Songs and riffs

Beginners lessons

A first strumming song. Let it be by the Beatles
If you have just started playing guitar then this is a great first song to try. It uses four simple chords and a very useful strumming pattern which you can re-use for many other songs.
Let it be Video Let it be diagrams

 

A first fingerpicking song. House of the rising sun by the Animals
This classic song is based on four simple chords. Instead of strumming the chords we learn how to apply simple fingerpicking patterns to each chord. This video explains good technique in fingerpicking based on my extensive Classical training.
House of the Rising Sun Video House of the Rising Sun diagrams.

 

Redemption song by Bob Marley
Another simple strumming song using easy chords. We also have the concept of half rhythms for which we use a different strumming pattern. the song also uses slash chords which mix common chords with different bass notes. Also we have a first look at playing tab for the excellent opening riff.
Redemption Song Video Redemption Song Diagrams

 

Wonderwall by Oasis

This is video gives you all the information you need to play this classic song by Oasis.
Wonderwall Video Wonderwall Diagrams

 

James Bond bass line and theme two track
Have some fun here. Learn the bass line to James Bond. Record it and then play the theme on top. Simple single string picking. Remember to alternate your picks folks. Enjoy
James Bond Theme Video James Bond theme diagrams

 

The theme from the Blues Brothers
This is a single note riff based round the theme from this classic film. Remember when you play this, to try and use all the fingers in your left hand. Practicing the Spider scale will help you get the technique for this style. (See spider scale video lesson in the Theory scales and Technique section). It is also important to use alternate picking in the right hand.
Blues Brothers Video Blues Brothers Diagram

 

Pink Panther Theme, Chords and Bass
A beginners lesson based on the original track by Henry Mancini. This lesson shows you how to play the bassline, chords and main lead line. Each part is broken down into easy to follow sections with tab and chords shown on screen. Learn to hammer on, pull off and bend strings. Learn to play as a trio or multitrack.
Pink Panther Video Pink Panther diagrams

 

Intermediate lessons

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
How to strum the song and also how to play a lead guitar solo, similar to the one played by Clapton. Chords and tab appear on the screen but also full documentation available below.
Wonderful Tonight Video Wonderful Tonight Diagrams

 

Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
This video explains how to play the famous opening riff, verse chords and chorus of Ziggy Stardust , originally played by Mick Ronson for David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust Video Ziggy Stardust Diagrams

 

Needle and the damage done by Neil Young
This is a seminal .acoustic guitar song. Neil young plays this song with an up and down alternating pattern in the right hand. Mainly picking single strings with the down stroke and small chords on the treble strings with the up strokes. This is a great song to improve your pick accuracy. This version is very close to the original and I have tried to copy Neil Young's style as closely as possible.
Needle and the Damage Done Video Needle and the Damage Done Diagrams

 

Stairway to Heaven Acoustic by Led Zeppelin
This lesson covers the 6 main themes of the song. It is divided into 3 fingerpicking sections and 3 strumming sections. I have endeavored to make it as close to the original as possible
Stairway to Heaven Video Stairway to Heaven Diagrams

 

Babe I'm gonna leave you by Led Zeppelin

Lessons parts one and two
I have waded through more than 20 pages of tab to pull out the essential shapes and patterns that Jimmy is using in this song for the main acoustic fingerpicking and strumming parts.

Babe I'm gonna leave you lesson part one video

Babe I'm gonna leave you lesson part two video

Babe I'm gonna leave you diagrams

 

 

Life on Mars by David Bowie
There is no definitive guitar version of this song because it was originally written for piano. This version, I have pieced together from many different sources and is one of the the most thorough you will find on the internet. I have worked it in the key of D to maintain a good balance of playablilty. For the original key of F put a capo on the third fret
Life on Mars Video Life on Mars diagrams

Advanced lessons

Stairway to heaven solo by Jimmy Page
Voted best solo ever in numerous polls by guitar magazines. Learn this classic solo. Here I demonstrate the solo and then break it down into 13 bite sized chunks which are slowed down and easy to follow
Stairway to Heaven Solo Video Stairway to Heaven Solo Tab and diagrams

 

Acoustic blues in E by Dan Bohane
Learn to play this 12 Bar in E on the Acoustic guitar. Includes hooky traditional riffs and turn arounds and a Rhythmic Tapping and plucking style with the left hand
Acoustic Blues in E Video Acoustic Blues in E Tab and song structure

 

Shine on you crazy diamond(solo 2)
This is an amazing solo by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. It needs to be played with a real precision and attention to detail. David Gilmour's distinctive style is slow and extremely clear on every note. The phrases are often simpler than you expect. In this video, firstly I demonstrate the solo and then break it down into 26 simple phrases. You can follow these using the tab. Also there is a chord breakdown of the backing track.
Shine on video Shine on diagrams

 

Wish You were Here by Pink floyd
In this video I demonstrate the introduction solos from this track. This is an interpretation which blends the lead, chord and bass riffs into one solo but it is also very close to the original. The video also shows you the chords to make a backing to the introduction and the chords for the main verses. This video featuring tab on screen as well as close ups of the fretboard. But you can also print of the full documentation below.
Wish you Were Here Lesson Wish You Were Here diagrams