
In his Phase 1 series, David MacKenzie will walk you through the basics of rock guitar.
Lesson 1
David discusses the parts of the guitar. He also gives you some basic techniques to get you started.
Length: 31:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
In this lesson, David introduces basic power chords. Great fun for beginners!
Length: 10:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
David introduces some basic chords and chord progressions.
Length: 14:15 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
David provides a brief explanation of what notes, chords, power chords, and arpeggios are.
Length: 8:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
This lesson is all about increasing your speed and coordination. David demonstrates basic picking exercises.
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 6
David MacKenzie presents a mysterious sounding chord exercise. This exerices is designed to improve right hand technique.
Length: 9:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
In this short lesson David talks about practice, discipline, and how you should apply yourself when learning and mastering the guitar.
Length: 6:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 8
Double stops can bring new life to your rhythm and lead playing. David provides a short tutorial on what double stops are and how they can be used.
Length: 7:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 9
David covers the basic major chord shapes. Every guitarist must learn these basic chords.
Length: 18:29 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
David MacKenzie walks you through the basic minor chords. Expand your knowledge of chords with this fun-filled lesson.
Length: 8:15 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 11
Major scales are an essential component of all styles of music. They can also be used as a great way to orient yourself with the fretboard.
Length: 32:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 12
David MacKenzie explains how to practice the major scales along with a fun backing track.
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 13
David MacKenzie proceeds to an in-depth discussion of the minor scales.
Length: 15:36 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 14
David MacKenzie shows you how to play the natural minor scale over a rockin' JamTrack.
Length: 6:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 15
David demonstrates an excellent one-string exercise in this lesson. This exercise will improve your dexterity and knowledge of the fretboard.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
Hammer-ons and pull-offs are techniques that enable you to play with a smooth, legato feel.
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 17
David MacKenzie gives a crash course on bending in this lesson. Bends can add a lot of soul to your playing.
Length: 16:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 18
David MacKenzie teaches two rock licks inspired by Yngwie Malmsteen and Kirk Hammett of Metallica.
Length: 12:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
David returns to the world of hammer-ons with a fun new exercise. This lesson includes a JamTrack.
Length: 13:56 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 20
David returns to the world of pull-offs with a new exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.
Length: 12:50 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
David MacKenzie returns to bending technique in this lesson. This lesson features a backing track that is designed for bending practice.
Length: 12:18 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 22
Integrating vibrato into your guitar playing is a great way to add emotion and soul. David MacKenzie explains the basics of vibrato in this lesson.
Length: 9:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 23
David MacKenzie introduces the pentatonic scale.
Length: 5:48 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
David MacKenzie introduces the minor pentatonic scale in this lesson.
Length: 4:38 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
David MacKenzie explains a two octave pattern of the major scale.
Length: 11:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
David MacKenzie introduces a two octave natural minor scale pattern.
Length: 12:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 27
David teaches a two octave pattern of the major pentatonic scale.
Length: 6:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 28
David MacKenzie teaches a two octave version of the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 9:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 29
David MacKenzie teaches several licks based on common arpeggio patterns. This lesson also includes a backing track to jam with.
Length: 20:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
David MacKenzie introduces some important rhythm basics in this lesson. This lesson also includes a backing track exercise.
Length: 14:55 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
David MacKenzie explains various power chord voicings. By simply moving a finger or two, new power chords can be formed.
Length: 18:43 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 32
David MacKenzie introduces some new amazing licks.
Length: 29:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 33
David MacKenzie introduces the tapping technique and teaches a fun exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.
Length: 22:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 34
David MacKenzie teaches another amazing tapping exercise.
Length: 13:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 35
The third tapping lesson elaborates on the previous lesson by adding open strings.
Length: 12:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
The fourth lesson in Dave's tapping series deals with a monster diminished lick.
Length: 11:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 37
In lesson five of his tapping mini-series, DMac provides backing tracks that you can tap over.
Length: 8:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 38
In lesson 38, DMac demonstrates some tremolo techniques to add to your repertoire.
Length: 13:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 39
DMac returns to his tapping instruction with more advanced techniques.
Length: 19:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 40
In lesson 40, DMac teaches you how to play various D chords all the way up the neck.
Length: 9:20 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 41
In lesson 41, David discusses the octave and its uses while playing.
Length: 17:09 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
About David MacKenzie
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Dave MacKenzie has been playing guitar for 30 of his 45 years on this earth. Starting back when he was 14 years old, Dave picked up the guitar and started to learn from his oldest brother, who had played some guitar as well. Dave was hooked, and couldn't learn fast enough! Everything from the Beatles, Chicago, Ted Nugent, The Eagles, you name it, Dave was trying to play it.
Then as with a lot of players out there, Eddie Van Halen came along and changed the way guitar was played! Dave has been influenced by anyone he has heard play guitar, literally! Always keeping an open mind and a humbleness about him has helped him to keep learning new things on, and about the guitar.
Dave has mostly played in top 40 rock, country, and pop bands. He is most recently playing guitar and keyboards in a 80's metal band called Open Fire. They have opened for Warrant, Firehouse, Winger, and LA Guns
within the 3 and a half years they have been together, and are now jumping into original music.
Dave believes you should have internal motivation, and passion to play guitar, and most definitely, it should be fun!
As with his playing, Dave will find new ways to show you how to get the most out of your time learning guitar!
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Hey bud, quick question: How does Dimebag do his 'Squeals' (like in Cemetary Gates, etc)? I've watched his videos on youtube, pluck the note after all strings are already down, then, somehow, he says he he taps the harmonic while comming back up. I've tried this on my Jackson Soloist SL1 since it stays in tune to almost forever while trying this, but hardly ever pull it off...I'm using alot of distortion and gain too. Tried on the Dinky with the EMG's, but no luck...and went out of tune quicker. Both have Floyd Roses on them, the SL1 seems to be much better built than the Dinky. Any info on this 'trick' would be most helpfull. Thanx!
my guitar with tremol has lockings on the top of the neck. i figured it would get out of tune real fast without them. does it not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy-F7iSIopA watch
D Mac you are the man! Thnx. One question. On the tabs it would say -4 or a +2 something of that nature. Are they talking about the octaves that you are either going up or down by using it? How do you tell? By ear training or is it all experimentation just what sounds good.
honestly, i am not sure as i did'nt do any tab on this lesson. what i think it might be is if you bend the A(5th) string(open) down with the tremelo like i did in one of the scenes there i bent it down roughly down four notes. example: A, a flat, G, G flat, or f sharp. same with bending up, example: A, to b flat. thats what i think it means, maybe matt brown can shed some light on this. also i forgot to mention to use the 3-1 oil on the string tree on the headstock where the strings are guided under the little metal guides(string trees). one little drop on the string right under the tree/guide. it does wonders.
That is what I was thinking. That it applied to what note you are bending to. I don't use it that much but when I do it was frustrating me since I really didn't understand the concept and my guitar was forever getting out of tune. Now I know why. Thanks alot D Mac! Great advice on preventive measures as well.
D Mac attack!!!!
Cool lesson Dave! Learned a lot!
D Mac Great lesson Thanks