In episode 175 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener emails about: Using your thumb to fret the 6th string in barre chords and possible workarounds How to improve your rhythm and memorize songs more effectively The G form barre chord and how it's used in modern playing A theory-based analysis of Foo Fighters’ use of pedal tones in chord progressions Why sus4 and minor 6 chords don’t naturally occur in certain scale degrees Why guitarists sometimes play notes like F# over A minor—...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr
In episode 174 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I chat with Carrie Underwood guitarist Matt Reviere about recreating classic 80s guitar tones for the Kemper Profiling Amplifier and Line 6 Helix using the new Inspired by the 80s pack from Tone Junkie. We discuss his workflow for analyzing songs, dialing in tones, and jamming on iconic riffs from artists like Dire Straits, The Police, Bon Jovi, and more. 🎛️ Check out the Tone Junkie pack here: tonejunkiestore.com/inspiredby/p/inspired-by-the-8...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 37 min
In episode 173 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I sit down with Nashville music producer Jason Wyatt Kuhn to talk about the art of recording and producing music. Jason shares his journey from singer and songwriter to becoming a sought-after producer helping both aspiring artists and hobbyist songwriters bring their music to life. We discuss what it’s like working in the studio, how the production process unfolds, and the critical role a producer plays in shaping a song’s final sound. You’ll e...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 21 min
In episode 172 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about playing styles, overcoming physical limitations, key changes in songs, barre chord techniques, music theory exercises, slowing down music, and more. Riff Rockers Zoom class details: https://www.guitarmusictheory.com/riff-rockers-zoom-class/ Enroll in a free video course and join the email list: https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In episode 171 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions on a variety of guitar topics, including: 🎸 Assessing your guitar practice plan 🎸 Joe Bonamassa’s rhythm guitar playing 🎸 Breaking down the key to "Take on Me" by A-ha 🎸 Understanding mode numbering 🎸 Different ways to finger a G chord and which one is best for you 🎸 Choosing the best guitar practice amp for your needs Tune in to get practical guitar advice, improve your playing, and gain new insights into music...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In episode 170 of the Guitar Music Theory audio podcast, I look back at some of the top songs from 2024 with a very special guest, my 12-year-old daughter, Lila! 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.
Jan 12, 2025•1 hr 29 min
In episode 169 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I review some Christmas song guitar lessons I’ve previously posted on YouTube. These lessons feature great Christmas songs to learn, and I’ll break down the nuggets of music theory wisdom each one provides. Topics include passing chords, chord melody, playing in sixths, and more. Join the email list by subscribing at the https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com website.
Dec 12, 2024•52 min
In episode 168 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I announce my new coaching program and answer listener questions about bass playing, playing with confidence, the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures, my old cover band setlist, and the song "Runnin' with the Devil" by Van Halen. Are you ready to invest in a structured coaching program to take your guitar playing to the next level? Fill out the contact form on my website and share your music goals with me: https://www.guitarmusictheor...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 6 min
In episode 167 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I guide you through my process of learning songs, using "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" by Huey Lewis and The News as an example. This track showcases chunky '80s rock power chords and a bluesy minor pentatonic guitar solo. I play it on my new PRS SE NF3 guitar, using a profile of a Mesa Boogie Mark 3 amp. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get ...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 45 min
In episode 166 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about rhythm and timing, playing horizontal pentatonic patterns, selecting good bass notes, and more. I also recap my recent gigs and discuss how I prepare for performances.
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr
In episode 165 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I prepare to play upcoming gigs with the Huey Lewis and The News tribute band, The Heart of Rock and Roll. I walk you through the process I go through when I'm reviewing for a show and discuss the songs I'll be performing. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. The Heart of Ro...
Jun 14, 2024•1 hr 11 min
In episode 164 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I interview Scott Williamson, a top-tier studio drummer in the Nashville area for decades. In addition to his drumming career, Scott is a mixing engineer and music producer. He'll provide insights into life as a studio musician, answer listener questions, and reveal his favorite guitar parts. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE cus...
Jun 08, 2024•1 hr 44 min
How does the song "Jack and Diane" work? Listen to episode 163 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast to hear how this John Mellencamp classic features memorable acoustic guitar riffs that make great use of different chord shapes and chord voicings. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level....
