Online guitar lessons

Rock and Pop songs

Online video guitar lessons teaching how to play a wide variety of rock and pop songs on acoustic or electric guitar. Songs by U2, Chili Peppers, Radiohead, The Killers, Green Day, The Darkness, Lenny Kravitz, Blink 182, ACDC, KT Tunstall, James Blunt and more.

This online guitar instruction is a distillation of the live courses that Musicademy has developed and taught to thousands of people. They are arranged in stages that will methodically develop your guitar skills in a step by step way. Each lesson should give you around 1 to 2 weeks learning if you are new to the techniques being shown. Each stage is designed to last a standard term or semester, so generally you should be able to master 3 stages per year if you practice a little every day.

Each lesson lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and will teach you all the relevant guitar chords, licks, riffs and strumming patterns to enable you to master the song without finding the guitar tab.

Stage 1 are easy guitar lessons for complete beginners so if you have already been playing guitar regularly you should start at a later stage.

For a detailed description of the learning incorporated in each song/lesson, simply click on the relevant Stage or click here to download information about the full series.

DISCOUNTS
If you buy every lesson in the stage you will get 1 for free in a 7 lesson stage or 2 for free if its 8 lessons. Simply put all the lessons in the shopping cart then put the text FULL STAGE 1 ( or 2, 3 etc) in at the checkout.

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The Song Learner Series for Rock and Pop Guitar

Stage 1
Stage 1 is for absolute beginners who want to learn to play guitar. The video guitar lessons take you through all the basics, including a variety of standard open and power chords, strumming pattterns and some simple versions of a few classic songs.

1. Getting started on guitar
   In this first lesson we go through the parts of the guitar, how to tune up and 3 chords - Em D and Am. The best thing is there are lots of guided play alongs which really help you as a beginner get to grips with chord changes with the security of the teacher playing along side you.
2. Clocks – Coldplay
   Next we take those 3 chords  and add a strumming pattern to play this Coldplay classic on guitar. Again lots of guided play alongs.
3. Every Breath You Take – The Police
   We then add the guitar chords of G, C and A into the mix with another strumming pattern so you now have two songs under your belt
4. Sweet Child of Mine – Guns N Roses
   Along with another new strumming pattern for guitar, we add the Cadd9 chord which helps you move between C and G more easily. Go to Stage 4 to learn the proper intro.
5. U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
   Now use these same chords to play this U2 classic whilst learning about syncopated strumming patterns and how to use a capo to change key.
6. Wild Thing – The Troggs
   This is a wonderful introduction to one finger power chords plus learn your first guitar riff.  Again, lots of repeatitions to help your fingers find the new guitar chords.
7. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
   Now we move onto three finger power chords and once you have learnt these you will be able to play hundreds of rock songs uon guitar sing this one shape. In this lesson you will learn the actual rhythm part that was played on the record. Learn the solo in stage 3.
8. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
   Having mastered a number of basic guitar chords this lesson will help you put them together in another new song with yet another strumming pattern to add to your repertoire.

Stage 2
Building on the basic techniques from stage one these lessons are ideal for someone who has been playing for a couple of months and wants to learn some more new chords and develop their skills with a great range of new songs and techniques.

1. Hey Ya! - Outkast
   Speed up your guitar chord changes and learn about changing time signatures with this modern pop classic.
2. All the Small Things -Blink 182
   Learn about suspended chords and different positions for guitar power chords. This lesson will really help speed up your power chord changes.
3. Mrs. Robinson – Simon and Garfunkel
   Add E and A to the basic chords you already know and use them to strum along to this acoustic guitar classic.
4. Vertigo – U2
   This brilliant riff uses guitar power chords throughout the whole song. We break down The Edge's guitar part into sections making it simple for you to understand and play.
5. 12 Bar Blues
   Impress your friends with a great sounding 12 bar blues and rock and roll rhythm part that you will come back to time and time again.
6. Seven Nation Army  - The White Stripes
   Use the same power chord chape further up the neck and develop your chord position knowledge with this modern rock classic.
7. I’m a Believer – The Monkees
   Combine open and power chords to play the ultimate party song on guitar. Even Shrek will be impressed!

Stage 3
In stage 3 we co beyond the basic chords ad begin to explore extended chords, chord shapes further up the neck some strumming  patterns, string bending and even your first lead guitar solo.

