Brent Mason

Brent Mason

Brent is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com

Brent Mason wasn’t born with a guitar in hand, but teaching himself how to play by ear at only five years old might make you think so. Born in Van Wert, Ohio, Brent moved to Nashville after high school to pursue a career in country music. After being discovered by country music guitar legend Chet Atkins, who invited Brent to play on his “Stay Tuned” album, Brent spent the next several decades building a name for himself as one of the most sought-after studio musicians i... (more)

Brent currently offers 22 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 22 intermediate lessons.

Brent Mason's contribution to JamPlay

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Country

Nashville-Style Guitar

Fingerpicking, rhythm, gear, soloing, the Nashville number system...learn it all from one of the most recorded guitarists in history: A-list session player, Brent Mason!

1

Series Introduction

Learn Nashville style country guitar from one of the most recorded guitarists in history. Check out rhythm grooves, solos, country pickin' and a glimpse into the life of an A-list Nashville session player!

3:14 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Guitars, Tone & Gear

Brent takes you through how his tools have changed and evolved over the years, from the first guitar he used in a Nashville session to his new signature model. He also talks amps and effects and discusses which types of setups he prefers for different kinds of music. He gives some great demonstrations of different tones and explores different delay styles.

24:34 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

3

Brent Mason Style Fingerpicking

Brent breaks down his unique fingerpicking technique, teaches a few exercises you can do to get your fingers in shape, and talks about his fingernails. If you're not an experienced fingerpicker, make sure you learn and practice the exercises in this lesson before moving on to his later lessons!

8:23 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Country Shuffle

Brent presents his first of many rhythm grooves, the Country Shuffle. Get this one down, play it with the backing track, and make it your own!

8:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Add Some Licks to the Country Shuffle

Brent Mason builds on the groove in the last lesson by showing how you can maintain great rhythm playing while adding tasteful, rhythmic licks into the mix. This is a delicate art, because you want to choose parts that don't conflict with other band members or the original rhythm part.

6:12 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

6

Moderate Train Beat

In the second rhythm groove in Brent Mason's series, learn to play like Brent when he played with Alan Jackson. This one's got a bit more to it than the Country Shuffle and will really get you in the feel of modern country!

13:37 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

Moderate Train with Licks

You've played the rhythm part. Now, you can join Brent Mason in playing three different licks or embellishments that can be added to the rhythm. Some are fast, and some are slow, but they all require a good amount of precision to pull off authentically.

10:26 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

8

Country/R&B

Learn how to take a basic chord progression and inject some country-tinged soul into it. Brent Mason shows how a simple idea played with the right attitude or vibe can be extremely catchy and powerful.

9:07 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Country/R&B Licks

In the groove yet?...Good! Now add some tasty embellishments to your modern country / R&B flavored playing. Let Brent Mason show you how!

9:01 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Thoughts on Songwriting

Brent Mason discusses his role in the songwriting process. He talks about tailoring your playing to the type of artist you are playing for and really trying to focus on what that artist is as a whole. He also touches on creating your own original songs and the power of collaboration.

7:14 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

11

Eagles Style Country Rock

Start rockin' Eagles style with this familiar country rock groove. It may be simple, but pay attention to the soul behind the notes. How you play it makes all the difference!

5:29 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Eagles Style Country Rock Licks

Building on the simple, rockin' rhythm groove of the last lesson, Brent Mason injects 3 simple licks or embellishments that are sure to make heads turn! What ever you do, don't lose the groove!

5:04 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

The Business of Being a Session Player

Brent Mason discusses how he got started as a session player and how the job has changed over the years. He also offers some tips and advice for those interested in becoming session players.

20:31 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

14

Fast Train

Country rhythm school with Brent Mason continues with one of the trademarks of his career, the "Fast Train". You'll be boot scootin' and jammin' like Alan Jackson in no time!

12:41 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

15

Fast Train Licks

Brent Mason adds 3 little embellishments to the Fast Train rhythm from the last lesson to spice up the groove. Make sure you have the basic rhythm down before trying to work these ideas in!

5:50 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

16

Practicing & Listening

Brent Mason takes you back in time to when he was first learning to play. He reminisces about how he used to have to try and figure out songs, his early influences, and offers advice on listening--the key ingredient to his success as a musician.

9:16 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

17

JamPlay Country Solo #1

Brent Mason heads back to the country shuffle track used earlier in the series and presents the first of 5 complete solos written exclusively for JamPlay! Mason demonstrates the whole solo and explains the 3 key licks that encapsulate the feel of the piece. Get those licks down, and then tackle the whole solo!

13:14 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

18

JamPlay Country Solo #2

Your fingers are gonna have to speed up a bit in this solo played over the "Moderate Train" groove. Remember to pace yourself and get each section down before moving on to the next.

11:43 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

19

The Nashville Number System

Brent Mason gives a bit of history on how the Number System became the standard in Nashville and explains the cryptic shorthand he uses to make the music happen. Also, download Nashville charts that Mason used in a real session! See if you can figure them out.

8:08 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

20

JamPlay Country Solo #3

Reaching deep down into his soul, Brent Mason gives us a little more modern country/R&B. There aren't as many notes here, but getting the right tone out of each note is really the focus with this one.

11:02 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

JamPlay Country Solo #4

Brent Mason gets FUNKY! Combine chicken pickin' fun with some serious jazz-influenced "outside" playing. This one'll give your fingers and brain a workout!

11:02 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

22

JamPlay Country Solo #5

This is the grand finale! It's Brent Mason's longest and trickiest solo of all played over the fast train track. There's a lot of ground to cover here, from fast chicken pickin' to long legato runs. Have fun!

13:57 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

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