Guitar Lessons With Tune In, Tone Up!

Timings for the SoundCloud audio version of Rhythm Guitar Lesson 1b: 00:00:22 Using Eartrainer to practise the rhythm of a piece separated from the melody 00:01:08 A simple idea for practising rhythm 00:01:22 Starting with a bar of 4/4 and then throwing in some 8th notes 00:02:28 Using the offbeat and how to play challenging rhythms 00:02:58 Riff from Human by the Killers and timing it right 00:03:40 The 8th note at the beginning of the riff that isn't heard 00:05:10 Sing the rhythms - do it in your head 00:05:20 Sixteenth notes starting on the offbeat can be tricky 00:05:43 Start of our Funk mini study 00:06:39 Yngwie's quote: "groove or die" 00:07:21 Right hand playing, percussive hits in funk music 00:07:51 Sixteenth notes with accents on the beat 00:08:26 Make the right hand consistent, lock in with drums / metronome 00:11:12 Demo of the same funk groove with and without the percussive notes 00:13:00 All this kind of practise helps to instil a sense of pulse 00:13:57 What does a drummer do when he is pe

This is the first lesson in our new mini-series on the topic of rhythm. R.I.P. Jeff Beck :( Dan and I, in our first lesson look over the basics of rhythm: Firstly, covering what the difference between a quarter note, eighth note and sixteenth note along with the synonyms of crotchet, quaver and semi-quaver. Next Dan talks about staccato, dotted notes, tied notes, off-beats and counting; along with guitar strumming techniques which work for him. Finally, we look at some reggae and funk examples – although the funk examples will be reserved for next installment of the podcast when we will release the second half of the first lesson. Stay tuned for some brilliant reminders for your practice and how to play 16th funk strumming patterns with confidence and so that they sound groovy – all coming up in Rhythm Guitar Lesson 1b. I have been adding to my own new practice regime lots of metronome work based on what we will discuss next time. Timings for the SoundCloud audio version 00:01:25 A few words on Jeff Beck

Rick Beato and Tim Pierce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2IWnGNF80I Andy wood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGcCswgaleE Rick Beato on Jeff Beck having just seen him 3 months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV9bnaqqfq8&t=161s Live at Ronnie Scotts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFx__GfJHWw I just wanted to share my own listening and way of absorbing the tragic news of Jeff Beck's passing. I really thought I was going to see him again. The man was such a legend and what he played on the guitar is from another world, sublime and glorious. He is not just one of best guitarists, but one of the best musicians and of all time! RIP

Sponsor Tune in Tone up and become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tuneintoneup (e.g. £1 / month as a tip for what we do) Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code: "TONEUP30" This is our follow up episode following on from last week’s foray into the jamming tracks created by Andy Timmons on TrueFire’s “In the Jam” tracks. This week, we start the episode with a quick shout out to our Patreon page which we hope that you will seriously consider giving to. You will get a shout out in future episodes, if you wish, and there are tiered benefits available. If we had a pound for everyone who has ever listened to Tune in Tone up, then we would be very happy guitar podcasters indeed. After this initial launch, Dan and I have an improvisation over the Andy Timmons track from last week. We then have a listen to a snippet of Andy Timmon’s own improvisation and if you would li

Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30" Timings for the SoundCloud audio version 00:00:34 TrueFire - offers and advert 00:02:17 Jam over Andy Timmons TrueFire track 00:05:36 Talking about Andy Timmons 00:06:56 Introduction to TrueFire's 'In the Jam' controls 00:08:46 Let's listen to Andy Timmons playing over the same track 00:09:56 Moved along towards the end of Andy Timmon's solo 00:10:41 Again with the lead analysis on and changing track volumes 00:11:45 Learning point: it's okay to make mistakes 00:12:02 Playing at home or in rehearsal is the time for mistakes 00:12:43 Know exactly what you are doing for performances 00:13:36 Targets should be challenging 00:14:00 Discussion around dynamics and having a motif 00:16:23 Try having a repeated motif for cohesion 00:17:13 Guthrie Govan: each note has a special quality 00:18:16 Listen to how the track builds up 0

Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30" This is our follow up episode on playing at speed and pace. It follows on from our earlier lesson on how to use sequences to open the fretboard and also the previous episode on TrueFire courses and their jam tracks. During this lesson Dan discusses plectrums and we look at 5 specific types and discuss some of their pros and cons. Next, we look at and review some sequences which will speed up your playing and give you some automated patterns to throw into your solos. Next, we discuss the picking hand and give some brief insights into some picking techniques. Finally, we discuss some areas to focus on in your practice and the difference that strings make to your speed and tone. Thank you TrueFire for sponsoring our podcast and with Christmas coming, what better gift could there be for a guitar fanatic? We are grateful

Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30" This is the first part of an episode on playing at speed and pace. It follows on from our earlier lesson on how to use sequences to open the fretboard. Next lesson we will look at some ways that you might use sequences to build speed and gain interest. Dan will also identify the two-string rule and explain how you can use pairs of strings to repeat licks in different octaves. In this first part, however, our guitar chat is based on TrueFire, our current sponsors. Thank you TrueFire for sponsoring our podcast and with Christmas coming, what better gift could there be for a guitar fanatic? We are grateful for your vote of confidence and are fully enthusiastic about your product in return. How could we not be? The TrueFire guitar learning platform is massive and meticulous in its layout and content. In this episode

Sign up as an All Access student to TrueFire here: https://prf.hn/l/3Y32QvV Sign up to TrueFire today: https://prf.hn/l/MDmJ5bB Save 30% on anything at TrueFire with promo code "TONEUP30" Hey everyone! We are really pleased to be able to share the great news that TrueFire – the most excellent, expansive and extensive online lessons platform – have decided to sponsor our podcast until Christmas. Their product is so well thought out and educational that Dan and I are confident that you will find it an inspirational and valuable addition to your guitar learning arsenal. Sign up and receive 14 days to decide before you wish to pay for your subscription, without even needing to enter your card details. You really have nothing to lose and a world of knowledge and skills to gain. Our lesson today is about gaining some go to and rehearsed sequences and ways of travelling around the fretboard between the different pentatonic patterns. There are some great ideas within on breaking out of the pentatonic box and devel

Dan always has such brilliant nuggets of information to share with us and this episode holds some immensely valuable and powerful thoughts and ideas. After a brief recap we have a round of improvisation which leads our discussion to pickup choice and tonal differentiation. Dan shares some ideas about how you can gain different sounds with your technique and touch. Then we discuss rhythmic motifs and grouping notes to gain interest and be more sensitive to what the track is doing. This leads us to discuss how you must listen actively and deeply to a track to really consider what the tone of the piece is and how the instrumentation of it allows space for improvising. First Dan talks about trying to label the emotion of a track and then he really highlights to me that the main driver of a musician is that they have something to say and want to express themselves through their music. Dan talks about how you can use rhythm, volume, dynamics and tone as the vehicle to deliver your story. Phrasing is key but nuan

It’s really brilliant to be back and we are loving recording and releasing new content for you, our wonderful listeners. This lesson is an extension of the previous one and we aim to continue this into another lesson next time with a focus on the style and techniques that you might use to deliver your lines and package your improvisation. This lesson tackles adding the 6th and 9th intervals without huge amounts of theory but, hopefully, immediately usable ideas and a rationale that will help to spice up your solos and motivate and inspire you to perform. We use a backing track for our own noodling and improvisations. As always, I apologise for mine and listening back hope to continue working on tightening up the rhythmic motifs and delivery but we hope that you will take something from listening to both of us, warts and all. After all, learning can really take place when mistakes can shine a light on areas for improvement. This is one thing that I always really take from producing these podcasts – the opp

