Video Lessons Reviews

Private lessons are considered the best way to learn an instrument but sometimes you may not want to take lessons but just learn from home by watching Videos. We understand (I’ve done that myself sometimes). The problem with free videos (from say, YouTube) is that they are low quality, you might pick up bad habits (because nobody oversees the teachers and anybody can show you stuff), and after hours of watching you still don’t seem to be learning anything. That is because they are free videos to bait you into coming to their subscription site.

Enter the Professional Guitar Video sites. There are a few out there and I’ve tried them all. I will give you a list of my top three: TrueFire (the best); 99cent guitar lessons (they cost more than this); and another site that is a subscription service (whose name I will post as soon as I double check, so as not to send you to the wrong one). The rest are…well…not my pick, as far as worth the time and trouble. Far and above, TrueFire is the absolute best (and have been for a very, very long time).  Below are some of my recommendations for which videos to get from TrueFire to kick-start your Guitar Playing Abilities!

Pick of the Litter…

 

Brad Carlton’s Caged Dominant Course

Carlton's Caged Dominant

Brad Carlton’s Caged Dominant is one of those really special courses that come along every now and then that make you wonder what you would do without them.
First things first, Brad is a really amazing Educator but his straight-ahead, no-nonsense style makes for a lot of hard work and it’s up to the student to make it fun later, after working a lot of the copious information out via heavy wood-shedding. But this one is a little different somehow. You still get the same instructor with the same serious approach but the material and the extra hints make it fun, almost exhilarating to study to. It’s as if Brad reserved a special fondness for this elaboration of his caged approach to the dominant 7 chords and arpeggios.
The approach is exactly the same as most of his other caged series: the various caged forms of the dominant 7 up the fret-board with their roots on various strings, along with their arpeggios, relevant scales and modifications thereof. These modifications are where Brad let’s his hair down a little and shares a lot of really really cool variations (b5; b3 to 3 extensions and grace-notes, etc.). Put in the study and you will become an expert at dominant 7th chords; and you know that will take you very far in most contemporary styles of guitar.
In addition to revving up my knowledge (and consequently my playing ability) in the idioms of blues, jazz, gospel, swamp, pop, and funk by a significant measure, I discovered an added bonus equal to the first: with Brad’s really comprehensive system I found myself effortlessly coming out with dominant 7 riffs by the bucket-full. This fact alone makes the course indispensable.

 

Jump Blues (Matthieu Brandt)

true fire's jump blues

Matthieu Brandt’s 50 Jump Blues Licks is exactly what you need if you want to get that cool jazzy ‘Jump’ blues sound, without wasting time anywhere else or going after it piece-meal.
Everything you need to become a real-life player of this special genre is right here: what scale to use; the chops you use; how to apply the chops in various areas of the guitar neck (in fact, linking them end-to-end covers all the useable notes of a wide expanse of the neck vertically, and fills it up horizontally); and whatever theory you might need (not too much, really; it is after all playable blues, but Matthieu gives you the skinny on what is going on with the pertinent notes in the chops vis-à-vis the chord it is interacting with). In addition extra applications are provided for extending the basic forms and special situations. He gives you some good turn-arounds, too.
You will be a playing ‘expert’ in no time at all with Matthieu’s masterful course. He has a dry wit and is seriously funny too, on a couple of occasions.

Video Lesson List:

(for guitar)

 

