Post archive

5/7/22 5/7/22

Guitar Sessions 31: Play Richard Thompson’s “Waltzing’s for Dreamers”

Learn to play a Richard Thompson classic in this video lesson.

3/31/22 3/31/22

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.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 3/21/22 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 3/21/22

Joan Armatrading interview and guitar lesson

A conversation with legendary U.K. songwriter Joan Armatrading, and a video lesson teaching guitar grooves and riffs from some of her best songs.

2/11/22 2/11/22

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.

1/12/22 1/12/22

Guitar Sessions 28: Play the Beatles’ “Across the Universe”

Learn how to play John Lennon’s classic song, including the original guitar intro.

12/13/21 12/13/21

Guitar Sessions 27: Play “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” in DADGAD tuning

Learn a DADGAD arrangement of the classic Christmas carol.

11/9/21 11/9/21

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.

10/7/21 10/7/21

Guitar Sessions 25: Play John Prine’s “Hello in There”

Learn the fingerpicking guitar part for John Prine’s classic “Hello in There.”

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 9/23/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 9/23/21

Happy Traum interview and guitar lesson

Roots music performer and teacher Happy Traum looks back at his 50-plus-year career, and shares how to play some of his signature songs.

9/7/21 9/7/21

Guitar Sessions 24: Play Mumford and Sons’ “The Cave”

Learn “The Cave” as played by Marcus Mumford in open-D tuning.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 8/5/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 8/5/21

Lucinda Williams interview and guitar lesson

A conversation with Americana icon Lucinda Williams about guitar and songwriting, with a video lesson teaching rhythm patterns from some of her best songs.

8/4/21 8/4/21

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.

7/7/21 7/7/21

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.

6/1/21 6/1/21

Guitar Sessions 21: Simple chord substitutions

Learn simple, powerful ways to add freshness and variety to chord progressions.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 6/1/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 6/1/21

Explore the five-string partial capo

An intro video lesson on using a five-string partial capo to create open-tuning-like sounds while remaining in standard tuning.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 5/26/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 5/26/21

“Wish You Were Here” in DADGAD tuning

A new alternate-tuning guitar arrangement of the Pink Floyd classic “Wish You Were Here.”

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 5/18/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 5/18/21

How to make the most of playing with two guitars

A video lesson on how to develop varied and dynamic arrangements with two guitars.

4/26/21 4/26/21

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.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 4/20/21 Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers 4/20/21

Build speed by using smart fingerings

A video lesson on how choosing efficient fingerings can help you make your playing faster and more fluid.

4/15/21 4/15/21

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.”