We’re back!! Thank you for sticking with us and waiting patiently, or indeed finding us for the first time. Please look back at our back catalogue and subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to podcasts on. Tell all your guitar playing friends and perhaps even get directly in touch with us or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help us more than anything else. In this lesson, Dan and I return to look at the Pentatonic scale and how it can be used over a Blues major shuffle or over a minor Blues progression. We look at a couple of notes which can be added for a different ‘flavour’ and be used to change the feel of your improvising. Here we add in first the tritone or flattened fifth note to play the Blues scale. Second we add in the major second or ninth note to play a hexatonic scale or the pedestrian minor scale. There are a couple of backing tracks we use around 19 minutes and 29 minutes in. The first is a Chicago Blues Shuffle Backing Track (E) and the latter is called Soulful C

In this lesson, Dan and I return with an audio only lesson but a really useful lesson on harmonizing guitar parts. In this lesson: Dan defines what it means to harmonize guitar parts, we examine how this is different to pitch shifting when working in a key, we play the C major scale with harmony parts in 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and so on, we harmonize the theme tune for Eastenders (PAAAAT!!) and we try to harmonize a lick with bends in it (I struggle with bending over another part). The lesson ends with some discussion about the issues you may face when harmonizing, Dan gives some practical uses including the riff for Led Zeppelin’s Rock n’ Roll and finally there is a summary of the learning points of the lesson and notable tips. 00:00:59 Setting up this lesson on guitar harmonies and harmony vocals 00:05:01 Defining a harmony part 00:06:53 If you just keep the same distance between the two notes, some notes will fall out of key 00:08:35 Conclusion: harmonizing is not the same as pitch shifting 00:10:06 How a ha

THE TWO VIDEOS FOR THIS ONE WOULD BE HELPFUL: https://youtu.be/K7N1TxJm17k https://youtu.be/BSAEidhkFcU In this lesson, Dan talks pedals and pedalboards.  We take a tour round his board and a small tour round mine too.  Then we examine the question (from the perspective of a beginner) of what pedal someone could start out with.  Dan also gives his wisdom on some ways which you can keep in mind the big picture (perhaps of a pedalboard) and get the pedals which are the most useful. There’s a really big section in which Dan walks me through what the different uses of the Strymon Timeline are and also regularly demonstrates a wide range of pedals with examples. 00:00:33 Start of main lesson 00:02:11 Using the Timeline - set to Pink Floyd Run Like Hell 00:03:19 Timeline setting - Reverse Delay 00:04:30 Timeline setting for Purple Rain 00:05:12 With a lighter chorus sound 00:05:29 Ducking delay 00:05:50 Clean boost 00:06:27 Different boosts 00:06:52 Wah wah pedal on 00:07:19 Sweep Filter 00:07:43 With compressio

THE TWO VIDEOS FOR THIS ONE WOULD BE HELPFUL: https://youtu.be/K7N1TxJm17k https://youtu.be/BSAEidhkFcU This is the preamble for lesson 18, in which Dan and I take the viewer through our pedalboards, briefly describing what the pedal does and how we put together our pedalboard. See lesson 18b for the full lesson

In this lesson, Dan helps me out with my acoustic sound for a performance I have been asked to do for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I am performing several songs at the front of their service some of which they have chosen and some of which they have asked me to come up with. As there is a delay on publishing our episodes, this comes after I have actually done the performance and it went very well, particularly because of Dan’s excellent advice and suggestion to use a looper pedal which I followed. In the second part of this lesson, we take a look at how to arrange multiple parts for the looper pedal performance, particularly covering “Something” by the Beatles. In the end, the performance was of the following songs: 1) ‘Something’ by the Beatles: Played while the wedding party awaited the arrival of the bride 2) ‘Textbook’ by We Are Scientists: Played as my sister-in-law walked up the aisle 3) ‘Pretty Ugly Before’ by Elliott Smith: Played while the register was being signed 4) ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ by Fle

