#pianolessons Archives - Larry S. Warfield Music

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The Best Way To Learn Piano method works with all subjects
It has proven to be very beneficial

If you’ve seen some of the pianists online you’ve probably thought, “It must have taken years of practice to be that good.”

With some of us, it has taken years. I started piano lessons at age four at the insistence of my mother because I was trying to play by ear. Back then, no I’m not going to say how many years, the only people who played by ear were rock ’n rollers. My mother wanted a classically trained pianist. As I got older I wanted to be one of the rock ‘n rollers.

Now, as with the guitar lessons, a high percentage of piano lessons are online using video lessons. If you were classically trained, you may be like me, wondering how a person could possibly learn to play the piano online.

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Online Learning

In today’s world of the Covid Pandemic, we are bombarded with news about the pros and cons of online learning. Even older kids are having problems. My grandson, who is in the 8^th grade and a straight “A” student, says it’s difficult.

“Why is it so hard,” I questioned so I started researching.

In my research listed below, I discovered the answer. Video learning is the fastest and best way to learn, but these kids are having problems learning online with videos.

The answer is simple. They are giving the kids too much information at once. In online music lessons, the students are given “bite-sized” chunks of information at a time. The school kids are given a full lesson to wade through on their own. Read my research below.

Piano Lessons

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PianoForAll claims their students see results quickly. Their claim to fame is, “Play first, ask questions later,” which is similar to the guitar lessons we promote. This approach really works. In both the piano and guitar lessons you will be up playing quickly without struggling with all the music theory, as so many of us did in years past.

PianoForAll has taught over 250,000 students using a chord-based system. The creator Robin Hall says “that his e-book course will teach you to play by ear, improvise, create compositions, and then eventually read piano sheet music.”

Each lesson is strategically designed to take you from one skill to the next in a short amount of time using “bite-sized” lessons.

One of the main comments about PianoForAll is that the video and audio lessons open on the lesson page the student is working on. You don’t have to go from book to video. Everything is coordinated to the exact page.

One-On-One Lessons

An important factor in the online lessons’ success rate is the video and the video player. With one-on-one lessons, the teacher

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goes over the material with you then you go home and practice.

When I was learning to play the piano there were many lessons I didn’t get the first time through. Some lessons took several weeks before I got it right.

In one-on-one lessons, if the student really isn’t paying attention or doesn’t understand what is being taught, it could take several weeks before they master the lesson.

With video lessons, everything is demonstrated so the student can see exactly what the teacher is doing and how to do it. The student can take it slow and repeat as many times as necessary to master the lesson. The lessons are fun because they are playing songs.

Scientific Reasons Why Videos Connect Better

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This research applies to any video but is very beneficial in video learning.

From the moment the first image hits the student’s retina to the last scene, different types of chemical reactions are triggered in the brain and body.

The content, lesson in this situation, is experienced in a very different way than it would be experienced in text or one-on-one instruction from a teacher. This applies to all music instruction.

Memory Storage. Visual images are stored in “long term” storage rather than short-term memory. This enables the material to stick with the viewer for a longer period of time.
Processing Speed. Visuals process much faster and last longer in the brain. In fact, they process 60,000 times faster than text. Yet, you don’t want to push the brain too fast. That’s why the video lessons take small “bite-sized” chunks of information that can be processed speedily, yet thoroughly.
Processing Location. Visual information is processed in the brain’s medial temporal lobe, the same place where emotions are processed. This gives the student an emotional connection to the lessons and music they are practicing.
Great Connectivity. They say that 40% of nerve fibers going to the brain are connected to the retina.
Visual Learning. Thus, 90% of the information going to our brains comes in through the eyes. That leaves only 10% of the information coming from other parts of the body. It’s estimated that 65% of people are considered visual learners. This is why online music lessons are so effective and communicate at a much quicker pace than one-on-one learning.
Keeping Focus. One reason why each lesson only covers a “bite-sized” chunk of information is so the student can stay focused on that one particular part of the lesson and learn it well. When several concepts are packed into one lesson the student’s focus is spread too thin, as in the current online school lessons

Why PianoForAll?

There are many piano lessons advertised on the internet, both online and in-person lessons. All claim they have the best method, but some stand out above the others.

PianoForAll starts with the basics. By the time you get to the end of the course you have learned how to play classical pieces and actually understand the music and the theory.

They also teach a wide variety of different genres of music. Their method of teaching basic chords is by playing simple versions of popular songs. This makes practicing much more fun. When is a person is having fun they will stick with it longer and learn faster.

A Testimonial #1
From PlayForAll.com

“Hi Robin, Never thought I would say this I thought I had tried every method when it came to not only learning to play the piano but understanding the method. I am truly amazed at the progress I have made in THREE DAYS !!!!

