So far, Will has had you focus on playing on one string. Now he gives you the tools to play across multiple strings.
Taught by Will Ripley in Rock Guitar for Beginners seriesLength: 8:40Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
Learn to play the electric guitar like a pro! Will Ripley is a veteran teacher that will show you quick and easy ways to start playing actual music on the guitar! Start learning original classic rock style riffs right away, all the while learning solid foundations to your guitar playing. Get ready to Rip it up!!
Lesson 1
Join Will Ripley as he gives us all the details of his series, "Rock Guitar for Beginners". You'll be playing cool rock riffs from the very first lesson!
Length: 5:25 Difficulty: 0.0 FREELesson 2
Will wastes no time getting you playing actual music! Check out this cool riff in the style of Black Sabbath. You'll be rockin' in no time!
Length: 7:13 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Will continues in this lesson by showing you how to read basic tablature for his Black Sabbath style riff.
Length: 9:31 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
In this lesson, Will takes a break from riffs to show you a great tool for increasing your dexterity on the instrument: the chromatic exercise.
Length: 6:37 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
A good foundation on the guitar has a lot to do with your right hand, or picking hand, technique. Will starts here with the basics: How to hold a pick and how to place your hand.
Length: 9:22 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 6
So far, Will has had you focus on playing on one string. Now he gives you the tools to play across multiple strings.
Length: 8:40 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
Now that you have some right hand technique under your belt, Will hits you with another classic sounding riff in the style of Deep Purple or Queen. This is an easy, yet great sounding single note riff...
Length: 9:43 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
Will is back with another classic sounding riff! This riff is a great exercise that gets you using your fingers on more than one strings, and improves on your chromatic movement.
Length: 5:44 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
Will uses this catchy riff to teach you how to mute open strings and fretted notes, and how to add some rhythmic depth to your playing.
Length: 5:43 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
Here's another catch, classic sounding riff from Will. This one will get you up and running with your alternate picking. A must have picking technique moving forward!
Length: 7:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 11
Remember the chromatic scale we learned earlier in this series? Well, Will steps it up a notch by adding a cool funky riff to help you earn your chromatic diploma!
Length: 10:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 12
The minor pentatonic is one of the core scales of rock guitar. In this lesson, Will shows you a super simple fingering for this essential scale!
Length: 8:21 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 13
Now, take the minor pentatonic scale, add some rhythm, and you've got a super cool rock riff!
Length: 4:47 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 14
Power chords are essential to any rock guitar playing. In this lesson, Will shows you the basics. Learn open string power chords and other classic power chord shapes!
Length: 11:09 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 15
Will's back with another classic sounding riff in the style of Tom Petty or ACDC. This riff builds off of what you learned in the previous lesson on power chords. Use both your open string power chord...
Length: 11:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 16
Getting a great rock sound has lots of different elements to it, and one of those is the palm muting technique. Will shows you a super easy way to get rolling on this great right hand technique!
Length: 6:39 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 17
Now Will takes a riff he taught earlier in the series and adds the power chord element to it. This makes the riff extra heavy sounding and extra cool!
Length: 10:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 18
Believe it or not, Ripley can show you a way to make your power chords even more powerful sounding! It's a simple fingering shift, but will add a lot of thickness to your power chords.
Length: 12:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
Get ready to learn a super pro-sounding riff in the style of Audioslave or Red Hot Chili Peppers! Hidden in this riff are some more foundational guitar techniques that will increase your facility on the...
Length: 12:41 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
We've learned the interval of the power chord, now Will shows us some other intervals in the form of two note shapes that are easy, and add tremendous color to our playing.
Length: 10:15 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Will's back with an important and useful technique: Octave shapes. Learn not only the shape, but how to apply muting to get it sounding very professional!
Length: 8:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 22
Proper muting can add a lot of passion to your playing. In this lesson, Will shows us how to play single notes without compromising any of the energy or intensity.
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 23
Will showed us the first position of the minor pentatonic scale in an earlier lesson. Now it's time to move on to the second position. It's a must know scale and technique!
Length: 5:22 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
Up to now we've learned a lot of single note riffs and power chords. Now it's time to inject some chord playing into our technique. In this lesson, Will starts us off by showing us how to read a chord...
Length: 9:13 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
Continuing with chords, Will introduces us to some new chord shapes with this Spanish themed chord song.
