Basic Electric with Lisa

Beginner Guitar Course from Lisa Pursell

Lisa will guide you through the basics of electric guitar with a rock and blues flair in this series.

68 Lessons

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

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

89% Appoval

1031 of 1091 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.

Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Lisa Pursell will start by teaching the absolute basics, and move on building a solid foundation for your guitar playing skills.

1

Introduction to Series

JamPlay is proud to welcome Lisa Pursell to the teaching roster! Lisa introduces herself and her rock / blues background in this lesson. She also explains how she will bring a new perspective to our Beginner Electric Guitar series. Whether you are just starting or want to learn some new electric guitar tricks, Lisa is sure to take you where you want to go.

12:37 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

2

The Basics of Electric Guitar

Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives into string directions, tuning, holding the guitar, and right hand position. She finishes up with with a mini quiz and an overview that will prepare you for the next lesson.

19:39 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
3

Learning Your First Open Chords

Lisa jumps right into your first "open" chords. She demonstrates how to play these chords in detail, so you can begin playing some simple progressions on your own.

15:48 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

4

Chords and Bass Runs

Lisa continues her lesson series with more basic chord shapes. In addition, she introduces bass runs that help tie these chords together and add a level of sophistication to your playing. Combining these two techniques will open many doors for guitar playing.

11:45 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

5

More Chords and Bass Runs

Lisa picks up right where she left off in her last lesson. Here she demonstrates some additional bass walk downs that can be used to intensify your guitar playing.

5:37 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

6

Hybrid Picking

Lisa shifts her focus to the right hand in this lesson. Here she introduces a picking style known as hybrid picking. This technique requires you to use the pick and pluck the strings with your fingers at the same time. Hybrid picking can be used in a variety of stylistic settings to produce a unique tone and texture.

7:08 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

7

Triads

Lisa explains triads in this lesson. Simplistic and unique, yet powerful and bold, these little guys will allow you to explore some fresh new sounds on your guitar.

6:26 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

8

Travis Picking

Developed by Merle Travis, Lisa explains this hybrid style picking technique in detail. Travis picking, which involves playing an alternating bass line, is a common form of picking within country and fingerstyle music.

8:47 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Triads and Fingerstyle

Lisa introduces some new picking techniques that can be applied to the triads you have learned. She demonstrates how these triads can be embellished with melodic ideas to create an overall more creative sound.

18:54 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

10

The Blues Shuffle

Lisa introduces the blues shuffle. You will learn several chordal variations on this classic rhythmic pattern.

14:16 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

I, IV, and V Chords in Different Keys

Lisa introduces the I, IV, and V chords. She explains how these chords can be found in any key by counting up the musical alphabet.

8:35 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Sweet Rock Groove

Lisa compiles the information from the last couple of lessons into a nice rock groove. This is a great way to take what she has previously taught and turn it into a nice melody for you to jam around with. She also demonstrates where you can add or subtract certain notes within the groove to create your own unique rhythm sound.

6:47 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

13

Barre Chords

Lisa Pursell is back in lesson 13 with barre chords. She explains how to play various forms of the major, minor, and dominant seventh barre shapes. A discussion of economy of movement and why it is important to rhythm guitar is also included.

12:25 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

14

Syncopated Rhythm

Lisa breaks explains how the left can be used to mute the strings within a funky, syncopated groove. She provides a few practical exercises that will help you become acquainted with this technique.

5:05 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

15

Reggae Rhythm

Lisa demonstrates a short and juicy lesson on reggae strumming patterns. Most reggae patterns are played in 4/4 time with a strong emphasis on each of the upbeats.

3:15 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

16

Syncopated Rhythm Revisited

In Lisa's 16th lesson of her Beginner Electric Series, she reopens the topic of syncopated rhythms.

5:29 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

17

Single String Technique

Lisa covers some warm-up exercises that are beneficial for both the left and right hands.

6:30 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Slide Technique

Lisa presents a small lesson on the slide technique. This technique can be used with scale patterns to help create a more expressive and personal sound.

8:55 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

19

Pull-off Technique

Lisa teaches a classic rock lick that combines the pull-off technique with a pedal tone.

4:12 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Hammer-on Technique

Lisa covers the hammer-on technique. This technique is essential for all guitarists to master.

2:13 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

21

Some Blues / Jazz Chords

Lisa simplifies and breaks down some chords commonly used in the blues and jazz genres.

