Brian Sutich
Rob Scallon’s Fretless Has Arrived
Rob Scallon’s Fretless Has Arrived
Brian Sutich
Bumblefoot …Returns! Blends Technique, Melodic ...
Bumblefoot …Returns! Blends Technique, Melodic Playing, and Standout Guests
Brian Sutich
Kraftgeek Tripod and Pocket RGB Light Review
Kraftgeek Tripod and Pocket RGB Light Review
Brian Sutich
The 2024 St. Jude Fundraiser Is On!
The 2024 St. Jude Fundraiser Is On!
Brian Sutich
3 Easy Solos For Beginner Guitarists

If you’re just learning guitar, getting started with playing solos might seem daunting. It’s a big change to go from strumming chords to your favorite songs, to playing lead lines. The best thing is to start out easy, but not too easy. The more you challenge yourself, the better a guitarist you’ll become. Just remember to take everything in bite size chunks as you’re learning. To help you get started with solos, I’m recommending a couple that I’d learn if I was just getting started - one from three different genres. The feeling of learning and playing lead is amazing. Let’s get into it.

3 Easy Solos For Beginner Guitarists

Josh Smith's pedalboard, brand new overdrive from Wampler, Cory Wong's "Smokeshow"

It has been absolutely crazy with work and shopping for the holidays, which is why I was so excited to spend some time writing this week’s issue of Six String Sunday. I can just relax with my MacBook, and talk about the best guitar stuff of the week.

I had been talking to the guys in the Discord and seeing what their favorite albums of the year were, and there’s a lot to choose from! We got 3 albums each from guys like Ariel Posen and Cory Wong, a new War on Drugs album that’s incredibly well done, lots of great punk like Turnstile’s Glow On, and much, much more. It was a great year for music. What’s your favorite 1 or 2 albums of the year? Let me know by replying to this email!

As we move into 2022, I have to imagine it’s going to be better than 2021 and certainly 2020, right? Anyway, here’s a boatload of my favorite guitar links of the week, to take your mind off of all the craziness! Let’s get into it.

Steve Vai's new album, the best pedals ever, SRV's string saver trick

This week I have everything from new signature guitars to legends of rhythm guitar, how to set up your pedals in the best way, and a ton more. Is there anything you picked up during the holiday sales? - A guitar course, piece of gear or something else. Let me know by replying to this email!

I just wrapped up episode 12 of the Chasing Sound Live livestream. I talked about my favorite guitar stories, looked ahead to what 2022 will hold for Chasing Sound, and most importantly, did a lesson on playing power and barre chords. If you're just starting out with guitar, you can check out the replay of the stream here.

Let’s get right into this week’s links!

Learning power and barre chords, guitar stories and looking ahead to 2022

In episode 12 of Chasing Sound Live, I did a mini lesson on learning power and barre chords. I talked about the benefits of learning these chords early on, tips and tricks about making them ring out clearly, and why they're so fun.

I also talked about my favorite guitar stories, and looked ahead to what 2022 will bring for Chasing Sound. You can check out the full replay below.

Tom Bukovac's "Plexi Soul", the ultimate pedalboard, how to solo over any song

Hey friends! I’m in a partial food coma, and I’m sure many folks who read this newsletter are as well. So this week’s newsletter will be links only, with no commentary. BUT…make sure you join me on the next livestream, because I’ll be talking about my favorite links of the week!

I did a make-up live stream on Tuesday of this week, and it was a lot of fun. I talk about pentatonic scales, knowing theory, and more. You can check out the replay here. I also talk about my new Fractal FM3, which I’ve been going down a rabbit hole with, creating new tones/presets/scenes all the time. Get ready for some videos on that box in the future!

Before I get outta here and share this week’s links, I have to give a shout out to Tom Bukovac and his new album ‘Plexi Soul’. The album is truly a guitarist’s delight - awesome playing, great tones, cut to tape. Go check it out on BandCamp.

Mini pentatonic lesson, major scale roadmap, my new FM3 and more!

For Chasing Sound Live! episode 11, I'm talking all about great videos and lessons from the past couple of weeks - including making riffs your own, and all sorts of pentatonic stuff. Towards the end of the stream, I broke out my Charvel, and my new Fractal FM3 for a mini pentatonic lesson of my own. Just some of my thoughts on the pentatonics, why it's important to understand the theory behind the scales, and a bunch more.

This amp goes to eleven, the smarter way to learn chords, arpeggios 101

How’s it going for you this weekend? As we’re in the full swing of the holiday season, I’m hunkering down, and thinking of all the cool ways I can do new, fun guitar stuff in 2022. If you’d like to see more or less of anything in the new year from Chasing Sound, let me know!
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I’m also always on the lookout for cool guitar deals around Thanksgiving when it comes to guitar, tech, etc. If there’s anything awesome you think I can’t miss, let me know about that too.

Alright let’s get into this week’s links!

Level up your pentatonic playing, Ibanez mini pedals, and great ways to find new chords

It’s been one heck of a week over here. Been busy with work, hockey is in full swing (and the NJ Devils are doing pretty good!), and I finally was able to sell my Fractal AX–8 and purchase the Fractal FM3 - which I’ve been diving into with the rising force of a 100 Yngwie’s. Keep an eye out for some new videos up on my YouTube, talking about the FM3, how to use it, what my favorite patches are, and more.

It’s been a quieter week in the guitar world, but I still have some really fun links to share with you. So without further ado, let’s get into this week’s links!

The craziest guitar store stories, Warren Haynes' secret weapon, and the most beautiful tuning for guitar

Super happy to be back this week for another issue of Six String Sunday. If you can believe it, I just hit episode 10 of Chasing Sound Live! You can check out the full replay right here.

We lost a couple of good ones in the music world this week, with both Pat Martino and Emmett Chapman passing. If you want to read more about each of them, check out Guitar World’s feature on Pat here and their feature on Emmett Chapman here.

In, finally news, Randy Rhoads was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hallof Fame. Guys like Zakk Wylde, Tom Morello and Kirk Hammett paid tribute to the legendary Ozzy axeman. Check out the story here. I’m really looking forward to seeing the entire ceremony, which should air on HBO later this month.

Alright, let’s get to the rest of this week’s links.