music theory John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen Didn't Rely Exclusively on Western Scales - so Why Should You? Add intriguing twists to your playing with the tonal flavors of the Far East, Middle East, Africa and beyond Learn How to Use Suspended Chords in the Style of Jimmy Page, Van Halen, the Police, Pantera and Others Ditch the 3rd and explore sus 2, sus 4 and 7sus4 chords using open-position and movable voicings “I Was Instantly Humbled”: First Call Session Guitarist Carl Verheyen Shares Rare Insights Into Allan Holdsworth’s Unorthodox Chord Voicings – as Revealed by the Man Himself “This concept of spreading out the notes of a chord into wide-interval voicings like this resonated with me years later,” says the Supertramp alumnus and seasoned solo artist Latest music theory Have the Same Old Blues Chord Shapes Become Stale and Boring? Here’s How to Avoid Sounding Predictable By Guitar Player Staff published 16 August 23 Avoid the trap of humdrum chords by getting command of a few alternate dominant voicings Three Sure-Fire Ways to Break out of That Old Minor-Pentatonic Deadlock By Mac Randall published 11 August 23 Completely alter your use of the minor pentatonic scale using these examples in the style of Jimmy Page, Noel Gallagher, Robert Fripp, Peter Green and Eric Clapton Get the Know-How of Jazz Rhythm Guitar and Venture Into Any Session With Confidence By Patrick Brennan published 8 August 23 Advance your chordal and rhythmic accompaniment with this easy-to-follow guide on jazz guitar comping styles Ever Feel Lost on Certain Parts of the Fingerboard? These Ten Invaluable Pointers Are Your Key to Unlocking It All By Jesse Gress published 3 August 23 Don’t waste years struggling to remember every single note on the fingerboard – this awesome lesson will get you there fast Bored of Using the Same Old Chords? Here’s One of the Hippest Ways to Spice up a Progression By Jake Hertzog published 1 August 23 Turn stock rock chords into sweet jazz changes with reharmonization Learn 'The Eddie Van Halen Scale' in This Short, Simple Lesson and Add Some Attention-Grabbing Passages to Your Solos By Dale Turner published 13 July 23 Discover the memorable, three-notes-per-string symmetrical pattern that Ed frequently used for both major and minor keys Want to Add Intrigue to Your Playing? Try These Creative Ways to Harness the Ear-Catching Sounds of Suspended Chords By Chris Buono published 24 March 23 Give your improvising and composing a sharper edge Have You Exhausted the Possibilities of Open Chords and Barre Chords? Here’s How to Make Your Progressions Sound More Interesting By Patrick Brennan published 21 March 23 Learn the art of ‘voice leading’ with examples inspired by Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads and more The Mixolydian Blues Scale Could Be the Most Useful Scale of All By Guitar Player Staff last updated 15 March 23 This scale reigns supreme as the chief source for carving those major/minor blues-based licks that sound so good over dominant 7th chords Avoid Melodic Monotony and Predictability Using the Half-Whole Diminished Scale By Chris Buono published 15 March 23 Here’s how to create more effective lines by relating the “symmetrical diminished” scale’s recurring fretboard patterns to chords 1234Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1“Dave Friedman's amps deliver many of the things we love about big ’70s rock, molten ’80s metal, and modern high-gain guitar... If you want a handy sampling of these sounds that travels well, the JEL-20 might be your golden ticket”: Friedman JEL-20 review2“Link Wray does it all, but his style also reminds us how captivating a few well-chosen riffs can be when combined with compelling tone, passion, and musicality”: Link Wray's Rumble (1956–62) is an essential document of ‘less is more’ guitar playing3Best guitar stands and hangers 2024: Keep your precious guitars safe and secure4“Eddie Van Halen had me play his 5150 guitar, and then he asked me to show the solo to him, because he’d forgotten it”: Jennifer Batten recalls re-teaching EVH the Beat It solo5“Premium sound for everyday playing without the hassle of amps, pedals and computer interfaces”: With the Katana:GO, Boss has entered the headphone amp market with a bang
Have the Same Old Blues Chord Shapes Become Stale and Boring? Here’s How to Avoid Sounding Predictable By Guitar Player Staff published 16 August 23 Avoid the trap of humdrum chords by getting command of a few alternate dominant voicings
Three Sure-Fire Ways to Break out of That Old Minor-Pentatonic Deadlock By Mac Randall published 11 August 23 Completely alter your use of the minor pentatonic scale using these examples in the style of Jimmy Page, Noel Gallagher, Robert Fripp, Peter Green and Eric Clapton
Get the Know-How of Jazz Rhythm Guitar and Venture Into Any Session With Confidence By Patrick Brennan published 8 August 23 Advance your chordal and rhythmic accompaniment with this easy-to-follow guide on jazz guitar comping styles
Ever Feel Lost on Certain Parts of the Fingerboard? These Ten Invaluable Pointers Are Your Key to Unlocking It All By Jesse Gress published 3 August 23 Don’t waste years struggling to remember every single note on the fingerboard – this awesome lesson will get you there fast
Bored of Using the Same Old Chords? Here’s One of the Hippest Ways to Spice up a Progression By Jake Hertzog published 1 August 23 Turn stock rock chords into sweet jazz changes with reharmonization
Learn 'The Eddie Van Halen Scale' in This Short, Simple Lesson and Add Some Attention-Grabbing Passages to Your Solos By Dale Turner published 13 July 23 Discover the memorable, three-notes-per-string symmetrical pattern that Ed frequently used for both major and minor keys
Want to Add Intrigue to Your Playing? Try These Creative Ways to Harness the Ear-Catching Sounds of Suspended Chords By Chris Buono published 24 March 23 Give your improvising and composing a sharper edge
Have You Exhausted the Possibilities of Open Chords and Barre Chords? Here’s How to Make Your Progressions Sound More Interesting By Patrick Brennan published 21 March 23 Learn the art of ‘voice leading’ with examples inspired by Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads and more
The Mixolydian Blues Scale Could Be the Most Useful Scale of All By Guitar Player Staff last updated 15 March 23 This scale reigns supreme as the chief source for carving those major/minor blues-based licks that sound so good over dominant 7th chords
Avoid Melodic Monotony and Predictability Using the Half-Whole Diminished Scale By Chris Buono published 15 March 23 Here’s how to create more effective lines by relating the “symmetrical diminished” scale’s recurring fretboard patterns to chords