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Play Acoustic Guitar 3: Tools & Techniques

Learn essential acoustic guitar techniques with this Acoustic Learning Path core course.
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Overview

Welcome to Play Acoustic Guitar 3: Tools & Techniques - the third milestone of your TrueFire Learning Path journey towards becoming a solid acoustic guitar player. This Acoustic Learning Path core course is presented by 3 top TrueFire educators: Corey Congilio, Brooks Robertson, and David Hamburger. They'll guide your development of the essential skills and get up and running quickly—no reading music, no boring exercises, no tedious theory to struggle through. In fact, you'll play your way through the entire course.

In Play Acoustic Guitar 1 and 2, you built up your vocabulary of chords and rhythms; learned how to play several classic songs; and can now play a handful of fingerstyle patterns. Here in Play Acoustic Guitar 3, you'll learn more strums and rhythm patterns, more picking, more moveable chords, and some important style variations to power up your acoustic guitar playing. You'll learn to pick through chords as you move them up the neck, and your blues fingerstyle will benefit from new patterns and songs. Travis picking is used on a ton of tunes, and so you'll learn to play a classic song with that technique. You'll learn how to vary a rhythm to spice up any song and then wrap up the course with essential techniques to help you take your acoustic playing to the next level.

The educators demonstrate all of the key examples over jam tracks (where and when applicable) to simulate a real-world application, in a musical context. Key examples are also tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. Take as much time as you need to work through each video guitar lesson before moving on to the next lesson. If you want to dig deeper or wider into any of the topics covered in this core course, check out the rest of the courses in the Acoustic Learning Path where you'll find more examples, techniques and insight from top TrueFire educators. Grab your guitar and let's get started!

About

Learn how to play guitar with free online guitar lessons and interactive video guitar courses at TrueFire, the world's most comprehensive library of guitar video lessons.
PLAY ACOUSTIC GUITAR 3 - Essential Techniques

01: PLAY ACOUSTIC GUITAR 3 - Essential Techniques

Welcome to Play Acoustic Guitar 3: Tools & Techniques - the third milestone of your TrueFire Learning Path journey towards becoming a solid Acoustic guitar player. This Acoustic Learning Path core course is presented by 3 top TrueFire educators: Corey Congilio, Brooks Robertson, and David Hamburger.

2 min
16th Note Strums - Lesson 1: Demonstration

02: 16th Note Strums - Lesson 1: Demonstration

This lesson will look at speeding up your strumming. We'll basically be using 16th note strums instead of the 8th note strums you may be used to. Rhythm is just dividing the beat, so if you can think of your patterns this way it will be helpful. 16th notes are just the logical next step, so dig into these and get your groove on!

3 min
Practice Session 1 - Playalong: Band

03: Practice Session 1 - Playalong: Band

Let's have some fun! In this Practice Session, we jam with the band! Take your time, don't worry about doing it perfectly the first time, just keep going over it until you have it all down smooth. Then you're ready to move on.

2 min
New Chords & Groove - Lesson 2: Demonstration

04: New Chords & Groove - Lesson 2: Demonstration

Here you'll work on some new chords over a groove. Rhythm playing offers up a lot of possibilities and endless combinations of chords, rhythms, and feels. The more you experiment with, the better you will be equipped to tackle anything in any song you run into!

5 min
Practice Session 2 - Playalong: Slow

05: Practice Session 2 - Playalong: Slow

This one is at 65 BPM. Repeat it as many times as you need in order to get comfortable with it.

2 min
Practice Session 3 - Playalong: Band

06: Practice Session 3 - Playalong: Band

OK, let's bring the band in. Here's where all that practice pays off. In this Practice Session you just have to lock in with the other instruments and make sure you're staying in the groove.

2 min
The Banjo Roll - Lesson 3: Demonstration

07: The Banjo Roll - Lesson 3: Demonstration

The banjo roll is another classic "must know" technique for fingerstyle guitarists. Players who can get this down with some speed can flow through a chord progression with ease. Start really slow on this one as building your speed up is important, and having a clean technique is the key.

4 min
Practice Session 4 - Playalong: Slow

08: Practice Session 4 - Playalong: Slow

Work on this Practice Session until you have it down and can play it with the instructor.

1 min
Practice Session 5 - Playalong: Fast

09: Practice Session 5 - Playalong: Fast

80 BPM is our tempo here.

2 min
Banjo Roll Progression - Lesson 4: Demonstration

10: Banjo Roll Progression - Lesson 4: Demonstration

Here you'll put your banjo roll technique into a chord progression. One of the keys to this is syncing up both hands so when you change chords your picking hand is on the right note at precisely the right time. This will take some practice, but if you start slow you'll get it!

6 min
Practice Session 6 - Playalong: Slow

11: Practice Session 6 - Playalong: Slow

We'll start this Practice Session at 75 BPM. Work it at this tempo, and when you get it down clean and in time, move to the next session.

