Take Guitar Lessons from Jim Deeming

Jim is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com

Jim Deeming has 146 guitar lessons and videos at JamPlay, with 25 beginner lessons, 34 intermediate lessons, 29 song lessons, 10 lessons in our Artist Series, 34 Lick & Riff Library entries and 14 entertainment videos. Use the tabs below to learn more.

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Basic Guitar with Jim

Fingerstyle master Jim Deeming teaches you the basics of guitar playing. With over 30 years of experience teaching and playing, Jim will definitely start you in the right direction. This is a great series for beginners and guitarists looking to refresh their knowledge.

Lesson 1

Introduction Lesson

In this short lesson, Jim Deeming will introduce himself and talk about his upcoming lessons....

Length: 6:12
Lesson 2

Choosing a Guitar

Jim gives his thoughts on purchasing your first guitar.

Length: 7:09
Lesson 3

Goal Setting

Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer...

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Lesson 4

Changing the Strings

Jim Deeming walks you through the process of changing your strings. He gives some excellent...

Length: 41:09
Lesson 5

Meet Your New Guitar

Jim introduces proper playing technique. Then, he explains how to play your first chord.

Length: 52:24
Lesson 6

Learning More Chords

Jim teaches you the 3 primary chords in G major. He also explains how chords relate to...

Length: 39:15
Lesson 7

Right Hand Revisited

Jim discusses a plethora of right hand techniques that are essential to guitar playing.

Length: 35:19
Lesson 8

New Chords and Keys

This lesson provides additional information about chords and keys.

Length: 19:08
Lesson 9

Let's Play

This lesson is all about playing. Jim will start you off playing a song. You will have...

Length: 20:10
Lesson 10

Alternating Bass and...

Jim teaches you a few more commonly used chords. Then, he discusses a technique known...

Length: 40:54
Lesson 11

A Shape Chords

Jim covers all possible fingering options pertaining to the basic open A chord shape....

Length: 17:42
Lesson 12

Basic Guitar Checkup

Jim talks about the future of his Phase 1 guitar series and where to go from here.

Length: 4:18
Lesson 13

Notes, Scales and Theory

Jim delves into basic music theory. He starts from square one in this lesson.

Length: 29:00
Lesson 14

Chord Fiesta

Jim Deeming invites you to a veritable chord fiesta. He demonstrates common dominant...

Length: 43:00
Lesson 15

Movable Chords

This lesson is all about movable chords. Learn the importance of barre chords and other...

Length: 40:00
Lesson 16

Proper Practicing

Jim Deeming explains how to create a productive practice routine. Make sure you aren't...

Length: 30:00
Lesson 17

The Pinky Anchor

Many guitarists use their pinky as an anchor. Jim explains the pros and cons of this...

Length: 9:00
Lesson 18

Palm Muting

Jim discusses an important technique--palm muting. He explains how palm muting is used...

Length: 7:00
Lesson 19

Reading Tablature

Jim Deeming covers the basics of reading guitar tablature. Knowledge of tablature will...

Length: 21:12
Lesson 20

Tuning Extravaganza

Jim explains various tuning methods. He provides useful tips and tricks that will ensure...

Length: 31:45
Lesson 21

Let's Play: "Red River...

Jim is back with another "let's play" style lesson. He teaches the classic song "Red River...

Length: 52:38
Lesson 22

Drop D Tuning

Jim Deeming introduces drop D tuning. Drop D is a popular alternate tuning used in many...

Length: 25:25
Lesson 23

Let's Play: "Wayfaring...

Jim Deeming breaks down the song sections to the classic tune "Wayfaring Stranger".

Length: 29:20
Lesson 24

More On Drop D

Jim Deeming takes another, more focused look at drop D tuning.

Length: 6:27
Lesson 25

Your Friend, the Metronome

Jim Deeming discusses how to use a metronome for practice, skill building, and speed building.

Length: 24:02
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Learn more About Jim Deeming

Jim Deeming got his first guitar when he was only six years old. His Dad was taking fingerpicking lessons, and Jim wanted to be just like him. The Mel Bay books didn't last very long before he strapped on a thumb pick and added the Chet part to Red River Valley so it sounded better.

ADAPTED FROM JIM'S PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY FOUND AT JIMSGUITAR.COM

Jim Deeming got his first guitar - the one pictured on the right - when he was only six years old. His Dad was taking fingerpicking lessons, and Jim wanted to be just like him.

The Mel Bay books didn't last very long before he strapped on a thumb pick and added the Chet part to Red River Valley so it sounded better.

Most of Jim's early learning was by ear. With unlimited access to his Dad's collection of Chet Atkins albums, he spent countless hours decoding his favorite songs. They were never "right" until they sounded just like Chet. Around the age of 12, Jim heard Jerry Reed for the first time and just knew he had to be able to make that "Alabama Wild Man" sound. The styles of Chet & Jerry always have been a big influence on his playing.

More recently he has pursued arrangements by Tommy Emmanuel and Doyle Dykes, in addition to creating some of his own and writing originals.

Jim has performed in front of a variety of audiences, including concerts, competitions, weddings and the like, but playing at church has always been a mainstay. Whether playing in worship bands or guitar solos, gospel music is deep in his roots and is also the driving theme behind his debut CD release, titled "First Fruits".

Jim has been playing for about 38 years. He also has taught private lessons in the past but believes JamPlay.com is an exciting and better venue with many advantages over the traditional method of weekly 30 minute sessions.

Jim lives in Berthoud, Colorado with his wife, Linda, and their four children. Although he still has a "day job", he is actively performing and is already back in the studio working on the next CD. If you wonder how he finds time, look no further than the back seat of his truck where he keeps a "travel guitar" to take advantage of any practice or song-writing opportunities he can get.

The opening song you hear in Jim's introductory JamPlay video is called, "A Pick In My Pocket". It's an original tune, written in memory of Jim's father who told him early on he should always keep a pick in his pocket in case he ever met Chet Atkins and got the chance to play for him. That song is slated to be the title track for his next CD, which will feature several more originals plus some of his favorite covers of Chet and Jerry arrangements.

Jim continues to perform live and make guest appearances at various radio stations. He currently has one full release, and is developing another, available via his website and at CDBaby.com.