Guitar Tricks Blog

Creating your own riffs isn't just for songwriters or advanced players. Writing riffs is one of the fastest ways to deepen your understanding of the guitar and make the things you already know even more useful. 

Why do open position chords sound so messy with distortion? It's because they have the thirds in them. If you want it to sound cleaner, like AC/DC, leave out those thirds with a simple muting trick!

Many players assume alternate tunings are advanced techniques, but the truth is, they really aren't. They're a simple way to kickstart your creativity. Whether you’re writing songs, building fingerstyle arrangements, exploring slide guitar, or just trying to break out of a practice rut, alternate tunings give you instant access to sounds that standard tuning doesn’t naturally provide.

In this episode, Guitar Tricks instructors Anders Mouridsen and Barrett Wilson take on one of the most talked-about concepts in guitar playing: phrasing. They break the concept down into simple, practical ideas any guitarist can understand and master.

Rhythm is one of the most important skills in guitar playing — and also one of the most overlooked. In this lesson and conversation, Anders Mouridsen and Barrett Wilson take an honest look at a problem most players deal with: struggling to stay in time, rushing through parts, or feeling disconnected from the groove.

Anders and Barrett turn Silent Night into a delicate, lullaby-like duet: soft harmonies, shimmering textures, and just enough sparkle to make time slow down. Every note feels suspended in the air, like fresh snow drifting quietly to the ground.

Anders and Barrett break down the big question every player eventually faces: "Which Type of Guitarist Are You?" In this conversation, they explore the different paths you can take. Anders says you should recognize what actually matters to you. Because once you know the style that lights you up, you can stop chasing every lesson under the sun and focus on the skills that move you closer to the music you want to make. Clear path, better progress, more fun playing.

Instead of running up and down patterns, triads give you direct access to the actual chord tones that make your lines sound musical — not mechanical. And the best part? It’s easier than you think. You don’t need to memorize the whole neck. Just start with a couple of triad shapes, connect them, and watch your rhythm and lead playing both open up.

Want your playing to sound like music instead of “strumming some chords and hoping for the best”? In this video, Anders and Barrett break down how real guitar PARTS are created—those specific, intentional lines that make a song come alive.

Anders Mouridsen sits down with Barrett Wilson to break down what it really takes to build a more effective guitar practice routine — one that actually leads to progress instead of frustration.

Whether you choose acoustic or electric guitar, you’ll be learning the same fundamentals: how to hold the guitar, how to strum, how to fret clean notes, and how to play chords and scales. Both types will build your ear, strengthen your fingers, and train your sense of rhythm. So in the end, the best guitar to start with is the one that excites you the most.

If you’re ready to make your guitar sound bigger, heavier, and way more fun to play, it’s time to try Drop D tuning. It’s one of the most accessible alternate tunings out there—and you only need to change one string to unlock a whole new world of sound.

When it comes to creating guitar solos that stand out, building your own pentatonic licks is one of the best ways to sound original while sharpening your technique.

If you’re serious about improving your guitar playing and want to unlock authentic blues guitar tone, understanding classic blues progressions is a must. When most people think of blues guitar, they picture the classic twelve-bar blues progression in the key of A. It’s the king of blues progressions and a foundation for countless songs. 

Deciding to learn electric guitar is an exciting step for any beginner. With its wide range of tones and styles—from crystal-clear cleans to roaring distortion—electric guitar keeps practice fun and motivating.