Classic Rock Guitar

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Will Ripley

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Will Ripley picks up where he left off in his Phase 1 Beginner series with this series: Classic Rock Guitar. Learn timeless rock techniques through special tracks that Will has prepared in the styles of some of the greatest artists of all time: Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, Guns 'n' Roses, just to name a few.

43 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

Learn timeless rock techniques in this series: Classic Rock Guitar. Will Ripley has prepared special tracks in the styles of some of the greatest artists of all time. Through these tracks, you will learn all the techniques you need to know to make you sound like you just stepped out of the classic rock era!

Begin the Course
1

Series Introduction

Get ready to learn some timeless classic techniques in this series, Classic Rock Guitar. In this lesson, Will gives an introduction to what you'll find in the series.

4:33 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

What You Need to Know

To kick off the series, Will briefly goes over some of the foundational techniques you will need to know to get through this series.

10:17 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Single Note Riff in the Style of Heart

Will gets us going with a very cool yet simple single note riff in the style of the band Heart.

7:15 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Riff in the Style of Ozzy Osbourne, Part 1

Things take a bit of heavier turn with this riff in the style of Ozzy! Work on your hammer-ons, power chords and huge sounding open chords.

12:06 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Riff in the Style of Ozzy Osbourne, Part 2

Will continues with a track in the style of Ozzy Osbourne, getting into the chorus section.

8:15 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Riff in the Style of Jimi Hendrix

Will continues with single note riffs and this classic sounding riff in the style of Hendrix. This is a great one for visualizing octave shapes while playing riffs.

7:39 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Riff in the Style of Aerosmith/James Gang

Funky is the name of the game here with this riff in the style of The James Gang or Aerosmith. There's some nice chromatic movement, and a chance to work on your alternate picking. Rip it up!

11:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Blues-Rock Riff In the Style of Cream

Blues is one of the cornerstones of rock guitar playing, especially classic rock. This catchy riff in the style of Cream will have have you wanting to start a power trio right away!

14:45 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Pentatonic Challenge

In Will's Phase 1 course, he introduced you to the pentatonic scale. Now, he takes you to the next level with a unique way of practicing these scales that will have you using them in solos in no time!

10:04 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

10

Diagonal Pentatonics

Knowing your 5 pentatonic shapes inside an out is crucial, especially now that Will is going to show us a whole new perspective on playing these essential rock guitar scales.

9:39 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

In the Style of Guns 'n' Roses/Black Crowes Part 1

Another classic sounding tune coming at ya here... This one has an emphasis on fast moving power chord shapes.

8:08 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

In the Style of Guns 'n' Roses/Black Crowes Part 2

In part 2 of this lesson, we get into the heavier sounding section of the song. Get ready to channel your inner Guns 'n' Roses!

9:54 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

In the Style of Neil Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 1

Now Will brings the energy down a bit with this Neil Young-esque track. He shows you some very cool embellishments for your open chords that will give your songs a lot of color!

14:03 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

14

In the Style of Neil Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 2

There's more to your open chords than you may realize. In this lesson, Will shows us how to get the most out of some of these chords by making a few modifications and embellishments.

7:57 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

15

In the Style of Neil Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 3

Continuing on this Neil Young-Lynyrd Skynyrd -esque track, it's all about the chords, and making the chords sound cool and professional. Will shows us some nice F chord variations, then puts it all together with the track!

17:20 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

In the Style of Neil Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd Part 4

In this lesson, Will takes the open chords you learned in the previous three lessons and shows you how to play them in different positions up the neck adding to the sound palette of this track!

12:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

In the Style of Boston/Lynyrd Skynyrd

Here's another great chord exercise, using a classic sounding track in the style of Boston or Lynryrd Skynyrd. There are lots of variations on chords found in the key of D here!

12:17 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

How to Bend Strings

Will now transitions in to more lead oriented playing, starting a must know technique: String bending!

12:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Single Note Vibrato

Now that you've learned how to bend strings, add some vibrato to make those notes sing, and make your guitar sustain even longer!

10:39 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

In the Style of ZZ Top, Part 1

Blues is a huge part of classic rock, and this lesson in the style of ZZ Top introduces you to some traditional sounding blues/rock licks that you can use over lots of classic rock tracks!

