Picking Techniques (Guitar Lesson)
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Picking Techniques
Freebo talks about some picking techniques using an original song called "To The Light" as an example.
Taught by Freebo in Freebo Artist Series seriesLength: 30:35Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Freebo Artist Series
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsFreebo, acclaimed bassist, guitar player and songwriter walks you through the craft of writing and playing songs.
Lesson 1
Introducing Freebo
In the first lesson of his artist series, Freebo introduces himself as both a person and musician. He moves on to talk about his guitar, choice of strings and even throws in a bit of philosophy.
Length: 31:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tuning Your Guitar
Freebo jumps into his first official lesson on the basics of the guitar. Before anything else, you must learn how to tune your guitar. Walk through the process with Freebo in this lesson.
Length: 15:53 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Basic Theory
Freebo touches on some basic theory in this lesson, including the very helpful I-IV-V progression. He uses a keyboard for visual reference.
Length: 33:51 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Introduction to Songwriting
Freebo starts talking about basic songwriting in this lesson. He uses an original song, "She's My D.O.G." as an example, which is a simple I-IV-V progression in the key of E.
Length: 18:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Basic Song Structure
Freebo talks about basic song structure in this lesson, covering the verse, chorus and bridge. He uses his original song, "If Not Now When" as an example.
Length: 24:45 Difficulty: 2.5 FREE
Relative Minors
Freebo continues his discussion on songwriting with a lesson on relative minor chords.
Length: 17:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chord Inversions
In his newest lesson, Freebo talks about chord inversions.
Length: 28:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Seventh Chords
Freebo talks all about seventh chords in this lesson.
Length: 22:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Pentatonic Scale
In this lesson, Freebo gets bluesy and takes a close look at the pentatonic scale.
Length: 24:32 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Circle of Fifths
Freebo takes some time to talk about the circle of fifths.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Alternative Chord Progressions
Freebo uses his original song, "My Personal GPS," to demonstrate concepts such as blues riffs, slash chords, and secondary dominant chords.
Length: 24:55 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Songwriting Process
To help explain his songwriting process, Freebo talks about his thoughts and choices behind one of his original songs - "When There's No Place Like Home".
Length: 32:46 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Picking Techniques
Freebo talks about some picking techniques using an original song called "To The Light" as an example.
Length: 30:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pedaling
In lesson 14, Freebo uses an original song, "How Do I Say Goodbye," to talk about pedaling.
Length: 26:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Trouble
In this lesson, Freebo teaches an original song called "Trouble." This catchy tune provides a great opportunity to practice more right hand technique.
Length: 30:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Time Signatures
Freebo takes some time to talk about time signatures in this lesson. He uses two songs as examples and also touches a little more on groove.
Length: 39:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Right Hand Groove
Freebo talks about right hand rhythm and groove using two original songs as examples: "The Beauty Of Life" and "Sometimes It's For Nothin'."
Length: 37:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Rule of Two
Freebo takes some time to talk about the "rule of two" and how it can be useful in songwriting. He uses a couple song examples to show how it works, including one of his originals, "We Are All One People."
Length: 32:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Alternate Tunings: Drop D
In this lesson, Freebo talks about drop D tuning using his original song, "A Soldier At War" as an example.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Alternate Tunings: Double Drop D
Freebo continues his discussion on alternate tunings with a lesson on double drop D tuning. He uses an original song called "More Like You" as an example.
Length: 18:04 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Partial Capo
Freebo talks about partial capos and shares some cool ideas for using them. He uses his original song, "She Loves My Dog More Than Me" as an example.
Length: 32:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
It Goes By Fast
Freebo talks about his original song "It Goes By Fast". He uses this song to talk about his songwriting process.
Length: 25:56 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Before the Separation
Freebo continues his partial capo and songwriting discussion using one of his original tunes, "Before the Separation," as an example.
Length: 23:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Something to Believe
Freebo continues the topic of the partial capo and songwriting by using his tune "Something to Believe" from the album of the same name.
Length: 16:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
On The Parallel Together
Freebo continues his discussion on partial capos in relation to songwriting using two of his original songs - "On the Parallel Together" and " That's What Love Is."
Length: 22:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Standing Ovation
Freebo leaves us with one last lesson in this series; he performs a beautiful song called "Standing Ovation". He also concludes his discussion on songwriting and partial capos, and gives his final thoughts...
Length: 26:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Freebo
View Full Biography
Freebo is an award-winning singer/songwriter and blues folk icon. For 30 years, Freebo played bass on recordings and toured with some of the great artists of our time; people like Bonnie Raitt (10 years), John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, CSN, Maria Muldaur, Ringo Starr, Michelle Shocked, Neil Young, Loudon Wainwright III, Dr. John, and many others. He has alsoappeared on Saturday Night Live, Midnight Special, Muppets Tonight, and in concert with the legendary Spinal Tap.
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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.Thank you Freebo for sharing this song in a lesson.
As an Artist i absolutely Love this song . I love the non judgement and the wisdom of truth. I actually think as i am writing this out how i feel about the words in this song i am finding my own voice for how i feel about choices and the lessons learned in my own experience .I am just year 1 and a bit for playing guitar everyday . Truly what a gift jam play is . I deffinately feel that although we are all connected we need to embrace our simularities and not our differences.