Latest articles by Stuart Ryan
Every player uses the minor pentatonic – here’s how you can leverage the guitar's most-used scale in your own playing
Every player is aware of the minor pentatonic, but not everyone knows how to make the most of it. These examples – in the style of some prolific pentatonic players – will help you master the shape everyone uses
Unlocking the power of 7th chords: expand your guitar chords beyond the basics
From The Doobie Brothers to The Smiths, James Brown to Metallica, 7th barre chords are fundamental for playing with more color and sophistication
Learning how to bend strings correctly is one of the quickest ways to make your playing sound better
String bending is a core technique for lead playing. Here's how to take it from beginner to pro
This easy chord trick appears on classic songs by the Beatles, the Eagles, Paul Simon and Passenger
Why the 7th fret is the magic position for your guitar capo
Everyone from Metallica to jazz pros have made use of the ominous sound of the Locrian mode – here's how it could shake up your guitar playing
The Locrian mode is the seventh and darkest mode derived from the major scale. Stuart Ryan takes you through the structure of the scale and gets creative with some rhythm and lead examples
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Slash all love Aeolian – the minor mode that rules over them all. Here’s what makes this scale work
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Slash are just three of the countless fans of this staple minor mode. Here, Stuart Ryan takes you through the structure of the scale, plus a handful of chords, riffs and licks
An essential scale for classic blues and rock solos, the Mixolydian mode is loved by everyone from B.B. King to Guns N' Roses – here's how it works
Used by countless blues guitarists and hard rockers from B.B. King and Guns N' Roses to Josh Smith and Joe Bonamassa, the Mixolydian mode is essential knowledge. Stuart Ryan explains all
It's one of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai's favorite scales, and holds the most mysterious-sounding note combinations – here's how the Lydian mode works
This bright but unusual sounding mode became popular among shredders after Joe Satriani and Steve Vai used it in the 80s. Here, Stuart Ryan explains what gives the Lydian mode its signature sound
Guitar modes lesson 3: It has the sound of thrash metal at its core, but also Latin and flamenco music too – here’s how the exotic sounding Phrygian mode works
Metallica and Al Di Meola favour this mode for colourful riffs and solos. In the third lesson in our series on modes Stuart Ryan explores the sounds of the Phrygian mode
Create interlocking acoustic guitar parts in the style of the Moody Blues' Justin Hayward
We unpack the signature style of The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward, who is often unsung compared with his flashier peers. His playing style, however, requires concentration and accuracy
Guitar modes lesson 2: The Dorian mode is a bittersweet minor mode – here’s how it works
Robben Ford and Nile Rodgers are just two iconic fans of a mode that countless guitarists use in riffs and solos
Guitar modes lesson 1: The Ionian mode is the same as the major scale – here’s what makes it work
Stuart Ryan takes you through the basics of the Ionian mode and shows you how to play chords, riffs, arpeggios and lead guitar breaks using this essential scale
A pioneering protest singer, American folk legend Joan Baez draws on jazz and flamenco for her intricate picking patterns
Ever since the '60s, Joan Baez has delivered a message with her music, but she was never going to be a two-chord folkie with a bellyful of fire. Her sound takes from jazz and flamenco with picking patterns that are as good as a fingerprint
Pete Townshend was the god of rhythm guitar in the ’60s and ’70s – here’s how he took his untapped technique to the acoustic
Tracks such as Pinball Wizard and Substitute were driven by Townshend's untapped, brawny-yet-brainy acoustic guitar playing. We've gathered all the techniques you need to nail his style in one video lesson
The Kinks are much more than You Really Got Me – and Ray Davies’ inventive acoustic style influenced a generation of players
Listen to the guitar work of the Davies brothers and you’ll gain a real insight into how it was all done back in the 1960s
Vince Gill and Brent Mason are two of country music's most respected guitarists – and their supreme hybrid picking abilities are key to their success
This is a smoking hot introduction to one of Nashville's most important skills
Paul Simon is one of the all-time great songwriters, but he’s a remarkable guitar player, too
There is a case to be made that Paul Simon is one of the most underrated players ever, but maybe that's because he always foregrounds the song. This lesson shows just what a clever player he is
Why learning Americana guitar styles will open up a whole new world for your acoustic playing
From Maybelle Carter’s famous ‘pick and flick’ approach to Pete Seeger’s banjo-style techniques – it’s all here in a lesson that will make you a more rounded player
Donovan taught John Lennon to fingerpick – here's why he's an under-appreciated acoustic guitar great
As legend tells it, he was the man who taught John Lennon to pick. And he sure could write a song. We pay tribute to the flying Scotsman of the Swinging Sixties, Donovan Phillips Leitch, with this lesson in his folk-informed style
Merle Travis, Lester Flatt and Hank Williams pioneered the Americana guitar style – and laid the groundwork for today’s country and bluegrass guitar stars
This lesson borrows from the pioneers of country and bluegrass that will whip your Travis picking and strumming into shape
Keith Richards is an electric guitar icon, but he prefers playing acoustic – and his unplugged Rolling Stones approach is full of smart ideas
Every player can learn a few tricks from Keef's characterful acoustic style – even if his rhythmic swagger will take longer to master
Americana is where country, blues, folk and bluegrass collide – and players like Steve Earle, Jason Isbell and Lucinda Williams are masters of the craft
Expand your fingerpicking skills and master the techniques used by Americana greats in this in-depth lesson
Bob Dylan is a songwriting great – and his acoustic guitar approach defined the folk sound
Bob Dylan changed the world with an acoustic guitar. We break down his style, giving you the tools to take your songwriting to the next level