May 30, 2024•1 hr 7 min
"Knights of Cydonia" by Muse is an epic rock anthem that blends various musical influences to create a unique and powerful listening experience. The song stands out for its grandiose and cinematic feel, drawing inspiration from progressive rock, space rock, and spaghetti westerns. In Episode 162 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I break the music down and explain how its puzzling chord changes follow a logical pattern. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the qu...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 14 min
In episode 161 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about Hot For Teacher, multitracks, bass rigs, Funk #49, mastering songs, major and minor pentatonic, CAGED, hand soreness, Knights of Cydonia, and more. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. #musictheory #musictheoryforguitar #guitartheory #fretbo...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In episode 160 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I demonstrate a technique for improvisation over jam tracks, drawing inspiration from the iconic song "Refugee" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Leveraging guitar licks from renowned tracks like this can infuse your improvisations with creativity and flair, elevating your playing to new heights. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FR...
May 01, 2024•45 min
In episode 159 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I discuss every type of seventh chord and how to use it. Seventh chords are made when you extend a triad with an additional third. There are five qualities of seventh chords that appear in music. They are Major seven, Minor seven, Dominant seven, Minor seven flat five (a.k.a. Half diminished), and Diminished seven (also called fully diminished). I explain how these chords are built and which familiar guitar songs use them. I play songs from the ...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In Episode 158 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I discuss the harmonic minor scale and its use in familiar guitar songs. This includes common harmonic minor chord progressions and how to incorporate the scale in your lead lines and guitar solos. For more information, see my book Fretboard Theory Volume 2 or my video course Fretboard Theory Video Pro Pack. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 8 min
In episode 157 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about the circle of fifths, playing left-handed, Squier guitar mods, playing and singing, intervals, and more. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. #musictheory #musictheoryforguitar #guitartheory #fretboardtheory #desiserna #guitarlesson #guitarc...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min
In episode 156, keyboardist Scott Sheriff and I break down the song "Biggest Part of Me" by Ambrosia. We talk about the chords used in this song and how they’re based on a chromatic line cliché and include various extensions common to jazz and R&B music. ********************************* Scott's Links Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0oLy2MY8Qdaq4epJzOdilz?si=67856935ae5d438c Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/biggest-part-of-me/1732619282?i=1732619284 Classic Tribute Bands...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 13 min
In episode 155 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about modes, major scale patterns, memorizing songs, effects pedals, foot tapping, Rocksmith, and the song "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette. #fretboardtheory #guitartheoryfordummies #desiserna 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level....
Mar 15, 2024•1 hr 3 min
"Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses features prominent guitar work by Slash, including the iconic opening riff and memorable solos. The song uses the guitar scales D Mixolydian mode, E Aeolian mode, E harmonic minor, and E minor pentatonic. In this podast episode, I explain each scale and its use in this quintessential rock anthem. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom vide...
Feb 24, 2024•50 min
Which guitar scales, amps, and effects does Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash use? Matt Reviere and I discuss Slash's style and break down his tone in episode 153 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. Tone Junkie INSPIRED BY SLASH (HELIX) https://tonejunkiestore.com/inspiredby/inspired-by-slash...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Why does Keith Richards use open G tuning, what's the difference between a cheap and expensive acoustic guitar, should songs be memorized, and what are sus4 chords? Get answers to these questions and more in episode 152 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level....
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In episode 151 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Carrie Underwood guitarist Matt Reviere and I talk about our favorite Christmas songs. We play together and analyze some holiday classics that are rich in music theory and composition techniques. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level....
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 14 min
In my latest audio podcast, I answer listener questions about guitar modelers, PRS guitars, scales, beginner struggles, slide, Drop-D tuning, and playing acoustic guitar gigs. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Guitarists often use octave shapes to play rhythm guitar parts, riffs, and lead lines. In this podcast episode, I explain how octaves are formed on the guitar fretboard and which popular guitar songs use them. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.
Nov 30, 2023•49 min
Music with changes or accents that fall on something other than the most predictable beats is said to be syncopated. I discuss this in episode 148 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast. Listen to song examples from Neil Young, KT Tunstall, Herbie Hancock, Adele, and more. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level....
Nov 15, 2023•29 min
In episode 147 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I interview Carrie Underwood keyboardist Scott Sheriff. Scott is a veteran touring musician who was also the musical director for Kenny Loggins and the bandleader for Steven Curtis Chapman. Scott has other projects on the side when he's not on the road, including the Huey Lewis & The News tribute act, The Heart of Rock and Roll. I recently began playing with this act and sharing the stage with Scott. This podcast talks about touring, playing...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 29 min
In episode 146 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I answer listener questions about chord tones and extensions, the song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, playing with injuries and hand limitations, keeping track of measures while soloing, applying pentatonic scale patterns, reaquiring your chops after time off, and more. 🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit https://GuitarMusicTheory.com - answer the questions about your playing and get FREE custom vide...
Oct 12, 2023•55 min