8:10 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

22

6th Intervals

An interval is the musical distance between two different pitches. Here Lisa covers the 6th interval and some practical ways that it can be used.

8:16 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

3rd Intervals

Lisa continues to explore important intervals used in music. Here she explains diatonic third intervals and where they are located on the guitar. She also provides a musical excerpt that will allow you to put this knowledge into practice.

7:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Tool Box Tips

Lisa introduces some techniques that will help you improvise effectively within the major pentatonic scale. Techniques include triplet sequences, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double stops, position shifts, and more.

23:05 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Minor Blues Scale

Lisa introduces the minor blues scale. This scale, which adds the b5 degree to the minor pentatonic scale, is one of the most commonly used scales in almost all styles of music.

13:40 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

26

Texas Style Shuffle Rhythm

Taking things back to the SRV sound, Lisa demonstrates this Texas style rhythmic shuffle. She breaks this pattern down by demonstrating its bass line and the muting techniques required to play it.

10:00 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

27

E7(#9) Chord

Lisa takes a quick moment to cover this unique chord. Some dub E7(#9) as the "Classic Hendrix Chord." However you see it, this colorful sound is an essential addition to your guitar toolbox.

2:29 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

28

5 Scale Positions

Lisa demonstrates the 5 scale positions of the major and minor pentatonic scales. Each position can be used alone or in combination with the other patterns to create many different scale runs. Make sure you have your alternate picking technique sharpened up.

20:19 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

Faster Chord Changes

Lisa will cover a metronome technique that will help develop faster chord changes.

3:24 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

30

Organizing a Practice Session

Lisa provides some great tips on how to set up and organize a practice session that will maximize progress.

6:28 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

31

Beginner Music Theory

Lisa dives into some beginner music theory and discusses how to use a mnemonic system to remember note locations.

5:48 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

32

Understanding Minor Chords

Lisa takes a look at how to build minor chords. She explains the crucial difference between major and minor chords.

3:21 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

33

Barre Chord Concepts

Lisa explains some important theory information pertaining barre chords.

8:08 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

34

Barre Chords in a Blues Progression

Lisa breaks explains how to find the appropriate barre chords within a I-IV-V blues progression.

5:03 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

35

Octave Shapes

Lisa takes a quick look at how octave shapes are created and where they can be found.

3:08 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

36

Improvising with Intervals

Lisa demonstrates some ideas on how to improvise using intervals. She begins with the perfect fourth interval for this lesson.

3:59 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

37

5th and 6th Intervals

Lisa continues her last lesson by explaining how 5th and 6th intervals are frequently used in melodic lines.

10:08 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

38

Major Scale

Lisa dives into the major scale and demonstrates a commonly used pattern.

8:01 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

39

Major Scale - G Shape

Lisa explains how to play the C major scale using the 'G' shape from the CAGED system.

6:39 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

40

Syncopated Rhythm

In this lesson, Lisa demonstrates how syncopated rhythms work and the different ways they can be applied within a 16th note or triplet-based rhythm.

11:56 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

41

Chords and Patterns

Lisa explains how chord shapes and scale patterns relate to one another.

8:15 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

42

Major Triads

Moving all the way up the neck of the guitar, Lisa demonstrates major triads and explains the fundamentals of how they are built.

4:11 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

43

Minor Triads

Lisa now goes on an in depth adventure into minor triads.

12:42 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

44

Minor Arpeggios

In this quick lesson, Lisa touches on some minor arpeggio ideas.

3:15 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

45

Scale Application

Lisa demonstrates how to use different scales to create new ways of building both solos and rhythmic styling. She utilizes a backing track to help make her point.

4:30 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

46

Single and Double String Slides

Welcome to the 46th lesson in Lisa Pursell's Beginner Electric series! This lesson covers many creative ideas as well as the techniques behind single and double string slides. Enjoy!

9:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

47

Pull-off Technique

Lisa demonstrates a few practical examples of the pull-off technique.

10:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

48

Adding the Blue Note

Lisa takes a dive into the minor blues scale as a whole. She demonstrates where you can find what are called "blue notes" within pentatonic scale patterns.

14:05 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

49

Understanding Vibrato

Vibrato is a fantastic and simple technique to understand. This lesson offers different ideas on how you can apply some vibrato to your playing.

5:34 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

50

Sweep Picking Technique

This lesson provides an in depth look at both downward and upward sweep picking techniques.