1. Wonderwall – Oasis
   By learning this song you'll not only be able to play some new extended guitar chords like Em7 and A7sus4 but also see how you can easily link between some complex sounding chords with easy one finger changes
2. California – Phantom Planet (The OC Theme tune)
   This lesson shows you how to combine power chords with open strings for huge sounds for songs in the key of E and shows you how to play your first bar chord properly
3. Smells Like Teen Spirit Solo- Nirvana
   We break down Kurt Cobain's classic solo into easy steps and show you how to bend strings for great lead sounds on electric guitar
4. Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
   Build on your power chord knowledge by learning how to play this new-wave anthem
5. Angels – Robbie Williams
   Combine power, open, and extended guitar chords further up the neck with a great lead riff to learn another great song in the key of E
6. Day Dream Believer - Monkees
   Improve your barre chord knowledge, find out how to play slash chords and combine melody lines with strumming patterns as you learn this ultimate feelgood party hit.
7. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
   Learn the proper guitar parts to this song and find out how to combine changing bass notes with power chords which will give you lots of new guitar riff ideas

Stage 4
In stage 4 we use all your previous knowledage to start to play the actual guitar parts contained on your favourite albums. We also learn about riffs combining open and fretted notes, more new extended and bar chords, 7th chords and arpeggios

1. In My Place - Coldplay
   Learn the opening riff, all the guitar chords and strumming patterns to master this song plus a great cheat chord for F#m
2. Imagine  - John Lennon
   This lesson iwill really help you speed up your guitar chord changes when moving to the tricky F chord. You will also learn some nice Dm and G7 chord changes too.
3. You Really Got Me – The Kinks
   This is another classic rock riff that will get your power changes moving fast
4. Sweet Child of Mine Intro – Guns N Roses
   We break down this electric guitar intro into easy to master chunks and then build it up section by section so you won't miss a note
5. Jumping Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
   This great song is perfect for developing your barre chord knowledge as well as learning to master THAT riff in regular tuning on electric guitar
6. One scale that will help you solo over any song
   Understand how to play lead classic guitar to any song in any key with the first position of the pentatonic scale
7. I Got You (I feel Good) - James Brown
   You want to get the funky feel? Learn this song! It really will help you develop your rhythm guitar technique and learn how 7th  and 9th chords can be played all over the neck
8. Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers
   This is a great for song for developing accurate finger picking technique as well as teaching you about arpeggios and Major 7th chords

Stage 5
This is where guitar playing really starts to get exciting as we take you through some exact guitar parts of well known rock & pop songs. You'll pick up some great techniques too e.g. strengthening your bar chord ability and knowledge, alternative tunings, right hand picking skills, string bending, playing riffs in 3rds and octave based soloing

1. Wake up when September Ends - Green Day
   Learn all the right chords on the guitar, arpeggio picking parts and even the solo so you can play along with the original track, note for note.
2. Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
   Develop guitar right hand picking skills as we break down how to play all chords to the song and show the classic riff, note for note
3. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
   Alternative tunings! We show you how to play all the parts to this brilliant Led Zeppelin song using the correct DADGAD tuning. The step by step way we break each section down makes it easy!
4. Wonderful Tonight  / Brown Eyed Girl
   Learn about string bending, playing using 3rds and improve your picking technique as we show you exactly how to play two of the best known lead guitar intro riffs of all time
5. Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
   Learn all the classic Keef riffs in this song using ‘Sus’ Chords and a great rock and roll rhythm part that you can use for other songs too
6. Song 2 - Blur
   Learn how to play power chords on guitar in different octave positions on string 4 and develop your rhythm as we show you the exact strumming patterns for each section
7. Are you Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
   Develop your string bending technique and positional playing as we show you how to play the intro riff and rhythm parts of each section of this great rock song
8. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
   Increase your knowledge of barre chords all over the neck as you learn Otis Redding’s timeless masterpiece

