Since most of your time is spent playing rhythm in a band situation, it’s good to have a few different techniques at hand (sorry for the pun…) when it comes to country/blues rock stuff. In this example I am just going to show you a basic country-rock type of rhythm, using the pick and fingers [...]

A great way to learn the characteristic sounds of the major scale modes, and a good way to discourage ‘pattern’ playing, or relying on memorized licks, is to play each mode on a single string. I think I first ran across this idea in the old Mick Goodrick ‘Advancing Guitarist’ book. The important thing is [...]

A great tool to add to your arsenal is economy picking. Economy picking only applies when you’re crossing strings, so it’s really all about reducing right-hand motion as you go from string to string. At first, it’s a pretty easy concept to get a handle on. Mastering it takes a bit more time. First, some [...]

The technique I get asked about the most is hybrid picking. I use it all the time, for rhythm as well as lead playing. I prefer to use a flatpick over a thumbpick, so my technique is to use a flatpick and the middle and ring fingers, occasionally the pinky. Switching back & forth between [...]