8:26 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

51

Shell Voicings

Want to play a lighter voicing of a full chord? This technique is called "shells" and Lisa demonstrates several common shell voicings in this lesson.

17:27 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

52

Blues Turnaround Ideas

Need some ideas to bring resolution to a unique blues progression? Let Lisa inspire you with some blues turnaround ideas. She demonstrates different keys and applies some hammer-on and pull-off techniques as well.

16:09 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

53

Harmonizing the Major Scale

Lisa explains how to harmonize the major scale with diatonic triads.

19:40 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

54

8 Bar Blues

Lisa lays down an improvised 8 bar blues solo with the help of a backing track. Then, she discusses how she created her lead lines.

7:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

55

Harmonizing with Diatonic Triads

Lisa continues to demonstrate ways to harmonize notes utilizing diatonic triads. She provides some tips on how to improvise with these triads as well.

22:48 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

56

Connecting Patterns Via Sequencing

Lisa demonstrates ways to connect patterns using melodic sequences. She moves up and down the neck and provides some ideas that will help you make your own sequencing connections.

19:53 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

57

Blues in A

Lisa takes a quick look at how to add the "blue note" into the A minor pentatonic scale.

6:48 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

58

Full Neck Harmonization

This in depth lesson explains how to harmonize the major scale while utilizing the entire neck of the guitar.

51:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

59

The F#m7(b5) Chord

Lisa demonstrates the F#m7(b5) chord and the different places it can be played on the neck.

3:40 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

60

Extensions

Lisa will use the C Major Add 9 chord shape to help demonstrate how extensions can be used to spice up an arpeggio.

3:54 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

61

Passing Tones

Utilizing some of the scale work from previous lessons, Lisa touches on the topic of passing tones and demonstrates some examples accompanied by a backing track.

8:23 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

62

Creating a Solo

Developing a simple and tasteful solo can be difficult. However, when you understand how chords and scales relate to one another, developing a solo becomes a simpler process. Lisa provides examples and tools to help make this a reality.

28:03 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

63

Chord Progression Theory

This very quick lesson explains the theory behind the chord progression used in the last lesson.

2:57 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

64

A Major Pattern 4 Sequencing Ideas

Want to learn some fresh sequencing ideas in A major? Lisa provides two ideas that can be applied to a new solo or melody.

13:40 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

65

Using a Metronome

Lisa provides some insight on how to successfully utilize a metronome during a practice session.

3:51 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

66

Rhythmic Chord Playing

Lisa discusses some creative ideas on how to apply 9th chords to your rhythm playing.

6:30 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

67

Creative Double Stop Ideas

Welcome to Lisa's 67th lesson! Here she provides some creative double stop ideas that can be applied to many different keys.

12:19 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

68

Swing Blues in C

Lisa demonstrates a swing blues intro lick in the key of C.

3:32 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

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Lisa Pursell

1,031
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Playing since 1975
  • 69 lessons at JamPlay
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Lisa started playing local venues as a teenager in and around Atlanta as a guitarist for hire. At the same time, she began teaching guitar privately and playing locally on recording sessions. In this still-early stage of her career, she was soon teaching at local music stores. After attending a local college and studying classical guitar, she began teaching at the Atlanta Institute of Music.

In 1992 she moved to Hollywood, CA. to attend the Guitar Institute of Technology (a.k.a. Musician's Institute). Graduating in 1993 as "Outstanding Student of the Year," she was invited to become part of the faculty at GIT, which she excelled at for the next three and a half years.

In 1996 she moved to Nashville, TN. There, she was hired as the lead guitarist for Nashville based band Mustang Sally, which at one point included future Grammy winner Gretchen Wilson as the lead singer. She played an exhaustive tour schedule of 150-300 dates a year, while perfecting her technique. Soon the band was opening for artists such as George Jones, Patty Loveless, Montgomery Gentry, Chuck Mangione, LeAnn Womack and many others.

In 2003, she recorded an instrumental CD which included one original track co-written with bass player Jerry Peek (Steve Morse Band), along with two covers of two of her many favorite guitarists. To further hone her musical skills, she then concentrated on songwriting, the results of which will be included as both vocal and instrumental pieces on her next project.