14:17 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

21

In the Style of ZZ Top, Part 2

Now that Will has showed us the lead licks, he clues us in on the super groovy rhythm part of the ZZ Top sounding tune!

9:24 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

22

In the Style of Jimi Hendrix, Part 1

Earlier in the series, Will gave us a taste of this Jimi Hendrix style track. Now he's going to teach the entire song. Get ready for some serious Hendrix rock and roll attitude!

13:32 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

23

In the Style of Jimi Hendrix, Part 2

In this lesson, Will continues with this Hendrix-esque track, showing us those gritty licks up the neck just like Jimi would play!

16:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

The Major Pentatonic Scale

Up until now, Will has mostly been working in the minor pentatonic scale. In this lesson, he introduces us to a major pentatonic sound, that will inspire lots of new ideas!

8:23 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

25

Major and Minor Pentatonic Examples

The blending of major and minor pentatonic scales is a technique commonly found in classic rock and blues. Will shows us some really simple ideas to get us started on this cool sounding technique!

11:50 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

26

In the Style of Free-CCR-AC/DC, Part 1

In this very classic sounding track, Will covers some essential rhythm guitar techniques as well as some lead guitar licks that will help you get "the bends"!

10:12 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

In the Style of Free-CCR-AC/DC, Part 2

Will continues in the super classic sounding track, this time showing you some extremely useful inversion chords.

11:37 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

In the Style of Free-CCR-AC/DC, Part 3

Now Will gets into the gritty rhythm guitar parts of the track. You'll learn to play power chords in ways you perhaps never thought of before. Get ready to rock!

10:20 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

In the Style of Free-CCR-AC/DC, Part 4

In this lesson, Will shows us some atmospheric sounding chord voicings as well as a driving rhythm part that adds a definite 'cool' factor to this track. Then, he goes over all the parts with the track!

10:57 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

In the Style of Jimi Hendrix-Cream, Part 1

This is a great blues-rock track that conjures up images of Eric Clapton with Cream, and a dash of Jimi Hendrix thrown in. In the next two lessons, Will covers both rhythm and lead aspects of the tune.

17:34 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

31

In the Style of Jimi Hendrix-Cream, Part 2

Continuing with this track, Will now shows us a classic lead guitar technique known as "sixths".

10:06 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

32

In the Style of Led Zeppelin, Part 1

In this very Led Zeppelin-esque track, you'll learn about intervals, huge sounding chords, and unison bends. In other words, lots of great classic rock techniques!

14:28 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

33

In the Style of Led Zeppelin, Part 2

In part two of this lesson, Will expands on the chorus section and shows us that gritty rock guitar technique - unison bends.

11:14 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

34

In the Style of Dire Straits - AC/DC, Part 1

There are definite echoes of Malcolm and Angus Young in this vintage rocker. Will covers all the rhythm and lead parts for you, and you will soon learn these techniques will translate to lots of other songs!

11:57 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

35

In the Style of Dire Straits - AC/DC, Part 2

Continuing with this track, Will shows us an alternate rhythm guitar part that conjures up images of Dire Straits, all the while teaching super important chord inversions!

4:38 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

36

In the Style of Dire Straits - AC/DC, Part 3

Now Will gets into the lead guitar parts of this classic sounding track, including blending major and minor pentatonic ideas.

12:31 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

37

In the Style of Aerosmith/James Gang

Having covered some of the riff elements of this track in a previous lesson, Will now shows us the super funky rhythm parts that will complete the track.

10:09 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

38

In the Style of Heart, Part 1

Earlier in the series, Will showed us a cool single note riff in the style of Heart. Now, he returns to the entire track to show us some driving rhythm guitar parts!

12:05 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

39

In the Style of Heart, Part 2

Continuing with this track in the style of Heart, Will gets you going on vintage riffs played off the one finger A chord.

13:44 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

40

In the Style of Heart, Part 3

Strumming and chords are just as big a part of classic rock as playing riffs is! In this lesson, Will teaches us the art of switching chords with minimal movement to keep the groove clean and tight.

6:51 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

41

In the Style of Heart, Part 4

Will wraps up this track by taking a look at playing some lead guitar lines that soar right off of the original riff we learned all the way back in lesson 3 of this series!

