Lead
Welcome to the newly redesigned lead guitar lessons page! This is a more permanent page that displays all the various lead guitar lessons at once. Some of the latest lessons added since the new site launched may not have been added here yet, so don’t forget to check the lessons category below the site logo at the top of the page.
To make things easier we’ve reorganised everything into categories depending on the type of lesson given, but this is still very much a work in progress and if you have any opinions on how this section is structured that you’d like to share, please let us know on the forum! Also, we’re still gladly accepting user submitted guitar lessons, so feel free to share whatever knowledge you have with your fellow guitarists by writing a lesson and sending it to us via email or on the forum!
Lesson Types:
Exercises to build speed, stamina or for warmup
Developing technique
Composition and musical theory
Exotic Scales
Articles for smarter playing or practice techniques and overcoming mental obstacles
Styles and Transcriptions
Exercises to build speed, stamina or for warmup:
- Chromatic Exercises by Richard Baines
- Warming Up Stretches by Richard Niczyperowicz
- How To Play Faster – Without Having To Practice! by Total Guitar Magazine (UK)
- Fingering’s Up by Cyril Lepizzera
- Left Hand Straining by Cyril Lepizzera
- Picking & Sweeping Exercise by Cyril Lepizzera
- Speed Sweeping by Cyril Lepizzera
- Extreme Picking by Cyril Lepizzera
- Speedy’s Fingering by Cyril Lepizzera
- Arpeggio Tricks by Atanas Shishkov
- Extreme Tapping Licks by Atanas Shishkov
- Speed Picking by Atanas Shishkov
- Speed Picking 2 by Atanas Shishkov
- Diminished Arpeggios by Clay Foster
- Extended Alternate Picking Exercise by Tom Kopyto
- 5 Exercise Lesson by Francesco Fareri
- 10 Guitar Speed Training Exercises That No Guitar Player Should Be Without! by Tennyson Williams
- How To Play Guitar Solos Fast by Tennyson Williams
- Why a Guitarist Should Practice With a Metronome by Tennyson Williams
- Guitar Hand Stretches and Why They Are So Important by Tennyson Williams
- Multi-Finger Tapping by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Alternate Picking Etude/Warmup by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Exercise by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep Picking Exercise by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Shred Guitar Fundamentals by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Improve Your Capabilities 1 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Improve Your Capabilities 2 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep and Tremelo Picking Licks by Kevin Dolle (Shredaholic user)
- Warm-up Rundown by Ian Brindley (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Phrases by Moises Olvera (Shredaholic user)
- How To Take Your Fingers To The Next Level by Cob (Shredaholic user)
Developing technique:
- Two Hand Tapping by Richard Niczyperowicz
- The Importance of Bends by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Beginner’s Guide To Shredding (Part 1) by Total Guitar Magazine (UK)
- Picking Hand Discipline by Tom Hess
- Vibrato Control by Tom Hess
- How To Improve Your Guitar Technique – Part 1 by Tom Hess
- How To Improve Your Guitar Technique – Part 2 by Tom Hess
- Discover Your Discomfort by Jamie Andreas
- The Secret of Speed (incredible lightness) by Jamie Andreas
- Pentatonic Licks – String Skipping and Tapping – 1-3-5 Strings by Atanas Shishkov
- Alternate vs. Directional Picking by Mike Philippov
- Here is what’s wrong with YOUR sweep picking technique… by Mike Philippov
- Speed vs. Speed by Angel Zamora
- Legato String Skipping by Johnas Hörnqvist
- Sweep Picking by Mike Campese
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part I by Nick Layton
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part II by Nick Layton
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part III by Nick Layton
- How To Get A Killer Vibratoby Jeff Treadwell
- Outside-Inside Picking Ideas by German Schauss – Video
- Sweep Picking Lesson For The Guitar by Tennyson Williams
- Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar by Tennyson Williams
- Mastering Vibrato by Tennyson Williams
- Aural Skills by Joe Pinnavaia
- Improve Your Lead Guitar Playing by Tom Hess – Video
- Should You Get a Teacher to Help You Develop Speed Picking? by Tennyson Williams
