Guitar Practice šø
Jam Track
Let's take a look at a chord progression in the key of C. While this progression is simple in that it only has 4 chords, it doesn't still to chords diatonic to the key of C major.
We start by going from from a C major chord, to a C minor chord.
That's followed by what can be viewed as the ii chord (which is usually D minor in the key of C) played as a Dominant Chord. Then a major chord a half step down, which builds tension before going back to C major.
There are a couple ways we can approach soloing over this progression:
Simple way: Mostly use the C major scale, and switch to C minor pentatonic over the Cm7 for a bluesy feel.
Jazzier way: Switch scales for each chord ā
- C major ā Use the C major scale.
- Cm7 ā This comes from C minor. Use the C minor scale or C minor pentatonic.
- D7 ā This chord doesnāt belong to C major, but it pushes the music forward. Use the D Mixolydian scale (same notes as G major) or try the D altered scale for more jazzy sounds.
- Db major ā This chord is a step down from D7 and makes tension before going back to C. You can use the Db major scale or the Db Mixolydian scale.
- C major ā Land back on the C major scale.
Guitarist/Educator Spotlight
John Tuggle, Learning Guitar Now
John Tuggle is a guitarist, educator, and the founder of Learning Guitar Now, a leading online resource for blues and slide guitar instruction. Unlike many online teachers who spread their focus across multiple genres, John has built his reputation by specializing in what he knows bestāhelping players master the sound and feel of blues and slide guitar.
He began his career teaching private guitar lessons before branching into instructional eBooks, DVDs, and even a podcast in the mid-2000s. In 2006, he launched Learning Guitar Now, which has since grown into a full-fledged membership platform serving guitarists worldwide. Over the years, John has created hundreds of hours of content, steadily refining his approach to make advanced concepts approachable for players at any level.
What sets John apart is his ability to break down the nuances of legendary blues and slide playersāEric Clapton, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, and moreāand translate those techniques into clear, structured lessons. His slide guitar instruction, in particular, has become a benchmark resource for students who want to unlock the mysteries of open tunings, phrasing, and expressive slide tone.
Today, through his Learning Guitar Now All Access Pass, John offers more than 70 step-by-step video courses covering everything from essential blues fundamentals to advanced improvisation and soloing. Combined with his library of free lessons, heās built a community-driven learning experience that has helped thousands of guitarists worldwide improve their playing.
With nearly two decades of teaching online, John Tuggle continues to be a trusted guide for players who want to go beyond the basics and truly capture the soul of blues and slide guitar.
Gear Showcase
Nash Guitars T
Bill Nash's Nash Guitars builds guitars that capture the awesome look, playability, and feel of vintage Fender guitars, at a fraction of the price an actual vintage guitar would cost.
Nash differs from many of the other guitar companies on here in that they use parts sold through big manufacturers/sellers. While some people are quick to denounce Nash guitars as 'partscasters', those people are ultimately dismissing what are great guitars.
Technically, all Telecaster style guitars can essentially be called 'partscasters', and while yes, it's also technically possible to get all the parts yourself and build your own guitar for a bit less than you're paying for a Nash, that's sort of missing the point.
Nash uses very premium materials for their builds, and the value is really in their professional setups. Nash is known for being very selective in the parts they use (favoring lightweight bodies!), and use top-of-the-line handwound Lollar pickups (some of our absolute favorite tele pickups) and Gotoh tuning keys.
Nash uses 100% nitrocellulose finish for their guitars, and offers various levels of aging/relicing, ranging from extra light to heavily reliced, making each guitar unique.
Nash guitar owners tend to love their guitars, and it's tough to deny how great they sound. Check out Nash's T-52 & T-57 for a 50's style Telecaster, or their T-63 & T-69 Thinline for 60's style teles.
Standout Features:
- Lollar pickups
- Various levels of aging, for a vintage look and feel
- Great value for the price
- Can be custom ordered to your specs (for the most part; they don't currently offer any necks with a 22-fret fretboard)
- Large amount of color options
- Available as either solidbody or semi-hollow, with either single coil or humbucker pickups
- Offered in either a Medium C or fat boatneck neck profile
Noteworthy šļø
- Fender released a new Limited Edition Vintera II Road Worn series of guitars. The updated Telecasters, Stratocasters, and Jazzmaster feature nitro-laquer finishes, classic pickups, and period-correct neck shapes. MSRP is $1,599 (for the Teles and Strats and $1,699 (for the Jazzmaster).
- Anderton's posted a new video showcasing and reviewing the new Supro 1825R Airwave valve combo amp.
- Taylor Guitars introduced 3 new Gold Label acoustic guitar models. They feature new body designs, a patented action control neck, and fanned v-class bracing.
- PRS released a new S2 Mira 594. The all-mahogany electric guitar is meant to cover a wide range of styles, including rock, blues, garage, and punk. It includes PRS 58/15 LT vintage-voiced humbucking pickups - which are paired with two mini-toggle switches to individually tap the the pickups for chimey single-coil sounds.
- Rick Beato traveled to the U.S. to interview David Gilmour in his studio.
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