Reading Music for Guitarists - Chord Charts vs. Tabs

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Recent Lessons

• November 6, 2026

  Q&A: 8 Fun Songs for Two Guitars

  Got a guitar buddy but need a few songs to jam on? Here are 8 of my favorites, with ideas for how one of you can strum while the other plays riffs or fills.

• October 30, 2026

  Chords Up the Neck — First Steps

  In reply to several different member questions asking about this topic, learn how to play any chord shape up the neck. I show you the three must-know shapes for getting started with this technique.

• October 23, 2026

  [NEW] Metronome & Tempo Timer Tool!

  I'm excited to unveil a brand new tool to help you with your rhythm! Metronome, tap tempo, drum machine, and beat visualizer all rolled into one easy-to-use tool.

• October 12, 2026

  "Love Me Two Times" by The Doors

  Learn to play this bluesy classic from 1967! This tune features ~4 guitar riffs, each of which is tricky to learn... but I'll walk you through it all, step by step, as per usual.

• September 30, 2026

  Shuffle vs. Straight Rhythm... Hear the Difference!

  Learn to identify the rhytmic feel of a song, just by listening! In this lesson I break down the straight vs. shuffle rhythm, using 5 different riffs... each of which is played both ways.

• September 25, 2026

  Red River Valley - Travis Picking Deep-Dive!

  Behond! 10 new videos from my Travis Picking Essentials course, focusing on the classic tune Red River Valley. Includes print-friendly tabs for everything taught in each of the videos.

• September 16, 2026

  "Sweet Jane" by Velvet Underground

  Let's dive into the 1970 classic by the Velvet Underground! This one mostly uses a two-measure progression from start to finish, but there's a ton of strumming & rhythm nuance you'll need to capture the sound. I teach it all, including several different ways to play the chords needed.

• September 14, 2026

  Practical Music Theory: 1-4-5 Chords & Why They're Important

  An explanation of the three most commonly used chords in each musical key, and why they're important. Say hello to the one, four, and five chords!

• September 9, 2026

  Q&A: Understanding Secondary Dominants (ft. Sierra Ferrell)

  I answer a member question about chords that seem to fall outside the key, using secondary dominants to explain what’s happening. Featuring the catchy opening riff to Sierra Ferrell's Bells of Every Chapel.

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