I have the benefit of being able to play but never to the standard I wanted and trying so hard to find that elusive sound, I have spent many hundreds of pounds and a lot of time with scales and all this entails and progress was so slow but I would not give up, it turned out to be very challenging and at times it felt like a battle which has gone on for ten years.

I read the reviews on your website and was very dubious as all this seemed too good to be true and claims made seemed very similar to so many others I had read and tried, but I did buy and your system just blew me away and I have been glued to my piano since downloading the book. Read More

What’s Included

With a one-time purchase, you get nine e-books to download. These books take you through a variety of styles with chords, tunes, and exercises teaching you enough theory to be able to play the songs comfortably.

There are 200 video lessons in all, each with a different aspect of piano playing. The video lessons are embedded in the e-books allowing the written page to come up at the same time as the video lesson.

The instructor plays the lesson on a lower keyboard while an animated version is played above so that it is very clear which keys to play.

For audio learners, there are 500 audio tunes and exercises. This also helps with learning to play by ear.

See the full list of courses.

A Testimonial #2
From PlayForAll.com

I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THIS IS THE BEST TUTOR BOOK I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS
Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic Piano Tutor Books. I am nearing the end of the first book and can now confidently say this is the best tutor book I have ever come across. I find your method of teaching piano from a rhythm standpoint very helpful. I have been playing guitar for some years and as a result, I have been able to relate really well to your method.

I found with the standard way of learning Piano from other books, that I was struggling from the start. To use the guitar analogy it would be like trying to play like Eric Clapton from day one. Using your method, I found that I could gain pleasure from playing a backing rhythm almost immediately, just like strumming a song on the guitar. Once again many thanks.

For more testimonials.

Summary

PianoForAll does make some big promises. If you are motivated, the course may be just what you need. As with anything, do your research first so you understand what the course will and will not teach.

The course does help you reach your musical goals, but it will not prepare a student for further education in advanced classical music.

The course will prepare you to play in a band, be able to play requests, or just play for your own enjoyment. It will also give you the basics for exploring other types of music.

You will be able to understand chords, chord progressions, keys, and the structure of music.

PianoFor All states:

It is comprehensive and easy to learn.
Affordable and comes in a convenient format.
Comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
You get it in three formats- written text, audio, and video format to make it easier for you to consume the content.
It has been proven.

Dena WarfieldWriter & Classical Musician: Using faith in God to weave truth into
stories & articles that help with personal struggles.
medium.com/@denawarfield /follow,
DenaWarfield.com

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Have you ever wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument or do something so bad you could feel it?

Think back to when you first had the desire to play a guitar or piano or another instrument.

I remember when I was four. We had a piano in our living room and I just couldn’t keep my hands off it. Every chance I’d get I’d be plunking out a nursery rhyme or another song I had heard.

My mother was adamant that I was going to be classically trained. So the journey began.

The Guitar Enthusiast

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Now, Larry, on the other hand, wanted to be a Jazz Guitarist. Every chance he’d get he’d go into a music store and headed for the guitar rack.

Taking a guitar off the rack, he’d feel the weight of it in his arms. It was heavier than he had imagined.

Cupping his left hand around the neck with his thumb and fingers of his small hands almost touching on either side, he’d slide his hand up and down the neck to make that scratchy sound.

He ran his hand down the body of the guitar feeling its smooth, cool surface and contour.

Strumming a couple of times with his right hand changing positions with his left, he made the sweetest music he had ever heard.

The others in the store weren’t as impressed. But it was music, his first attempts at music. He just couldn’t wait any longer. He had to have a guitar.

His parents reinforced that it was only six more months until his tenth birthday.

Six months seemed like an eternity.

His daily trek home from school took a new path by the music store. Often, he’d just sit on the stool and gaze at the guitars. Other times the clerk would tell him he could take one off the rack if there weren’t many customers in the store.

The Golden Years

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Larry and I were young, but many have just retired, needing something to do during their golden years. Perhaps, learning how to play a musical instrument will rekindle the longing from youth.

Is this you? Can you fit into one of these categories of wanting to play an instrument? Perhaps your dream is to play or play and sing in a band. Or perhaps you are of the classical persuasion and want to play in the orchestra you listen to at every opportunity.

No matter your age or circumstance, a new adventure is about to be, like moving to a new city with places to explore and new experiences to enjoy.

Your new adventure as a guitarist or pianist is about to begin.

My First Guitar (Larry S. Warfield’s Story)

Larry wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument, mainly a guitar, so bad he could hardly wait.