- Basic Runs / Arpeggios by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Pairing Notes by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Hammer-ons and Pull-offs by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Artificial (Pinch) Harmonics by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Tapping Introduction by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Eight Finger Tapping / Piano Tapping by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Artificial / Pinch Harmonics by Nilo (Shredaholic user)
- Quick Sweeping Tutorial by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep Picking (In Depth) by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Passages From Hell!!! by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Hybrid Techniques 1 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Hybrid Techniques 2 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Alternate Picking by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- String Skipping and Finger Stretching by Blank (Shredaholic user)
- 8-Finger Tapping by Blank (Shredaholic user)
- 8-Finger Tapping Continued! by Blank (Shredaholic user)
- Etude / Neo-Classical Sweeps by Cob (Shredaholic user)
Composition and musical theory:
- Niczy’s Easy Runs by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Major To Minor by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Creativity And Expression – Part 1 by Tom Hess
- Creativity And Expression – Part 2 by Tom Hess
- Express Yourself! by Tom Hess
- How To Develop Your Own Style by Tom Hess
- Wow! Arpeggios by Rick Graham
- Electric Warfare by Mikhal Caldwell:
- How to Advance Your Lead Guitar Solos by Mike Philippov
- Are You Unique? by Kole
- The Art of Pre-Composition No.1 by Kole
- The Art of Pre-Composition No.2 by Kole
- Adding Colour To Your Music by Kole
- 3 Ways To Get Out of a Songwriting Rut! by Kole
- 5 Priceless Composition Tips For The Young Composer by Kole
- 3+2 Concepts by German Schauss – Video
- How To Make A Great Guitar Solo by Tom Hess
- Pentamodal Idea by Paul Tauterouff
- Playing the Odds by Scott Allen
- Music Discipline for the Guitarist by Tennyson Williams
- Guitar Soloing Tips For A Better Guitar Solo by Tennyson Williams
- The Importance of Melody by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Phrasing by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Harmonising by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Solos With Chords (for one guitarist bands) by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Beginning A Solo by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Pedal Tones by Ryan Closs (Shredaholic user)
- Writing a Shred Solo by Using Themes by Aaron Vage (Shredaholic user)
- How To Make Your Soloing Stand Out by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- A Little Solo Trick (Starting Your First Solo) by Jamahl (Shredaholic user)
- The 5 Block System by Joni Fred (Shredaholic user)
- Practicing UNIQUE Solos by Cob (Shredaholic user)
Exotic Scales:
- Phrygian Mode by Alex Oliva
- The Harmonic Minor Scale by Alex Oliva
- The Harmonic Minor Scale by Tennyson Williams (video!)
- Guitar and the Order of Modes by Tennyson Williams
- Japanese Scales by Moises Olvera (Shredaholic user)
- A Different Approach to Modes by Cob (Shredaholic user)
Articles for smarter playing or practice techniques and overcoming mental obstacles :
- The Most Important Skill That Most players Don’t Have by Tom Hess
- The Issues Behind Learning Guitar by Tennyson Williams
- Can YOU Really Become a Great Guitar Player? by Tom Hess
- Why Aren’t You A Better Guitarist? by Tom Hess
- Do You Really Need A Teacher? by Tom Hess
- Choosing a Teacher by Tom Hess
- Perseverance by Tom Hess
- Musical Frustration by Tom Hess
- Most of you are totally out of balance? by Tom Hess
- Plans Are NOT Goals by Tom Hess
- Top Secrets of Common Sense ~ Part 1 by Tom Hess
- For Love Or Money by Tom Hess
- Fire and Inspiration by Tom Hess
- The 80/20 Law by Tom Hess
- Take The Test by Tom Hess
- Your Growth as a Guitarist by Jamie Andreas
- Changing Bad Habits by Jamie Andreas
- How To Nail A Solo by Jamie Andreas
- The Importance of Having a Repertoire by Jamie Andreas
- Maximizing Practicing Efficiency by Mike Philippov
- Natural Talent by Mike Philippov
- Misconceptions in Practicing For Speed by Mike Philippov
- Shred Guitar Maturity by Angel Zamora
- Effective Practicing on Guitar by Charlie Wallace
- Start Achieving Your Guitar Goals Today by Joel Wanasek
- Complexity – Speed – Perfection by Roberto Moretti
- 4 Tips To Make Playing Guitar Fast A Lot Easier by Tennyson Williams
- How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed – Part 3 by Tom Hess
- Micro Practicing! by Joe Pinnavaia
- 3 Uncommon Practicing Ideas by Kole
- Fretboard Visualisation by Joe Pinnavaia
