I started playing guitar in 1982, and for a teenager learning rock guitar there was no one who loomed larger. The story goes that Edward started out on drums but switched to guitar when his brother Alex could play “Wipeout” better than he could. By the time I was learning, “Eruption“, the stunning guitar solo […]
Essential Riffs: Funk 49
Joe Walsh’s riffing on the James Gang’s “Funk 49” is epic and definitive for classic rock. The intro is a great workout for string bending, while the main riff is a great example of the use of triads in a power rock setting. The opening lick is played strictly in the 5th position, and features […]
The Perpetual Beginner’s Guide To Practicing
The Perpetual Beginner’s Guide To Practicing is a free e-book about the process of practicing: how to structure your time, choose what to work on, and maximize both your enjoyment and your progress. If you joined the NGG email list recently, you’ve already received this as a thank you. But if you haven’t, you can […]
Core concepts 11: never stop looking for new options
If there’s a single lesson that might have the most impact on your guitar playing, it’s that you should never stop looking for new options. When we first start playing, nearly everyone learns the basic open chords. This is foundation stuff, and important to any style of music. But a significant percentage of people stop […]
Professional skill vs personal style
I believe I developed a personal style as a player in spite of my education. This might sound like a flip statement, but it’s taken many years to understand. I’m grateful to have had the training I did, but I didn’t fully understand how working to become a professional could also slow the process of […]
5 essential rules for accompanists
There’s an art to being a good accompanist. To do your job well as an accompanist you have to be essential but invisible, because your role is to make someone else sound better. Whether you’re backing up a singer in a band or supporting your own singing as a solo player, there are essential things […]
