Learning Guitar

The unique approach featured in GuitarPort Online is our Learning and Practice Paths. Our Learning and Practice Paths offer you the opportunity to focus on material that is most appropriate for you – whether by level of difficulty or musical genre. The goal is to keep you moving forward with your guitar playing, so you stay excited, motivated and just plain psyched about playing. Our learning and practice paths combine different elements of learning including:

• Artist Profiles

  – We deconstruct your favorite guitar players’ songs to show what techniques they are using to get their signature sounds. Our Artist Profile lessons cover a broad range of artists, including Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robben Ford, Carlos Santana, Jerry, Angus Young, Albert Lee, Keith Urban, David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen, Tom Morello, Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, The Edge, John Mayer and others. See a sample lesson.

• Theory and Application

  – These lessons take some building block elements of music theory – such as scales, chord progressions, modes, etc. - and show how they are applied in popular songs. Sample lessons include “Movable Shapes,” “Soloing: Pentatonic Matrix,” “Sweep Picking,” “Rhythm Guitar: Rhythm Overlays” and others. See a sample lesson.

• Technique lessons

  – Explore how certain common techniques – such as palm muting, tapping, alternate tunings, etc. are used in popular songs. Examples of these types are lessons are “Alternate Tunings,” “Fingerpicking,” “Slide Licks in Open E,” “Thumb Fretting,” and others. See a sample lesson.

• Effects lessons

  – Here you will learn how various guitar effects can be used to achieve your own sound or signature sounds from your favorite guitar players. Examples of these lessons are “Chorus and Flanger Effects” and “Overdrive Pedals.” See a sample lesson.

• Songs/Tabs

  – This is where you can pull it all together to take on songs. Our tabs are accurate and give you note for note explanation of how to play a song. And we give you fully-produced song tracks on-screen with the tabs, so you can plug in and play along with the band. We also have a large selection of jam tracks and loops so you practice your improvisation skills, too.

The goal here is to get you started – or keep you moving forward – with your guitar playing, so you stay excited, motivated and just plain psyched about playing. No matter whether you’re a newbie or an advanced player, it can be tough to figure out how to keep improving. It takes discipline, organization and the right tools. The Learning Center can help you build your basic skills so you can start actually playing, or, if you’re more advanced, allow you to dive deep into a specific genre or spread your musical wings into new genres. You just need a guide – and that’s what we’re here for. Either start with our Beginner curriculum or choose a genre of interest and you’ll find your path to guitar enlightenment…

Learning and Practice Paths

We understand that no matter what level player you are, it can be tough to figure out how to keep improving. It takes discipline, organization and the right tools. The Learning Center will allow you to dive deep into a specific genre or spread your musical wings and try some new genres. Check our Learning and Practice Paths below: