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Back and better than ever... Our Annual Holiday Event is here. New, exclusive, and Free Guitarist Tookits synergize with our best prices of the year.
Taught by Mark Kroos in Extreme Folk Guitar seriesLength: 7:43Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Extreme folk guitarist, Mark Kroos guides you step by step on the setup and technique aspect of playing in the style he deems "Extreme Folk." This style is also referred to by some as lap tapping.
Lesson 1
Mark Kroos introduces himself and the lesson series he is starting. In this lesson, Mark talks about what he'll be covering in the lessons to come.
Length: 7:47 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
In the second lesson of his extreme folk guitar series, Mark explains the ideal guitar setup for this style of playing. He talks about, strings, accessories and some things to watch out for in your setup.
Length: 7:43 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
In lesson three of his extreme folk guitar series, Mark talks about the advantages of using DADGAD tuning in this style. He also demonstrates how to get in to DADGAD from standard tuning using your ear.
Length: 13:12 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
In lesson four of his extreme folk guitar series, Mark discusses basic fingerstyle technique. Although this isn't the main technique that will be utilized in this style, it does come in to play, so covering...
Length: 13:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Before jumping too far into the world of "extreme folk guitar," it's helpful to have a road map. In lesson five of his series, Mark Kroos covers some of the basic chords you'll utilize in this tuning.
Length: 7:51 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
In the sixth lesson of his extreme folk guitar series, Mark Kroos discusses the left hand tapping techniques used in this style.
Length: 11:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Now that you've learned the basic approach to left hand tapping, Mark Kroos demonstrates the basic approach to right hand tapping.
Length: 11:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In his eighth lesson with JamPlay, Mark Kroos discusses the primary function of a capo - to change keys. He will discuss more creative and conceptual ideas for capo use in a future lesson.
Length: 6:24 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos discusses power chords and how they apply to DADGAD tuning. This tuning enables you to use one finger to make your power chords, allowing you to project the chords and stay out...
Length: 12:58 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Now that Mark has demonstrated tapping techniques for the left and right hands, it's time to combine them. In his ninth lesson, Mark provides a few exercises that help with this process.
Length: 9:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
In his 11th extreme folk lesson, Mark Kroos discusses parallel fifths and how they can be used to create melody. DADGAD tuning is extremely conducive to this compositional technique.
Length: 12:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos demonstrates the movable chord shapes necessary to play in a major key within DADGAD tuning.
Length: 16:22 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Now that you understand the basics of playing in D major, Mark discusses playing in D minor.
Length: 11:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In his fourteenth lesson, Mark Kroos demonstrates how to turn your guitar into a drum kit.
Length: 19:37 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
In lesson 15, Mark demonstrates some chord chord grips for the diatonic chords in D minor. He also discusses how relative minor keys relate to their major counterparts.
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
In his sixteenth lesson in extreme folk guitar, Mark discusses a technique he calls "cascading." Cascading is a quick hammer-on and pull-off technique that allows notes within a melodic figure to run together...
Length: 12:47 Difficulty: 2.5 FREE
Now that you've got the basic cascading technique under your belt, Mark is back with a look at what else you can do with this technique. In this lesson, he adds chords as well as picking into the mix.
Length: 18:44 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
In his 18th lesson with JamPlay, Mark Kroos discusses the advantages of working in Open D Tuning. Additionally, he teaches some fundamental chords in this tuning as well as how to get to it from DADGAD.
Length: 28:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mark Kroos is back with a lesson on natural harmonics. You may be familiar with the concept, but Mark takes it to the next level and demonstrates how to include these harmonics in the songwriting process.
Length: 27:50 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos discusses why you may want to create your own altered tuning. He also provides some tuning tips and what to avoid.
Length: 20:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos takes a look at diatonic 6th intervals in both DADGAD and open D tuning.
Length: 33:51 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mark is back with a lesson on slap harmonics. In this lesson, he covers when and how you might use this technique.
Length: 18:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Now that Mark has covered natural and slap harmonics, he provides a lesson on what are commonly referred to as "harp harmonics." This technique will allow you to add some flair to your playing and can...
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Mark Kroos covers a new tuning that you may want to try in your extreme folk playing. He covers the advantages of CGDGGD tuning, common chord shapes, and how to tune to it from DADGAD tuning.
Length: 25:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
To conclude the first part of his Extreme Folk Guitar teachings, Mark Kroos provides a lesson on practice strategies. He discusses the differences between playing and practicing, time management and using...
Length: 16:49 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Returning to his Extreme Folk Guitar series, Mark Kroos offers up a lesson on octaves. Just like in the movable fifths lesson, Mark discusses how and why you might utilize octaves in your playing. He demonstrates...
Length: 33:33 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos demonstrates how to use your thumb to create percussive rhythms on the guitar. This is beneficial as a backing if you're singing, or have a lull in the music you're playing.
Length: 12:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In the lesson, Mark Kroos demonstrates an easy, yet unique technique that can transform your playing and add some pop to your arrangements. Called an "explosive pull-off," this technique involves doing...
Length: 5:39 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
In this lesson Mark discusses the use of a partial capo. He demonstrates how to utilize a partial capo and how this benefits your playing. Lastly, he discusses how to modify and create other partial...
Length: 18:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark Kroos demonstrates the slap and pop techniques. Similar to slap bass, you can use this technique to add percussion and a unique sounding attack to your playing.
Length: 25:49 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In this lesson, Mark builds on the slap pop technique taught in his last. This quasi "clawhammer" technique is something most commonly found in banjo playing. Mark discusses its uses and demonstrates...
Length: 15:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mark Kroos returns to his "Extreme Folk Guitar" series with a lesson on Open G tuning. He discusses and demonstrates the basic chords in the key as well as some of the advantages of playing in Open G versus...
Length: 28:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
In this short lesson, Mark demonstrates how to utilize a bandana or handkerchief to accomplish a slight mute on your string. This helps to create a staccato rhythm effect that improves the groove.
Length: 12:35 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Mark Kroos
View Full Biography
Mark Kroos plays 2 guitar necks at the same time. Originally from Lansing, MI but currently based in Williamsburg, VA he is one of the only people in the world touring his trade.
Mark Kroos plays 2 guitar necks at the same time. Originally from Lansing, MI but currently based in Williamsburg, VA he is one of the only people in the world touring his trade. His primarily instrumental style is characterized by open harmonies, polyphonic textures, incredible tapping technique, and is as entertaining to watch as it is to listen to. Live performances burst with energy and magnetism not typical of solo guitar music. Drawing influence from folk, Celtic, indie, and even punk rock artists as well as other great guitarists such as Michael Hedges, Phil Keaggy, Tommy Emmanuel and Leo Kottke, Mark Kroos has developed his own edge to the acoustic guitar.
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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.I noticed in your initial lesson you have a blue scarf wrapped around the neck of the guitar. I've seen this with other 'tap' artists as well. What is the scarf used for ?
thanks mark
Can an electric guitar be used for these lessons?
I second Jason's comment-an electric will actually be easier to use as the strings are lighter and allow themselves to be pushed around more. Some of the techniques that I will teach in future lessons will sounds better on an acoustic because they will invlove a lot of notes bleeding together, but I guess even that is subjective!
Definitely! The concepts and skills don't determine the genre. Take the concepts and techniques here and apply it to electric and create a genre bending sound!
Mark you look like such a fun teacher! I got enthusiastic at the introduction lesson, and I'm glad I don't need a double neck guitar for this, definitely sticking around :-)
Why thank you, it was certainly fun filming these, and if I recall correctly I should have more energy in future lessons since we filmed lessons 2 &3 at 8:00 AM after I had flown into Denver the night before. After that I had some coffee. I mentioned this in a comment on Lesson 1, but if you guys have any questions feel free to get in touch with me at www.facebook.com/markkroos. When touring picks up again in a few weeks I probably won't be stopping by Jamplay as much but as with so many Americans I have become a Facebook junkie. It's terrible. Thanks for checking out the videos!
what strings do i need to use? didn't hear it clearly in the video