Kris Norris Artist Series

Artist Series Guitar Course from Kris Norris

Kris Norris kicks off the JamPlay.com Artist Series with a wide array of ideas and lessons; from changing strings on a floyd rose, to advanced sweeping / legato techniques and soloing applications.

41 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

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Full Course Breakdown

Kris Norris kicks off the JamPlay.com Artist Series, covering a broad range of topics and teaching ideas.

1

Changing Strings - Floyd Rose Style

Kris Norris demonstrates how to install new strings on a guitar equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo system.

13:43 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

2

Warm-up Exercises with Kris

Kris Norris shows you his favorite warm-up exercises. These exercises will prepare you to play the guitar from a physical and mental standpoint.

12:16 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Scalar Exercises: Left and Right Hand Synchronization

Kris covers chromatic and scale pattern exercises. Also, he explains some variations on these exercise and provides you with the knowledge to create your own variations. Now you don't have any excuse for getting bored!

20:23 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Scalar Exercises: Legato

Kris shows you the in's and out's of legato playing. These examples will benefit beginners and and advanced players alike. The patterns Kris uses in this lesson are based on the examples shown in "Scalar Exercises: Right and Left Hand Synchronization".

11:01 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Chuggin' n Skippin'

Kris covers right hand techniques such as palm muting, tremolo, palm muted string skipping, and upstroke accents.

13:26 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

6

Advanced Sweep Picking Applications

Kris covers the right and left hand components of sweep picking separately. Then, he shows you how to synchronize the two. Three string arpeggios and five string arpeggios with hammer-ons are both included in the lesson. Kris includes a short, original etude at the end of the lesson that puts all of these concepts in play.

35:40 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

7

Remaining Foolish: Arpeggios & Scalar Lines

Kris presents excerpts from his song "Remaining Foolish" from <i> Icons of the Illogical</i>. He explains the arpeggio patterns used in various parts of the song and also talks about alternate picked arpeggios. At the end, he delves into a little of the theory behind these examples.

17:40 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

8

Sweep Exercises Based on Canon in D

Kris uses Pachelbel's "Canon In D" as a way to practice arpeggio sweeps. He shows how to sweep and alternate pick arpeggios.

10:08 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

9

Counterpoint: A Shift In Normalcy

This lesson is about the concept of counterpoint and harmony. Kris explores contrapuntal examples from his song "A Shift In Normalcy" off of his solo record <i>Icons of the Illogical</i>.

8:52 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

10

A Closer Look At Pick Thickness

Kris analyzes different pick sizes and their effect on his playing. Using a slow motion camera, he is able to point out the differences in pick thickness.

32:24 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
11

Satriani Inspired Tapping

Kris Norris explains how to play a Joe Satriani inspired tapping etude.

11:13 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

12

Extending Your Musical Reach With 8 String Guitars

Kris Norris takes a look at 8 string guitars and their possibilities. He demonstrates the versatility of an 8 string with jazz and metal applications. Kris also performs a short improv jam at the end.

10:34 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

13

Neoclassical Inspirations

Kris teaches neoclassical examples from three of his favorite guitar players.

29:17 Runtime

5.0 Difficulty

14

Rock & Metal Chicken Pickin'

Kris displays some adventurous ways to use chicken pickin' in a rock and metal environment.

15:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

15

Exotic Embellishments In The Style Of Marty Friedman

Kris teaches arpeggio examples that use notes outside of a scale. He also demonstrates an example using the Chinese scale.

12:19 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Connecting Scale Patterns

Kris shows you how to connect the patterns of a G major scale together.

15:28 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

17

Mastering Modes: Basic Scale Theory Primer

This is the first lesson in the "Mastering Modes" mini series. Here Kris explains the fundamentals of scale basics.

19:08 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

18

Mastering Modes: Ionian

In this lesson, Kris explains the history behind the modes and then explains the Ionian mode.

9:59 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

19

Mastering Modes: Dorian

In this lesson, Kris covers the Dorian mode, which is the second mode of the major scale.

13:39 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

20

Mastering Modes: Phrygian

Kris explains the basics of the Phrygian mode, which is a minor sounding mode of the major scale.

7:43 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

21

Mastering Modes: Lydian

In this installment of the "Mastering Modes" mini-series, Kris covers the Lydian mode. This is the fourth mode of the major scale.

9:47 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

22

Mastering Modes: Mixolydian

Kris explains the basics of the Mixolydian mode, which is a major sounding mode of the major scale.

10:00 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Mastering Modes: Aeolian

Kris explains Aeolian, which is the 6th mode of the major scale. This is also known as the natural minor scale.

7:32 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

24

Mastering Modes: Locrian

Kris covers the Locrian mode, which is the 7th mode of the major scale.

5:48 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

25

Song Workshop Experiment

Aaron Miller sits down with Kris in the JamPlay studio to discuss songwriting techniques.

78:38 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

26

Song Workshop Experiment - Finale

Kris Norris and Aaron Miller are back to finish up what they started. Get ready for more songwriting, playing tips, and inside information. Enjoy

32:00 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

27

Picking Practice With Drum Rudiments

Kris shows how some drum rudiments can be used to make exercises for your right hand.