12:08 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

42

Led Zeppelin Style Pull-Off Lick

Time to build those chops! Here's a lick that makes you think of Jimmy Page, and it's not as hard as it seems at first. Will gets you playing the basics, and pretty soon this lick will be smokin'!

8:44 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

43

Classic Rock Licks

In this lesson Will shows us some other "classic" licks that you can add to your repertoire. These can be integrated in all sorts of classic rock and blues songs!

9:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

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Will Ripley

563
  • Calgary, Alberta
  • Playing since 1995
  • 220 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
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.
Reviews & Feedback 97/100 with 573 ratings
TonySlashT

These type of licks would be impossible to pick up just watching guitarists play. Another major step forward, thanks Will

ajayc7

All of the above

disruptor

all of the obove A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BradHoward

Will has the same taste in classic rock as me, I'm loving the lessons he puts on.

Dav0306

Authntic rock themes that inspire and make you want to find out more

icckart

Been hoping you'd get Will to do another series. I love playing my acoustic, but sometimes you just gotta RIP(ley...)!

GREGinMD

Clear and concise; extremely useful info!

falizar

Come on, he has my last name! Going to be a fun series!

BluesG

Cool????

thedude63

easy to understand and It's just what I needed.

hexumnik

Great lesson, good instructions on how to piece together

senglish001

I am glad I jumped out of the beginner class to this one. I like the teacher but I have been playing for a long time and this seems better.

pgoelz

Good suggestion on the up down scale bit. I'm psyched to take it on.

hyperplus

Great intro. Love the energy!

simon1969

Pentatonics make sense at last!

mysterydog

This guy is just a good teacher.

samantha80

He's a gentle soul, which makes the lessons easier to get through. He's not an impatient grouch, like the classic music teacher.

Christian82

Needed this to help connect the shapes

iduncanw

I have a habit of watching lessons when on the train without my guitar. Well today I decided to plug my laptop into my amp and jam along. It was so much fun. Will's lessons are awesome as he has you playing cool stuff at the same time as lea

Geminispirit

wow this kicked my ass. I need a lot of work with these

spotmfd

I have found his lessons to be great for beginners better than some of the other teachers, very simple and easy to understand

Time Traveler

I just put this in my first note that I like this guy.. This is my style all the way..

vic_loher

Is there tab for this lesson?

kndiaye

It’s perfect for me ! Excellent teacher !

paul112

love this style lesson ...more please

flyingdutch

Nice lick and well explained how to expand it.

Mchrist

really fun and easy to understand,

hubbardl643

Will is great, I look forward to daily lessons

JimmyJam7

Really opened up a new level in my playing.

toddovermoen

ROCK! ON! :-)

kwintersnc

Sounds great without making it too complicated, and very well-explained.

rudolf_kis

The lesson "Riff in the Style of Ozzy Osbourne, Part 1 and 2 " and the ones that follow, have given me a lot of motivation to continue on with practicing. What I have been missing were songs, licks and teaching methods that I found "relevant" a

weeandymc

the slap/mute bit really made the sound - would be good to get some guidance on this. It was mentioned later in lesson but as I was working through and trying to emulate, i didn't get that far before trying to work it out (i.e. the original run

kerrymoore

Tops n neat little riff

jmilesson

Very fun to play, and an amazing riff!

ChrisOraz

Very well presented!

Garry W

Wanted to tick all of the above. Unfortunately, I have not picked up the guitar for a while and this series temped me back. Great to play stuff 'in the style of' as lets the student play recognisable riffs/phrases using basic techniques.

BamaJama1

Will is a great instructor & i look forward to growing in my playing abilities through his lesson plans!! Im getting to the point of almost feeling like i can honestly say i know how to play the guitar ????. One Stocked chic here!!!

gtroberts

Will is an excellent teacher - how and why things sound good. His classic rock series is outstanding.

johnny_rotten

Will is awesome!

Stratdude84

Will is the best teacher I've come across so far on the site!

J.Rod

Will Ripley has become one of my favorite instructors on the site! All his lessons are always easy to understand and the material he teaches is always on point and top notch! Hopefully you continue to bring him back for more!

MikeeBee

You covered this stuff in previous lessons, but ,yeah, I think it's a cool lesson to combine all the MP scales and show them in action so we can see them in action. Thanks Will!