Improvisation

Improvisation Guitar Lessons

Improvising is a fundamental skill for any guitarist that is both easy to learn and difficult to master. In these guitar lessons we focus on teaching you new ways to approach your playing and help you break out of the box of playing the same old licks over and over.
  • user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 30 Mins

    I recently received some great feedback on one of my YouTube videos from Mike, who is an amazing guitarist. He was impressed by a specific section in the video where I played a G major 13 chord and then went into a cool lick, showcasing some interesting guitar techniques.

    A lot of the time when I’m improvising the things I play are pretty much instantly forgotten, so I decided to grab a guitar, hit record and cast my mind back to that moment to figure out what I was doing and break the whole thing down for you!

  • Let’s Jam 2
    Easy
    Backing Track
    Let’s Jam 2
    user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 32 Mins

    Get ready for an exciting session where we trade licks and engage in a shred battle! We’ll go back and forth, giving each other plenty of space to showcase our skills. While I hold down the rhythm, you’ll take over and unleash your lead playing!

    I’ve prepared an awesome backing track for us, and as we progress, there’s a cool chord change that opens up some fantastic options for us to explore. It’s easy to fall into the trap of playing the same sounds throughout our solos, so this is an excellent opportunity to delve into changing up our note choices. We’ll switch between different modes, incorporate pentatonic and minor scales, and even experiment with outside notes. It’s all about maximizing the impact of our solos, whether they’re eight bars or sixteen bars long.

  • user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 46 Mins

    It’s time to dive into one of my favorite topics: keys to play in. Now, we all have our preferred keys for shredding, but my favourite keys hold a special place for a unique reason and have profoundly influenced my songwriting, chord progressions, riffs, and even lead lines.

    Throughout this lesson, I’ll walk you through the keys I love and why I chose them. I can’t wait to share this with you because it’s a major part of how I approach playing, and I believe it can greatly impact your style too so buckle up and get ready to inject some creativity and excitement into your playing.

  • user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 55 Mins

    If you’re looking to enhance your chord progressions and often find yourself stuck in the same old patterns and shapes every time you pick up your guitar, this lesson is for you!

    In this session, I demonstrate my exact method of stacking notes to create compelling chord sounds and help you identify melodies within chords, which can elevate simple progressions into captivating compositions.

  • Linking Arpeggios
    Intermediate
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    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 50 Mins

    In this lesson I’m going to teach you a few techniques for linking multiple arpeggios together in a way that lets you fly all around the neck, coming up with fresh, modern-sounding riffs that are both fast and fluid.

    If you’ve ever felt stuck because you want to use arpeggios in your playing without sounding like you’re just running up and down through vanilla-sounding patterns, then you need to learn these techniques to unlock the power of arpeggios in your playing.

  • Finding Your Pocket
    Intermediate
    Backing Track
    Finding Your Pocket
    user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 42 Mins

    I’ve always been a fan of drummers and bass players who have a great feel and pocket. As a guitarist, it’s so easy to get caught up in shredding and playing licks so having a solid groove can really set you apart. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to incorporate many groove-related details to elevate your playing and turn a simple three-chord progression into an electrifying riff.

    We’ll explore the art of storytelling through your playing, along with a combination of new techniques and improvisation tips, and by the end of the lesson you’re going to be clapping your hands to the beat of your own guitar playing!

  • Flow Like Water
    Intermediate
    user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 34 Mins

    I like to continuously change and flow through different techniques while playing, and this lesson will teach you how to do that too. It’s all about mixing up notes and techniques to come up with something fun and exciting.

    You know that feeling when you’re in the zone, coming up with new licks and note combinations effortlessly? That’s what we’re going for and I’m excited to show you a lick I’ve been working on that really embodies that approach.

  • user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 36 Mins

    In this lesson, we’re diving into two exciting tapping licks, one of which we’ll transform into a mind-bending exercise. This lesson is all about applying tapping in real-world scenarios, so if you’re tired of just going through the motions, this lesson will help elevate your playing to new heights.

    But this isn’t just about tapping; we’re going to blend in other techniques too. You’ll gain the tools to create captivating melodies, seamlessly integrate hammer-ons for thrilling finishes, and receive some killer exercises to let your tapping creativity soar.

  • user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 42 Mins

    This lesson starts with a dominant 7th arpeggio vs harmonic minor theme, but quickly turns into a treasure chest of some of my favourite ways to break away from playing in the default scale positions that many guitarists find themselves trapped in.

    Follow me as I show you various ways that you can come up with new and fresh note combinations, the results of this will make your solos more unique and exciting to not only play but also to listen to!

  • Locked In Solo Challenge
    Intermediate
    user avatar
    Thomas McRocklin
    • 2 Videos
    • 34 Mins

    It’s the launch of the Locked In Solo Challenge! In this lesson, I’ll break down a massive, stretchy lick featuring sweeping, sliding, hammer-ons, and more. Mastering this lick will give you the edge in the solo challenge.

    Plus, there’s ample space for you to jam and showcase your unique guitar personality over the backing track. Get ready for the Locked In Solo Challenge—it begins now! Join me inside for some musical exploration. Let’s dive in and elevate your solo game!

Thomas McRocklin

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