- Guitar Speed Training – Beating The Limitations of Speed by Tennyson Williams
- Guitar Speed Training – Discovering What Your Hands Are Made Of by Tennyson Williams
- How to learn and memorize songs and solos on the guitar better by Tennyson Williams
- Why You Shouldn’t Practice Guitar Too Much by Tennyson Williams
- The Simple Secret To Playing Fast by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- The Essence of Musicianship by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Learning – The Steps To Success by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- How To Take Advice by Josh Clarke (Shredaholic user)
- The Truth About Shreddingby Cob (Shredaholic user)
Styles and transcriptions:
- How To Make It Metal! by Richard Baines
- ‘Sea Of Lies’ Excerpt
- ‘Rising Force’ (solo) by Yngwie Malmsteen – Video
- Originality (When And How) by Tom Hess
- How to Shred Guitar by Tennyson Williams
- Blues Lead Guitar by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Yngwie Malmsteen Workshop by Leesy (Shredaholic user)
- Neo Classical Style by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Surf Music Instrumentals by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Acoustic Guitar Shred by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Yngwie Malmsteen Arpeggio Lick by Moises Olvera
Exercises to build speed, stamina or for warmup:
- Chromatic Exercises by Richard Baines
- Warming Up Stretches by Richard Niczyperowicz
- How To Play Faster – Without Having To Practice! by Total Guitar Magazine (UK)
- Fingering’s Up by Cyril Lepizzera
- Left Hand Straining by Cyril Lepizzera
- Picking & Sweeping Exercise by Cyril Lepizzera
- Speed Sweeping by Cyril Lepizzera
- Extreme Picking by Cyril Lepizzera
- Speedy’s Fingeringby Cyril Lepizzera
- Arpeggio Tricksby Atanas Shishkov
- Extreme Tapping Licksby Atanas Shishkov
- Speed Pickingby Atanas Shishkov
- Speed Picking 2by Atanas Shishkov
- Diminished Arpeggios by Clay Foster
- Extended Alternate Picking Exercise by Tom Kopyto
- 5 Exercise Lesson by Francesco Fareri
- 10 Guitar Speed Training Exercises That No Guitar Player Should Be Without!by Tennyson Williams
- Multi-Finger Tapping by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Alternate Picking Etude/Warmup by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Exercise by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep Picking Exercise by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Shred Guitar Fundamentals by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Improve Your Capabilities 1 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Improve Your Capabilities 2 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep and Tremelo Picking Licks by Kevin Dolle (Shredaholic user)
- Warm-up Rundown by Ian Brindley (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Phrases by Moises Olvera (Shredaholic user)
- How To Take Your Fingers To The Next Level by Cob (Shredaholic user)
- Two Hand Tapping by Richard Niczyperowicz
- The Importance of Bends by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Beginner’s Guide To Shredding (Part 1) by Total Guitar Magazine (UK)
- Picking Hand Discipline by Tom Hess
- Vibrato Control by Tom Hess
- How To Improve Your Guitar Technique – Part 1 by Tom Hess
- How To Improve Your Guitar Technique – Part 2 by Tom Hess
- Discover Your Discomfort by Jamie Andreas
- The Secret of Speed (incredible lightness) by Jamie Andreas
- Pentatonic Licks – String Skipping and Tapping – 1-3-5 Stringsby Atanas Shishkov
- Alternate vs. Directional Picking by Mike Philippov
- Here is what’s wrong with YOUR sweep picking technique… by Mike Philippov
- Speed vs. Speedby Angel Zamora
- Legato String Skipping by Johnas Hörnqvist
- Sweep Picking by Mike Campese
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part I by Nick Layton
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part II by Nick Layton
- Improving Your Guitar Phrasing – Part III by Nick Layton
- How To Get A Killer Vibratoby Jeff Treadwell
- Outside-Inside Picking Ideas by German Schauss – Video
- Sweep Picking Lesson For The Guitarby Tennyson Williams
- Basic Runs / Arpeggios by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Pairing Notes by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Hammer-ons and Pull-offs by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Artificial (Pinch) Harmonics by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Tapping Introduction by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Eight Finger Tapping / Piano Tapping by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Artificial / Pinch Harmonics by Nilo (Shredaholic user)
