The latest version of the world’s best-selling beginning guitar CD-ROM! Over 160 comprehensive lessons cover everything from the basics to chord strumming, playing melodies, and fingerpicking. A modern rock chapter includes various strumming styles, movable power chords, and power chord riffs. Over 50 large-format videos from instructor Kevin Garry, Ph.D., include split-screens and close-ups of both hands.

The latest version of the world’s best-selling beginning guitar CD-ROM. Click to enlarge.

Learning guitar is made fun with over 70 songs, including famous hits from artists such as Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, and Steve Miller. Many of the songs are recorded live with multi-track full band accompaniment. As the songs play, an animated fretboard guides you through the fingerings, and MIDI tracks allow you to slow down and loop parts of the music for practice. This new version includes larger easy-to-read screens, enhanced audio and video, and custom animated fretboard skins. eMedia Guitar Method is the ultimate way to learn how to play guitar!

Over 50 large-format videos. Click to enlarge.
Animated fretboard displays fingering positions as the music plays. Click to enlarge.
Built-in Tools Included Chord Dictionary
Digital Recorder	Digital Metronome	Automatic Tuner

Guitar Method features many hit songs, including:

“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
Acoustic version–Bob Dylan; Rock version–in the style of Guns N’ Roses

“Little Red Rooster”
–Made famous by the Rolling Stones

“Rock N’ Me”
–Steve Miller Band

“Downtown Train”
–Made famous by Rod Stewart

“Uncle John’s Band”
–the Grateful Dead

“Scarborough Fair”
–Made famous by Simon & Garfunkel

“Ode to Joy”
–Ludwig van Beethoven

“House of the Rising Sun”
–Made famous by the Animals

“La Bamba”
–Made famous by Ritchie Valens and Los Lobos

“Midnight Special”
–Made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Makes Learning Easy as 1,2,3!

1. Watch the video for a demonstration of the technique.
2. Practice the technique slowly with warm-up exercises.
3. Play along with the songs as the animated fretboard guides you through fingerings.

Animated Fretboard
Displays fingering positions as the music plays. Double-click on any note or chord for fingering. Features right-handed, left-handed and mirror views. Choose from six different fretboard skins!

Built-in Tools Include:

Automatic Tuner
Tune your guitar quickly and easily! Play into your computer microphone and tune up interactively. Reference tuning notes are included.

Chord Dictionary
Includes fingering charts and recorded sound playback for over 250 chords. Helps you learn songs with new chords quickly.

Digital Metronome
Set your own speed and keep a steady beat with audio or visual feedback.

Digital Recorder
Save your recordings and play them back to share and compare.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars HELPFUL FOR A BEGINNER
This is a good way to get started and familiarize yourself with guitar. It’s easy to use, though doesn’t load as smoothly on a Mac as on a pc. It’s easy to follow and gets you strumming right away. Not very strong on technique–it’s a big help to have someone show you the right way to hold your fingers, change strings, tune your guitar, etc. Overall, a good value for the money.

2 Stars DISAPPOINTED
I purchased this with a new guitar as a beginner. After a few weeks, I find myself disappointed that I have learned more from free advise on the internet then what this software has offered. Here are my biggest gripes:

1) Flashback to 1976. I don’t know if the video instruction was filmed in the 1970’s, or the instructor just refuses to update his wardrobe and hairstyle, but it feels like I am stuck in a bad re-run of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Also, it almost feels like he filmed it himself. I can almost see him running back to the camera after a take to stop the camera.

2) Breezes over some very important fundamentals. Without realizing, I was picking up some bad habbits b/c the instruction does not emphasize some key tips on fingering chords, using the pick, etc. After browsing the net later on some guitar sites, I realized I had developed some bad habbits that could have been prevented with just more time and tips spent on some basics.

3) Unrelatable – the songs you practice to work on chords are absolutely horrible. Too much dumb folk music. I like a variety of music, including some Peter, Paul and Mary. But this is just too much folk and it’s depressing. I find myself not learning b/c I don’t want to hear myself play that aweful music. Some searching on the net revealed I could be practicing some Johnny Cash (who played a lot of 3 or 4 chord songs).

