Overview Course No. 7800

“Playing Guitar like A Pro: Lead, Solo, and Group Performance” invites aspiring guitarists to master techniques from premier guitar players of the last century. The course offers insights into the music world for listeners interested in what makes their favorite bands unique. Dr. Colin McAllister covers intermediate techniques like right-hand arpeggios, crosspicking, funk-style chord strumming, and slapping harmonics. Learn about rock icons like Eric Clapton and jazz pioneers like Django Reinhardt through 18 engaging lessons.

Whether you’re a musician wanting to emulate the greats or a music fan seeking a richer experience of your favorite performers, this course evolves the listening ear and opens new dimensions of musical appreciation.

Video Lessons

01: Hot Lava: Van Halen’s Two-Handed Tapping

Learn two-handed tapping with a composition inspired by Eddie Van Halen.

Duration: 39 min

02: Hot Lava Backing Track – Lead

Practice with the backing track for lead guitar.

Duration: 1 min

03: Hot Lava Backing Track – Rhythm

Practice with the backing track for rhythm guitar.

Duration: 1 min

04: Luna Negra: Soloing like David Gilmour

Explore David Gilmour’s soloing style and techniques.

Duration: 37 min

05: Luna Negra Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 1 min

06: Barnhill’s Blues: Going Acoustic like Clapton

Play bluesy swing rhythms and Clapton’s style from MTV Unplugged.

Duration: 43 min

07: Grant Green Street: Funk Rhythm and Licks

Master funk-style chord strumming and crosspicking.

Duration: 37 min

08: Grant Green Street Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 2 min

09: Fantasía Ibérica: Celin Romero’s Rasgueado

Learn classical guitar staples like rasgueado and pizzicato.

Duration: 44 min

10: Sunday Drive: Leo Brouwer–Style Classical

Explore Afro-Cuban classical guitar styles and techniques.

Duration: 36 min

11: Manitou Swing: Django’s Gypsy Jazz

Study staccato chords and fast vibrato in Gypsy jazz.

Duration: 35 min

12: Manitou Swing Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 1 min

13: Anselm’s Caper: Bebopping like Tal Farlow

Learn rhythm changes jazz with practical techniques.

Duration: 39 min

14: Anselm’s Caper Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 2 min

15: Blue 13: Wes Montgomery’s Octave Melodies

Enhance your improvisational skills with octave-based melodies.

Duration: 39 min

16: Blue 13 Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 4 min

17: Moto Perpetuo: Andy McKee–Style Workout

Learn tapping, slapping harmonics, and innovative techniques.

Duration: 42 min

18: Way Beyond: Intervallic John McLaughlin

Explore interval-based music and changing time signatures.

Duration: 46 min

19: Way Beyond Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 1 min

20: Sketch for Barbara: Pat Metheny’s Influence

Study modern jazz waltz and arpeggiated improvisation.

Duration: 39 min

21: Sketch for Barbara Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 2 min

22: Cinq de Blanc: The Police’s Quintal Harmony

Understand fifth intervals and reggae-style play.

Duration: 38 min

23: Cinq de Blanc Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 1 min

24: Tarsus: Power Arpeggios of Alex Lifeson

Explore progressive-rock techniques and time signatures.

Duration: 42 min

25: Tarsus Backing Track – Lead

Practice with the lead backing track.

Duration: 1 min

26: Tarsus Backing Track – Rhythm

Practice with the rhythm backing track.

Duration: 1 min

27: Samba Sonrisa: Playing Brazilian Style

Learn bossa nova and syncopation techniques.

Duration: 42 min

28: Cumulus: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Use open D tuning and emulate Joni Mitchell’s style.

Duration: 40 min

29: Gog Magog: Bluegrass and Flatpicking

Master fast-paced bluegrass techniques.

Duration: 47 min

30: Gog Magog Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 2 min

31: Whisper Creek: American Folk Music

Explore the rich sounds of American folk ballads.

Duration: 38 min

32: Echo Park

Discover surf rock sounds of the early 1960s.

Duration: 17 min

33: Echo Park Backing Track

Practice with the backing track.

Duration: 2 min