<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar World in Techniques ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “It’s about building intensity… think of Jeff Beck shifting to Billy Gibbons!” How to solo over one-chord blues ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-solo-over-one-chord-blues HMhNkmSmCHzSbM9qmJdK6P Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can’t play proper barre chords. It’s a blessing in disguise – I’ve ended up finding more interesting chords”: KT Tunstall’s 5 guitar tips to boost your songwriting skills ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/kt-tunstall-5-guitar-tips 9houwbpWACxq9btNFg2E3E Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:55:19 +0000 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:23:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Albert King once advised Gary Moore to ‘play every other note’”: Why keeping it simple can improve your blues solos ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/why-keeping-it-simple-can-improve-your-blues-solos yFoGSmm2wm8nXVFG7ibULn Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:48:17 +0000 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:53:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ Speed bursts are the path to Shred Heaven: boost your rock chops with 6 jaw-dropping examples (that won't break your fingers) ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/shred-speed-bursts abBbsahLMHuDMr5ovthyiA Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:55:01 +0000 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:10:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ Master the 12-string guitar: restringing, tuning and strumming made simple ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/master-the-12-string gqUDu79PGS7GdtU2Gk7KFX Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:28:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A single-note solo played over just bass and drums runs the risk of sounding empty… The solution is to include some chord tones”: How to use triads in blues solos like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-use-triads-in-blues-solos pmiofWdGMbockKmJzvx4tJ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:57:13 +0000 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:11:03 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I was tired of not having a great tone. I could never figure out why I don’t sound good. So I started to experiment with how I pick”: Great tone starts with the pick – just ask Steve Vai. Here’s how honing your picking can improve your tone for free ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/improve-your-pick-tone kVHV8UxSKDoPVGBuGFwVnn Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:02:00 +0000 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:49:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Explore open G tuning: a fresh perspective that reshapes your fretboard and inspired timeless blues and Americana songs ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/open-g-tuning M9NRFsGfCAKBGJj5EcDEfn Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:08:00 +0000 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:12:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ This iconic jazz progression was played by countless guitar legends – and it can help you learn the chord secrets of Joe Pass, Barney Kessel and Wes Montgomery ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/the-chord-secrets-of-joe-pass-barney-kessel-wes-montgomery 7XJPALHy4Ejt5mP2zZwQU7 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 13:15:00 +0000 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:18:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to master the art of tremolo picking – the indispensable picking technique heard in everything from death metal to surf rock that can power up your playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-master-tremolo-picking 3QNQcnxSguggcTvEakr5r9 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:21:35 +0000 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:14:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ Power up your inner shredder: Gus G shares his ultimate guitar warm-ups ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/gus-g-guitar-warm-ups bzwcpnCjLDLeiq5dj8a3v Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:25:05 +0000 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:57:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Heavy metal and drop D is a match made in heaven”: Eddie Van Halen used it, Jimmy Page loved it, and all of your heavy metal heroes have tried it – drop D made drop-dead simple ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/drop-d-tuning 3gbhgZsUeTHHhLvFQwe7wn Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:36:40 +0000 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:08:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ Guitarists always talk about down-picking, but have you worked on your up-picking lately? Here's why it could be a game-changer for your playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/up-picking xFXPhugVaDDMy6ZHTGpHNd Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:13:07 +0000 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:11:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ Metronome magic: master your picking, improve timing, and build up speed – one click at a time ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-use-a-metronome-for-guitar 2RgpP2cgMkdSR8CwA3fXfH Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:12:44 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:42:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ When tapping's not shredding: how to play tapped harmonics like Eddie Van Halen ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/tapped-harmonics 34raxorxs3VYQCDGzz688n Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:56:05 +0000 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:36:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ The secret behind Marcin, Matteo and Paco? How rest note picking can improve your tone, speed and volume ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/rest-note-picking QjdfSN8uTfSwSmRmEnFxvW Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:30:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ Can you keep up? 6 minor pentatonic licks that go FASTER! ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/6-minor-pentatonic-licks-that-go-faster XYAa2LGQTxttKuSrC8jEy5 Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:47:34 +0000 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:06:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ Meshuggah pioneered it, Periphery took it to new levels, and John Petrucci thinks it opens up "a new world" – here is everything you need to know about learning 8-string guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/here-is-everything-you-need-to-know-about-learning-8-string-guitar NH36DSyAjzAFFZqRq4jkYJ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:36:36 +0000 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:52:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There is a lot of jargon, much of it in Spanish, and an entire vocabulary of new techniques to learn”: Interested in nylon-string guitar but don’t know where to start? Three experts give an introductory guide for the perplexed ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/nylon-string-guitar-explainer JkS4UabTA6zfd7jxwPog5f Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:28:25 +0000 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:16:36 +0000 <![CDATA[ From Chuck Berry to Eric Clapton and Slash, every player uses the minor pentatonic – here’s how you can leverage the guitar’s most-used scale in your own playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-master-the-minor-pentatonic RE7Gc7gFEAaELRvmM9LmeC Wed, 28 May 2025 15:46:29 +0000 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:27:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ Bend it like B.B.: What you can learn from these 6 blues and jazz guitar greats ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/six-authentic-licks-in-the-style-of-some-of-the-greatest-blues-minds-of-all-time oQbonjSPxpXBL596gcyCVf Thu, 15 May 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Wed, 21 May 2025 10:26:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ She wowed Sonny Landreth and Carlos Santana called her the “future” – Erja Lyytinen shares her 6 go-to slide licks for unlocking more expressive soloing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/erja-lyytinen-slide-guitar-six-essential-licks uQm2hLXGAvd6TuVmrJ2Cn8 Thu, 01 May 2025 15:48:21 +0000 Wed, 07 May 2025 10:44:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to get better at guitar – 10 proven ways to improve your playing fast ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-get-better-at-guitar-10-ways-to-improve-your-playing-fast vdGU5JGUG4VLZZum4cunjR Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:43:39 +0000 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:57:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to play slap bass: an essential guide to slapping and popping ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-play-slap-bass GeAXwedHfTuGHNzKHK9qjN Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:19:10 +0000 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:33:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ Bass chords: shapes that work on bass guitar – and go beyond the power chord ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-play-chords-on-bass-guitar mN8YgT9pBLpVYLAGeVz9GB Sat, 05 Apr 2025 09:22:10 +0000 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:27:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ Joni Mitchell described it as ‘fly fishing’ and Jeff Beck was a master of the craft – learn how to use volume swells like guitar legends Eddie Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth and Larry Carlton ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/learn-volume-swells-like-jeff-beck-allan-holdsworth ZovLi5o2KQisFoGdgFyYL8 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:30:32 +0000 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:47:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ Want to play Master of Puppets the right way? Here's how to get faster at downpicking so you can chug like James Hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/downpicking C8Hru9Dqi6MiYiEuyFvy9c Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:15:59 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:35:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A few poorly intonated sustained bends in a solo can make the guitar's most emotive technique sound bad”: Learning how to bend strings correctly is one of the quickest ways to make your playing sound better ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/how-to-bend-guitar-strings C46ZsC7dzkEbPiKKhsgQmQ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:21:06 +0000 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:02:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ This easy chord trick appears on classic songs by the Beatles, the Eagles, Paul Simon and Passenger – discover new sounds with familiar chord shapes by using a capo at the 7th fret ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/capo-at-7th-fret PrYxJPciSMQaoTbvSjbMSA Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:27:26 +0000 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:09:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ Marcin’s percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws with its stunning mix of speed, complexity and explosive dynamics. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/marcin-warm-up-techniques kk3W2dUX6N4USTZ9DiJJXX Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:07:37 +0000 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:00:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ It’s the flamenco technique that lit the rhythmic fire under Marcin and Paco de Lucía, and treats all four fingers and thumb as separate plectrums – why learning rasgueado will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/rasgueado NYzkamUAiGHsX5nnjLXiin Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:01:26 +0000 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:16:57 +0000 <![CDATA[ The gallop is the most important metal rhythm of them all – learn the breakneck guitar technique behind classic Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden riffs ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/gallop-guitar YMY8mQones44UjZRhFiNLS Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:18:26 +0000 Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:29:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the hardest things about expanding our technique is going ‘against the grain’ of learned patterns”: Rewire your lead playing with four soloing ideas inspired by contemporary blues maestros ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/learn-4-soloing-ideas-for-modern-blues-lead-guitar qNNaWX7Y4pTUgJW9i2sSPc Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:10:35 