Series Introduction (Guitar Lesson)
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Series Introduction
Award winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform the average fingerstyle player into an artist. Using modern techniques such as harmonics, hammer-ons, two handed tapping, rhythmic accents, you'll be well on your way to creating your own fingerstyle guitar compositions in no time!
Taught by Calum Graham in Acoustic Artistry with Calum Graham seriesLength: 4:02Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Acoustic Artistry with Calum Graham
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsAward-winning Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham aims to transform the average fingerstyle player into an artist. Using a modern approach to fingerstyle guitar, Calum teaches you techniques in the context of his own songs to get you on your way to composing your own beautiful fingerstyle songs.
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
Award winning, Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Calum Graham introduces his Jamplay Artist Series, which aims to transform the average fingerstyle player into an artist. Using modern techniques such as harmonics,...
Length: 4:02 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
The Hedges Hammer-on Pull-off Technique
Using his song "The Nomad" Calum shows us a technique inspired by one of his biggest influences: the great Michael Hedges.
Length: 10:48 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Exploring Counterpart
The idea of counterpart in a composition is two different lines moving counter to each other. In this lesson, Calum uses his song "The Nomad" to illustrate the use of this technique.
Length: 10:30 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Right Hand Slap Technique
In this lesson, Calum shows us an energetic technique achieved by slapping the strings with your right hand. Again, this is in the context of his song "The Nomad".
Length: 9:07 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Basslines 101
When constructing fingerstyle pieces, one must act as their own bass player. In this lesson, Calum gives an introduction to playing basslines, and shows us multiple ways to play them.
Length: 6:16 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Adding Layers to Basslines
Now that we've learned how to execute a bassline in different ways, it's time to layer another part on top of it! A challenging concept that will further your left and right hand independence.
Length: 16:02 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Two Handed Tapping Sequence
Calum continues working us through his song "The Nomad". This lesson is all about a two handed tapping sequence in the song, meant to strengthen our hand independence.
Length: 13:40 Difficulty: 4.5 Members Only
Various Ways to Play Melody
Adding variation and nuance to your playing sometimes consists of learning to play melodies different ways. In this lesson, Calum takes a simple melody line and plays it with open strings, then with harmonics.
Length: 6:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
A Little Orchestra
Truly artistic acoustic arrangements can almost sound as though there is a small orchestra at your fingertips. Calum is a master at this technique and uses this lesson to show you how to achieve this...
Length: 14:47 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Call and Answer
In this lesson Calum takes a look at he traditional, time honored technique of the call and answer, putting it into a modern sounding fingerstyle passage.
Length: 9:47 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Thinking Rhythmically
As important as melody and harmony are, the acoustic guitar affords a unique opportunity to emphasize another musical element: rhythm. Calum shows us how to think of our guitar as percussion instrument...
Length: 9:32 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Yoga For Your Fingers
As you can probably see, playing in Calum's style requires lots of dexterity and strength in your fingers! Well, it just so happens that he has a great set of exercises to help you gain that strength...
Length: 15:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
One Man Band
Part of mastering this style on the acoustic guitar is learning how to make your guitar take on the personality of many different instruments. In this lesson, Calum shows how to incorporate different...
Length: 8:02 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Right Hand Development
In this lesson, Calum shows some advanced right hand techniques like rasguedo, string security and string skipping.
Length: 19:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Harmonics
Harmonics can be a great tool for adding flavor and uniqueness to your solo guitar pieces. In this lesson, Calum shows us an excerpt from his song "Waiting" to demonstrate the use of pinch harmonics.
Length: 19:02 Difficulty: 4.5 Members Only
Percussive Slap Harmonics
A technique that provides an aggressive percussion approach as well as a melodic uniqueness, percussive slap harmonics is a useful tool in your arsenal of artistic acoustic techniques.
Length: 12:06 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Melodic Multitasking
Acoustic artistry involves being able to multitask on your instrument. Playing bass parts, counter melodies and melodies at the same time is a common occurrence. In this lesson, Calum gives us a passage...
Length: 13:52 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Creating Internal Rhythm
Creating internal rhythm is the process of filling some of the space between melodic notes with ghost notes or passing notes to give the passage more of a rhythmic feel. In this lesson Calum uses his...
Length: 11:49 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Utilizing Open Strings
In this lesson, Calum shows us the advantage of using open strings. As the example, he uses his song "Phoenix Rising".
