Speed and Technique

Skill Building Guitar Course from Nick Greathouse

This exercise-heavy series serves to improve your playing dexterity, coordination, synchronization of your left and right hand, and speed building in the techniques of alternate picking, sweep picking, and legato.

9 Lessons

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

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

84% Appoval

81 of 88 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

This series weaves between the three techniques (alternate picking, sweep picking, and legato) in a sequence of threes. Be sure to move along each lesson thoroughly, as each lesson is a building block for the next to follow.

1

Alternate Picking Part 1

Nick starts his series with Alternate Picking part 1. Improve your timing, speed, and execution with this important lesson.

21:23 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Legato Playing Part 1

Nick lays down the building blocks for legato playing. Strengthen and improve your left hand skills in Legato Part 1.

12:53 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Sweep Picking and Arpeggios Part 1

Nick lays down the building blocks for sweep picking. Precision and relaxation are crucial when it comes to this technique.

21:27 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Alternate Picking - Part 2

Alternate Picking Part 2 will build up your technique by adding a second string.

21:23 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Legato Playing - Part 2

Nick takes Legato playing a step further with more advanced examples such as full scale patterns.

33:43 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Sweep Picking and Arpeggios - Part 2

Nick teaches you some new sweep picking licks and demonstrates how to connect arpeggios together.

24:48 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

Alternate Picking Part 3

Nick covers 5 practice sequences in the key of A major that will beef up your alternate picking technique.

36:18 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

8

Sweep Picking part 3

Nick teaches the basics of sweep picking with exercises that have helped him.

22:18 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Pentatonic Sequences and Techniques

Nick teaches exercises and techniques for the B Minor Pentatonic scale.

21:10 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

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  • Canton, OH
  • Playing since 1994
  • 22 lessons at JamPlay
Nick Greathouse was born on December 11th, 1980 in Canton, Ohio. He was exposed to many different musical styles from a very young age. Growing up in the "MTV generation" some of his earliest memories involve watching Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Guns n' Roses with his brother and cousin. His mother played piano, sang and filled the house with the sounds of singer-songwriters Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne and Elton John and his father was always listening to country music along with classic rockers Tom Petty and Bob Seger. He never had to look far to hear great music.

Though he was constantly surrounded by music, it wasn't until Nick heard his first Beatles album (Revolver) when he was 10 that he became interested in being a musician. Shortly thereafter, his older brother got an electric guitar which Nick began to play (while his bro was out of the house!). The moment his fingers touched the strings for the first time, he was hooked and had to have one of his own.

Throughout high school Nick took guitar lessons and would jam with his friends as much as possible, his skills on the instrument improved significantly. He would spend hours with his cd player learning Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix songs by ear. But after hearing Steve Vai's album "Passion and Warfare" guitar playing became an all out obsession.

After high school, at age 18, Nick began teaching guitar lessons at a local music store. He also entered the music program at Kent State University where he studied classical guitar with George Bachmann. During this time he performed many solo guitar recitals and also played with the guitar ensemble. When he honed his reading chops to a high level he started playing in pit orchestras and band for local theaters.

Nick took a break from Kent in 2004 when he moved to Hollywood, California for a short time to study at Musician's Institute (GIT). While there he had classes with Daniel Gilbert, Joy Basu, Tom Kolb, Carl Verheyen, and his private lesson instructor Jean-Marc Belkadi.

Nick returned to Ohio in order to finish his college education. He joined a local metal core band called Last Second Decision which was formed by his brother. During his tenure with Last Second Decision Nick began taking lessons from one of his heroes, Cleveland based guitar virtuoso, Neil Zaza. They became fast friends and since then Nick has gone on to perform with Zaza numerous times including television appearances, local club gigs and the holiday spectacular "Neil Zaza's One Silent Night" at Cleveland's Playhouse Square. Nick also appears on the 2007 CD "Neil Zaza's One Silent Night: A Night at The Palace".

Nick is a graduate of Kent State University (BA Music) and continues to teach privately at a music store in Kent, Ohio and also at his home. He is very excited to be a part of the JamPlay team!

Reviews & Feedback 84/100 with 88 ratings
Time Traveler

I can tell already I will like this. Nice job!

hjgg36

I liked the teacher, it is easy to understand and it is just what I was looking for! Thanks!!

MR_FOREVERALONE

Nick is a good instructor. He speaks clearly, has good exercises and take everything in the right tempo! thanks!

kidglove11

Outstanding! These exercises are perfect. One can see how these exercises will not only build speed and precision, but it’s application to the major scale, it’s modes, and forming licks. The video was performed well enough that supplimental mat

RESM

Perfect practices introduced by instractor.