4) Not so user friendly. I found it difficult to move around in the software. The product doesn’t have the user-friendly feel that should be expected this day and age. This software could have been written in early 90’s for all I know. Not impressive.

I have some more gripes, but I think you get the point and I am tired of typing about a product I probably won’t use much more. Basically, I am just DISAPPOINTED. I would recommend some on-line lessons which I have found much more modern and useful. This software costs about 4 months worth on unlimited online lessons. I found it’s worth going that route instead.

5 Stars Well thought out guitar curriculm
I’m a guitar instructor who teaches a once a week high school guitar class. I’ve started recommending Emedia to my students as a great at home guitar program. As an instructor, I really like the step by step approach to the lessons. The video are very helpful in demonstrating techniques between lessons. Kids that are using the program progress a lot faster than those that don’t. This is a fine program either for those that want to learn on their own or that are also taking lessons.

4 Stars Solid Unexciting Instruction
I have been using this software for several months now and have learned a lot from it. It definitely builds up your chording skills and knowledge and starts you on the road to melodies. I have found it quite bland, however. The music selection is pretty boring and the program is slow to incorporate stuff other than just another chord and another chord. For example, I have yet to see any discussion of scales, which I have learned elsewhere are fundamental components of playing guitar. The strumming patterns are also very limited, and this too is a vital skill. When I learned a dozen chords or so and wanted to start playing from some other songbooks, I found that the strum patterns I’d learned would only allow me to play one or two songs in a typical beginner songbook.

My advice would be to consider this as one tool in your guitar learning arsenal. It will teach you the chords and how to play in time (the play along guitar is very useful for this purpose). Also, if you just want to learn to play chords around a campfire, this would be your program.

One last thing I have found irritating, that at least one other reviewer has commented on, is the fact that some of the songs seem way out of proportion difficult to what comes immediately before or immediately after. I was trying to play each song perfectly before moving on, but it actually helped to just move on and come back later.

5 Stars Great way to learn guitar.
I got a guitar and this program for Christmas and am progressing in my guitar playing really well. The lessons are very well laid out and progress in a very logical way. It includes videos of both hands demonstrating techniques. Techniques are then incorporated into popular songs. These same techniques translate into other songs. I got a few song books to go along with Guitar Method. I’m getting into some of the harder songs now and I really like how you can slow down a song while practicing it. This is a good product for someone who likes going at their own pace, and mine seems to be fast.

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Instruction on slapping, popping, left-hand integration, dead notes, and more dangerous techniques; a dedicated groove for each new technique; grooving with a drum machine; funk history – the hallowed grooves of the Funk Triumvirate; slow demos; tips on sound; creating your own grooves; and much more! Includes a booklet with notation and tab for all examples.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great for slap improvement!
If you wan’t to quickly improve your slap technique, this is for you!

This DVD will help you master basic techniques like slapping and popping as well as more advanced techniques like left hand slap and other cool funk techniques.

The DVD is well done, easy of use, you can jump from exercise to exercise quickly and follow the ”teacher” with your booklet.

This is truly a great buy for anyone who wants to improve his slap bass techniques.

4 Stars Good for beginners
It is useful for beginners. It is not intended for experienced players, but I think it describes the basic techniques for beginers very well. Do not expect it will rocet your slap playing, but if you are just starting, it will give you very solid basic knowledge.

4 Stars Great Learning Tool
This DVD is great for learning funk/slap base. I just plug some headphones into my amp, put the DVD in my computer, and I can practice all the base lines without disturbing my roommates. Ed Friedland is a very well spoken and patient teacher. In the excercises he first plays them and then plays them again at half or quarter-speed so you can catch on. I’m having a blast learning some of these techniques. The DVD is very easy to navigate. My only gripe would be that he only plays grooves that are kind of old-sounding funk lines, which is fine, but it would be nice if he strayed a little from the formulaic stuff. It’s realy not much of a gripe though. Love the DVD.

5 Stars Most concise, useful, and cheap intro to basic to high intermediate level slap bass
If all instruction material was as solid as this, I would have 50-100 books/DVDs in all (for bass, guitar, mandolin), not a 1000 or more.

There is enough easily usable information here to build your technique from scratch to as serviceable as any normal contemporary bass player’s slap technique needs to be in typical playing situations. Only if you play in a solo or a bass-dominant musical context, would you need anything more.