Length: 6:06 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 26
Sus and slash chords are very important when it comes to making you sound like a pro. Will walks us through a few of the most common ones, and how to implement them in our playing!
Length: 6:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 27
The G major chord is one of the most common chords used in popular music. In this lesson, Will shows some of the more popular and useful variations of the chord.
Length: 5:26 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 28
One of the biggest issues for beginning guitarists is changing chords. It can be a source of great frustration. Join Will as he shows us his secret to changing chords that will revolutionize your playing!
Length: 11:42 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 29
By now you've learned what an important role rhythm plays in the process of learning guitar. Will gets more specific here by showing us some basic rhythms and how to count them.
Length: 14:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
Ever wonder how certain songs get really pro sounding chord progressions and strumming? Here's a peek behind the curtain as Will shows us a chord progression that is simultaneously easy and great sounding!
Length: 16:04 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 31
Strumming and rhythm is something that frankly gets taken for granted when learning guitar. But, it's just as important as the notes you play on the fret board! Will gets you started on the right foot...
Length: 11:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 32
It's time to get deeper into chords! In this lesson, Will shows us all the major and minor chords.
Length: 12:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 33
The 12 bar blues is a fundamental rock and blues song form. Will shows you the 12 bar blues, but puts a little twist on it to make it sound extra rockin'!
Length: 7:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
In part 2 of the 12 Bar Blues Song, Will gets into the meat of the 12 bar blues form.
Length: 11:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 35
Will brings together several chord playing techniques in this lesson that will challenge you and keep you on the road to sounding more like a pro!
Length: 15:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
Will now brings us the 3rd position of the minor pentatonic scale. This is one of the great rock guitar scales, and Will is building towards having you cover the entire fret board with this scale!
Length: 4:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 37
Here's a couple of exercises that will help build your "chops", otherwise known as your strength and dexterity on the guitar!
Length: 11:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
Don't let the phrase "music theory" scare you off! It's merely an aid to help you understand what you've been learning and playing so far. Will uses this lesson to show you a very important scale that...
Length: 10:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 39
On to the fourth position of the minor pentatonic scale! As usual, Will shows us the scale, then shows us a way to connect all of the positions so far.
Length: 4:16 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 40
Believe it or not, finding and knowing every note on the fret board is not as hard as it may seem. In this lesson, Will demystifies the fret board taking away that overwhelming feeling when you look down...
Length: 13:39 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 41
Leading up to learning your barre chords, Will shares this lesson with us that gets us familiar with some of the basic shapes we'll need to know. Plus, you get to learn some super cool sounding chords!
Length: 9:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 42
The "dreaded" barre chords are anything but dreaded here. Will gets you going on the four basic shapes, with some tips and tricks to make them frankly, quite easy!
Length: 15:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 43
Now Will gives you the chance to put those barre chords into practice! Here's a super simple little song to help you get more familiar with the shapes we learned in the last lesson.
Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 44
The Grand Finale of your minor pentatonics: The Fifth Position. Now that you have all 5 positions, Will shows you some cool ways to practice these, and consequently, the ability to begin using them in...
Length: 9:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyAbout Will Ripley View Full Biography
Will Ripley is a passionate guitarist who performs, teaches, and manages a successful music business. His wild stage presence and undeniable guitar skills transcend vibe and waveforms of the highest levels of energy.. His talents however, are directly related to years of staying “on the grind” and “paying his dues”. He has played with many bands, produced, composed and collaborated both solo and with top level musicians. He is a sought-after studio musician and works creatively with other musicians.
Coming from a blues and classic rock background, Ripley discovered 90?s rock in his late teens. Ripley’s style is unique. He’s been described as combining the blues guitar playing of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix with big riffs that are reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine with the booty shaking rhythms of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and N.E.R.D. Ripley also has a soft place in his heart for pop music ranging from The Beatles to Stone Temple Pilots to Kelly Clarkson.
In addition to creation and production of music, Ripley teaches guitar using a method he developed through his education and over countless sessions with learners of all ages and levels. This led to the development of a successful series of recorded lessons called Guitar Goals available from his website. As the founder of the Will Ripley Guitar School he has begun expanding as a franchise into other cities which has 1 location currently – the Vancouver Guitar School. Students the world over can learn guitar using this effective, rewarding, and enjoyable style at their own pace – with epic results!