The six months passed slowly except for the encouragement given by the clerk who would show me how to play a few chords when the store wasn’t busy.

The day finally arrives, my tenth birthday. I was afraid I had begged too much for a guitar. Fear and anxiety welled up inside as I was called into the living room.

There on the coffee table was a guitar case. It wasn’t an expensive guitar, but I didn’t care. A cheap guitar from JC Penney’s felt like the most expensive guitar. It was mine, my very own guitar.

Asking for lessons was out of the question, but I didn’t care. I spent hours digging through music books doing everything mentioned. Even when my fingers hurt from the higher strings on the cheap guitar I didn’t quit. It just didn’t matter.

I checked out music books from the library until I had saved enough money to buy a book by Micky Baker on how to play jazz. For weeks I pored over the book day and night until I could play the chords and songs in the book.

Stopping was not an option.

As one of six kids, my parents could not afford to give me guitar lessons. My only option was to teach myself. It worked. I’ve now played for years. But, that’s the hard way.

Today there are many other options.

Getting Started With Guitar Lessons

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Where do you want to go with music? Do you have a particular goal, perhaps to be a professional musician touring, playing gigs and concerts for fans? Would you prefer to work as a studio musician in Nashville, Los Angeles, or someplace else? It’s very difficult to realize your dreams if they aren’t firmly planted in your mind and heart.

Take the time to write out your goals. If you aren’t sure how to structure your goals and plans to reach your goals check the internet. You will find several websites with templates and instructions on how to fill them out.

Back to music…

Assess Your Progress

Do you have a face-to-face personal teacher or are you trying to teach yourself? If so, is your teacher the right person to help you achieve your goals? Again, you won’t know if your teacher is the right person for the job if you don’t know where you are going.

If you are trying to teach yourself, is it working, or is your progress very slow and draining your motivation? If so, you have several options.

Find a face-to-face teacher. If that isn’t an option for some reason check out the online video lessons. There are several websites that offer video lessons from total beginners to very advanced.

Don’t keep trudging along losing your motivation and desire.

Wait a second. If you’ve only been teaching yourself for a month or two and you haven’t gotten a music contract yet, you may be jumping the gun.

It takes time and a lot of hard work to be good enough to get a music contract or a job in a top studio.

Give yourself time. Be patient and work hard.

Still, your progress could probably be faster if you had a professional teacher. Check it out. Don’t be afraid to make a change.

Do something different.

If you have been trying to teach yourself for some time, you have developed habits that aren’t beneficial to where you want to go. How do I know?

You wouldn’t be losing motivation if what you are doing was working.

To change a habit you have to start by doing something different.

Give yourself permission to do something different. Some people think, “Oh, I start this I have to finish it.” No you don’t. Do something different.

Switch off the autopilot. Often we get into ruts that aren’t productive or don’t move us along toward our goals and we don’t even realize it. We’re just moving on autopilot.

Be more aware of what you are thinking and feeling. Assess the situation to answer the question, “Is this really working for me?” Be more in the moment.

Change things up by adding purpose into your playing. Perhaps you need to add more variety by playing different types of music. You may have thought you wanted to be a Country Guitarist, but if you give yourself a chance you might choose Jazz or Blues or even Classical.

Personally, after 12+ years of playing Classical Piano, I was bored and started playing more pop/rock ‘n roll music. It was refreshing and a lot more fun. I had learned the basics of Classical Piano which gave me a firm foundation for other types of music. I find it’s also very helpful in helping Larry publish the music he writes.

But most of all have the courage and self-confidence to do something different. Don’t get stuck in a rut.

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Online Guitar Lessons

There are several companies and websites that have excellent online video lessons. Many of the companies offer the beginning lessons for FREE.

This gives you the opportunity to check out their teaching style to see if it is a good fit for the way you learn.

Some companies cater to beginners while others are lean more toward intermediate and advanced students.

Check out the companies:

What style of music do they teach?
What are their video lessons like? Do they show multiple views of the guitar?
Will you receive chord charts with the lessons?
Are the lessons downloadable?
What is the cost?
In the beginning lessons do they require a credit card upfront on the free lessons?
What are their ratings by other students?
Do they teach music theory and reading music from the beginning or does that come later?
Do they offer a practice routine or are you left on your own again?
Who are the instructors?
How many lessons do they have available?

Is It a Good Fit?

Many students are concerned about having to plunge into studying music theory in the first lessons. If so, find a company that focuses on guitar technique with theory coming in the advanced lessons.

In the beginning lessons, you need to be focusing on learning the first chords, different strumming techniques, how to change chords easily and smoothly. They also need to teach you how to apply the chords and strumming in playing a handful of songs.