Of course, once you fall in love with the possibilities of playing slap & pop (and tap etc.), you WILL need more. At that point you should get Stuart Clayton’s ULTIMATE SLAP BASS, which actually is as complete a guide on any style on any instrument ever written (I otter know, coz I’ve invested more money in instruction material than any other human). Still, Clayton’s book might be overwhelming because of its thoroughness; Ed’s DVD has the essentials and intermediate stuff, but there’s a load of them in here and the booklet is generous by DVD standards.

The only 3rd slap instruction you will perhaps need is the Hal Leonard book FUNK BASS by Chris Kringel as that gives you some real famous songs to learn. Of course, you can later progress to Victor Wooten’s and Primus’s transcriptions. In any case, for less than 20 buckaroos, this DVD provides the maximum wham for the whampum!

Not considered: Double thumbing, chord playing, and strumming. Of course, no tapping either; although in performance at a high level, tapping is often interspersed into slap technique.

4 Stars Good Introduction for Slap Bass
This DVD cleared up alot of problems I was having trying to learn this style. After viewing this DVD many times, I feel I have a solid foundation in which to build on. I am by no means a super slap funk player, but I do have mucho more confidence going into grooves that require this style as a result of studying this DVD. I highly recommend it.

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House of Blues and The Rock House Method created this blues guitar program to take you from beginner to an intermediate-level of play in no time. The 90+ minutes of one-on-one lessons with instructor and guitarist John McCarthy help you to cultivate your own style by emphasizing techniques needed for creative playing. Learn advanced techniques, such as full-form blues chords, blues scales, triplet lead patterns, shuffle feel and swing effect. Learn challenging riffs, turnarounds, and techniques made famous by blues legends. Complete rhythm tracks with full bass and drums prepare you for jammin’ with the band! Includes 28-page lesson book and web membership to www.rockhousemethod.com for 24-hour lesson support, interactive tools, sheet music, student forums, downloadable backing tracks, tuner, metronome, and much more!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Good teacher of the Blues
My husband is liking the Level 1 Blues guitar lessons so much that I’ve ordered the Level 2. He hasn’t started it yet, but if it’s as understandable as the level 1 then he’ll be happy.

5 Stars Learn to play the blues, Level 2, by John McCarthy
I started out with Learn to play the blues (Guitar) Level 1, by John McCarthy, & because of the excellent instruction methods used, with the follow along DVD, & the comparible booklet that came with the package, I decided to go ahead & purchase the Level 2 package. As yet I’m still on Level 1, which is really for beginner, blues , guitar players, but as I’m making good progress with the backing tracks, which can be dowloaded free from the membership access included in this package, I decided to buy the Level 2 as well. It is in my opinion, the best instruction method around, which normally cost 5 times as much.You will not regret this purchase.

2 Stars Not worth it…
Not very good at getting one to where they think this book will take them. Not very well organized. It is just another showcase for the artists that produced it… keep looking. It’s presentation suggest it’s all about them, not the wanna bee blues player. Not a quality item. I know, I have reviewed more than 40 such learning books in blues guitar. This one is not as effective as it should be.

2 Stars Not A Good Method
This method is not very well organized and is not something a person trying to learn the blues with something that can help them grow along the way. There are a few things of use but not much for the price. The flashy dvd guitar playing is over done and not necessary. People buy this stuff so that they can learn and not something to watch someone else show them how good they are after years of playing. I would not recommend this to anyone but would advise them to look for something with better instruction and not just bits and pieces. Try something with a book/cd like the book by John Ganapes…Blues You Can Use. It is put together as a real teaching method.

5 Stars This teacher is the best you’ll find on DVD
This teacher is the best you’ll find on DVD buy this and buy all the house of blues instructional DVDs

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Joe Pass is one of jazz guitar’s all-time masters. He demonstrates legendary techniques that will be of value to rock guitarists as well as jazz purists. Joe covers chord melody, chord substitutions, leading tones, chromatic chords, voice movements, and many more special excercises, all with the unique Joe Pass twist. A chance to study with a jazz guitar legend! DVD and Booklet.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Not really a ’solo jazz guitar how to’ lesson
I expected this video to be more of a ‘how to’ for solo jazz guitar. It really isn’t that. I love Joe and his playing, so anything with him is good, but I found the title to be a little misleading.