Ripley seeks participation in authentic, professional-level music, with like-minded, enthusiastic, high-achieving musicians. With dreams of creating legendary songs, Ripley is open to new band mates, songwriting partners, and recording opportunities.
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
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Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
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
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.1:35
Mind blown! I used the three finger pick hold (index, second and thumb) for so many years and hit the strings head on. Thanks Will!, holding the pick the way you demonstrate after three days of getting used to it, I already see improvements with my speed of playing!
Hi, this part 2 video keeps crashing 10 seconds into it.
Hi there jimbojam! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I tested the different quality settings for scene 2 and was able to replicate the issue you are having on the 4K file. I have sent a note to the editor that this will need to be rerendered and posted. For now, you can continue to view the second scene by dropping to any of the other quality settings low-720p.
Will, Ive been playing for about 7 years now, Im 59. I noticed my playing was a little sloppy, i kind of plateaued a few years back; wasnt sure how to practice or improve. I was definitely in a rut. I started taking your Acoustic Rock level 2 course but felt maybe i need a total refresher. This is definitely it! Just in the first few lessons I see improvement in my playing; musch cleaner and professional sounding. I plan to go through your entire Beginner section and then go on to the Acoustic Rock. Thanks for the details you put into this course, its not just for beginners, its a great refresher.
Great point about the hand gliding across the bridge. I never realized that I played with my right hand pretty stationary.
Awesome!!! I've been frustrated by the additional "String Ring" for years. I'm self taught, and this is something I've never seen covered before. How to overcome this issue was very helpful.
Really enjoying this course, great lessons which are having an immediate impact on playing and learning. thanks Will
Who would have thought that this basic instruction could have such amazing results in practice. Genius! Really enjoying this series of lessons.
Very good sequence of lessons. Even intermediate players should review. I learned a lot about my bad habits! Thanks Will!
Thanks for this useful lesson. You answer many of my questions about piking.
Nice Gibby
Great reinforcement concepts.
Wow, that simple lesson started making a difference immediately! I used to practice scales and exercises to no avail, and could never pick up any speed past a certain point, gliding the right hand across the strings made all of the difference in the world!
Very good lessons! I've been playing Acoustic Bluegrass for a couple of years now. Wanted to get into some rock Electric as well. This is definitely the answer. I'm not a beginner, except for the electric, but I'm getting a lot out of each lesson. Keep up the good work, I look forward to continuing with these sessions.
Started your lessons this week. So good....great to get really good advice and demonstration of pick holding and resting my right hand on the bridge. I have been trying to play guitar on and off for years...these lessons are really helping me. Thankyou so much.
Man, this is a killer lesson. I have been playing acoustic for a few years and this video really helped my electric guitar playing. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Thank You! What a great instructor! back to basics and breaking down what is usually overlooked or skimmed over. Great job Mr. Ripley. I have always had an issue with ringing strings that drives me crazy trying to mute. Look forward to each lesson.
Five stars for the first installments 1-6. How to hold the pick and other mechanics is hard to get good instruction on without someone in person guiding you. You do a good job demonstrating and explaining your reasons. Anchoring as you describe it's hard not to mute strings on a tele or strat.
Enjoying your 1st 6 lessons. Taking break from memorizing Cheryl's Diatonic 7th Drop 2/3 voicings. 1st Love = Jazz style. American Songbook, but want a smattering of RR technique to complement Hawkeye/Eric Maddis finger style blues & impress my grandkids. Jamplay is wonderful resource. You are articulate instructor. Look forward to more of your lessons.
good lessons Will. Where are the rest?
There are no more lessons to come? Will teaches in a really intuitive and practical way.
There are a lot more to come over the coming weeks. We are spacing these out for a few reasons. 1.) It takes time to edit. 2.) We don't want people taking the lessons too fast, at least initially. These is a big series and it's probably a mistake to watch video after video without practicing.
really jbooth? I just asked if there was more to come in a very complimentary way and I get a patronizing reply like if the fact that you take ages to upload videos is because it takes too long to edit them and to give us time to practice? I can see that Jamplay is more focused in posting free videos on you tube and giving frebees to non members so you get more paying users than to take good care of the ones you already have. You really need to improve your costumer care...
It wasn't meant to be patronizing, I just wanted to let you know why they weren't ready yet. Sorry if I offended you.