Tips & Tricks with Brendan Burns

Skill Building Guitar Course from Brendan Burns

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Brendan Burns takes a look at tips and tricks for taking your guitar playing to another level.

18 Lessons

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

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

95% Appoval

43 of 44 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Brendan Burns covers tips for everything from rapid chord changing and economy of motion, to harmonics, prepared guitar techniques and practice strategies.

Begin the Course
1

Pivot Fingers

Brendan Burns explains how pivot fingers can be used to achieve smoother, quicker chord changes.

9:04 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

2

Battle Plan

Brendan Burns discusses a "battle plan" for performing chord changes. The battle plan prepares you for the next chord in the progression through visualization as well as physical preparation.

8:16 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

3

The Strum Switch

Brendan explains how rhythmic consistency with the right hand must be maintained in order to perform effective chord changes.

9:27 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

4

Staggered Strumming

Brendan Burns explains how "staggering" your strums can assist in performing chord changes.

8:08 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

5

Connected Chord Voicings

Brendan discusses and demonstrates how to connect chord voicings together.

14:00 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
6

Connecting Chords: Dominant 7ths

Brendan Burns demonstrates and discusses ways to connect dominant 7th chord voicings.

10:35 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

7

Connecting Chords: Minor 7ths

Brendan Burns demonstrates connecting chords for both the 6th string and 5th string minor 7th voicings.

13:15 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

8

Connecting Chords: Major 7ths

Brendan Burns discusses the major 7th chord voicings and ways to connect them.

13:15 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

9

Connecting Chords: Minor 7th Flat 5

The last chord voicing in the connecting chords series is the minor 7th flat 5. Brendan demonstrates uses and voicings for this chord.

7:52 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

10

Kline Electric Guitar

Brendan answers some frequently asked questions about his Kline guitar.

6:31 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

11

Practice Strategies

Brendan Burns discusses ways to get the most out of every practice minute you spend with the guitar.

22:28 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

12

Prepared Guitar Techniques #1

Get ready for the wild and weird! In this two part series, Brendan shows us how to achieve some very unique, organic sounds by physically attaching various items to your guitar.

25:27 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

13

Prepared Guitar Techniques #2

Brendan wraps up this short series by showing us some practical applications for the prepared guitar.

17:24 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

14

Harmonics Part 1

In part one of this mini-series, Brendan shows you everything you need to know about producing solid left hand harmonics.

23:39 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

15

Harmonics Part 2

Brendan shows us how to play the simple tune of "Amazing Grace" using only harmonics. In addition, we'll learn how to develop other melodic ideas that enhance the original melody.

9:43 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Harmonics Part 3

Brendan continues in his harmonics series by showing us how to bend harmonic notes behind the nut, culminating in the harmonic exploration of two traditional folk tunes: "Danny Boy" and "Shenandoah".

35:39 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

17

Harmonics Part 4

Brendan wraps up his harmonics series by showing two really awesome techniques: tap harmonics and pluck harmonics. These two techniques will make the entire chromatic scale available to you via harmonics!

14:24 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

18

Practice Strategies, Vol. 2

Brendan expands on a topic he shared with us a while back: practice strategies. Learn how to get the most out of your practice time with 8 very helpful and practical tips from a seasoned veteran!

26:57 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

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Brendan Burns

43
  • Nashville, Tenesse
  • Playing since 1988
  • 179 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Brendan has been passionate about music since childhood. He began his studies on trumpet, in elementary school, and then moved to guitar as a teenager. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Berklee College of Music, and has studied with Norm Zocher, Joe Stump, Bret Willmott, Bob Pilkington, Jay Weik, Tim Miller, & Charlie Banacos.

While at Berklee, Brendan was a member of the Music Mentoring Program, teaching private lessons to gifted high school students. He is currently teaches, and is chair of the guitar department at Brookline Music School. Brendan also teaches guitar for Tune Foolery & privately at his home in Cambridge, MA.

Along with educating, Brendan plays out often as a Solo Guitarist, performing standards, pop, and classical repertoire. He has recorded and played with the chamber-fusion band Ra Quintent, and as well as Vessela Stoyanova's Eastern Stories Under Western Skies Project. Brendan also performs as a leader, director and sideman for various Boston art-rock projects, and is former member of MIT's Gamelan Galak Tika.
Reviews & Feedback 95/100 with 44 ratings
Gustin

All three

Maccoroni

Good explanations and tipps.

ChristLives

Thanks

RoSeeksTruth

This lesson was really well taught. It was engaging, informative, and useful.