Ultimate Beginners Rock Guitar Part 2 by Stuart Shields & Nick Jennison
Welcome to "Ultimate Beginners Rock Guitar Part 2," a comprehensive guitar lesson series by Stuart Shields & Nick Jennison. This course is designed to take your guitar skills to the next level with a focus on essential rock techniques and popular songs. Whether you're a novice guitarist looking to expand your repertoire or someone who wants to refine their technical skills, this series offers detailed guidance and practical insights.
Technical Warm-Up - String Bending, Scales, & Power Chords
Starting with a technical warm-up, you'll master the art of string bending, scales, and power chords. String bending adds expressiveness to your playing, allowing you to achieve a vocal-like quality on your guitar. Practicing scales enhances your finger dexterity and knowledge of the fretboard, while power chords are fundamental in rock music for their strong, punchy sound.
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
Learn the iconic riff and rhythm parts of The Killers' "Mr. Brightside." This song is a great introduction to syncopated rhythms and octave melodies, helping you develop timing and precision in your playing.
Joe Bonamassa - The Ballad of John Henry
Dive into the blues-rock style of Joe Bonamassa with "The Ballad of John Henry." This lesson emphasises bluesy bends and hammer-ons, essential for creating soulful, expressive solos.
Creative Session - A Minor String Bending
Explore creative uses of string bending in A minor. This session will help you understand how to apply string bending to add emotional depth to your solos.
The Who - My Generation
"My Generation" by The Who introduces you to powerful rhythm guitar playing. This lesson focuses on using power chords and dynamic strumming techniques to recreate the energy of this classic rock anthem.
A String Technical Warm-Up
Another essential warm-up focusing on the A string, improving your alternate picking and precision across the fretboard.
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine Chords
Learn the iconic chords and riffs from Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine." This lesson highlights the use of power chords and syncopated rhythms, essential for any rock guitarist.
Rival Sons - Open My Eyes
Delve into the modern rock sound with Rival Sons' "Open My Eyes." This song provides a great workout for your finger-picking and chord progression skills.
Improvising on E & B Strings
Enhance your improvisational skills by focusing on the E and B strings. This session will help you create fluid, melodic solos across the fretboard.
Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" by Sex Pistols is a punk rock classic. This lesson emphasises aggressive strumming and palm-muting techniques, essential for achieving that raw punk sound.
E Technical Warm-Up - Alternate Picking
A technical warm-up focusing on the E string and alternate picking. This exercise improves your speed and accuracy, crucial for playing fast rock and metal riffs.
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
Learn the techniques of the legendary Jimi Hendrix with "Hey Joe." This song is perfect for practicing your hammer-ons and pull-offs, essential for fluid soloing.
White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
"Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes features a memorable riff that's great for beginners. This lesson focuses on simple yet effective power chords and alternate picking.
Soloing with the Full Pentatonic Scale
Learn to solo using the full pentatonic scale. This session will help you connect different scale shapes across the fretboard, enhancing your lead guitar skills.
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" is a rock staple. This lesson covers rhythm guitar techniques, including power chords and syncopated strumming patterns.
Technical Warm-Up - Hammer Ons & Pull Offs
A focused warm-up on hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques are crucial for smooth, legato playing.
A Major Alternate Picking Warm-Up
Enhance your alternate picking with this A major warm-up. It will improve your picking accuracy and speed across the fretboard.
Tom Petty - Running Down a Dream
Learn the rhythm and lead parts of Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream." This lesson emphasises chord progressions and melodic soloing.
Soloing - A Minor Blues Curls
Master the art of soloing with A minor blues curls. This technique adds a bluesy touch to your solos, making them more expressive.
Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a metal classic. This lesson focuses on heavy riffs, power chords, and precise alternate picking.
Bad Company - Can't Get Enough
Learn the rhythm and lead guitar parts of Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough." This song is perfect for practicing your chord progressions and bluesy bends.
Benefits of Performance Context
Seeing these techniques performed in a real musical context is invaluable. It helps you understand how to apply them effectively within a song, offering insights into timing, dynamics, and expression. Performances by the tutors provide a clear example of how these techniques come together to create a cohesive and compelling musical piece.