I have personally test-driven each and every one of these videos (and they are all good). The following are selections which I find particularly good and useful (as time goes by, I will be reviewing especially favored videos):
30 Melodic Modal Rock Licks You MUST Know
Jon Finn
Open Tuning Handbook: Rhythm
Vicki Genfan
Melodic Soloing: Blues Chord Tones
Rob Garland
Slide Guitar Slinger
Lee Roy Parnell
30 Desert Blues Licks You MUST Know
Jan Wouter Oostenrijk
Guitar Lab: Dorian Dominance
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Chord Melody Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Gypsy Jazz Journeys: Sonora Spring
John Jorgenson
335 Christmas
Larry Carlton
Power Play: Minor
Robbie Calvo
50 Southern Rock Licks You MUST Know
Will Sophie
Power Play: Major
Robbie Calvo
Power Play: Dominant
Robbie Calvo
Solo Motifs
Massimo Varini
30 Jazz Arpeggio Licks You MUST Know
Tom Dempsey
Improv Target Practice
Jon Finn
Creative Slide Guidebook
BJ Baartmans
Modal Rock Soloing
Jon Finn
Swingin’ Rhythm Handbook
Marcy Marxer
Blues Booster
Robert Renman
50 Radio Rock Licks You MUST Know
Angus Clark
Swing Blues Survival Guide: Rhythm
David Blacker
Walking Bass & Comping for Jazz Guitar
Sean McGowan
Rhythm Makeover: Adam Levy
Adam Levy
Licks to Riffs Guidebook: Blues
Ton van Bergeijk
Down Home Boogie & Blues Guidebook
Richard Van Bergen
Licks to Riffs Guidebook: Jazz
Ton van Bergeijk
Soul Guitar Guidebook Vol. 2
Jimmy Reiter
30 Jazz Turnarounds
Frank Vignola
Jazz Expressions
Henry Johnson
Pentatonic Palettes for Jazz Guitar
Sean McGowan
Understanding & Applying the Chromatic Scale (Foundry)
Frank Vignola
30 Smokin’ Blues-Rock Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Jeff McErlain
30 Smokin’ Jazz Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Frank Vignola
Guitar Lab: Power Chord Blues Riffs
Brad Carlton
Blues Connections: Minor
Jason Loughlin
Fingerstyle Essentials
Muriel Anderson
Progressive Blues Power
Andy Aledort
50 Voodoo Blues Licks You MUST Know
Steve Trovato
Chord Tricks For Electric Blues
Matthieu Brandt
Guitar Lab: The Imaj7 VIIm7 Progression
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: The I bVII IV Progression
Brad Carlton
Soul Guitar Guidebook
Jimmy Reiter
Stu Hamm U: Slap Bass
Stu Hamm
30 Authentic Blues Grooves You MUST Know
Jeff McErlain
Chord Studies: Slow Blues Progressions Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Essentials: Solo Electric Blues
Jeff McErlain
30 Blues Americana Licks You MUST Know
Mike Zito
Chord Studies: i to V7 Vamps Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Essentials: Texas Blues Solos
Corey Congilio
Chord Studies: Jazz Turnarounds Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Chord Studies: Jazz Turnarounds Vol. 2
Brad Carlton
Chord Studies: Jazz Turnarounds Vol. 3
Brad Carlton
30 Sax Licks for Guitar You MUST Know
Bill Evans
Essentials: Radio Rock Solos
Angus Clark
Kings of Rock & Roll Vol. 7: Jimmy Page
Andy Aledort
Chord Studies: Evolving Progressions Vol. 2
Brad Carlton
Chord Navigator: CAGED Triads
Rob Garland
Interval Insights
Charles Chapman
Solo Factory: Chicago Blues
Jeff McErlain
Jazz Master
Robert Conti
Slap, Frail, & Thump
Matthieu Brandt
Kings of Blues & Rock Vol. 4: B.B. King
Andy Aledort
Jazz Master 2
Robert Conti
Juiced Blues
Chris Buono
Blues Guitar Survival Guide – Lead
Jeff McErlain
Jazz Rock Workshop
Fareed Haque
Melodic Patterns
Brad Carlton
Voodoo Blues
Steve Trovato
Guitar Lab: Slash Chord Progressions
Brad Carlton
Scale Creativity Guidebook
Richard Hallebeek
Jazz Comping Survival Guide
Fareed Haque
Guitar Lab: Getting to Know the Neighbors
Brad Carlton
Chord Studies: Evolving Triads Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Slash Chord Formulas
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Melodic Options
Brad Carlton
Chord Studies: Jazz Turnarounds Vol. 4
Brad Carlton
30 Mojo Rhythms You MUST Know
Shane Theriot
S.W.A.T. Sessions: Jazz Rock
Carl Verheyen
30 Penta Sonic Blues Licks You MUST Know
Robbie Laws
Jazz Harmony Handbook
Frank Potenza
Inversion Excursion
Frank Vignola
The Nature of Guitar
Pat Martino
Blues Connections: Major
Jason Loughlin
Jazz Guitar Fakebook: Rhythm Vol. 1
Frank Vignola
Creative Arpeggio Design
Tim Miller
Guitar Lab: Funk Horn Parts For Guitar
Brad Carlton
Funk Guitar Survival Guide
Carl Burnett
Shred Ahead Blues Rock
Jeff Beasley
Guitar Cubed
Chris Buono
CAGED Commander
Dave Celentano
Total Modal
Bruce Arnold
Guitar Lab: Thirds and Sixths
Brad Carlton