Today Lisa resides in Nashville, TN. Currently an educator, author, singer/songwriter/guitarist, she plans to release her original CD soon. Her music theory workbook, entitled "THINKING IN THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC" written for vocalists and musicians who are interested in learning music theory without the requirement of reading music, is currently available.
Reviews & Feedback 89/100 with 1091 ratings
Rwr01

Nice to be making something that sounds like music from the get go instead of learning just boring scales and theory for weeks/months. I'm fine with some of that later, but guitar playing IS supposed to be about making music, (isn't it?), somet

reoringo

All 3 :) I am enjoying your classes and chat room.

harrynac

All of the above :)

frankculotta

All the above

hooversailor

All three, actually...teacher very pleasant, I am finding practical exercises.

kuma67

Also like the teacher, she's cool.

Prevol108

Great explanation of the technique.

psjohnuk

and its easy to understand

kernahan5

As a beginner, I appreciate Lisa's low key approach and clear articulation of the material. Wish I signed up a long time ago

dred smith

This Sweet Rock Groove rock style playing is exactly the kind of thing that I want to learn really well. NOTE for Lisa: I wish you had done a couple of more scenes for this one, laying out slowly what you're doing especially on the IV & V turna

Jew Adolf

Awesome

teggenberger

Best series so far.

Scs0104

Interesting

Tperri144

Cute and explains it well

tryaltf4

Easy to understand also.

martin1234

Easy to understand and an interesting lesson

Hoosierkid

Easy to understand. Got new Fender American Pro Strat for Father's day ready to learn and play! Thanks, Bill

Strodav

Emphasizes how important fingering is to quick chord changes.

jmurray8100

Great teacher!

Guitar Tracks

Lisa Pursell is a very excellent instructor! I had to mention her at work as well, being a Trucker, I mention things and this one lady is going to see how cool jamplay.com really is.

cmethven

Excellent lesson, thank you! Really useful and just what I needed, feel my playing has come on a long way in one evening

axefever

good addition on walk ups & hammer-on and alternate bass strums

edberry

good base for me to get inspiration

Whiskey Jim

Good lesson

Surfpop

good lord, she actually explains the pickups and the switch!, and phase! she is actually explaining the guitar, unlike all the other teachers. well done.

JimmyLeo

gracias!! Thank u

MikeCox

Great material on the Barre Chords, again she makes it very easy to undertand especially w/the notes she leaves.

Gedereco

Great lesson, found it great to walk down to next chords instead of just jumping between them

erichtoebe

Great practical exercise with this lesson. It's always helpful to be able to tie something familiar in to help ground knew learning.

spookster

Great style, encouraging and informative. I learn more from Lisa than any other teacher here at this stage. I really like the way the lesson is not just 'this' but how that can evolve into more interesting and involved practice.

LouisP

Great teacher with lots of information. I usually watch each lesson multiple times to fully comprehend and digest everything. Having the opportunity to watch repeatedly is a fantastic thing. Also, a huge plus to have the tablature in addition

townboy

Great,love it...thank you.

Emelan

i like how you think like a chess player. Always three moves a head

tgaston40

Hey Jam Play wasn't for sure how I would like this style of learning but I will say this I am hooked, great instructor, great lesons and easy for me to understand even at almost 40 years of age and this is the first time I have picked up a guit

idus

HOLA PROFESORA PURSELL, LA FELICITO VI UNA DE SUS CLASES Y ES USTED IMPRESIONANTE CON LA GUITARRA ELÉCTRICA. QUIERO PEDIRLE UN FAVOR, SOLO HACE DOS DÍAS QUE ME INSCRIBÍ A JAMPLAY, PERO MI INTENCIÓN ES APRENDER, CONOCER LAS ESCALAS PENTATÓNICAS

joyfulnoise12

She is very reassuring and I like the pace of instruction.

Chris Gill

I do find some of this hard to follow and have to play the same lesson a lot of times before I get it.

Clem-ent-e

I fell in love with Lisa in live chat. Today she will be live at 11, but I couldn't wait to see her, so I am checking out her lessons. Yee hah.

metusbagus

I like how she jumps right in to let you know what she is looking to teach you. It's direct and less of a "baby-step" motion.

royal george

i like the way its a little think and practice work and then ends up in a familier song lick

thufendick

I like the way the teacher relates the chord patterns to one another

mjc2408

I liked the lesson very well she just went a little fast at some points in it otherwise i think it was very nice and i learned a lot in this lesson. So Thank You Lisa Please try and go a little bit slower i know you are pressed for time but it

jmjoma

Very well played.

Brutality

I liked this lesson because it really opens the door wide to blues progression