One of the important techniques in teaching music is to have practice tapes to practice with. Some call them Jam Tracks.

The good Jam Tracks give you the experience of playing along with a professional guitarist and often with a full band. This helps increase your knowledge base and your confidence while being fun.

In the online video, lessons are guided by a professional instructor that will lead you through the lessons, especially the beginning lessons. This is where the beginning free lessons are important. You get to experience the lessons, the video presentation, and the instructor to see if they are a match for you.

Just Get Started Learning How To Play A Musical Instrument

Take the first step. You weren’t born walking and talking. You had to learn one step or one word at a time. Don’t just sit there on the floor sucking your thumb. You are NOT a baby. Get up and make it happen for yourself.

No one can do it for you.

P.S. You will LOVE Jammin’!!!

Join my email list to stay in touch and get your FREE MP3.

Smart Practice

All Music Things is excited to offer TrueFire’s Smart Practice. Jeff Scheetz, the Director of Education for TrueFire has designed a guitar practice routine, especially for guitarists, called Smart Practice. The system walks the student through practice step-by-step.

The answer is really very simple. It’s not just how long you practice. Or how hard you practice. Or even what you practice. It’s how you practice. Vince Lombardi said it best, ”Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” TrueFire’s Director of Education, Jeff Scheetz calls it Smart Practice and he’s designed a step-by-step guitar practice routine just for guitarists.

In The Jam

TrueFire’s In The Jam provides an exceptional jamming experience for the practicing musician. The Jam is different from any other on the market. It is the next best thing to practicing with a live band. And you will be practicing with some of the top artists.

Each edition of In The Jam is uniquely organized with 10 multi-track video jams separated into video and audio tracks for each instrument.

You can adjust the video for your ultimate experience by muting, soloing, or adjusting the volume of all of the tracks. Plus, each jam includes a lead sheet chart showing the chord changes and the general structure of the jam.

A Live Band Experience

There’s no better way to develop your improvisational skills than getting up on the bandstand and jamming with a solid rhythm section and other players. In The Jam brings that bandstand into your practice room!

Jam Tracks are available with the purchased lessons or you can purchase the Jam Tracks in a bundle.

The best part, though, on TrueFire’s website you can play the Jam Tracks for free!!

Now, how good is that.

In The Jam: Frank Vignola & Julian Lag

This Jam track features Frank Vignola & Julian Lage, showcasing their rhythm and lead guitar playing across 10 multi-track video…

In The Jam: NYC Funk

In The Jam: NYC Funk features Chris Buono on guitar, Steve Jenkins on bass, and Keith Carlock on drums performing 10 funky multi-track video jams…

In The Jam: Blues Speak

“In this edition of Blues Speak I recorded live in the studio with my touring rhythm section featuring bass, drums, and B3 organ, Texas shuffles, some funky stuff…

In The Jam: TrueHeart Blues

“In this edition, we’ll jam together over some gospel progressions, classic rock, and roll, a funky sharp nine vamp, Chicago style shuffles, slow blues, minor blues…

In The Jam: Jazz with Mimi Fox

”For this edition, I put together a terrific rhythm section and we’ll be jamming together over minor and major blues, minor and major 2-5 changes, a couple of jazz standard progressions…

In The Jam: Rock, Blues & Country

”For this edition, I put together a killin’ rhythm section and produced 10 jam tracks live in the studio covering a wide range of feels, tempos, and keys…

In The Jam: Kid Andersen

“In this edition, I’ve put together 10 backing tracks that represent the range of feels that I play at my own shows. We’ll jam together over tough Chicago-style shuffles, a honky-tonk swing blues…

30 Jam Band Licks

”This collection of 30 Jam Band licks is based around my favorite jam band progressions and I’ll show you how to string those chords together with melodies…

In The Jam with Robben Ford

Pull your time travel suit out of the closet to start your learning adventure back on Friday, October 27th of 2013, in one of Nashville’s premier recording studios…

Multi-Track Video Jams – You Control the Mix!

TrueFire’s In The Jam delivers an unparalleled jamming experience for the practicing musician. The next best thing to being there live, In The Jam puts YOU in the jam with top artists.

See More In The Jam

Each edition includes:

10 multi-track video jams
Ability to mute, solo, and adjust volume
Lead sheet chart with chord changes
Artist commentary

When everything shut down with Covid, many lessons went to video. Video Music lessons have proven to be very beneficial. Read the articles below for more information.

All Music Things offers different types of video music lessons.

The guitar lessons are offered by TrueFire, founded in 1991. TrueFire has collaborated with 600+ top educators to produce what Guitar Player Magazine calls “the planet’s largest and most comprehensive selection of online guitar lessons. 2 million+ guitar players, from virtually every country in the world, learn, practice, and play.”

