Tips and Tricks Guitar Lessons

Sweeping is one of those techniques that I’ve seen people struggling with the most. When I sweep, I do it in a certain way and there’s one particular thing that makes all the difference in terms of making your sweeps really smooth.

It’s a small detail that will make all the difference because when it comes to sweeping it’s easy to start off badly, and once this happens it’s very difficult to recover. So here it is, probably my best sweeping tip in a raw, uncut live lesson packed full of licks and ideas that you can take away and apply to your own playing.

If you’re ready for some practical advice on improving your skills without the overwhelming pressure, then this is the lesson for you! Practicing can feel like a chore, but I believe in real-world practice, the kind that helps you improve while having fun and achieving tangible results, like learning a new solo or song.

In this lesson, we’re going to discuss how I approach practice and how it’s led me to get better over time. But more importantly, we’ll focus on preserving that passion and love for playing the guitar. Because let’s face it, if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, practicing can really take away the joy of playing. So, I’ll share all my tips on how to stay motivated and keep that fire burning!

Are you frustrated by unpleasant string noise muddying your guitar playing? It’s time to put an end to that nightmare! In this lesson, I’ll show you how to eliminate those annoying string noises and achieve cleaner, higher-quality pick strokes.

Not only will this improve your overall sound, but I’ll also provide you with some fantastic picking exercises to boost your confidence when improvising on the fretboard. So say goodbye to those moments when your playing falls apart and let’s get started on the path to cleaner, more confident guitar playing.

In this lesson, I return from a holiday and reflect on the impact of a 10-day break from playing guitar. I wanted to share my experience and struggles with you, as I try to regain my note sync and confidence by running through various exercises and riffs.

My fingers feel a bit weak, and some of the moves that used to be effortless now feel awkward, but I know that with the right type of practice, it won’t be long until my strength and dexterity returns. Let’s see how quickly I can get back into the groove!

Introducing open strings into your playing can sound fantastic in the right place and this technique is a great way to spice up licks, whether you’re playing Blues, Country or futuristic Shred riffs.

It can also sound downright awful if you get it wrong, so in this lesson, I’m going to show you 5 simple and fun ways to introduce open strings into your playing using patterns and approaches that you already know.

It’s a common challenge we all face as guitarists: nailing those smooth transitions from slow to fast playing. Trust me, we’ve all been there – janky timing and out-of-sync moments can really give us away. But fear not! I have some killer tips to turn your transitions from awkward to awesome.

In this lesson, we’ll explore techniques for making your shifts and position changes seamless, helping you maintain that rhythmic groove. Oh, and don’t think I’ve got it all figured out – I’m human too, and I’ll even share my own moments where I stumble. After all, it’s all part of the learning process. So, let’s work together on mastering these smooth transitions and levelling up your playing.

This lick is packed full of sweeping, lightning-fast runs and unexpected slides – it’s like a full-blown fireworks display across the neck. If you struggle with making your transitions from alternate picking to sweeping or sliding smooth and seamless, this lesson is a must-watch.

But that’s not all! I’ll also reveal a subtle eye-coordination trick that I personally rely on a lot in my playing. It’s all about enhancing your eye-to-hand accuracy, making it much easier to glide around the neck without making mistakes. This is a Fast Frets lesson, so you don’t need hours of free time to reap the benefits.

In this lesson, I dive into the concept of selective picking. While it might seem daunting initially, selective picking is an awesome tool for adding dynamic range and sonic versatility to your playing.

Let’s demystify this technique and learn how selective picking isn’t just about flashy moments but is an exciting way to enhance simple note combinations and add unique twists to your licks.

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!

It’s time to dive into the world of guitar patterns – how significant are they in improving your technique and enhancing your playing?

After taking a 20-year break from playing, I wanted to incorporate more dynamic alternate picking into my style, patterns made a significant difference in getting there. There are two main patterns that transformed my technique, which I’m about to share with you. So grab your best pick, and let’s explore them together.