In my latest podcast episode, I have another installment of How Does This Song Work featuring "Blackbird" by The Beatles. This song was written, sung, and played by Paul McCartney. It features a combination of finger picking and finger strumming plus compound 3rd intervals, chromatic voice leading, and a key change. I teach these types of composition techniques in my Fretboard Theory books and video courses. Gear used includes a PRS SE Angelus acoustic/electric guitar and a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI. 

Ep117 Blackbird | How Does This Song Work?

This podcast features free audio guitar lessons taught by Desi Serna, author of Fretboard Theory and Guitar Theory For Dummies. Learn how scales, chords, progressions, modes, and more get applied to the fretboard and familiar songs. Hear how to best get your playing skills in order. Begin to improvise and compose. Understand why your favorite songs sound so good. ➝ What do you specifically need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit the GuitarMusicTheory.com website to get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. Discover how to progressively play and sound better—today, in as little as 33 minutes!

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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. 

Ep160 Improvise with Refugee

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 Eagles, the Doobie Brothers, Garth Brooks, and more. 

Ep159 Every Type of Seventh Chord and How to Use It

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. 

Ep158 The Harmonic Minor Scale and How to Use It

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.  

Ep157 Q&A Circle of fifths - playing left-handed - Squier guitar mods - playing and singing - intervals

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 https://primrose-armadillo-xkwc.squarespace.com/  ********************************* Free Video Course 

Ep117 Blackbird | How Does This Song Work?

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