1 min
Practice Session 7 - Playalong: Medium

12: Practice Session 7 - Playalong: Medium

In this Practice Session, you'll be playing along with the instructor. Take your time and don't rush through it.

1 min
Practice Session 8 - Playalong: Fast

13: Practice Session 8 - Playalong: Fast

Practice this as many times as you need to before moving on.

1 min
New Banjo Roll & Lick - Lesson 5: Demonstration

14: New Banjo Roll & Lick - Lesson 5: Demonstration

This is another banjo roll. Once again, having options with every new thing you learn is what will make your playing complete. Just learning one way to do something is rarely enough. Learn it - learn how to vary it - then apply it. Using this formula will take you a long way down the path of becoming a great player!

8 min
Practice Session 9 - Playalong: Slow

15: Practice Session 9 - Playalong: Slow

Your instructor will guide you through this Practice Session.

1 min
Practice Session 10 - Playalong: Medium

16: Practice Session 10 - Playalong: Medium

Don't move on until you feel like you're locked in with the tempo and are playing it cleanly.

1 min
Practice Session 11 - Playalong: Fast

17: Practice Session 11 - Playalong: Fast

Here we're up at 90 BPM. If it seems too fast, go back to the previous session.

1 min
Major & Minor Barre Chords - Lesson 6: Demonstration

18: Major & Minor Barre Chords - Lesson 6: Demonstration

Barre chords are an important technique for all guitarists to know. Being able to move chords around and identify them by their root note and not just their shape is a great way to be able to change keys and play in various places on the neck. Learn your barre chords, even if they seem tricky. It will pay off big!

4 min
Steady Bass Triplet Lick - Lesson 7: Demonstration

19: Steady Bass Triplet Lick - Lesson 7: Demonstration

Here's a triplet lick with the steady bass going on. The key to these kinds of licks is to break the parts down into small little chunks. Often it is hard to just jump in and play the whole thing, but if you take small little pieces of it and work on those, then it's much easier to put the whole lick together.

3 min
Practice Session 12 - Playalong: Slow

20: Practice Session 12 - Playalong: Slow

This one starts at 55 BPM. Take your time and go over it as many times as you need to.

2 min
Practice Session 13 - Playalong: Medium

21: Practice Session 13 - Playalong: Medium

For this Practice Session, really focus on trying to play exactly with the instructor. You can go over this as many times as you need in order to really get it down.

2 min
Practice Session 14 - Playalong: Fast

22: Practice Session 14 - Playalong: Fast

In this Practice Session, you should focus on playing in time, playing it cleanly, and getting all of the movements smooth. Play through it as many times as you need before you move on. The key to moving on is repeating this Practice Session until you really have it down.

1 min
Sliding Triplet Lick - Lesson 8: Demonstration

23: Sliding Triplet Lick - Lesson 8: Demonstration

Adding some slides to a lick can make it flow a little better. Of course some of the classic licks of all time have slides, so it has an iconic sound to it. Check out this way to add some spice to the triplet lick.

3 min
Practice Session 15 - Playalong: Slow

24: Practice Session 15 - Playalong: Slow

Really listen to how the instructor plays in this Practice Session. Don't worry if it takes you a few times, and if you need to go back, that's fine. The important thing is that you want to be able to play through this at this tempo several times without mistakes, and then you're ready to move on.

2 min
Practice Session 16 - Playalong: Medium

25: Practice Session 16 - Playalong: Medium

Don't be afraid to keep repeating this Practice Session as many times as you need to. There is no specific amount of times you need to do it - just do it until you feel comfortable.

2 min
Practice Session 17 - Playalong: Fast

26: Practice Session 17 - Playalong: Fast

Repetition is the key to getting this down. So do as many "reps" as you need to before you move on.

1 min
G Major Pentatonic Scale - Lesson 9: Demonstration

27: G Major Pentatonic Scale - Lesson 9: Demonstration

Scales can be used for everything from playing melodies to soloing and creating interesting parts in songs. Getting some scales under your fingers is an important step in being able to expand your single note capabilities.

2 min
Practice Session 18 - Playalong: Slow

28: Practice Session 18 - Playalong: Slow

Remember, if you have trouble at this tempo, you can always go back to the previous Practice Session or Lesson to make sure you have it down.

2 min
Acoustic Improvisation - Lesson 10: Demonstration

29: Acoustic Improvisation - Lesson 10: Demonstration

Being able to take a scale and improvise with it is one of the real joys of playing guitar. Whether you use chords or scales or random notes, improvisation is a powerful tool you want to have in your guitar skill set. Creating parts and songs is a goal of many players and you can experiment with this by using all the tools and techniques you have and coming up with your own ways to implement them.

