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Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques

Fire up your acoustic guitar technique with this Acoustic Learning Path core course.
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Overview

Welcome to Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques for late intermediate to advanced students of acoustic guitar. This Acoustic Learning Path core course is presented by 3 top TrueFire educators: Pete Huttlinger, Muriel Anderson, and Massimo Varini. The Advanced Techniques curriculum is comprised of select Acoustic guitar lessons from the educators' existing TrueFire course libraries.

As you advance your technical guitar skills, your opportunities expand exponentially. Pros with advanced technique can choose from a higher quality and wider range of gigs including session work. Amateurs with advanced skills will always be welcome at jams or open mic nights. Most importantly though, advanced technical skills provide the firepower to free yourself creatively with improvisations and compositions. The video guitar lessons in this core course will focus on strengthening and broadening your technique to an advanced level.

Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Rhythm Principles is organized into 3 sections. In the first section, Massimo Varini advances your understanding of extensions and voicings, discusses sonic qualities, and then guides you through a series of rhythm parts for verses, intros, outros, and choruses. In Section 2, Pete Huttlinger is back with more fingerpickin' licks but this time prepare yourself for some serious time in the shed. In the third and final section, Muriel Anderson rounds out your yearning for learning with 10 right-hand fingerstyle techniques you must know.

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 8: Advanced Techniques - Introduction

01: Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques - Introduction

Welcome to Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques for late intermediate to advanced students of Acoustic guitar. This Acoustic Learning Path core course is presented by 3 top TrueFire educators: Pete Huttlinger, Muriel Anderson, and Massimo Varini.

2 min
Essential Concepts - SECTION 1: Overview

02: Essential Concepts - SECTION 1: Overview

In this section, Massimo Varini takes you to school on a wide variety of harmonic and sonic concepts that you need to fully understand, and have a solid grip on, to advance your acoustic chops.

1 min
Find the Key! - Harmony Fundamentals: 1

03: Find the Key! - Harmony Fundamentals: 1

Find the Key! - Harmony Fundamentals: 1 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. Before working with awareness on extensions of the chords we need to know the key of the song we're working on.

5 min
Exploring Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 2

04: Exploring Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 2

Exploring Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. Before seeing in detail what are the safe extensions and the most colorful, I want to do a scenic ride together.

7 min
Adding Safe Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 3

05: Adding Safe Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 3

Adding Safe Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 3 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. Before adding extensions it is important to think that this is a process that is often useful and even essential, but I would say there is nothing written indelibly in the rules.

6 min
Adding Colorful Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 4

06: Adding Colorful Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 4

Adding Colorful Extensions - Harmony Fundamentals: 4 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. We continue the discussion touching on extensions that are beyond the seventh in minor chords and to the ninth in major chords.

6 min
Open String Voicings - Harmony Applications: 1

07: Open String Voicings - Harmony Applications: 1

Open String Voicings - Harmony Applications: 1 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. We reverse the process of analysis done before.

6 min
CAGED Capo Voicings - Harmony Applications: 2

08: CAGED Capo Voicings - Harmony Applications: 2

CAGED Capo Voicings - Harmony Applications: 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. Knowing the CAGED system is very important to easily find the chords on the guitar's fretboard.

5 min
Voicings without the Root - Harmony Applications: 3

09: Voicings without the Root - Harmony Applications: 3

Voicings without the Root - Harmony Applications: 3 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. There's another way to "easy play" chords with a lot of extensions - use triads.

5 min
Arpeggiating Chords - Harmony Applications: 4

10: Arpeggiating Chords - Harmony Applications: 4

Arpeggiating Chords - Harmony Applications: 4 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. The trick is - Never play in the last fourth of a chord a note that isn't present in the next chord!

5 min
Strumming & Arpeggiating - Harmony Applications: 5

11: Strumming & Arpeggiating - Harmony Applications: 5

Strumming & Arpeggiating - Harmony Applications: 5 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. In this lesson I talk about how to play a pop tune when you are alone with the singer.