What the video does cover is the I-VI-II-V chord progression. Joe covers embellishing this progression and coming up with chord substitutions for it. He then lightly talks about a walking bassline over it and the generalities behind basslines on guitar. I do wish he covered the actual construction of a bassline some.

If this video was titled something about the I-VI-II-V, then my expectations of it would have been totally met because Joe does an excellent job showing how he comes up with chord substitutions for it and other things with it. If that’s what you’re looking for then this video is a 4 or 5 out of 5 stars. But if you’re looking for a ‘how to’ for solo jazz guitar, this is not it. Maybe try Robert Conti’s Chord Melody Assembly Line for an introduction to solo jazz guitar playing.

5 Stars Finally!
I’ve bought too many instructional DVDs over the years. This one finally has what I was looking for. If you have a basic knowledge of music theory Joe ( you can call him Joey) will show you how to actually use it. He’s great natural teacher. He focuses entirely on the I vi ii V progression in the key of C (C, Amin, Dmin, G7). From there he starts substitutions, which were always a mystery to me. No heavy theory here, mostly: “this sounds right”, lots of humor. For example he substitutes from Cmaj7 to Emin7, then to E7, then to Bflat13. With other substitutions for Amin and Dmin he ends up with that chromatic movement that sounds so funky, but I always wondered where it came from. He makes it so simple.

The on screen tabs and chord diagrams are just right. I spent 3 hours taking notes and made my own booklet. Pause, or slow motion, and write it down. All the substitutions are clearly diagramed and explained. And all the chords are simple to finger as he says he doesn’t like to work too hard. So he greatly simplifies all those confusing voicings. (Throw most of them out!) Then there’s a really great section on how to play your scales in a way that’s interesting and useful. Then he goes over two very cool running base lines, and explains how to comp with them . (He says the base line is more important than the chords, so he keeps the chords very simple.)

The information just flows out from him like music did. He was a truly great teacher, and this DVD is 10 times more useful and enjoyable than any of the 30 others I’ve seen.

4 Stars I, VI, II, V………………
Mr. Pass really only speculates on that progression. Which, helps simplify things a bit. Bouncing around that concept; he illustrates substitutions, logical voicings, and some pretty stellar chromatic movements. For such an amazing guitarist, I was pleasantly surprised how he kept things “real”. Not focusing so much on theoretical hoopla, but focusing more on getting the music in your head and your heart out through this specific medium. A comfort to see that you don’t have to bury your head knee deep in the textbooks to come up with your own sophisticated lines and comps. Included tuning feature and chord dictionary a major plus, as well. A recommendation for anyone looking to GET INTO solo jazz concepts as well as group jazz improv!

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The Blue Side of Jazz is the follow-up to Joe Pass’s best-selling “Solo Jazz Guitar” that explores the blues elements of jazz guitar. Joe covers bebop blues, new chord substitutions, pedal tones, jazz/blues improvisation, and much more. As usual, Joe’s instruction is full of wit and style. His invaluable guitar lessons take you straight to the heart of the “blue” side of jazz guitar.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The next step up . . .
I rented this at NetFlix and liked it so much I went to Amazon and bought it.

If you are an intermediate level guitar player and you are starting to get bored with the same old blues changes, this dvd is for you. Joe shows you those rich sounding jazz/blues chords that will make your music more interesting, for you, and anyone playing with you. The good news is, they sound more complicated to play than they are. It is also interlaced with Joe’s dry, tongue in cheek, humor.

5 Stars Joe Pass the Blues side of Jazz
This is a great tool for the guitar player who’s struggling with the transition from blues/rock style to jazz. Joe really helps guide us down the path we need to follow with this instructional and entertaining dvd.

5 Stars “Great Resource!”
This DVD will give some insight to guitarists about how Joe plays his “chord grips” as he calls them and how he solos over any particular chord or progression.A useful companion DVD would be the “Solo Jazz” DVD by Joe.With careful study,both DVDs will help to give a basic explanation of Joe’s style and how he plays.After watching these DVDs,listen to Joe’s Cds with Ella Fitzgerald and Zoot Sims and you’ll get another lesson on how to comp for a soloist.Highly recommended.