18:33 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

28

Sliding Arpeggios

Kris teaches how to use sliding techniques with arpeggios. He uses an example in the Lydian mode and also plays over a backing.

15:11 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

29

Left Hand Finger Independence

Kris teaches exercises focused on getting the left hand fingers to be more independent.

26:19 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

30

Building Triad Arpeggios

Kris explains root triad arpeggios and their first and second inversions.

25:12 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

31

Practicing Triad Arpeggios Chromatically

This lesson focuses on sweep picking major, minor, and diminished triad arpeggios chromatically.

16:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

32

Re-voicing Progressions with Inversions

Kris shows you how inversions can be used to create smooth voice leading within a progression.

14:34 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

33

Dual Tonality Pentatonics

Kris shows how to combine pentatonic scales from different keys to form new and interesting sounds.

24:06 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

34

Betcha Can't Scale This

Kris shows you how to learn scales vertically and horizontally on the fretboard.

16:11 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

35

The Neapolitan Chord

Named after the "Neapolitan School" from the 18th century and not ice cream, this chord is a major chord built on the lowered 2nd scale degree.

7:13 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

36

Diatonic Chords In G Major

Kris shows the diatonic chords of G Major.

19:42 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

37

Diatonic 7th Arpeggios

Kris teaches you how to play diatonic 7th arpeggios and their inversions in the key of G major.

15:47 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

38

Tapping 7th Arpeggios

Kris shows you how to play seventh arpeggios with tapping, legato, and string skipping.

7:45 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

39

Popular Chord Progressions

Kris shows some common major and minor chord progressions.

27:24 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

40

Quick Connect EMG Active Pickups

Kris installs these new EMG pickups into his guitar.

26:15 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

41

Workshop With Chodypth

Kris Norris sat down with Chodypth, aka Cody, and this video is the result of a day of jamming and practicing.

77:35 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

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Darkest Hour, Straight Line Stitch

  • Palm Coast, Florida
  • Playing since 1988
  • 51 lessons at JamPlay
Mr. Kris Norris was born August, 31 1978 in Canton, Ohio. He began playing around the age of 14. Early on the self-taught guitarist took an interest in metal and began playing in a local Virginia metal band. Kris' early influences were rooted in Swedish metal, bands include In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and Edge of Sanity. Norwegian Black metal also played a part in Kris' interest including early Mayhem, Emperor, and Ulver. Kris started Disinterment with future Darkest Hour bandmate Ryan Parrish. Disinterment lasted over 6 years and developed a local following in the Virginia metal by being some of the first players to incorporate Swedish metal and 3 guitar players.

College Days
When Kris was 17 he attended Virgina Commonwealth University School of Music (VCU). He studied Music composition and focused on film with world renowned composer Dika Newlin. Kris also studied classical guitar with John Patykula, prize student of Jesus Silva who was the prize student of Andre Segovia. Kris left the University after 6 years of studies. After college, he began his teaching career instructing private students and giving lessons at Mars Music. Kris' teaching career would eventually be put on hold to join Darkest Hour.

Darkest Hour Days
Kris' first album with Darkest Hour ,Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation, the 2005 release was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordstrom. Ironically, the same studio facilitated many of Kris' influences 10 years prior.

Darkest Hour's next release, Undoing Ruin allowed Kris to stretch his wings and show what he could truly do on the instrument with the addition of several solos. The record was produced by Canadian metal mastermind Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Steve Vai). Townsend was a big part of pushing Kris to his own musical potential on Undoing Ruin and even more so on the follow up record, Deliver Us.

Deliver Us was released in 2007 and debuted at 110 on the Billboard Chart. This would be the last Darkest Hour record with Kris as a member. The album like its predecessor was also produced by Devin Townsend, who was able to take a bigger hand in its production. Devin pushed Kris to experiment with his own playing and to hone in on his strongest abilities.

Kris' career with Darkest Hour spanned 6 years, 23 countries, 4 continents, countless tours, 3 albums, near 200,000 album sales, and many lifelong friendships made along the way. With the birth of his son in 2008, Kris felt he needed to take his career closer to home while still focusing on music and guitar. In order for Darkest Hour to devote 100% to their music and touring, Kris came to the decision to amicably part ways with the band.

His Future:
As of early 2009, Kris has full sponsorships from ESP, EMG, Peavey, DigiTech, InTune, and Morley. Currently, Kris is producing and mixing aspiring metal acts while also working for Final Symphony Studios out of Charlottesville, Virgina. Kris also edits records for James Murphy (Testament, Obituary, Death) at Safehouse Productions. Kris has released his first solo record through Magna Carta Records, entitled Icons Of The Illogical. His solo effort was recorded at Karma Productions with Cory Smoot (GWAR) and features vocals from Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe.

Kris is excited to be an addition to the JamPlay Instructor Roster. Lending his metal chops and thorough education to his lessons make him a valuable teacher. Kris is excited to be making lessons for JamPlay and just as stoked to learn new things from our other instructors. Check it out and stay Metal.
Reviews & Feedback 88/100 with 101 ratings
bigbyrdie

Awesome lesson! I love this sound!

orkinman

He is easy to understand and has become my favorite in this style. Great Job!

ToEleven

Straight Forward with good examples