Overview

Course No. 7800

Take your guitar skills on the road with a look at what it takes to play professionally—like the greats, complete with groupies! In Playing Guitar like A Pro: Lead, Solo, and Group Performance, The Great Courses invites aspiring guitarists to master the techniques of some of the premier guitar players of the last 100 years.

Dr. Colin McAllister provides a comprehensive learning experience that covers intermediate-level techniques like right-hand arpeggios, crosspicking, slurring, funk-style chord strumming, and slapping harmonics. You will learn to improvise over provided backing tracks and uncover the secrets of influential musicians from Eric Clapton to Django Reinhardt.

This course consists of 18 engaging and interactive lessons, each 45 minutes long, making it suitable for both musicians aiming to play like the greats and music fans wanting to deepen their understanding of their favorite performers.

Video Lectures

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

Begin your course with an introduction to two-handed tapping, inspired by Eddie Van Halen.

Duration: 39 min

02: Hot Lava Backing Track – Lead

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

03: Hot Lava Backing Track – Rhythm

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

04: Luna Negra: Soloing like David Gilmour

Dissect David Gilmour’s unique soloing style and learn techniques such as vibrato and string bending.

Duration: 37 min

05: Luna Negra Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

06: Barnhill’s Blues: Going Acoustic like Clapton

Unplug and play bluesy swing rhythms inspired by Eric Clapton’s MTV Unplugged concert.

Duration: 43 min

07: Grant Green Street: Funk Rhythm and Licks

Master the funk and blues sounds of Grant Green, focusing on chord strumming and crosspicking.

Duration: 37 min

08: Grant Green Street Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 2 min

09: Fantasía Ibérica: Celin Romero’s Rasgueado

Explore classical acoustic guitar techniques, including rasgueado and various right-hand techniques.

Duration: 44 min

10: Sunday Drive: Leo Brouwer–Style Classical

Learn the Afro-Cuban classical guitar style through Brouwer’s unique compositions.

Duration: 36 min

11: Manitou Swing: Django’s Gypsy Jazz

Master the essential techniques of Gypsy jazz inspired by Django Reinhardt.

Duration: 35 min

12: Manitou Swing Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

13: Anselm’s Caper: Bebopping like Tal Farlow

Explore “rhythm changes” jazz and the techniques of Tal Farlow while playing alongside Dr. McAllister.

Duration: 39 min

14: Anselm’s Caper Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 2 min

15: Blue 13: Wes Montgomery’s Octave Melodies

Learn the art of using octave melodies and apply them to the 12-bar blues structure.

Duration: 39 min

16: Blue 13 Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 4 min

17: Moto Perpetuo: Andy McKee–Style Workout

Emphasize percussive techniques and explore the distinct style of Andy McKee on the guitar.

Duration: 42 min

18: Way Beyond: Intervallic John McLaughlin

Broaden your musical horizons with cross-rhythms and interval-based music inspired by John McLaughlin.

Duration: 46 min

19: Way Beyond Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

20: Sketch for Barbara: Pat Metheny’s Influence

Learn the modern jazz waltz inspired by Pat Metheny, emphasizing improvisation and arpeggios.

Duration: 39 min

21: Sketch for Barbara Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 2 min

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

Examine the unique sound of The Police and how it relates to quintal harmony while practicing their songs.

Duration: 38 min

23: Cinq de Blanc Backing Track

Practice playing along with this backing track.

Duration: 1 min

24: Tarsus: Power Arpeggios of Alex Lifeson

Engage with shifting time signatures and techniques influenced by Alex Lifeson of Rush.

Duration: 42 min