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The Legendary Guitar of James Burton James Burton is highly regarded in the industry with a roll call of famous names who have sought his contribution to their music: Randy Newman, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris among them. On this DVD he covers vibrato, stringbending, pick & finger techniques, solo construction, slides steel effects and his trademark “chicken pickin’” style.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Fun to watch, not really an instructional video
This is really more of a demonstration video than an instructional video. Like many great players, Mr. Burton is not a guitar teacher, so you have to be ready to capture what you can from what he shows on the video. This DVD was originally released as VHS. The hot licks people added sections that slow down the examples so you’ll have a chance to figure out what James is doing. I consider it a good resource that I will go back to over time, but not really a how-to guide. I recommend viewing this in a player or on a computer that will allow you to do your own slow-down and repeats.

5 Stars James Burton Style Guitar
James plays over chords and his chording style is different, which gives him a pretty unique sound. If you want some rockabilly licks, this is probably the best place to get them… and he’s got everything in slow motion at the end of the DVD. I’m having a ball picking up on this stuff.

Great!

4 Stars James Burton – DVD Review
This one is for musicians and I enjoyed every minute of it. James demonstrates some of his more famous riffs and, for many of them, it was interesting (depressing)that for all these years, I have not been playing them properly.

What a great sound from the guitar and his style is unmistakable – there are some really great licks to be had from this if you like country rock.

One dissapointment – he did not demonstrate Johnny B Goode, which is one my all time favorites.

4 Stars Good
I remember Burton playing for Ricky Nelson and always liked his style.

This DVD does a good job.

5 Stars Insight into an Original
This guy developed a style and technique that not only has been a foundation for generations of guitar slingers that followed but is still an inspiration today. The cat can just play! The next best thing to a few private lessons. Highly recommended.

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Eight-time Grammy-winner George Benson covers chord substitutions, turnarounds, the Wes Montgomery style, and more. He demonstrates his signature scat-style singing on the groundbreaking This Masquerade and soloing over the famous On Broadway vamp. Also included are several virtuoso solo jazz and blues guitar performances by Benson himselffurther proof, if it were needed, of his total mastery of jazz guitar.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Out of tune throughout.
I’m a big George Benson fan and this DVD really amazed me. Apparentely, he played everything on it without any preparation. My jaw just dropped. That said, it’s a pity that he didn’t even bother to tune his guitars before as he should. They are totally out of tune all the time. It could have been a much better DVD.

1 Star Misleading
If want to see a great guitarist noodle in what is essentially an in home jam session then this is the DVD for you. If you want to learn jazz guitar you might as well take the case it comes in and put strings on it. There is no real content here related to teaching jazz at all (he does his version of “Danny Boy” for God’s sake!)

5 Stars A Very Good DVD From the Master
This DVD is excellent in the way it focuses on Benson’s hands while he is playing but a word of warning, this is not a ‘put your finger here’ type of video although it does come with a transcribed booklet that includes both TAB and standard notation. But if you have knowledge of various scales and modes you can really put what he is talking about to good use. When he shows you how he solos over changes using a 2, flat 2, 1 progression instead of a 2, 5, 1, it helps if you are able to comprehend what he’s talking about. But if you DO understand and put George’s suggestions to the test, you will be rewarded. The best part about it is that you will sound like YOU and not him. If you DO want to sound like him, he shows you some of the tricks he likes to employ (wait til you see the part about ‘rattling the keys’). I love this DVD. As another reviewer noted, there is a problem with some of the guitars going out of tune but in all fairness these were NEW instruments, not George’s personal ones. I think the idea was to set everything up so all George had to do was sit down and play. At any rate, this is a very good DVD and even if you aren’t familiar with various scales and modes just watching him play by himself is well worth the price of this video. Thanks for sharing George.

