Post archive
Guitar Sessions 31: Play Richard Thompson’s “Waltzing’s for Dreamers”
Learn to play a Richard Thompson classic in this video lesson.
Guitar Sessions 30: How to steal a chord progression
A video lesson on adapting cool chord progressions from other songs to spur your own song ideas.
Inside the song: “Hippie Hair (for the First Time)”
How I wrote “Hippie Hair”—a different kind of pandemic song, about growing locks that recalled my original music heroes.
Guitar Sessions 29: Play Graham Nash’s “Teach Your Children”
Learn an arrangement of the CSNY classic in dropped-D tuning, as used by Graham Nash.
Guitar Sessions 28: Play the Beatles’ “Across the Universe”
Learn how to play John Lennon’s classic song, including the original guitar intro.
Guitar Sessions 27: Play “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” in DADGAD tuning
Learn a DADGAD arrangement of the classic Christmas carol.
Guitar Sessions 26: Intro to open G tuning
Learn the basics of open G tuning and an arrangement of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses,” as played by Keith Richards.
Guitar Sessions 25: Play John Prine’s “Hello in There”
Learn the fingerpicking guitar part for John Prine’s classic “Hello in There.”
Guitar Sessions 24: Play Mumford and Sons’ “The Cave”
Learn “The Cave” as played by Marcus Mumford in open-D tuning.
Guitar Sessions 23: Play the “Passionate Kisses” guitar hook
Learn the classic guitar hook from “Passionate Kisses,” as heard on the Lucinda Williams original track as well as Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Grammy-winning cover.
Guitar Sessions 22: Play Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”
Learn Jason Mraz's original guitar arrangement, his redo in an alternate tuning, and a standard tuning version that includes the intro riff.
Guitar Sessions 21: Simple chord substitutions
Learn simple, powerful ways to add freshness and variety to chord progressions.
Guitar Sessions 20: Play the Grateful Dead’s “If I Had the World to Give”
Learn how to play the Grateful Dead’s “If I Had the World to Give” arranged for acoustic guitar.
How to play in 3/4 time
A video lesson on how to play in waltz time, from “Ashokan Farewell” to “Edelweiss” to “Sweet Baby James.”
Guitar Sessions 19: Play Brandi Carlile’s “The Eye”
Learn how to play Brandi Carlile’s “The Eye,” watch a new cover video, and download a free mp3.
Guitar Sessions 18: Play Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”
Discover the guitar secrets of Paul Simon’s classic story song “The Boxer,” and learn an arrangement that incorporates the original guitar intro, instrumental interlude, and more.
Inside the song: “Fly”
A look inside the the John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner “Fly,” from its beginnings in the fiddle tune “Sally Goodin” through its evolution onstage.
Guitar Sessions 17: Explore the partial capo and “Fly”
Learn how to use the partial capo to sound like a one-man bluegrass band. Play the John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner “Fly.”
Guitar Sessions 16: Play easy movable jazz chords—and “Let It Snow!”
Learn a set of essential jazz chord shapes and try them out in a classic tune.
Guitar Sessions 15: Intro to DADGAD tuning
Learn a set of great-sounding chord shapes in this popular alternate tuning, and try an arrangement of an original song.