Jeff Jacobson

Jeff Jacobson

Jeff Jacobson is a guitarist, songwriter and veteran music transcriber, with hundreds of published credits. For information on virtual guitar and songwriting lessons or custom transcriptions, reach out to Jeff on Twitter @jjmusicmentor or visit jeffjacobson.net.

Latest articles by Jeff Jacobson

Portrait of American rock musician Steve Lukather, photographed with his Ernie Ball Music Man LIII electric guitar backstage at Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, taken on August 5, 2016.

From his "Beat It" funk-rock riff to his "Rosanna" solo trick — learn the top 10 techniques behind Steve Lukather's virtuoso style

By Jeff Jacobson published

Guitar Player dissects the moves behind everyone's go-to session player

Tommy Emmanuel plays his acoustic guitar

Learn Travis picking, harp harmonics and 8 other techniques that make Tommy Emmanuel an acoustic tour de force

By Jeff Jacobson published

Put key elements of the acoustic shredder's style to work in your own playing with these video tutorials

Molly Miller

“I get hired to be me, instead of those awkward moments where they say, ‘Can you sound like XYZ?’” Molly Miller on balancing jazz and Jason Mraz

By Jeff Jacobson published

Miller revels in her jazz chops on new album The Battle of Hotspur. But as this doctor of musical arts explains, it’s just one facet of her myriad guitar talents

Ella Feingold

Ella Feingold weaves magic with her funky playing, and this lesson in her style will sharpen up your rhythm work in no time

By Jeff Jacobson published

Feingold has played with Bruno Mars, Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Jay-Z, and was taught directly by the legendary Chalmers “Spanky” Alford. This guided tour of her approach is a funk guitar one-stop shop

Lindsey Buckingham performs at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California on April 15, 2022

Expand your arsenal, and channel Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler, with this lesson in fingerstyle

By Jeff Jacobson published

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

Albert Collins performs onstage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 23, 1988

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

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

Michael Schenker

Summon the Power of the Metal Gods and Add Some of Michael Schenker’s Magic to Your Own Playing in This in-Depth Lesson

By Jeff Jacobson published

A tribute to the Flying V-wielding MSG, Scorpions and UFO guitarist’s elegantly melodic metal riffing

Jake Kiszka

The Ultimate Greta Van Fleet Guitar Lesson

By Jeff Jacobson published

Learn how Jake Kiszka bridges the past to the present with tasteful 1970s-style rock guitar riffing

Lynyrd Skynyrd '(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)' album artwork

Mine the Musical Gold of “Free Bird” and Other Songs From Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘(Pronounced ’Lĕh-’nérd ’Skin-’nérd)’ in This Celebratory Lesson

By Jeff Jacobson published

As Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut album turns 50, we dive into its guitar stylings, as performed by Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Ed King

Joe Walsh, performing live onstage, playing Gibson Les Paul guitar

Discover the Inspiring Musical Magic and Distinctive Touch of Guitar Legend Joe Walsh

By Jeff Jacobson published

Find the magic that can be created by focusing on not only what notes you play but also how you play them

Led Zeppelin 'House of the Holy' album artwork and Jimmy Page performing with a Gibson Les Paul Standard

Discover How Jimmy Page’s Genre-Melding Musical Innovations on ‘Houses of the Holy’ Helped Led Zeppelin Reach a New Creative Peak

By Jeff Jacobson published

As this classic album turns 50, we explore how the guitarist blew the lid off his band’s blues-based formula

Tom Scholz, 1978

Explore the Inventive Musical Mastery of Tom Scholz

By Jeff Jacobson published

A celebration of the artistry and ingenuity of Boston’s renaissance man

Eric Clapton Gibson SG 'The Fool'

Take a Mindbending Journey Into the Adventurous and Experimental Style of Psychedelic Guitar

By Jeff Jacobson published

Tune up and turn on as we explore the far-out sonic landscapes created by legendary players such as George Harrison, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and more

Sister Luc Gabrielle, 'The Singing Nun', practising with her chorus, following her top ten hit 'Dominique'

How to Make the Most of Your Practice Time and Become a Better Guitarist, Part 2

By Jeff Jacobson last updated

We conclude our two-part lesson on how to make the most of your time in the woodshed with tips from Joel Hoekstra, Molly Miller and others

Close-up of guitarist playing a solo lick on a PRS Singlecut

How to Make the Most of Your Practice Time and Become a Better Guitarist, Part 1

By Jeff Jacobson last updated

In the first part of this two-part lesson, pro guitarists share advice on how to make the most of your time in the woodshed with some essential exercises to improve your playing now.

Bonnie Raitt performs on stage at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, on August 6th, 1977

Learn to Play Slide Like Bonnie Raitt

By Jeff Jacobson last updated

An in-depth look at the subtle artistic and technical elements behind her celebrated and highly emotive slide playing.

Lego

How to Finish a Song After Inspiration Strikes

By Jeff Jacobson published

An alternative approach for creating those elusive intro and bridge sections.