your acoustic playing a real identity

By Stuart Ryan published 18 October 23

Whether using a small-bodied acoustic or a J-45, Musgraves' playing has an abundance of melodic content that supports her vocals

Bonnie Raitt may be best known for slide, but she's an expert fingerpicker, too – and her Americana-indebted style will improve your acoustic playing

By Stuart Ryan published 6 September 23

In this video and tab lesson, we unpack the acoustic fingerstyle approach of one of America's great songwriters, and give you ideas for how to embellish chords and use inversions

Learn Jason Isbell’s heartfelt acoustic fingerpicking style

By Stuart Ryan published 28 April 23

The four-time Grammy winner and guitarist’s guitarist is one of the most gifted fingerstylists around, and this study exercise is as good an excuse to ditch the pick as you’ll get all day...

Improve your fingerpicking with this lesson in Chris Stapleton’s intricate acoustic style

By Stuart Ryan published 3 April 23

Following a spellbinding national anthem performance at the Super Bowl – and the release of his stunning signature Epiphone Frontier – we look at a Stapleton-inspired fingerpicking exercise with a few surprises thrown in

Exploring Brad Paisley’s awe-inspiring acoustic country playing

By Stuart Ryan published 27 February 23

Let's dive headlong into the acoustic style of a Nashville superstar who’s better known for ripping out scary electric licks. Spoilers: he's just as spectacular unplugged

Master the guitar style of 8 folk-rock legends, from John Martyn to Jimmy Page

By Stuart Ryan published 23 January 23

This lesson takes a deep dive into the '60s and '70s music that blurred the line between the acoustic and electric and spoke to a rich British folk heritage

How to master Chet Atkins’ fingerpicking technique and take your acoustic playing to the next level

By Stuart Ryan published 24 June 22

Atkins was one of Nashville’s most successful producers, session guitarists, and a veritable picking legend whose influence can still be heard in countless player's styles

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