Guitar Techniques Lessons

Zakk Wylde reveals 15 in-depth playing tips that will take your playing from basic to brewtal

By Nick Bowcott

The living legend joins Guitar World for an exclusive interview and lesson to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Black Label Society

These 9 randomized fretboard patterns will help you explore new musical territory

By Dweezil Zappa

Dweezil Zappa explains the concept of randomization and how it'll take your playing to the next level

Kickstart your songwriting with these ultra-useful chord progressions

By Matt Scharfglass

Though no amount of information about songwriting can turn someone into Paul McCartney, this lesson will help you come closer to fully realizing your abilities

Close-up of guitarist playing a minor chord on a Gibson SG

Give your major-key compositions a moment of darkness by employing the 'four minor' chord

By Jimmy Brown

How borrowing chords from parallel minor keys can refresh your songwriting

Learn 9 creative and unusual ways to apply string-bending techniques

By Andy Aledort

How to use one of the most musically expressive guitar skills to take your playing to new heights

Linking parallel major and minor pentatonic patterns will take your blues playing to the next level - here's how

By Andy Aledort

Switching between these scales is an essential part of blues soloing

Beginner guitar: how to play minor pentatonic riffs

By Chris Bird

Learn how to use this essential scale, with two hard-rock riff tabs and two scale shapes

Speed up your leads with this Yngwie Malmsteen-style workout

By Chris Brooks

This neoclassical shred lesson from Aussie fretboard gymnast Chris Brooks will build speed through economy and alternate picking

Go from Charlie Christian to Chuck Schuldiner with these 6 diverse licks

By Pat Heath

These licks go from easy to advanced – can you nail them all in 30 minutes?

Learn to solo over the Jimi Hendrix chord with this lead workout

By Charlie Griffiths

From classic Purple Haze to hip Superlocrian fusion, the E7#9 fits a host of soloing situations

Take your blues playing in a new direction with the Dorian mode

By Jon Bishop

Break out of your pentatonic rut with rhythm and lead lessons in the style of Santana, John Mayer and more

Close-up of hand playing chord on electric guitar neck

Beginner guitar: learn CAGED chords and unlock the fretboard

By Total Guitar editors

This simple chord system will transform your rhythm playing and get you playing across the neck

Man playing Gibson ES-335 electric guitar

Change the mood and spice up your tunes with parallel major and minor keys

By Jimmy Brown

Impart a touch of sadness or melancholy to an otherwise happy and predictable-sounding progression

The ultimate guitar tuning guide: expand your mind with these advanced tuning techniques

By George Howlett

Go deep with this multi-pronged, hyper-accurate approach to tuning your guitar

Get a private blues lesson from ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons

By Guitar World Staff

Billy Gibbons teaches you the blues tunes that inspired him to play guitar

Play better than ever with these 5 essential guitar warm-up exercises

By Stéphane Wrembel

Gypsy jazz guitar master Stéphane Wrembel offers some terrific exercises that will help you develop fret-hand strength

Learn to supercharge your blues solos by seamlessly switching between major and minor pentatonic scales

By Andy Aledort

All of the greatest blues and rock guitarists - such as T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Albert King, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix - routinely incorporated this technique into their solos

Expand your creative arsenal by implementing the zero-th fret in your rhythms and leads

By George Howlett

Explore open strings to create new textures, cluster chords, and scale voicings

Take your improvisation to the next level by listening to your own playing and reacting to it

By Dweezil Zappa

Dweezil Zappa offers some phenomenal spontaneous soloing strategies

Steve Howe lesson: Learn how to play Yes's Starship Trooper, Siberian Khatru and Mood for a Day

By Guitar World Staff

Steve Howe shows you how to play the key riffs to several Yes classics