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:08:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We often overlook this humble technique, yet it’s such an important tool for expressive rhythm and lead playing”: How to palm mute on guitar – and take it from beginner to pro ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/palm-muting uJhXryW9qVQQ9q2S542Rq6 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:26:57 +0000 Tue, 04 Mar 2025 13:06:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ 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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/guitarmodes-locrian tmdcESjibgKSnJ5gQ7EtH8 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:12:31 +0000 Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:27:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Slash all love Aeolian – the minor mode that rules over them all. Here’s what makes this scale work ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/guitar-modes-aeolian 3cGjF5orjFMyBPaM2AnDnn Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:20 +0000 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:53:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ 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 ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/guitar-modes-mixolydian QX2k6vsmFU4zK487fAtnTf Sun, 05 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:19:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It blew my mind as a 12-year-old”: Dweezil Zappa shares the surprising beginner guitar lessons he learned from Eddie Van Halen ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/dweezil-zappa-eddie-van-halen-beginner-lesson JRauxktEyGAGa4T6zvgPqF Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:32:32 +0000 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:23:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ 3 easy rock guitar solo licks you need to know ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/easy-rock-guitar-solo-licks 8rHbJCX9motC8w8TepTQdG Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:45:36 +0000 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:12:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If you’re new to funk guitar playing, these ideas will help you get you into the groove”: Learn 10 funk guitar riffs inspired by James Brown, Prince and Vulfpeck ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/artist-lessons/10-spanky-rhythm-riffs WqrM8FiNNaeuP2sQBJ6psb Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:58:49 +0000 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:03:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ Loved by Yngwie Malmsteen, Santana and Slash, the harmonic minor scale is an essential part of every guitar player's vocabulary – and it's more versatile than you might expect ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-improve-your-harmonic-minor-scale-licks UrHbQFDV33fMGLaYnE22aV Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:47:39 +0000 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:33:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ Want to master funk guitar? You’d better familiarize yourself with ‘chanking’ and shell chords – two essentials of game-changing James Brown guitarist Jimmy Nolen ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/chunking-funk-guitar-jimmy-nolen-james-brown c6fzt7UMTp4SfviYx8QgmF Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:28:00 +0000 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:27:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ From “vicious” lines inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan to ice-cold leads in the style of Albert Collins, Philip Sayce channels the blues licks of the greats – and his masterclass will supercharge your pentatonic solos ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/philip-sayce-blues-guitar-masterclass Fe86drh8FRfVjSBFDNKLbb Wed, 02 Oct 2024 10:23:55 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:19:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It creates the illusion of speed and intricacy”: Inside the evolution of selective picking – one of modern guitar’s most expressive techniques ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/what-is-selective-picking sC7GUqTBZnJ5HPRN6vzZVj Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:46:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Fret-hand muting is a technique that’s not often talked about, but I find it invaluable while using an overdriven tone”: How fret-hand muting can clean up your picking technique – especially with gain ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-fret-hand-muting-can-improve-your-hybrid-picking 7A7SJkCmE5RhAoLbqyQgNY Sat, 21 Sep 2024 10:13:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “This way, there’s a straight-line connection between the solo and the song itself”: Trying to craft a memorable solo? Revisit hooks from a song’s melody ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/using-song-melody-to-write-memorable-guitar-solos QjjubSBA32FEJ7Nr4VWqAj Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:12:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ Cook up your own “musical gumbo” with this lesson in how to use bluegrass alternate picking in rock ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-apply-bluegrass-picking-in-rock D9LKVhbn9Er8P3hQuPC94J Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:54:43 +0000 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:54:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ The “train beat” is a staple of country and blues music – and learning to play over it will hone your hybrid picking and timing ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-play-over-a-country-train-beat j6Dmgs2WJa6kVYUP226syM Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:29:39 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:18:46 +0000 <![CDATA[ How to play surf music on guitar: 3 techniques that will make your playing sound authentic ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-play-surf-guitar M6tuJbMgxvKmphSMjcPyBG Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:46:08 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:18:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ String skipping can present your playing with new melodic possibilities that were previously out of reach. Make like Paul Gilbert, Slash and Nuno with these wide-ranging exercises ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/string-skipping-arpeggios-wide-interval-phrasing Tehmi2kTB6Q2HmmUWNjWV7 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:56:00 +0000