Length: 11:16 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Two Handed Tapping 101
To get a little more proficient at two handed tapping, Calum shows us how to practice the major scale using this technique.
Length: 7:55 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Cascading Harmonics
The sound of cascading harmonics is very reminiscent of a harp. In this lesson, Calum show a lick that can be used to add that quality to your songs.
Length: 7:44 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Thumb Upstroke Technique
Although not as common, up and down picking strokes with the thumb can be used in fingerstyle guitar playing. In this lesson Calum gives us some pointers on how to execute this.
Length: 7:50 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
The CAGED Concept
The CAGED concept has helped countless guitarists over the years. In this lesson, Calum gives his take on the concept, and explores its usefulness.
Length: 13:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
All In One
Mixing certain elements together gives us a "guitar stew" of artistic techniques resulting in a complex and beautiful musical situation. Percussive guitar, harmonics and hammer-ons are on the ingredient...
Length: 14:35 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Travis Picking
In this lesson Calum gives us his take on the classic technique called Travis Picking. Using his song "Through the Photo Album", he takes us into this very Tommy Emmanuel-esque composition.
Length: 23:26 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Scales and Open Strings Part 1
Using open strings in your fingerstyle playing is a key technique. Not only does it allow you to achieve a nice sustain, it can also be handy for buying yourself a split second for position changes.
Length: 7:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Scales and Open Strings Part 2
In part two of this lesson on using open strings, Calum shows us how to traverse the length of the neck playing a variation of the C major scale, using as many open strings as we can along the way.
Length: 5:20 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Spice Up Your Scales
Now that we've used open strings to make our scales sustain more, it's time to add yet another technique - harmonics. In this lesson Calum combines fretted notes, open strings and harmonics to achieve...
Length: 7:26 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
No Tuner? No Problem!
Being able to tune your guitar without an electronic tuner is a great thing to know in a pinch, but also can help train your ear. Calum revisits some popular self tuning methods in this lesson, possibly...
Length: 10:32 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
About Calum Graham
View Full Biography
At just 24, Calum Graham has already enjoyed a career that would be the envy of most artists twice his age. The Alberta-based guitarist and singer/songwriter has released five acclaimed albums, won major national music competitions, performed at the Olympic Games in both Vancouver and London, racked up some phenomenal views on YouTube, and was most recently named one of the top 30 guitarists in the world under 30 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Andy McKee, one of today’s most popular acoustic guitarists, calls Calum “the most promising young guitarist I’ve seen. His command of the guitar is already really impressive!”
Graham just recently released his fifth studio album 'Tabula Rasa' which was crowd funded by fans across the globe and produced by world renowned Acoustic Guitarist, Antoine Dufour. Adding an extra dimension to his compositions, the album introduces Graham’s soulful vocals to his audience for the first time. The album was released in March 2016 and features a combination of his exemplary instrumental guitar work punctuated throughout with elements of folk, blues, and pop in his vocal songs with guest performances by Antoine Dufour and Bass Guitar Extraordinnaire, Michael Manring.
Calum is currently working on releasing new videos in the coming months on his YouTube channel, and continues to tour throughout Canada, the US, and Europe.
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Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
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Erik Mongrain
Erik expounds on the many possibilities of open tunings and the new harmonics that you can use in them. He explains what...
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Jim Deeming
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Trevor Gordon Hall
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Steve Eulberg
Steve Eulberg does a quick review of this lesson series and talks about moving on.
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Jessica Baron
Jessica kindly introduces herself, her background, and her approach to this series.
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Maneli Jamal
The acoustic guitar is basically a big wooden box, so it makes sense that it sounds pretty good as a drum! Learning how...
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Mike Dawes
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Rex Brown
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Steve McKinley
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Rafael Moreira
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Straten Marshall
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I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
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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.hi everyone, which is the title of the tune in the background?
the first tune is Waiting, the second one is the nomad. Great songs.
Very excited to learn the stuffs that seems very exciting
Quite a lovely composition played here on intro! I look forward to the class.
You must have Scottish heritage with a name like Calum and a surname like Graham, looking forward to the series.
I wonder if we have any other JamPlay Calums who could chime in here :)
Very good playing Calum. This is going to be an AWESOME series. Glad to have you on board :)