- Quick Sweeping Tutorial by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Sweep Picking (In Depth) by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Legato Passages From Hell!!! by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Hybrid Techniques 1 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Hybrid Techniques 2 by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- Alternate Picking by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- String Skipping and Finger Stretching by Blank (Shredaholic user)
- 8-Finger Tapping by Blank (Shredaholic user)
- 8-Finger Tapping Continued! by Blank (Shredaholic user)
Composition and musical theory:
- Niczy’s Easy Runs by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Major To Minor by Richard Niczyperowicz
- Creativity And Expression – Part 1 by Tom Hess
- Creativity And Expression – Part 2 by Tom Hess
- Express Yourself! by Tom Hess
- How To Develop Your Own Style by Tom Hess
- Electric Warfare by Mikhal Caldwell:
- Wow! Arpeggios by Rick Graham
- How to Advance Your Lead Guitar Solos by Mike Philippov
- Are You Unique?by Kole
- The Art of Pre-Composition No.1 by Kole
- The Art of Pre-Composition No.2 by Kole
- Adding Colour To Your Music by Kole
- 3 Ways To Get Out of a Songwriting Rut! by Kole
- 5 Priceless Composition Tips For The Young Composer by Kole
- 3+2 Concepts by German Schauss – Video
- How To Make A Great Guitar Solo by Tom Hess
- Pentamodal Idea by Paul Tauterouff
- The Importance of Melody by Zack Groff (Shredaholic user)
- Phrasing by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Harmonising by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Solos With Chords (for one guitarist bands) by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Beginning A Solo by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Pedal Tones by Ryan Closs (Shredaholic user)
- Writing a Shred Solo by Using Themes by Aaron Vage (Shredaholic user)
- How To Make Your Soloing Stand Out by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- A Little Solo Trick (Starting Your First Solo) by Jamahl (Shredaholic user)
- The 5 Block System by Joni Fred (Shredaholic user)
- Practicing UNIQUE Solos by Cob (Shredaholic user)
- Phrygian Mode by Alex Oliva
- The Harmonic Minor Scale by Alex Oliva
- Japanese Scales by Moises Olvera (Shredaholic user)
- A Different Approach to Modes by Cob (Shredaholic user)
Articles for smarter playing or practice techniques and overcoming mental obstacles :
- The Most Important Skill That Most players Don‘t Have by Tom Hess
- Can YOU Really Become a Great Guitar Player? by Tom Hess
- Why Aren’t You A Better Guitarist? by Tom Hess
- Do You Really Need A Teacher? by Tom Hess
- Choosing a Teacher by Tom Hess
- Perseverance by Tom Hess
- Musical Frustration by Tom Hess
- Most of you are totally out of balance? by Tom Hess
- Plans Are NOT Goals by Tom Hess
- Top Secrets of Common Sense ~ Part 1 by Tom Hess
- For Love Or Money by Tom Hess
- Fire and Inspiration by Tom Hess
- The 80/20 Law by Tom Hess
- Take The Test by Tom Hess
- Your Growth as a Guitarist by Jamie Andreas
- Changing Bad Habits by Jamie Andreas
- How To Nail A Solo by Jamie Andreas
- The Importance of Having a Repertoire by Jamie Andreas
- Maximizing Practicing Efficiency by Mike Philippov
- Natural Talent by Mike Philippov
- Misconceptions in Practicing For Speed by Mike Philippov
- Shred Guitar Maturity by Angel Zamora
- Effective Practicing on Guitar by Charlie Wallace
- Start Achieving Your Guitar Goals Today by Joel Wanasek
- Complexity – Speed – Perfection by Roberto Moretti
- 4 Tips To Make Playing Guitar Fast A Lot Easier by Tennyson Williams
- How To Practice For Maximum Guitar Speed – Part 3 by Tom Hess
- The Simple Secret To Playing Fast by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- The Essence of Musicianship by David Katilius (Shredaholic user)
- Learning – The Steps To Success by Will Dewsbury (Shredaholic user)
- How To Take Advice by Josh Clarke (Shredaholic user)
- The Truth About Shreddingby Cob (Shredaholic user)
- How To Make It Metal! by Richard Baines
- ‘Sea Of Lies’ Excerpt
- ‘Rising Force’ (solo) by Yngwie Malmsteen – Video
- Originality (When And How) by Tom Hess
- Blues Lead Guitar by Ben Collins (Shredaholic user)
- Yngwie Malmsteen Workshop by Leesy (Shredaholic user)
- Neo Classical Style by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Surf Music Instrumentals by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Acoustic Guitar Shred by Brad Corpus (Shredaholic user)
- Yngwie Malmsteen Arpeggio Lick by Moises Olvera