Tom KolbSocial Links Navigation Grid List Latest articles by Tom Kolb Essential Gear and Invaluable Tips for Session Guitarists By Tom Kolb published 19 April 23 From guitars, amps and effects to advice about clients and how to find work, this guide will help you hone the skills you need to succeed How to Play Guitar Like Jeff Beck By Tom Kolb published 4 April 23 Learn the signature techniques of the electric guitar master in this comprehensive tribute lesson Rediscover the Fertile Ground of the Open Position and Cultivate Some Juicy Licks By Tom Kolb published 17 March 23 Learn these 20 fun mashup riffs that highlight the superlative tonal quality of notes and chords within the first five frets Master the Mixolydian Mode Like Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Many More By Tom Kolb published 23 February 23 Harness this powerful and versatile mode with 20 riffs inspired by famous guitarists 21 Darkly Enticing Musical Ideas Using the Natural Minor Scale By Tom Kolb published 4 January 23 Whether you’re a rookie, intermediate player or seasoned veteran, these Aeolian flavored riffs are bound to inspire Hot Country 101: Learn the Nuts and Bolts of High-Tech Country Lead Guitar By Tom Kolb published 29 September 22 This lesson will give you the tools you need to start rubbing shoulders with masters of the style Break Out of Your Box with the CAGED System By Tom Kolb published 10 March 22 An introduction to the highly useful workings of this mysterious fretboard mapping theory. If You Think the Vast Majority of Rock Riffs Are In Minor Keys Then Think Again! By Tom Kolb published 3 November 21 This lesson on how to craft cool riffs in the style of legendary players using the Ionian and Lydian modes will have you covered. Do Your Solos Sound One-Dimensional? These Are the Shapes Every Guitarist Must Know By Tom Kolb published 20 October 21 Fortify your single-note riffs and leads with these sweet-sounding harmonies. Blues Comping 101: Essential Rhythm Approaches for Blues Guitar By Tom Kolb last updated 3 September 21 Learn a variety of tried-and-true chords, riff patterns and fills that will help fortify your blues comping arsenal. Master the Fine Art of Riff Crafting By Tom Kolb published 20 August 21 Expand your creativity and get inspired with these priceless tips. Melodic-Harmonic Framework: How to Fully Grasp 7th-Chord Arpeggios By Tom Kolb published 22 July 21 The conclusion to our survey of triad and 7th-chord arpeggios will help you use all six strings in your soloing strategies. Melodic-Harmonic Framework, Part 1: An Introduction to Triad and 7th-Chord Arpeggios By Tom Kolb published 21 June 21 Focusing on the top three strings, this lesson offers a grounding in the theory and shapes behind some simple three-note arpeggios to expand your melodic toolkit. Pentatonic Substitutions: How and Where to Use Them By Tom Kolb published 10 May 21 Learn some more musically useful and colorful applications of a familiar scale. An Introduction to Pentatonic Substitutions By Tom Kolb published 7 April 21 In part one of this two-part lesson, learn some new and musically colorful applications of a familiar scale. String-Bending Masterclass: How to Make Your Guitar Wail and Sing Like the Pros By Tom Kolb published 18 November 20 If you want to express yourself on the guitar, you've got to get your string-bending game on point. Soar Along the Neck with the Minor Pentatonic Scale's Overlapping Patterns By Tom Kolb published 16 April 20 Learn the five pentatonic box patterns and how to connect them like interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces along the fretboard. MOST READ1Build your own Fender Stratocaster with this fun Cyber Monday Lego deal2The most affordable way to transform your sound: Get a Cyber Monday effects pedal deal before it's too late3"When I heard him play, it was like fire from heaven": Tributes pour in for Killing Joke guitarist Geordie Walker who has died, aged 644With up to 50% off, Musician's Friend is still offering big savings on Strats, SGs, the PRS Silver Sky and more5“We worked out a big, long harmonized guitar solo. It’s my little homage to Thin Lizzy.” Foo Fighter Chris Shiflett on his new solo album Lost at Sea and why he's happy to not be the loudest guitarist in the room
Essential Gear and Invaluable Tips for Session Guitarists By Tom Kolb published 19 April 23 From guitars, amps and effects to advice about clients and how to find work, this guide will help you hone the skills you need to succeed
How to Play Guitar Like Jeff Beck By Tom Kolb published 4 April 23 Learn the signature techniques of the electric guitar master in this comprehensive tribute lesson
Rediscover the Fertile Ground of the Open Position and Cultivate Some Juicy Licks By Tom Kolb published 17 March 23 Learn these 20 fun mashup riffs that highlight the superlative tonal quality of notes and chords within the first five frets
Master the Mixolydian Mode Like Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Many More By Tom Kolb published 23 February 23 Harness this powerful and versatile mode with 20 riffs inspired by famous guitarists
21 Darkly Enticing Musical Ideas Using the Natural Minor Scale By Tom Kolb published 4 January 23 Whether you’re a rookie, intermediate player or seasoned veteran, these Aeolian flavored riffs are bound to inspire
Hot Country 101: Learn the Nuts and Bolts of High-Tech Country Lead Guitar By Tom Kolb published 29 September 22 This lesson will give you the tools you need to start rubbing shoulders with masters of the style
Break Out of Your Box with the CAGED System By Tom Kolb published 10 March 22 An introduction to the highly useful workings of this mysterious fretboard mapping theory.
If You Think the Vast Majority of Rock Riffs Are In Minor Keys Then Think Again! By Tom Kolb published 3 November 21 This lesson on how to craft cool riffs in the style of legendary players using the Ionian and Lydian modes will have you covered.
Do Your Solos Sound One-Dimensional? These Are the Shapes Every Guitarist Must Know By Tom Kolb published 20 October 21 Fortify your single-note riffs and leads with these sweet-sounding harmonies.
Blues Comping 101: Essential Rhythm Approaches for Blues Guitar By Tom Kolb last updated 3 September 21 Learn a variety of tried-and-true chords, riff patterns and fills that will help fortify your blues comping arsenal.
Master the Fine Art of Riff Crafting By Tom Kolb published 20 August 21 Expand your creativity and get inspired with these priceless tips.
Melodic-Harmonic Framework: How to Fully Grasp 7th-Chord Arpeggios By Tom Kolb published 22 July 21 The conclusion to our survey of triad and 7th-chord arpeggios will help you use all six strings in your soloing strategies.
Melodic-Harmonic Framework, Part 1: An Introduction to Triad and 7th-Chord Arpeggios By Tom Kolb published 21 June 21 Focusing on the top three strings, this lesson offers a grounding in the theory and shapes behind some simple three-note arpeggios to expand your melodic toolkit.
Pentatonic Substitutions: How and Where to Use Them By Tom Kolb published 10 May 21 Learn some more musically useful and colorful applications of a familiar scale.
An Introduction to Pentatonic Substitutions By Tom Kolb published 7 April 21 In part one of this two-part lesson, learn some new and musically colorful applications of a familiar scale.
String-Bending Masterclass: How to Make Your Guitar Wail and Sing Like the Pros By Tom Kolb published 18 November 20 If you want to express yourself on the guitar, you've got to get your string-bending game on point.
Soar Along the Neck with the Minor Pentatonic Scale's Overlapping Patterns By Tom Kolb published 16 April 20 Learn the five pentatonic box patterns and how to connect them like interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces along the fretboard.