3 min
Energy and Power - Sonic Quality: 3

12: Energy and Power - Sonic Quality: 3

Energy and Power - Sonic Quality: 3 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. When you play, often you do it for someone who is listening.

6 min
Muting Techniques - Sonic Quality: 4

13: Muting Techniques - Sonic Quality: 4

Muting Techniques - Sonic Quality: 4 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. We use the muting technique, having figured out how to perform it on acoustic guitar (in the same way as the electric), to create dynamics in our playing.

6 min
Percussive Strumming - Sonic Quality: 5

14: Percussive Strumming - Sonic Quality: 5

Percussive Strumming - Sonic Quality: 5 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. Deepen the technique of muting using it as a percussive technique to simulate the kick and snare drums, to create dynamics and have a lot of different sounds.

6 min
Heavy Downstrokes - Sonic Quality: 6

15: Heavy Downstrokes - Sonic Quality: 6

Heavy Downstrokes - Sonic Quality: 6 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. The title says it all!

4 min
Microphone Placement - Sonic Quality: 7

16: Microphone Placement - Sonic Quality: 7

Microphone Placement - Sonic Quality: 7 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Pop Guitar Survival Guide. In this lesson we will discover how the miking of an acoustic instrument can heavily affect the sound.

5 min
Sliding Thirds - Intro & Outro Rhythm 2

17: Sliding Thirds - Intro & Outro Rhythm 2

Sliding Thirds - Intro & Outro Rhythm 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. We are in drop D tuning and we're using a capo on the II fret. A different way to play in E minor. Use only your right hand's fingers and try to understand the voicings.

2 min
Melody Down Low - Intro & Outro Rhythm 3

18: Melody Down Low - Intro & Outro Rhythm 3

Melody Down Low - Intro & Outro Rhythm 3 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. Simple chords: D, G and A; down down up and string skipping technique to play this melody on the bass notes.

2 min
Snare Finger - Intro & Outro Rhythm 4

19: Snare Finger - Intro & Outro Rhythm 4

Snare Finger - Intro & Outro Rhythm 4 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. Interesting kind of groovy sound!

4 min
Jump In - Intro & Outro Rhythm 8

20: Jump In - Intro & Outro Rhythm 8

Jump In - Intro & Outro Rhythm 8 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. A tricky part in G major. G major is a perfect key for guitar but we'll explore new sounds using the capo at 3rd fret.

4 min
Fluorescent Fingers - Verse Rhythm 2

21: Fluorescent Fingers - Verse Rhythm 2

Fluorescent Fingers - Verse Rhythm 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. A different way to play in E minor with a capo on the 2nd fret. Some skills to enhance your rhythm playing!

2 min
Rising Heartbeat - Verse Rhythm 8

22: Rising Heartbeat - Verse Rhythm 8

Rising Heartbeat - Verse Rhythm 8 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. The idea of this verse is to keep this "solid rock groove" as powerful as possible.

3 min
Ringing High - Verse Rhythm 10

23: Ringing High - Verse Rhythm 10

Ringing High - Verse Rhythm 10 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. This verse #10 is in F, and since we're using the capo at 3rd fret we use a D shape.

3 min
Hammer Time - Verse Rhythm 6

24: Hammer Time - Verse Rhythm 6

Hammer Time - Verse Rhythm 6 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. This is a challenging part that mixes hybrid picking, percussive technique on 2nd and 4th and a fast arpeggiating part on the first and third chord.

3 min
Heart of the Groove - Chorus Rhythm 2

25: Heart of the Groove - Chorus Rhythm 2

Heart of the Groove - Chorus Rhythm 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. Drop D and capo at the 2nd fret: Listen to the sound of this Em, Gmaj7 and A6, the fingerings are very easy to play!