In this lesson, Dan helps me out with some planning for a performance I have been asked to do for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I am performing several songs at the front of their service some of which they have chosen and some of which they have asked me to come up with. As there is a delay on publishing our episodes, this comes after I have actually done the performance and it went very well, particularly because of Dan’s excellent advice and suggestion to use a looper pedal which I followed. In the end, the performance was of the following songs: 1) ‘Something’ by the Beatles: Played while the wedding party awaited the arrival of the bride 2) ‘Textbook’ by We Are Scientists: Played as my sister-in-law walked up the aisle 3) ‘Pretty Ugly Before’ by Elliott Smith: Played while the register was being signed 4) ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ by Fleetwood Mac: Played as everyone left Most songs were played using my Boss RC30 to create a long loop, then some layers added to this on the fly along with some melodic playi

In this lesson, Dan and I take a look at the outro solo for "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Bad Company - a song which I am covering with my band. During the lesson we go through 9 tips on transcribing from Dan and we look at 9 licks from the solo. Dan shares his ideas with me on tone and effects for songs and also the different ways to approach different sorts of solos. Timings for Video Guitar Lesson 15 - on transcribing: 00:03:18 Boss RC30 Loopstation - I talk about various features on it 00:04:32 I overdub with the part Dan came up with before 00:05:41 Dan's first improvisation over the riff 00:08:42 A word on active listening and the value of ear training 00:13:24 Comedy - the dots (correction: not Smith and Jones but French and Saunders) 00:14:40 Tip 1: You need to play the song alongside the tab 00:18:29 Tip 2: When you try to transcribe something do it in small chunks 00:23:56 Tip 3: Check out live versions and alternate versions of the song 00:24:17 Sometimes YouTube guitar lessons can be illuminative 00

In this lesson, Dan and I take a look at some of the songs which I am performing with my band and so we focus on the dual guitar parts. I bring several songs which I am learning with other musicians in our covers band ready for a gig we will be performing in Brighton. We first look at American Girl by Tom Petty, with some talk about inversions and effects. Secondly, Dan gives me some feedback on some dual parts I came up with for Neil Young’s Cinnamon Girl. Next we pay the Smith’s What Difference Does it Make? a quick bit of consideration. We finish this lesson off by some discussion with usable ideas for the solo in Substitute by the Who and the outro solo for Feel Like Makin Love by Bad Company. As always, there are plenty of other examples thrown in to assist Dan’s explanation of his ideas and ways of approaching dual guitar situations and a good improvisation session towards the end of the lesson. Our next lesson 15 will return to the solo at the end of Feel Like Makin' Love as we look at some tips on tra

In this lesson, Dan and I return to take a look at how to improve your creative improvisations and what that journey looks like on the guitar. The focus of this lesson, using a backing track we recently did another lesson with, is how having some predetermined themes to use in your solo and a plan can help you to come up with ideas and interest as you improvise. As we play around with improvisation Dan gives me some tips and a strategy following a structured approach to coming up with ideas. We use octaves, blues licks and then Dan delves into a couple of ideas: First he highlights the importance of being relaxed and not tense; second we take a look at three note per string pentatonic licks and referencing lots of different players Dan demonstrates how you can delve deeply into one idea to explore the theme fully. 00:00:56 Reference to That Pedal Show and our last episode 00:01:36 Introduction - how do we mix our licks up to make them not feel too samey? 00:02:11 Fancy Fusion Backing Track in B minor | #SZ

Video Guitar Lesson 12: Arranging parts for bands and situations with two or more guitarists In this lesson, Dan and I continue to explore rhythmic patterns, looking in particular at the benefits and problems which arise when playing in situations with multiple guitarists. The focus for the lesson are two songs which I am arranging to play with a band that has in it a drummer, bassist, keyboardist/singer and me and another student of Dan’s on guitar. The two songs are ‘The One I Love’ by REM and ‘Feel Like Making Love’ by Bad Company, but throughout this lesson we look at things which arise in other songs to so that we can apply this to this situation. We look at octaves, open strings, pick up choice, EQ, guitar choice, briefly effects and playing using different inversions and much more. Timings for the SoundCloud audio version 00:02:31 The setup of my band 00:03:24 Introduction to the two songs which we are going to be looking at the parts for 00:05:09 First look at the One I love by REM 00:05:59 What D