5 Stars Good enought, but it cames in a pretty big case (it didn’t fir at my mailbox and the postman return it to the box office).
The DVD cames in a pretty big case and it didn’t fir at my mailbox. So, the postman return it to the post office and I’d to go to the post office and loose my time… One of the reasons that I choose Amazon is cause you don’t have to move to shop something. I’m always busy and I hate drive to the post office and loose my precious time…

2 Stars Not Instructional
Benson is a jaw-droppingly great guitarist on his records. Sadly, on this Hot Licks DVD, he noodles around for 90 minutes on two out-of-tune and toneless guitars without explaining what he is doing and why. As another reviewer wrote, some talented people are not necessarily good teachers. For excellent instruction, I recommend the DVDs by Joe Pass and Danny Gatton.

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House of Blues and The Rock House Method have joined together to bring you a unique and comprehensive beginner electric guitar program. Jam-packed with a full spectrum of techniques and components, this accelerated program will have you playing immediately! Through easy-to-follow personal lessons with world-renowned instructor Kevin McCreery, you’ll start with the basics of holding and tuning your guitar, then be guided step-by-step through chords and scales, lead patterns, practice tips, rhythm techniques, and various exercises. Play along with bass and drum backing tracks, and have fun while learning about the history of this amazing instrument that changed the course of modern music. Also includes 32-page lesson book and online web membership to www.rockhousemethod.com for 24-hour lesson support. Ask the Teacher, interactive tools, sheet music, student forums, download backing tracks, tuner, metronome, and much more!

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars more for people that have had experience
I thought the dvd was good but in the middle I found myself rewinding and rewinding a ton just to understand and follow along. he does describe things very well still but goes a lil to fast. I recommend it for people who want to learn to play the electric guitar!

5 Stars perfect for beginners
great DVD to learn all the necessary basics in learning to play guitar. A must for any beginner. DVD is great with different camera angles, great teacher, etc..

5 Stars Great Beginners DVD
Really impressed with this DVD. Great instruction and the music is not outdated or boring. I’ve tried several learn to play guitar DVD before but this is the first one that really seems to keep me interested in coming back.

4 Stars House of Blues Review
Not too bad of a video but I need one little bit not too advance.. but great for people that learn at a fast pace..

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A unique chance to learn from the greatest Chicago Blues guitarist of them all! Buddy reveals what he learned from Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker, and Lightnin’ Hopkins in a DVD lesson of exceptional quality. Buddy shows you a whole bunch of licks, techniques and styles including 9th chord licks, country blues finger-pickin’, double-stop licks, turnarounds-plus some exciting jamming with Junior Wells and Arlen Roth. A supreme lesson in The Blues from the man Eric Clapton once called “by far and without doubt, the best guitar player alive!”

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Not for Beginners
This is Buddy Guy doing a Master Class in blues guitar playing. While I found it fascinating to watch his technique (right hand, especially -he plays with his fingernails like a Flamenco guitarist)I am years away from being able to reap any reasonable benefits. Unfortunately, this is marketed as if it were suitable for anybody, and it clearly is only for somewhat accomplished players. The picture quality was not good, with the color balance way off: everything was purple.

5 Stars The Bluest of the Blues
The is a fantastic DVD a must have for all guitarists. It gives you the nuts and bolts to play authentic vintage blues. Buddy lays it in your lap. The slow motion section (which does not alter pitch) is outstanding. How anyone can say anything else is beyond me, do not delay, if you want to play the blues, GET THIS DVD NOW!

4 Stars licks like the pros
I have this Hot Licks video on VHS, and I really like it. It’s true he isn’t playing his licks from his records, but he’s teaching the blues, going back to Muddy Waters and Lightning Hopkins all the way to the I guess the 90s, by way of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. It’s like blues music appreciation lessons… aren’t you supposed to slow down records to learn licks like the pros?

It does repeat itself, maybe Arlen Roth could of fixed the continuity, and it could put you into a trance with it’s slow pace, but that’s what you want music to do anyways, isn’t it?

5 Stars Wow! I’m Glad I got this!
Review is about Buddy Guy: Teachin’ the Blues

I almost didn’t get this DVD because of the negative review on this site.

Man! I am SO glad I didn’t listen to that review and bought it anyway!

I figured it would be worth the price to watch Buddy Guy, even if it wasn’t such a good teaching tool, so I ordered it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

First, It DOES come with a booklet of tablature that’s tucked right in the clips of the front half of the case.

