This week, Gary shares some cool hacks to help you quickly memorize the guitar fretboard. A lot of guitarists skip this step and rely on patterns or shapes to play, but knowing the notes across the fretboard makes it way easier to move around and unlock new possibilities.

If you’ve been playing for a while or just starting out, these tips will help you take your playing to the next level. We’re going to break things down into manageable pieces by focusing on one octave at a time and even playing scales on just one string. 

Country music has a distinct sound characterized by its twangy, clean, and bright tones. Achieving that signature country guitar tone requires understanding and tweaking several key elements of your gear and playing style. Here's a guide for beginners to help you get started.

In folk and Americana music, the right strumming pattern can transform a basic chord progression into a captivating tune. These patterns help you capture the natural, down-to-earth vibe that's so characteristic of the genre. Plus, many folk songs are built around straightforward rhythms, making them perfect practice material for beginners.

Learning how to play guitar is a lifelong journey that takes years of dedication. But there are some guitar techniques that can put you years ahead. Here are some guitar tips to save years on your learning journey.

New Wave music, born out of the late '70s and early '80s, is a genre that blends rock, pop, and electronic music. Bands developed unique sounds that still inspire musicians today. If you're looking to capture that distinctive New Wave guitar style, here's a quick guide to get you started.

Open chords tend to get a bit dull. But there are some easy ways to alter the basic chord shapes you already know and make them sound much more interesting.

For any beginner out there, diving into the CAGED system is definitely a worthwhile journey. It'll give you a solid foundation and make the guitar feel less like a foreign object and more like an old friend you know inside out.

Diving into blues guitar as a beginner can feel like a thrilling trip back in time, unpacking the soulful sounds that have shaped modern music. To get started, here are some key elements you’ll want to familiarize yourself with.

Getting started with guitar strumming can feel like a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to enhance any song with just the right rhythm. So, let's break down the basics of how to strum a guitar, especially for beginners who are ready to dive into the world of music.

Diving into the world of guitar scales can be both thrilling and a tad overwhelming, especially when terms like "pentatonic scale" start flying around. So, let's break it down, shall we? At its heart, the pentatonic scale is like your go-to five-ingredient recipe. It's simple, versatile, and, frankly, hard to mess up. This makes it a favorite among guitar players, from those just starting to strum to seasoned shredders.

Bluegrass guitar solos are all about expressing yourself within a rich musical tradition. Here's your beginner's guide to shredding bluegrass-style, without the need for lightning-fast fingers right off the bat.

Fingerstyle guitar is a technique where you pluck the strings directly with the fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to fingers, as opposed to strumming or picking with a single plectrum. This allows for a more nuanced, delicate sound, perfect for genres ranging from classical and folk to modern pop and beyond.

Before you channel your inner rock star, it's crucial to grasp some fundamental concepts. Lead guitar, in contrast to rhythm guitar, focuses on melody lines, solos, and improvisation. It's the voice of the band, expressing the song's emotions and themes through notes rather than chords.

So, you’ve got your guitar, and you’re ready to play some tunes. But wait, there’s something crucial you need to do first - tuning your guitar. Don’t worry, it's not as daunting as it sounds, and I'm here to guide you through how to tune a guitar step by step.