Stage 6

1. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
   Learn all the parts fo, Boulevard of Broken Dreams including the guitar solo which will teach you about using octaves for lead guitar. 
2. You’re Beautiful - James Blunt
   By learning this track you will also understand how to play any song on guitar in any major key using a capo and 1 finger chord changes based around the key of G.
3. Back in Black – AC/DC
   Learn the intro, verse, chorus parts and riffs note for note on guitar. An essential track for all rock players!
4. 5 Positions of Pentatonic Scale
   Learn to play the right notes over the whole guitar neck as you solo over any song using the full 5 positions of pentatonic scale. Essential for all aspiring blues and rock lead guitar players!
5. Good Times - Chic
   A great lesson for learning funk and disco guitar parts, developing right hand playing technique and your knowledge of extended chords.
6. Bohemian – Dandy Warhols
   By learning this song you will also learn how to use E and A shaped barre chords all over the neck on guitar
7. Fade Out (Street Spirit) - Radiohead
   Develop your guitar finger picking technique as we break down the exact parts for this song bar by bar and build it up in sections
8. Suck My Kiss – Red Hot Chili Peppers
   Learn this classic Red Hot Chili Pepper's song Suck My Kiss as we break down each section step by step. Great for combining lead, rhythm and funk styles on guitar

Stage 7

1. Somebody Told Me  - The Killers
   Practice octaves, power and bar chords and we show you all the intro, verse chorus and lead riff sections of this great modern classic step by step
2. Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
   Billie Joe Armstrong’s wonderful acoustic guitar part will teach you about arpeggios, picking technique and 1 finger chord changes in G. In this lesson we break the parts, and show how to play it properly
3. Lead Guitar – The 7 Major Scale Positions
   Another essential building block for lead guitarists is learning how to play the major scale over the entire neck. This lesson shows you the 7 positions that will allow you to play all the right notes in any key. A great starter all sorts of lead guitar playing and a first step towards learning about modal playing
4. Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode
   Learn the intro note for note, to the possibly the best known rock and roll song of all time. This guitar lesson will increase your knowledge of blues licks, string bends and pentatonic positional playing
5. Lynard Skynard - Sweet Home Alabama
   Get some country licks under you belt! This guitar lesson will take you through the intro, verse, chorus and main riff sections note for note. Great for mixing chords with lead guitar
6. High and Dry – Radiohead
   An early Radiohead classic that combines octaves with some very usable slash chords in the key of E. Really useful stuff for rhythm and acoustic guitar players
7. The Darkness - I believe In a thing called love
   If you like classic rock you need to learn this! The first of three lessons where we teach you every part note for note. This lesson shows you how to get the Intro, verse and chorus sections exactly right

Stage 8

1. Whats My Age Again? – Blink 182
   Increase the speed and accuracy of your right hand finger picking technique with this song.
2. Pentatonic Warm up exercises and speed exercises
   Learn to play fast using guitar hammer on and pull off techniques with the pentatonic shapes learnt in stage 6 of the course
3. American Idiot - Green Day
   Increase the speed of you power chord changes and knowledge of octave soloing as we show you all the guitar parts to this song
4. Beautiful Day – U2
   Understand how to use delay and parts of guitar chords as you learn one of U2’s definitive classics
5. How You Remind Me -Nickelback
   A great introduction to playing chords using Drop D tuning as you learn the guitar part to Nickelback’s massive hit
6. I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
   Now learn solos 1 and 2 of this modern classic as we break down each riff, step by step. See other lessons for learning the other guitar parts in this song
7. Every Breath You Take - The Police
   Add9 chords are a wonderful addition to any acoustic and rhythm players repertoire. As we teach you this song you will learn the shape that will allow you to play add9 chords anywhere on the guitar neck
8. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix               
   Combine lead and rhythm guitar as we show you how to play the Intro and rhythm parts note for note.                                                                                                                                                                             

COMING SOON

Stage 9

1. Layla – Derek and the Dominos
2. Rage Against The Machine - Killing in The Name Of
3. AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long
4. CAGED chords
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue
6. I Believe in a Thing Called Love- The Darkness
7. Message in a Bottle – The Police
8. Alright Now – Free, verse and chorus
9. Alright Now – Free, solo

Stage 10

1. Enter Sandman -Metallica            
2. Shook Me All Night Long – ACDC - solo         
3. Midnight At The Oasis – Brand New Heavies  
4. Pride in the Name of Love – U2   
5. Money for Nothing – Dire Straits  
6. Roxanne - The Police            
7. Baby When You’re Gone – Bryan Adams and Mel C  
8. Sweet Home Alabama solo1 – Lynard Skynard