With TrueFire Guitar Lessons you get interactive video courses and patented learning systems for personalized and private online instruction.

And TrueFire’s Beginning Guitar Lesson in each style is FREE. TrueFire’s success, over the years, is largely due to the high-quality artists and educators that have collaborated with them.

The Guitarfella.com states, “TrueFire really excels with its tuition for intermediate and advanced players, with a huge range of courses, lessons, and styles available. You have the freedom to choose your own learning path, which can help keep you interested and focused, even if it involves a little less hand-holding.”

All Music Things Presents TrueFire Guitar Lessons

Beginner, intermediate or advanced guitar players all advance to the next level quickly with TrueFire’s accelerated, hands-on study plan. There is no reading music or struggling through tedious music theory or boring exercises.

TrueFire’s Learning Path system assesses your current level of proficiency and creates a personalized curriculum of video lessons presented by TrueFire’s world-class guitar educators.

TrueFire’s intermediate and advanced guitar lessons have an outstanding rating in the guitar lesson arena.

Are you ready to get started? Don’t wait. Grab your guitar and get started.

Best Online Guitar Lessons FREE

Intermediate & Advanced Guitar Lessons

Singing Lessons for Guitarists

Steps To Learning Guitar

First Steps To Learning Guitar

Next Level Guitar Lessons

Guitar Quick Start
Quick Start Acoustic

Learning Paths for Guitars

Take your guitar playing to the next level with TrueFire’s accelerated study plans for beginner, intermediate, and advanced guitar players.

Blues Guitar Lessons

Acoustic Guitar Lessons

Country Guitar Lessons

Bass Guitar Lessons

Rock Learning Path

Jazz Guitar Lessons

More to help you achieve your dream

TrueFire Video Lessons

Private Guitar Lessons

How To Practice Smart

In The Jam - Practice

The best way to develop your improvisational skills is by jamming with a band, one with a solid rhythm section plus other players. TrueFire’s Jam Tracks brings that full band into your practice room.

TrueFire’s In The Jam gives you the ability to practice with a band that you might not otherwise be able to do. In The Jam is the next best thing to practicing with a live band. And, you can practice with your favorite artists.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Get Started Now!!

Alex Skolnick's Solo Factory Heavy Rock

Unbound Guitar by Alex Skolnick

Unbound Guitar Lessons by Alex Skolnick

When you hear the name, Alex Skolnick, you automatically think of Alex, the original melodic thrash guitarist playing with Testament. But, Alex is a man of many talents. He has released several critically acclaimed jazz albums with the Alex Skolnick Trio. He also plays with the Planetary Coalition. The Coalitions is a group of musicians from different walks in life and various regions around the globe. They work toward a cross-cultural musical vision.

Alex is pretty much a household name in heavy and thrash metal arenas, but refuses to be labeled in any specific musical genre.

Alex’s course, Unbound Guitar, Rock Guitar Lessons, is a great addition to TrueFire’s course selection. No matter your preferred style of music, Alex’s ear and eye-opening courses reveals underlying harmonic, creative, and technical foundations of his exceptional musical ability.

”Over the course of my career, I’ve played, recorded, and performed many different styles of music. What you might be surprised to know is that the building blocks of metal, jazz, acoustic, blues, world music (or really any style) relies on the same harmonic concepts, techniques, and expressive approaches at their foundational framework. I’m excited to share that framework with you here in Unbound Guitar,” Alex Skolnick.

Rock Guitar Lessons - Secret Sauce - by Jeff Scheetz

Blues Rock Guitar Lessons – Secret Sauce – Jeff Scheetz – Electric Groove 1

Blues Rock Guitar Lessons – Secret Sauce – Jeff Scheetz – Electric Groove 2

Jeff Sheetz, a world-renowned guitarist demonstrates his “secret sauce”, in Jeff’s Blues Rock: Secret Sauce Blues-Rock guitar Lessons. These are just a sample of the courses offered on TrueFire. These courses equip you with five essential concepts and techniques used in many blues-rock settings. You will learn how to slip “outside” and back again incorporating intervallic lines in your playing. Jeff also teaches the ins and outs of dynamic phrasing, melodic playing and modal playing, techniques used creating exceptional solos and comps.

Professional Review

I’ve been a fan of TrueFire for many years because they put out high quality education videos that expand on many of concepts I teach my students in different genres. The site can be a bit overwhelming because there are thousands of lessons, so I’ve picked out some of my favorites below. (If you find there are just too many good ones, you can sign up for an All Access Membership, which you can get for a month, year, or lifetime,)” Susan Palmer, Founder of Lead Cat Press.

