
This exercise-heavy series serves to improve your playing dexterity, coordination, synchronization of your left and right hand, and speed building in the techniques of alternate picking, sweep picking, and legato.
Lesson 1
Nick starts his series with Alternate Picking part 1. Improve your timing, speed, and execution with this important lesson.
Length: 21:23 Difficulty: 2.0 FREELesson 2
Nick lays down the building blocks for legato playing. Strengthen and improve your left hand skills in Legato Part 1.
Length: 12:53 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Nick lays down the building blocks for sweep picking. Precision and relaxation are crucial when it comes to this technique.
Length: 21:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 4
Alternate Picking Part 2 will build up your technique by adding a second string.
Length: 21:23 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Nick takes Legato playing a step further with more advanced examples such as full scale patterns.
Length: 33:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 6
Nick teaches you some new sweep picking licks and demonstrates how to connect arpeggios together.
Length: 24:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 7
Nick covers 5 practice sequences in the key of A major that will beef up your alternate picking technique.
Length: 36:18 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 8
Nick teaches the basics of sweep picking with exercises that have helped him.
Length: 22:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
Nick teaches exercises and techniques for the B Minor Pentatonic scale.
Length: 21:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Nick Greathouse
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Nick Greathouse was born on December 11th, 1980 in Canton, Ohio. He was exposed to many different musical styles from a very young age. Growing up in the "MTV generation" some of his earliest memories involve watching Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Guns n' Roses with his brother and cousin. His mother played piano, sang and filled the house with the sounds of singer-songwriters Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne and Elton John and his father was always listening to country music along with classic rockers Tom Petty and Bob Seger. He never had to look far to hear great music.
Though he was constantly surrounded by music, it wasn't until Nick heard his first Beatles album (Revolver) when he was 10 that he became interested in being a musician. Shortly thereafter, his older brother got an electric guitar which Nick began to play (while his bro was out of the house!). The moment his fingers touched the strings for the first time, he was hooked and had to have one of his own.
Throughout high school Nick took guitar lessons and would jam with his friends as much as possible, his skills on the instrument improved significantly. He would spend hours with his cd player learning Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix songs by ear. But after hearing Steve Vai's album "Passion and Warfare" guitar playing became an all out obsession.
After high school, at age 18, Nick began teaching guitar lessons at a local music store. He also entered the music program at Kent State University where he studied classical guitar with George Bachmann. During this time he performed many solo guitar recitals and also played with the guitar ensemble. When he honed his reading chops to a high level he started playing in pit orchestras and band for local theaters.
Nick took a break from Kent in 2004 when he moved to Hollywood, California for a short time to study at Musician's Institute (GIT). While there he had classes with Daniel Gilbert, Joy Basu, Tom Kolb, Carl Verheyen, and his
private lesson instructor Jean-Marc Belkadi.
Nick returned to Ohio in order to finish his college education. He joined a local metal core band called Last Second Decision which was formed by his brother. During his tenure with Last Second Decision Nick began taking
lessons from one of his heroes, Cleveland based guitar virtuoso, Neil Zaza. They became fast friends and since then Nick has gone on to perform with Zaza numerous times including television appearances, local club gigs and
the holiday spectacular "Neil Zaza's One Silent Night" at Cleveland's Playhouse Square. Nick also appears on the 2007 CD "Neil Zaza's One Silent Night: A Night at The Palace".
Nick is a graduate of Kent State University (BA Music) and continues to teach privately at a music store in Kent, Ohio and also at his home. He is very excited to be a part of the JamPlay team!
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Free LessonSeries DetailsNick starts his series with Alternate Picking part 1. Improve your timing, speed, and execution with this important lesson.
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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.scene from 3 on wards are not available !! ..
Waiting for more Nick! Your lessons are awesome. Also love the song lessons, thanks Nick......
Awesome lesson series Nick! Very helpful and useful!!! Many thanks...
Great lesson Nick! This will definitely keep me busy for a while.
This is a really great practice sequence. Like all your previous speed & technique lessons, this one will be very useful for anyone trying to improve their speed and dexterity. Awesome stuff, thanks Nick. Keep it coming!