5 min
Practice Session 19 - Playalong: Band

30: Practice Session 19 - Playalong: Band

Time to jam with the band! This Practice Session is all about feeling the rhythm. Make sure you do this as many times as you need until you have it down. Then you can move on.

3 min
Syncopated Fingerstyle - Lesson 11: Demonstration

31: Syncopated Fingerstyle - Lesson 11: Demonstration

Not all tunes are played simply on beat. That's where syncopation comes into play. Being able to play a syncopated melody is what separates the average fingerstyle player from the pro. So work on this until you get it smooth.

7 min
Practice Session 20 - Playalong: Slow

32: Practice Session 20 - Playalong: Slow

Practice with precision. That's how you will get this down. Not rushing through it or losing your focus. Keep your focus on playing this perfectly and with the instructor.

1 min
Practice Session 21 - Playalong: Medium

33: Practice Session 21 - Playalong: Medium

In this Practice Session, you'll be playing along with the instructor. Take your time and don't rush through it. Practice this as many times as you need to before moving on.

1 min
Practice Session 22 - Playalong: Fast

34: Practice Session 22 - Playalong: Fast

This is up to 105 BPM. If it's too fast, just go back to the previous Practice Session and work there for a little while.

1 min
Fingerstyle Chord Lick - Lesson 12: Demonstration

35: Fingerstyle Chord Lick - Lesson 12: Demonstration

Here is a great chord lick you can apply to various situations. Knowing a lot of these little licks and tricks can help you spice up your playing.

3 min
Practice Session 23 - Playalong: Slow

36: Practice Session 23 - Playalong: Slow

Your instructor will guide you through this Practice Session. Don't move on until you feel like you are locked in with the tempo and are playing it cleanly.

1 min
Practice Session 24 - Playalong: Medium

37: Practice Session 24 - Playalong: Medium

For this Practice Session, really focus on trying to play exactly with the instructor. You can go over this as many times as you need in order to really get it down.

1 min
Practice Session 25 - Playalong: Fast

38: Practice Session 25 - Playalong: Fast

The key to moving on is repeating this Practice Session until you really have it down.

1 min
More Steady Bass Licks - Lesson 13: Demonstration

39: More Steady Bass Licks - Lesson 13: Demonstration

In this lesson, you'll learn even more steady bass licks. For something that starts out so simply, you can see that there are endless possibilities of ways you can play licks and tunes using the steady bass technique.

7 min
Practice Session 26 - Playalong: Slow

40: Practice Session 26 - Playalong: Slow

The important thing is that you want to be able to play through this at this tempo several times without mistakes, and then you're ready to move on.

2 min
Practice Session 27 - Playalong: Medium

41: Practice Session 27 - Playalong: Medium

Don't be afraid to keep repeating this Practice Session as many times as you need to. There is no specific amount of times you need to do it - just do it until you feel comfortable.

2 min
Practice Session 28 - Playalong: Fast

42: Practice Session 28 - Playalong: Fast

Repetition is the key to getting this down, so do as many "reps" as you need to before you move on.

2 min
Fingerstyle Blues & Turnaround - Lesson 14: Demonstration

43: Fingerstyle Blues & Turnaround - Lesson 14: Demonstration

This is a great fingerstyle blues complete with a turnaround. This is where you'll feel like you're really playing music. Putting all of the various techniques together into a standard progression. Don't worry if this takes you a little extra practice to get down, these parts can be challenging. Just start out slow - making sure you get the timing right, and then gradually increase your speed until you have it up to tempo. With a little work you will have it sounding great in no time!

7 min
Practice Session 29 - Playalong: Slow

44: Practice Session 29 - Playalong: Slow

Remember, if you have trouble at this tempo, you can always go back to the previous Practice Session or Lesson to make sure you have it down.

2 min
Practice Session 30 - Playalong: Medium

45: Practice Session 30 - Playalong: Medium

Really listen to how the instructor plays in this Practice Session. Don't worry if it takes you a few times, and if you need to go back, that's fine. The important thing is that you want to be able to play through this at this tempo several times without mistakes, and then you're ready to move on.

2 min
Practice Session 31 - Playalong: Fast

46: Practice Session 31 - Playalong: Fast

Practice with precision. That is how you will get this down. Not rushing through it or losing your focus. Keep your focus on playing this perfectly and with the instructor.

2 min
PLAY ACOUSTIC GUITAR 3 - Wrap Up & Next Steps

47: PLAY ACOUSTIC GUITAR 3 - Wrap Up & Next Steps

Congratulations on completing this core course in your learning path! If you want to dig deeper or wider into the topics covered in this course, check out the recommended supplementary courses where you'll find more examples, techniques and insight from top TrueFire educators. When you're ready to advance your skills further, dive into the next core course listed in your TrueFire learning path. Practice smart. Play hard!

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