THE BEST TRUEFIRE COURSES - Intermediate & Advanced

Bass Guitar Lessons Online

All of TrueFire’s lessons are designed to have you up and playing quickly. The Bass Guitar Lessons will teach you how to play essential bass lines and rhythms. It also teaches you basic hand positions that lend to a good solid tone and how to strengthen your fingers for playing open and fretted notes.

As with the other courses the First Steps For Beginners is Free. Stu Hamm who attended Berkley College of Music in Boston is the educator in the First Steps and also the Next Steps For Beginners.

Stu met Steve Vai, who’s musical style is unclassifiable, at Berkley and subsequently met Joe Satriani. Hamm played bass on Flex-Able, Vai’s debut solo album in 1984. He has recorded with Vai, Frank Gambale a Jazz Guitarist from Australia, Joe Satriani, a rock musician and other well-known artists.

Bass Guitar is used in every style of music, especial Rock.

Bass Basics by Stu Hamm

How To Play Bass Guitar Intro

Are you thinking of playing in a band as a bass player? Bass players are in high demand. It’s easy to find gigs and bands to play with making the bass attractive. But, you still have to learn how to play it well.

Stu’s beginning course lays down the basics for almost every style of music. He bridges the gap between percussion instruments and the melody played by the lead instruments and the vocalists.

Stu Hamm U

Bass Guitar Lessons Online by Ariane Cap

Bass Guitar Lesson – #1 Cycle of Fifths – Ariane Cap

Bass Guitar Lesson – #2 The Cycle as a Practice Tool – Ariane Cap

Bass Guitar Lesson – #3 Diatonic Cycle (Disco) – Ariane Cap

Back Tracking Fifths

Download the Backing Track

The Country Learning Path, taught by 2 top TrueFire instructors, Corey Congilio and Jason Loughlin, will have you up and playing as quickly as possible. The course begins with a classic country alternating bass rhythm and a single note country melody to help you get your twang on.

The next step will be to learn a bass line walkup which will link your country chords together. You’ll also learn three new strumming patterns and a bass line walkup which will help you spice up any tune.

You’ll then move into movable barre chords which will open up more country music songs as you learn to apply them to classic country songs.

What do you hope to accomplish as a guitarist?

Is your goal to be able to play and sing at the same time? Do you want to be a great guitar soloist like Tommy Emmanuel? Is your dream to play in a Country band and make it big in Nashville? No matter your goals, find a guitarist that can play at a higher level than where you are trying to get to.

This is where TrueFire shines. Their instructors are experienced guitarists in their own right. Many are GRAMMY winners or top studio guitarists. They are guitarists who can take you to where you want to go if you’ll put in the work.

Decide where you want to go as a guitarist. Focus on that goal instead of trying to do everything at once. Allow TrueFire’s instructors to help you reach your goal. After going through the beginning lessons you may decide you want to go a different direction, such as, playing bass or rock guitar.

Is it going to take work?

Absolutely!! Weight out the cost in time and energy. If you are willing to put in the time and effort the TrueFire instructors will help you achieve your goal.

If you need some one-on-one help, TrueFire has private lessons to help you get over the hump and on your way to success.

Yes, the private lesson does cost more, but it is nothing like having to pay for private lessons one-on-one near where you live.

I did some research on how much private lessons cost on average from $225 per lesson to $40 per lesson. With private lessons, you do not have video lessons and jam tracks to play with. You have a music book and it’s up to you to remember how the teacher said to play it.

I took private lessons for years. Sometimes I would remember how the teacher said to play the lessons and other times I wouldn’t. If not, we’d be on the same material for weeks until I got it right.

TrueFire’s private lessons give you a video and documentation of the instructor’s comments and what he said to change. Trust me. It is far better to have video lessons than one-on-one private lessons.

More Sample Country Lessons

🎸Country Guitar Lesson -Five Positions of Major Pentatonic: Demonstration – Jason Loughlin

Country Guitar Lesson – Track 4: Outlaw Country – Three Solo Ideas – Jason Loughlin

Country Guitar Instructors & Supplementary Information

At this point in developing your guitar skills, you’re building up your chord vocabulary, a list of rhythm techniques, and several fingerstyle patterns. You have also learned to play some classic songs in your genre. It’s now time to move to the next level.

TrueFire's Online Acoustic Guitar Lessons

Learning to play an acoustic guitar is a technical skill. If you focus only on what is in your lesson or play only songs you know, you are only learning to repeat what you have been shown. Some guitar lessons online teach mainly how to play songs.

