Playing Competitions Search Results

How To: Play a G blues shuffle on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play a G blues shuffle on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll so...

How To: Play a Travis-style E blues progression on guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play an E blues progression on acoustic guitar with a Merle Travis-style picking pattern. Remember, the more you practice and...

How To: Play an easy G blues progression on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play an easy G blues progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better...

How To: Play a jazz progression on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play an easy jazz progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better yo...

How To: Play a C blues progression on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play a C blues progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'l...

How To: Play a G blues progression on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play a G blues progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'l...

How To: Play a jazzy G blues progression on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play a G blues progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'l...

How To: Play arpeggios on acoustic guitar basic skills

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play arpeggios on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll sound and ...

How To: Play walking, or transition, bass lines on guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play walking bass lines on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll s...

How To: Play an A blues riff on the acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play an A blues riff on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll soun...

How To: Play an E blues riff on the acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play an E blues riff on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll soun...

How To: Play beguine and tango rhythms on acoustic guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play beguine and tango rhythms on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better y...

How To: Play slash chords on guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play slash chords, or chords with a non-root note in the bass. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, ...

How To: Play "House of the Rising Sun" on acoustic guitar

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens' series of beginning guitar lessons, you'll learn how to play "House of the Rising Sun," a folk song perhaps most famously recorded by the Animals. While this video tutorial is geared towards beginners, it assumes at least some prior knowledge of guitar playing and it...

How To: Play Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" on guitar

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens' series of beginning guitar lessons, you'll learn how to play "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry. While this video tutorial is geared towards beginners, it assumes at least some prior knowledge of guitar playing and its jargon. Take a look to get started playing "Johnny...

How To: Play "Guitar Boogie" by Tommy Emmanuel

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens' series of beginning guitar lessons, you'll learn how to play "Guitar Boogie" by Tommy Emmanuel. While this video tutorial is geared towards beginners, it assumes at least some prior knowledge of guitar playing and its jargon. Take a look to get started playing "Guita...

How To: Play "Guitar Boogie" byTommy Emmanuel on guitar

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens' series of beginning guitar lessons, you'll learn how to play his version of the main riff of the song "Guitar Boogie" by Tommy Emmanuel. While this video tutorial is geared towards beginners, it assumes at least some prior knowledge of guitar playing and its jargon. ...

How To: Play "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams on acoustic guitar

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens, you'll learn how to play "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. While this video tutorial is geared towards intermediate guitarists, guitar players of any skill level should be able to play along, given sufficient commitment. Take a look to get started playing "Summer of '69"!

How To: Play "Freight Train" by Tommy Emmanuel

Learning to play your favorite songs on your guitar is not only a wonderful way of passing the time–and impressing those whom you'd like to impress–, it can do wonders for your technique. In this song tutorial from Siggi Mertens, you'll learn how to play Tommy Emmanuel's version of "Freight Train." While this video tutorial is geared towards intermediate guitarists, guitar players of any skill level should be able to play along, given sufficient commitment. Take a look to get started playing ...

How To: Play the upstroke drum rudiment

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels demonstrates how to play the upstroke drum rudiment. Take a look!

How To: Play the "Mr. Freeze" exercise on the drums

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels demonstrates how to play the "Mr. Freeze" and tap stroke exercises on the snare.

How To: Play a two-drum etude on the snare

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will teach you to play a two-drum etude.

How To: Play the "1-&-a-2" or "1-te-ta" rhythm on the snare

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels demonstrates how to play the "1-&-a-2" or "1-te-ta" rhythm on the snare drum.

How To: Play the double paradiddle drum rudiment

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will show you how to play the double paradidle drum rudiment.

How To: Play half-note rolls on the snare drum

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will demonstrate how to play half-note rolls on the snare drum.

How To: Play a duet with dynamic markings

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will walk you through the process of playing a duet while heeding dynamic markings (e.g., the forte and mezzo forte) symbols.

How To: Play 8th note rolls in quarter time

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will teach you to play 8th note rolls in quarter time.

How To: Play the single stroke roll drum rudiment

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will teach you to play the single stroke roll drum rudiment.

How To: Play the double stroke roll drum rudiment

Whether you're a first day beginner or have been playing the drums for several years, learning the fundamentals of technique, rudiments and music reading is very important. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of snare drumming, Mark Wessels will teach you how to play the double stroke roll drum rudiment.

How To: Play accented 16ths on the snare drum

To play music, your hands should be able to do anything your mind asks of them – and rudimental technique is one great way of making sure that can happen. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to rudimental techniques, Mark Wessels will teach you how to play accented 16ths, which are great for the beginner wanting to gain consistency over the sound of the inner beats.

How To: Play basic drum fills

New to jazz drumming or simply looking for a few pointers? In this installment from his video tutorial series (in which he covers everything from improving timekeeping to creativity and orchestrations in patterns and drum fills), Brian Ferguson demonstrates a number of simple, easy-to-play fills to any budding percussionist make his or her playing more dynamic.

How To: Compliment drum loops with live playing

Donny Gruendler, a faculty member at Musicians Institute, has become and expert at performing with backing tracks, manually triggering samples, and playing with loops (both live and in the studio). In this installment from his video tutorial series in which he discusses the fundamentals of playing with loops, Donny provides tips for complimenting a drum loop (and thus avoiding "target practice").

How To: Use open-handed playing on the drums

Dom Famularo's infectious smile and drumming talents make him one of the most sought-after drummers and clincians in the world. In this three-part installment from his video series dedicated to a wide variety of topics–from drum strokes to styles–, Dom demonstrates how to play a drumset with an open-handed style.

How To: Play basic clave patterns

The clave is the heartbeat of salsa music. Eguie Castrillo, having played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood, is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists. In this installment of his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie will teach you basic clave tricks and techniques.

How To: Play fills on the timbales (tymbales)

Are you an aspiring timbalero or timbalera? Eguie Castrillo is one of the world's most prolific timbale artists and has played with everyone from Tito Puente to Steve Winwood. In this installment from his video tutorial series on the fundamentals of timbale playing, Eguie demonstrates a number of common but very useful drum fills. Take a look!

How To: Play rampi rampi rhythm with the right hand

This instructional banjo video takes a look at what the right hand does while playing the Rampi Rampi, a Turkish song in 9/8. The rhythm goes something like this: 2 (quick), 2 (quick), 2 (quick), 3 (slow). This is basically the bum-diddy pattern. Watch this tutorial video and learn how to play the rampi rampi rhythm with your right hand.