Now about the DVD; It has a “play” function that lets you just watch it like any other DVD, which may be all that some do. AND, it has a lesson function that lets you play each lesson individually – in either real time or slow motion and still have the right tone and sound to the notes played. In this mode there is also a box on the upper right of the lesson screen that says “loop” for repeating the lessons.

It also has a “tuning” function for getting your guitar tuned properly.

There is more that I haven’t explored yet (some of the “special features”) But I’ve seen enough already to know that this will be a very useful learning tool, as well as being good for watching Buddy play.

If you will listen to what he is doing and follow his instruction, there is a ton of useful stuff in this DVD to learn. You just need to stay with it like you would any lesson material. And Buddy tries to encourage you all through the video. He leaves a very good impression.

If I could contact him somehow, I’d say great job Buddy!!

Of course, if you just want to watch it and not take the time to learn, then you can do that too with the “play” function.

5 Stars Excellent way to expand your blues vocabulary!
If you’re expecting a “how to get started on the blues” video, looks elsewhere. You should at least know the basics of blues soloing and rhythm to be able to play the stuff in this DVD. I would recommend this for mid-level players who want to expand their blues vocabulary in a way similar to the raw, pure sound of Buddy Guy.

As Buddy himself says on the video, you learn other people’s stuff and eventually put in your own things, making them unique. This DVD is great for sparking ideas. It also has a lot of fingerpicking blues, something I’d like to get into.

The slow-motion section of the examples are very helpful, and Buddy’s comments are spot-on and even inspiring.

Buy it!

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Meet one of Nashville’s true guitar stars as Johnny Hiland takes you through some key aspects of country playing. As well as chicken pickin’, he covers double-stops, pedal steel licks, pick-and-finger hybrid picking, banjo rolls, and lots more. He’s also joined by Arlen Roth, Bill Holloman, and Shannon Ford for some truly memorable band segments.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great tutorial!!!
This video provides detailed instruction in an easy to use format. Not only does Johnny Hiland explain the material, he plays through each lick slowly and the licks can be slowed down to half speed while retaining the proper pitch. The material he provides is practical and usable for the average guitarist. As a bonus, there are three live performances where Johnny Hiland shows off his virtuosity. It’s worth every penny.

4 Stars Arlen! Put some pants on!
Johnny Hiland is a terrific country picker and you’ll learn some interesting techniques for playing country-style guitar, as well as ways to incorporate a steel-guitar sound into your playing. However, Arlen Roth shows up to jam dressed (inappropriately!) in some really ugly shorts, displaying a truly gnarly-looking pair of legs, and, with his afro-style hairdo, ends up looking like Richard Simmons smarter-but-not-a-whole-lot-smarter brother. Ugh!

4 Stars Chicken Pickin’ Guitar
Chicken pickin’ guitar, the first instructional DVD from country picker Johnny Hiland, does not disappoint. Great detailed footage of instructional material, as well as a few amazing performances that are worth the price of the DVD alone. My one problem was that the term “chicken pickin’” is usually associated with the concept of hybrid picking, which is hardly demonstrated on the DVD at all. It has tons of great country style licks, steel guitar type licks, bends, etc. However there were maybe only one or two licks that demonstrated hybrid picking, which was what I had hoped to learn fom this DVD. Perhaps this should have been titled something more along the lines of “country guitar”, just my two cents though.

All in all the DVD is great, but I’ll stress that it is NOT for beginners by any stretch. The material is definietly aimed towards the player that already has some damn good picking chops built up. But again, Johnny is a great teacher, a great guy, and he can really play a guitar! Johnny also gives some info about his gear, and a tab book with all the riffs is included. If you want to get into some country playing, check out Chicken Pickin’ Guitar!

4 Stars Excellent pickin’
This is basically a training DVD for advanced Guitar players. However, Johnny Hiland is a “jaw dropping” guitar player and although I’m not a guitar picker I am an experienced musician. Hiland is one of the finest musicians I’ve ever seen. He is a wonderful combination of technical skills, talent, and amazing musicianship. The DVD was worth the price just to see and hear him play his amazing music.

4 Stars Chicken Pickin’
This really is an advanced lesson but is well worth it. The live performance’s are a great bonus too.

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