3 min
The Finish Line - Chorus Rhythm 3

26: The Finish Line - Chorus Rhythm 3

The Finish Line - Chorus Rhythm 3 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. Fast strumming and percussive effect for this chorus! We'll talk about "think in sixteen" and it will be an interesting lesson for strumming!

3 min
Home Out West - Chorus Rhythm 4

27: Home Out West - Chorus Rhythm 4

Home Out West - Chorus Rhythm 4 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. D major played with a drop D tuning. We'll also use the thumb of the left hand to play an Em7.

3 min
James' Embellishment - Chorus Rhythm 10

28: James' Embellishment - Chorus Rhythm 10

James' Embellishment - Chorus Rhythm 10 is a video guitar lesson presented by Massimo Varini and is sourced from Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock. This chorus is a mix between the chords we've used in verse and pre-chorus in example 10.

4 min
Fingerpickin' Licks - SECTION 2: Overview

29: Fingerpickin' Licks - SECTION 2: Overview

Pack some clean clothes and bring a sleeping bag to the shed because these 17 fingerpickin' licks presented by Pete Huttlinger, here in Section 2, will take quite some time to get a handle on but there's a big payoff when you get there.

1 min
The Greatest Lick - Lick 1

30: The Greatest Lick - Lick 1

The Greatest Lick - Lick 1 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Here's a great lick to end an uptempo country or bluegrass tune in the key of D.

2 min
Cannonball One - Lick 2

31: Cannonball One - Lick 2

Cannonball One - Lick 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. This is based off of a lick that Chet Atkins did on a tune called "Cascade" and it works well on a tune like Cannonball Rag.

3 min
Blue Country Three - Lick 7

32: Blue Country Three - Lick 7

Blue Country Three - Lick 7 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Now we'll learn to transpose this to the key of D.

2 min
Brown Bomber One - Lick 11

33: Brown Bomber One - Lick 11

Brown Bomber One - Lick 11 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Let's look at some licks I often get asked about.

2 min
Brown Bomber Two - Lick 12

34: Brown Bomber Two - Lick 12

Brown Bomber Two - Lick 12 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. The fun continues with some awesome double stops.

2 min
Brown Bomber Three - Lick 13

35: Brown Bomber Three - Lick 13

Brown Bomber Three - Lick 13 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. The madness ends here with loads of pull offs.

3 min
Pickin' On Chet - Lick 14

36: Pickin' On Chet - Lick 14

Pickin' On Chet - Lick 14 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. I got this from a guy who said he got it personally from Chet Atkins.

2 min
Cannonball Five - Lick 19

37: Cannonball Five - Lick 19

Cannonball Five - Lick 19 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. This is a classic Merle Travis lick to use on Cannonball Rag.

2 min
Oklahoma Twilight - Lick 23

38: Oklahoma Twilight - Lick 23

Oklahoma Twilight - Lick 23 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Here's the lick that ends the intro to my tune called Oklahoma Twilight.

2 min
Santa Rita One - Lick 24

39: Santa Rita One - Lick 24

Santa Rita One - Lick 24 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. This is the way I played my tune, The Santa Rita Connection.

2 min
Santa Rita Three - Lick 26

40: Santa Rita Three - Lick 26

Santa Rita Three - Lick 26 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Here's a different take on the standard 5, 4, 1 turnaround.

2 min
I Got George One - Lick 47

41: I Got George One - Lick 47

I Got George One - Lick 47 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Here are the chord changes to George and Ira Gershwin's I Got Rhythm.

3 min
I Got George Two - Lick 48

42: I Got George Two - Lick 48

I Got George Two - Lick 48 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Now here's a variation on the first A section.

2 min
I Got Ira One - Lick 49

43: I Got Ira One - Lick 49

I Got Ira One - Lick 49 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Now we're on to the bridge. I've changed up the rhythmic approach and created some interplay between the bass and treble notes.