Essentials: Blues Rock Grooves Vol. 1
Jeff McErlain
Jazzed Blues Assembly Lines
Mark Stefani
Blues Grit
Kelly Richey
Focus On: Reggae Bass
Andrew Ford
Chord Studies: Modal Progressions Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
1-2-3 Jazz Chord Melody
Frank Vignola
Essentials: Chord Melody Etudes
Frank Vignola
Blues Solo Strategies
Matthieu Brandt
Guitar Lab: Smooth Jazz Power Chords
Brad Carlton
Modal Improv Survival Guide
Fareed Haque
Bass Mechanics: Crucial Groove
Andy Irvine
Essentials: Walking Bass Lines
Andrew Ford
S.W.A.T. Rhythm
Carl Verheyen
Essentials: Bebop Etudes
Sheryl Bailey
Transitions To Jazz
David Becker
50 Power Pentatonic Licks You MUST Know
Tony Smotherman
Focus On: Fusion
Joe Pinnavaia
Essentials: Funk Rhythm Guitar
Oz Noy
Chord Studies: Jazz Standards Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Improv Wizard
Oz Noy
30 Modal Progressions You MUST Know
Robbie Calvo
Dweezology: Fretboard Freedom
Dweezil Zappa
50 Ultra Intervallic Guitar Licks You Must Know
Jennifer Batten
50 Licks Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TrueFire
Acoustic Guitar Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TrueFire
Blues Guitar Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TrueFire
Jazz Guitar Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TrueFire
Rock Guitar Greatest Hits Vol. 2
TrueFire
50 Jazz Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Frank Vignola
Graduated Solos
Mimi Fox
50 Funk Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Chris Buono
Blues Harmonica Blueprint
Annie Raines
Vamps, Jams and Improv
Frank Vignola
Guitar Lab: CAGED Comping
Brad Carlton
50 Hard Bop Blues Licks You MUST Know
Tom Wolfe
Guitar Gym: Triad Chord Scales – Major
Chris Buono
Guitar Gym: Triad Chord Scales – Harmonic Minor
Chris Buono
Mandolin for Guitar Players
Marcy Marxer
Jazz Textures
Christopher Woitach
Guitar Lab: Latin Rock Rhythm
Brad Carlton
Jazz Guitar Greatest Hits Vol. 1
TrueFire
Rhythm Factory: Acoustic Rock
Massimo Varini
The Guitarist’s Pentathlon
Rob Garland
Chord Studies: Jazz Blues Progressions Vol. 1
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Latin Rock Lead
Brad Carlton
Magic Gypsy Chords & Rhythms
Tierra Negra
50 Gypsy Jazz Licks You MUST Know
Reinier Voet
Gaga for Raga
Fareed Haque
Fingerboard Breakthrough
Howard Morgen
Fingerstyle Funk
Ernie Jackson
Jazz Anatomy
Mimi Fox
Guitar Lab: Blues Progressions
Chris Buono
NYC Rhythm & Blues
Gil Parris
50 All-Purpose Pentatonic Licks
James Hogan
1-2-3 Bossa Nova
Fareed Haque
50 Soul Guitar Licks You Must Know
Jay Williams
Smooth Jazz Handbook
Paul Brown
50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know
Gil Parris
50 Jump Blues Licks You MUST Know
Matthieu Brandt
Blues Architect
David Hamburger
Jazzed Blues
Mark Stefani
50 Jazz-Blues Licks You MUST Know
David Hamburger
Chord Melody Cafe
Mark Stefani
Guitar Lab: The Golden Arp
Brad Carlton
Guitar Gym: Hybrid Picking
Chris Buono
The Power of Five
Robbie Calvo
Next Steps Jazz: 2-5-1 Progressions
Frank Vignola
Rhythm Mojo
Shane Theriot
Guitar Lab: Weekend Jazzer
Brad Carlton
S.W.A.T Improvisation
Carl Verheyen
50 Soul Jazz Licks You MUST Know
Tom Dempsey
Bebop Improv Survival Guide
Fareed Haque
Shades of Jazz
Kenny Wessel
50 Sweep Picking Guitar Licks You Must Know
Bruce Arnold
50 Essential Bebop Licks You MUST Know
Sheryl Bailey
50 Blues Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Jeff McErlain
Modern Nashville Guitar
Ladd Smith
1-2-3 Jazz Guitar
Frank Vignola
Guitar Lab: Big Blues & Beyond
Brad Carlton
Solo Factory: Texas Blues
Corey Congilio
Country Guitar Survival Guide: Lead Edition
Jason Loughlin
Chord Cookbook
Matthieu Brandt
Songwriting on Guitar
Matthieu Brandt
Two-Hand Groove Guitar
Ben Lacy
CAGED Dominant
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Caging ii V I
Brad Carlton
Guitar Lab: Open String Universe
Brad Carlton
The Rhythm Architect
Robbie Calvo
Bebop Dojo: Essentials
Sheryl Bailey
Jazz Up Your Blues
Frank Vignola
50 Progressive Blues Licks You MUST Know
Corey Congilio
S.W.A.T. Blues
Carl Verheyen
50 Modal Licks You MUST Know
Robbie Calvo
Modal Expose
Robbie Calvo
Blues Alchemy
David Hamburger
West Coast Blues
David Blacker
50 Country Guitar Licks You MUST Know
Joe Dalton
50 Blues Rhythms You MUST Know
Corey Congilio
50 Slow Blues Licks You MUST Know
Anthony Stauffer
Slow Blues Power
Andy Aledort
Guitar Lab: Triads and Hendrixian Double Stops
Matthieu Brandt
50 R&B Licks You MUST Know
Robbie Calvo
10 Guitar Licks You Must Know
TrueFire