TrueFire, on the other hand, focuses more on technique so you will have a solid foundation for advanced playing. Yes, you will learn how to play chords, keep a steady rhythm, and be able to change chords smoothly. As you progress you will learn how to arpeggiate chords and incorporate rests for more dynamic rhythms and strumming patterns.

TrueFire’s “Easy-To-Digest” Approach

TrueFire is known for presenting guitar lessons in “easy-to-digest, bite-sized chunks” so you never feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Your instructor guides you through every step of TrueFire’s unique play-along jam practice session. You are never sent off to practice on your own.

Some lessons or teachers launch into teaching music early in the lessons. TrueFire teaches technique leaving the study of music until later in your intermediate or advanced lessons. Why?

Many people who are taught music theory early in their guitar lessons either get bored and won’t practice or get really confused with the lessons. TrueFire has discovered after years of teaching that people can become a great guitarist without learning music theory. When a guitarist needs or wants to study music, it is available in TrueFire.

There are six styles of guitar playing, Acoustic, Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, and Bass.

Acoustic Rhythm Guitar Lesson Samples

Acoustic Rhythm Guitar Playbook – Intro – Corey Congilio

Acoustic Rhythm Guitar Survival Guide

Tips For Learning To Play Acoustic Guitar

Tip #1 Practice every day. TrueFire lessons start you with easy chords and fingering. You have video lessons and practice tapes. When I was learning to play, an important principle was, “if you don’t practice you can’t learn.” Practice as much as you can with the Jam Tracks. When you play with the track it will be more fun, therefore, you will stick with it longer.

Tip #2 Don’t try to master everything at once. Follow TrueFire’s schedule. Take the lessons in bite-sized chuncks. Learn the first part first before moving on to the next part.

Tip #3 The basic chords and rhythm styles or basically the same. After finishing the first tape and you want to choose a different style, do it. Pick the genre of music you like to listen to. That will make taking lessons much more enjoyable and you will be able to stick to it.

Tip #4 As you begin your lessons select a 15 min slot per day that you can stick to. In learning to play acoustic, you will want to stick with 15 minutes in the beginning until you get used to playing and your fingers are less painful, then increase the practice time. Until your fingers get tougher, stick with short practice periods with focused practice on your lessons. It will get better if you stick to it. Don’t give up.

Tip #5 As you learn to play the songs in your lesson, slow them down at first. Increase the speed as you begin to play them smoothly.

Tip #6 If you’re considering an electri guitar over an acoustic, there are several things to consider. Electric guitars do have thinner strings with lower action, which can help ease the pain some what as you learn to play. Remember that with an electric you do have to have an amp, cables, headphones, effects which is an added cost. But, starting with an acoustic will help you develop your overall skills better. Since the strings on an acoustic are thicker, you will develop your fingers faster than with ana electric.

Tip #7 Your beginning experience with your first instrument is vital to your long-term success. If you don’t like your guitar or the music you are playing there is a higher likelihood tht you wo’t stick with it long term.

Tip #8 How to Toughen your finger tips by GuitarTricks.com

– Increase your guitar’s playability. Have the strings lowered.
– Keep your nails trimmed.
– Get the light gauge strings.
– Learn on a steel string acoustic guitar. Don’t press on the strings so hard.
– Don’t play with wet fingers.
– Refrain from biting, picking, or shaving off your hard-earned calluses.
– Soak your fingers in apple cider vinegar.

Remember, the First Step in Blues Guitar Lessons, as in all style paths, is FREE – on the house. No credit card needed.

Some of the first things you will learn in the Blues Path are chord shapes, how to play a steady rhythm and how to change chords smoothly.

A Bit Of Blues History

Blues, secular folk music, was heavily influenced by the African Americans originally in the South, south of the Mason and Dixon Line.

The Blues was recognized as a musical style toward the end of the 19th Century. It eventually evolved into Jazz around the 1920s.

In the 1960s blues changed to a simpler but expressive form of music that greatly influenced the development of popular music in the US.

The Blues is still alive and well in the US music scene. But its popularity has shifted from Blues and Jazz to Rock and Roll, R&B, Rock, Funk, and Disco.

The peak for traditional Blues was between the 40’s – 70’s, some artists breaking out of the traditional form.

Blues is not a dead musical style because interesting music is still coming from that arena. It also influences other music forms such as Jazz and even Country. Acoustic Guitar Skills are also important in Blues Guitar Music

Get enrolled in Blues Guitar Lessons today to enlarge your guitar skills.

Blues is also very important you want to specialize in Country Guitar.

