Post archive
Guitar Sessions 17: Explore the partial capo and “Fly”
Learn how to use the partial capo to sound like a one-man bluegrass band. Play the John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner “Fly.”
Tips for sharing music on Zoom
How to share music on Zoom—whether you’re teaching or taking a private lesson, joining a group class, collaborating with another musician, or just playing a song for a friend.
The guitar odyssey of Joni Mitchell
Learn about Mitchell’s pioneering guitar style and use of alternate tunings.
Guitar Sessions 16: Play easy movable jazz chords—and “Let It Snow!”
Learn a set of essential jazz chord shapes and try them out in a classic tune.
Ben Harper interview and slide lesson
How a new lap steel guitar sparked Ben Harper’s first instrumental album
Songwriting lessons of Woody Guthrie
Advice and instructions on songwriting, in the words of Woody Guthrie.
A private lesson with Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn shares the guitar parts of some of his best-known songs, plus a solo performance of “If I Had a Rocket Launcher.”
Guitar Sessions 15: Intro to DADGAD tuning
Learn a set of great-sounding chord shapes in this popular alternate tuning, and try an arrangement of an original song.
For the sake of the song: accompaniment tips and techniques
Mark Erelli, Shawn Colvin, Anaïs Mitchell, Martin Sexton, and Anthony da Costa share their approaches to creating dynamic accompaniment parts.
Next generation bluegrass
A celebration of next-generation bluegrass, including a cross-picking lesson with Molly Tuttle.
Guitar Sessions 14: Intro to cross picking
Get started with this essential flatpicking technique—great for both accompaniment and soloing.
How to play like John Prine
A video lesson on John Prine’s guitar style, with examples drawn from his best-known songs.
New American Beauties album
A 50th anniversary tribute to the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead albums.
How three guitar duos create tapestries of sound
Three guitar duos—Pharis and Jason Romero, Ryanhood, and Grant Gordy and Ross Martin—share their approaches to creating a full spectrum of sound and expression with two guitars.
Guitar Sessions 13: Play the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” on acoustic guitar
Learn a rocking arrangement in dropped-D tuning with an instrumental break.
Peter Mulvey on dynamic guitar arranging
Folk-rock songwriter Peter Mulvey shares his approach to guitar arranging and alternate tunings, by walking through the accompaniment parts of his song “The Knuckleball Suite.”
The elegant guitar style of Joan Baez
A video lesson on the Joan Baez’s influential guitar style, with examples drawn from her best-known songs.
Guitar Sessions 12: Play Shawn Colvin’s “Sunny Came Home”
Learn a complete arrangement of Shawn Colvin hit, complete with instrumental riffs based on the original recording.
Guitar Sessions 11: Play Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”
Learn Tracy Chapman’s original, hypnotic accompaniment part—moving up the neck as in “Blackbird.”