3 min
The Whole Cannonball - Bonus Lick 2

44: The Whole Cannonball - Bonus Lick 2

The Whole Cannonball - Bonus Lick 2 is a video guitar lesson presented by Pete Huttlinger and is sourced from 50 Fingerpicking Licks You MUST Know. Here I've presented to you Cannonball Two through Cannonball Five.

1 min
Cascading Harp Harmonics: 2 - Concept 16

45: Cascading Harp Harmonics: 2 - Concept 16

Cascading Harp Harmonics: 2 - Concept 16 is a video guitar lesson presented by Brooks Robertson and is sourced from Fingerstyle Survival Guide. During part 2 of the Harp Harmonic concept we will build upon the foundation we set in part 1.

10 min
Cascading Harp Harmonics: 1 - Concept 15

46: Cascading Harp Harmonics: 1 - Concept 15

Cascading Harp Harmonics: 1 - Concept 15 is a video guitar lesson presented by Brooks Robertson and is sourced from Fingerstyle Survival Guide. This technique was pioneered by great players such as Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau.

7 min
Right Hand Techniques - SECTION 3: Overview

47: Right Hand Techniques - SECTION 3: Overview

In this section, Muriel Anderson passes on 10 essential right-hand fingerstyle techniques including picado, thumb index rolls, calypso, Leo Kottke bass style, golpe, chicken pickin', bluegrass banjo emulation, and more right-hand moves you must know.

1 min
Flamenco Picado - Technique #8

48: Flamenco Picado - Technique #8

Flamenco Picado - Technique #8 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. Check out the TrueFire DVD course, Tierra Negra's New World Flamenco for more on this and other flamenco techniques.

1 min
Thumb-index Roll - Technique #14

49: Thumb-index Roll - Technique #14

Thumb-index Roll - Technique #14 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. Draw the thumb down across the strings until you get to the first string, then pick it up with your index finger and pull the arm back in the opposite direction.

1 min
Bouncing the Arm - Technique #16

50: Bouncing the Arm - Technique #16

Bouncing the Arm - Technique #16 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. Bouncing the arm is a secret I learned over time and I'm happy to share it with you!

1 min
Scarborough Fair Pattern - Technique #22

51: Scarborough Fair Pattern - Technique #22

Scarborough Fair Pattern - Technique #22 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. The pattern used in Paul Simon's accompaniment to "Scarborough Fair" is particularly beautiful.

2 min
Bluegrass Banjo Technique - Technique #23

52: Bluegrass Banjo Technique - Technique #23

Bluegrass Banjo Technique - Technique #23 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. Bluegrass banjo players brace two fingers of the right hand on the face of the banjo, which produces some tension in the sound.

2 min
Leo Kottke Bass - Technique #26

53: Leo Kottke Bass - Technique #26

Leo Kottke Bass - Technique #26 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. I always wished that I could get that nice sweet treble sound over the sound hole while playing a muffled bass.

1 min
Calypso - Technique #28

54: Calypso - Technique #28

Calypso - Technique #28 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. This is an easy strum that gives a different, lively feel to accompany songs.

1 min
Rumba Slap - Technique #29

55: Rumba Slap - Technique #29

Rumba Slap - Technique #29 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. There are lots of techniques used in rumba flamenco music.

2 min
Golpe - Technique #30

56: Golpe - Technique #30

Golpe - Technique #30 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. Of the many flamenco techniques, I thought it would be good to briefly mention the "golpe" which means "hit" in Spanish.

1 min
Chicken Pickin' - Technique #39

57: Chicken Pickin' - Technique #39

Chicken Pickin' - Technique #39 is a video guitar lesson presented by Muriel Anderson and is sourced from 50 Right-Hand Techniques You Must Know. The examples are taken from some licks in the Jerry Reed tune "The Claw".

3 min
Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques - Conclusion

58: Play Acoustic Guitar 8: Advanced Techniques - Conclusion

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.

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