Blues Sample By TrueFire and Robben Ford

Robben Ford Guitar Lesson – Mud: Comping – Performance

Robben Ford Guitar Lesson – Mud: Soloing – Performance

TrueFire Blues

As with the other courses, TrueFire’s objective is to get all students playing as quickly as possible, with no music theory or boring exercises. Some of you may question the “no music theory,” but music theory is a stand-alone course if you choose to learn to read music or music theory. It is not mandatory for guitar lessons.

Blues Guitar Lesson Includes:

Classic blues shuffle in the key of A
12-bar blues in E
7th Chords a blues staple
use the 7th chords in 2 Blues songs
Cool blues lick
First blues turnaround

The Blues instructors demonstrate all of the lesson examples on the practice tracks, when necessary.

The practice jam tracks are designed to look and feel like you are playing in the real world musical setting. Included in the lesson downloads are key example tablatures, notated for your practice, references, and study purposes.

You will also get Guitar Pro Files that you can be played in loops or at a slower speed so you can follow the tab and notation as you play through the lessons. All of the jam tracks for each lesson will also be included.

An important feature, TrueFire courses allow each student can take as much time as needed on each lesson before moving on to the next lesson. TrueFire’s goal is for each student to understand the material and be able to play through each lesson.

Supplementary information and courses are available if a student wants to dig deeper into the lessons or if they need additional help to understand and play the lesson material.

Blues Educators & Supplementary Blues Info

This Blues Learning Path core course is presented by 3 top TrueFire educators: Jeff McErlain, Corey Congilio, and Jeff Scheetz.

The supplementary info will give you more examples, techniques and insight from TrueFire’s top instructors.

In the first lesson in the Jazz Guitar Lessons, you will learn jazz chords, rhythms, single-line melodies, and a couple of songs. As you move through the class you will learn more jazz chords and classic jazz progressions such as Killer Joe. One of the songs you will learn to play is “When The Saints Go Marching In.”

Jazz Guitar Lesson - What You Will Learn and How It Works

The following information is also contained in your Jazz Course:

3 Essential Jazz Rhythms
Versatile Jazz Chords
Lead Fundamentals
Walking Bass Line
How to play a ii V I Progression
Pentatonic scale
Beginning Improvisation

As with the other lessons, the instructors will demonstrate all of the key examples on practice jam tracks. You will also get tablature and notations for the examples, plus references and study purposes. Included in the jazz course you will get the Guitar Pro Files which enable you to slow the jam tape down or loop any section as you work through the lesson.

TrueFire encourages you to take as much time as needed to get through each lesson before moving on to the next. They also have lots of supplemental material if you want to dig deeper into any topic covered in the course. You will find more examples, techniques, and insights for each course in the Learning Path Section.

A Taste of Jazz

You many think that Improvisation is only for the Jazz Guitar, but it’s actually found in many types of playing. You could be playing lead in a rock band, a jazz guitarist or a songwriter who uses improvisation in your music. Improvising on a song helps create new melodies and arrangements. Learning to improvise in your guitar lessons should be an important focus.

An important technique in learning to improvise is playing the pentatonic scale. In your lessons with TrueFire you will learn scales and how to use them in improvisation.

You will also learn how to read and use tabs which will help you with improvisation.

Jazz Samples From TrueFire

Jazz Guitar Licks You MUST Know – Lick #2: Major 7th – Frank Vignola

Jazz Guitar Licks You MUST Know – Lick #14: Jazz Blues – Frank Vignola

Tips For Playing Jazz Guitar

One of the best ways to enter the jazz world is through the blues. The classic swing and bebop tunes are nothing more than twelve-bar blues with a swing rhythm and fancy chord changes. Most people start with the minor pentatonic scale when they are learning how to play jazz and improv. Charlie Parker is a great example of using swing blues.

The next step is often learning the play the jazz standards. These require some memorizing key changes and how to play through them. If you focus on playing well on jazz standards (tunes), you will be quickly on your way to playing jazz guitar.

Focusing on jazz standards means playing the melody with some accompanying chords, improve with some single-note solos, and add a touch of chord melody from time to time.

If you are new to playing jazz the above statement may go right over your head, but don’t worry. As you follow your lessons and practice with the practice jam tracks, your TrueFire teachers will have you playing the jazz standards, and everything else mentioned above before you know it. It’s a step-by-step process. You Can Do It!!!!

Student's Rave Review

“At 50 I finally decided to learn to play guitar. With my hectic schedule, I needed something that was ready and available when I had time. Learning Guitar 1 was a fantastic introduction to guitar basics. I love that it started with elementary, straightforward concepts and chords that I could grasp and learn. It even talks about HOW to practice. Then the course built on those simple things by adding other simple chords, strumming, and then working up to simple songs. I’m on my way!” – Daniel Rode, TrueFire Student

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