Guitar Tricks Blog

If you want to get that fingerstyle sound, this week's video will showcase finger strumming for beginner guitar players. This technique is the perfect starting point for developing the skills (and finger endurance) needed for fingerpicking. Once mastered, you can move on to more intricate fingerstyle techniques. 

One little secret hidden within the Circle of Fifths, is that it shows you all of the major and minor chords in any key. First, let’s look at the key of C, which is at the top of the Circle of Fifths.

Everyone knows about 5ths, octaves and power chords. These are the building blocks of learning how to play guitar. But an easy way to level up your chord knowledge is to add 3rds and 7ths

This week, Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer will go over the super easy chords that you absolutely must know in order to play blues guitar.

Tune-in to learn how to master these bluesy 9th chords!

In this beginner guitar lesson, we will introduce you to signature licks and chords of the Rockabilly musical style. Rockabilly comes from a time in which music had a big swing feel, which was necessary for the dancers who wished to "dance to the bop", and has a kind of hillbilly approach to playing swing that gives it its own special rhythm.

The first thing to consider about rock guitar tones is the pickup configuration. The pickups in a guitar determine the way it sounds far more than any other factor. The main two kinds of pickups we have are humbuckers and single coil pickups. The age-old debate about the superiority of a Les Paul or a Strat, is in my opinion, at its core, a debate between single coil pickups or humbuckers! That is by far the main variable in how different they sound.

This week, Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer is going to show you how to get a jumpstart on playing guitar with some super easy power chords.

These are the seriously the fastest chords you can learn on guitar. With them you'll be able to play hundreds of songs right off the bat!

What should you learn on your first day of playing guitar? Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer will show you the things that are worth learning within the first 10-15 minutes of picking up a guitar.

Start 2023 off right with these easy tips for playing better guitar this year.

Whether you've got a new year's resolution to uphold, or you are continuing on your guitar journey, these tips for practicing, jamming, and more from Gary Heimbauer will set you on the right course to take on 2023 with guitar in hand!

This week, Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer is getting into the holiday spirit by showing you some super easy ways to play Jingle Bells!

Whether you want to play and sing, back your favorite band of merry carolers, or simply sip some eggnog and play the melody gently in the background while the family digs through their stockings -- Gary will show you a few simple ways to absolutely nail this holiday classic, no matter what your ability level is.

Play better, more complicated, and more interesting guitar chords by using what are known as "slash chords."

We're not talking Guns N' Roses -- though Slash probably uses lots of slash chords in his guitar playing. We are talking about the technique of playing a standard chord, but adding a different bass note beneath it!

This is a lot more simple than it might initially seem. Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer will break down how to approach this technique.

Consistency is one of the most important factors you can consider when it comes to improving your guitar playing. Learning new skills can be challenging and ensuring that your progress is efficient and consistent is essential. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner, these seven habits will help you improve your skills no matter what level you're playing at.

Using dynamics while playing guitar is one of the most direct ways to sound more like a guitar pro. It's a simple concept of volume control.

In this video, Guitar Tricks instructor Gary Heimbauer will show you how to apply dynamics to your guitar paying to make you sound better in one step!