Lessons John 5's top tips for beginner, and veteran, guitarists A master of many styles who's played with Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Lee Roth, Rick Springfield, and, currently, Mötley Crüe, John 5 has pointers for players that go far beyond how to practice Expand your arsenal, and channel Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler, with this lesson in fingerstyle Fingerstyle playing can be used in a wide variety of settings and genres, and can inspire new songs, riffs, and solos. Heck, it can even boost your creativity when you return to using a pick June 2024 Guitar Player lesson audio Latest Lessons “A lot of times when someone says, ‘They have good technique, but there’s something missing,’ what’s actually missing is part of the technique”: Paul Gilbert on the essentials of great guitar playing By Paul Gilbert published 22 April 24 For beginners and remedial players alike, these pointers are crucial May 2024 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 8 April 24 Follow the lead of players like Mark Knopfler, Albert Collins, and Lindsey Buckingham, and open the door to new techniques and textures, with this primer in fingerstyle rock guitar By Jeff Jacobson published 28 March 24 Eddie Van Halen also incorporated fingerstyle to add another dimension to his playing, and so have modern virtuosos like Tim Henson, Lari Basilio, and Mateus Asato – learn how you can do the same April 2024 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 5 March 24 March 2024 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 4 February 24 February 2024 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 5 January 24 Learn to play like Snarky Puppy's Mark Lettieri with the ultimate funk baritone guitar lesson By Chris Buono published 7 December 23 Capture multi–Grammy winning Mark Lettieri’s signature baritone funk guitar style by learning how to write riffs while combining registers and using different tunings, plus nested chordal embellishments and more January 2024 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 29 November 23 Holiday 2023 Guitar Player Lesson Audio By Guitar Player Staff published 8 November 23 Struggling to string bend on your acoustic? Here are 4 simple tricks that will help… By Jimmy Leslie published 23 October 23 Outside of the box ideas for making string bending easier on an acoustic guitar 123456789Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1“As soon as I started playing a Telecaster, I formed an instant connection with it. It’s like when you find the right person to marry. You just know”: John 5's top tips for beginner, and veteran, guitarists2“Whenever you switch back to your pick, it’ll be even more fun to have its signature attack back”: There’s a reason everyone from Eddie Van Halen to Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler have made fingerstyle part of their repertoire 3“I trade licks with Joe on Funk 49; that’s enough for me – my head would explode if I had to go back and forth with Joe on a song like Hotel California”: Vince Gill on his role in the Eagles, and the wonders of playing with Joe Walsh 4“Allan Holdsworth is untouchable, unimpeachable... He is just the total king. I would build a shrine to him”: Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Meshuggah in equal measure5“Many young guitarists get discouraged because the comments sections on all platforms are somehow even more toxic than they were five or 10 years ago”: Slowly emerging from a hiatus, Sarah Longfield's ever-impressive playing is “more chill now”
“A lot of times when someone says, ‘They have good technique, but there’s something missing,’ what’s actually missing is part of the technique”: Paul Gilbert on the essentials of great guitar playing By Paul Gilbert published 22 April 24 For beginners and remedial players alike, these pointers are crucial
Follow the lead of players like Mark Knopfler, Albert Collins, and Lindsey Buckingham, and open the door to new techniques and textures, with this primer in fingerstyle rock guitar By Jeff Jacobson published 28 March 24 Eddie Van Halen also incorporated fingerstyle to add another dimension to his playing, and so have modern virtuosos like Tim Henson, Lari Basilio, and Mateus Asato – learn how you can do the same
Learn to play like Snarky Puppy's Mark Lettieri with the ultimate funk baritone guitar lesson By Chris Buono published 7 December 23 Capture multi–Grammy winning Mark Lettieri’s signature baritone funk guitar style by learning how to write riffs while combining registers and using different tunings, plus nested chordal embellishments and more
Struggling to string bend on your acoustic? Here are 4 simple tricks that will help… By Jimmy Leslie published 23 October 23 Outside of the box ideas for making string bending easier on an acoustic guitar