Hot Electric Guitar How-Tos


How To: Modify Your Guitar Pedals
Guitar pedals add character to your playing. However, musicians still say that certain pedals by themselves don’t live up to its promise of a perfect sound. Therefore, instead of replacing your guitar pedals with new and expensive ones, you can modify your pedals using different DIY kits available online and at local music stores.

How To: Change the actives pickups battery on a guitar
The guy in the video starts out explaining that, over time, his guitar has started to sound a little funny. He thought maybe it was a cord or wire shorting out, but it turned out to be the battery. He shows us how to change that battery. You are going to need a Philips head screwdriver and a new nine volt battery. Take off the tremolo plate on the back of the guitar. You'll be able to see the old battery in the body. Gently remove the old battery and replace it with the new. Slide the new bat...

How To: Play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana acoustic
There are few projects that are so simple, and so immediately rewarding, as learning to play a favorite song on the guitar. Not only is it a wonderful way to pass the time but, by learning to play your favorite songs and riffs, you'll be better able to articulate (and otherwise translate) your musical ideas into great-sounding songs. In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. While this tutorial is geared towards intermediate players, guitarists of a...

How To: Make cool sound effects on your electric guitar
Learn how to make your electric guitar sound like a church bell or a banjo.

How To: Play Detective Conan Theme on Guitar
Video: . Shinichi Kudo Detective Conan Cartoon Music

How To: Replace or install a new pickup in a Telecaster guitar
1. This video tutorial in Music & Instruments category will show you how to replace or install a new pickup in a Telecaster guitar. First you need to remove the strings so that you can take the bridge plate off. Pull the strings out from the back of the guitar. Take a calipers and measure the distance from the back plate to the front of the bridge and note down the readings. Then remove the four screws from the bridge plate and unscrew the telecaster panel. The pick up wire is connected betwe...

How To: Play triads for blues guitar
Want to play lead guitar in a rock band? Well, you have to learn how to play the blues first. Most popular rock songs have roots in the blues guitar style of playing. In this three part blues guitar lesson you will learn the three triad shapes and where the root notes are. These are really useful little chords that you find yourself using all the time once you get to know them. Check out this blues guitar how to video and you will be on your way to playing lead guitar.

How To: Start chicken picking
This video lesson introduces a basic philosophy on chicken pickin' or country playing. For country guitar playing, you don't need to use much in the way of effects, just a tiny bit of reverb and compression. Country isn’t dependent on one set of scales, like rock or blues. To play country, you must play over the chords much like a bluegrass or jazz player. It is no coincidence that many country players are also jazz players and vice versa. Every chord has different lines, chord shapes, or rif...

How To: Adjust the spring tension on a Tremolo
In this video, we learn how to adjust the spring tension on a Tremolo. First, find the strings in the back that are parallel to the body of the guitar. Then, unlock the nut and set the fine tuners so you have maximum range of adjustment. Start to twist the tuners at the bottom of the guitar until the tension on the strings is enough for you to play correctly. Then, go to the back of the guitar and adjust the crimp screws that are along it. When finished with tightening your guitar, test it ou...

How To: Paint a 5150 Van Halen replica guitar
This three part tutorial shows you how to pait a EVH Kramer 5150. You'll paint and design, doing it all for less than $350.00. It covers all the steps from primer, taping, painting, clearing coating, and assembly. After watching this you'll have your very own Van Halen replica electric guitar to jam out with.

How To: Play D7b9 and Dm7b5 jazz chord substitutions
Having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user freddym233 is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play D7b9 and Dm7b5 jazz chord substitutions on your guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the better you'll sound and the better able you'll be to play what you hear. To start playin...

How To: Get a thick distorted guitar sound at low volume with pedals & Marshall amp
In this instructional tutorial hosted by Robert Renman, get a thick, distorted sound on your guitar without cranking it to 11. Robert uses a Maxon SD-9 distortion pedal, a Zonkin Yellow Screamer and a blueSky Reverberator, paired with a Marshall Class 5 amp to make it all come together.

How To: Buy An Electric Guitar
Choosing the right axe for you There are many choices and factors when it comes to buying a new electric guitar. Price, style, quality and comfort are major players.

How To: Play the Beatles solo "Something" on the electric guitar
There's really no way we can quantify or put into words the awesomeness that was the Beatles. All we can say is that Paul McCartney and John Lennon were pure magic together. And the songs they assembled during the course of the band were nothing short of glorious.

How To: Play Randy Rhoads' intro from "Crazy Train"
Play Randy Rhoads' intro from Crazy TrainHere's how to play Crazy Train by Ozzy. Play the top two strings. Then play the second and fourth fret which is the power chord F sharp. Play the A chord twice and then F sharp, D and E twice. That's the first bit that he plays. The next part is the riff. He plays F sharp twice. Then, he plays the second string fourth bar and back to the second bar. Next, he plays the fifth on the second string. Then, he goes back to the second string. Next, he plays t...

How To: Start reading sheet music for the guitar
Follow along as Nate Savage teaches us to read sheet music for the guitar. -The first thing you are going to need to know are the names of lines and spaces on a staff.

How To: Read music notes on the guitar
In this video, Andrew, from Creative Guitar Studio, explains how to translate sheet music, (not tablature), to notes on the guitar. You will learn how to finger the notes and chords you see in sheet music on the guitar fret board. Beginning guitarists, and experienced players alike will appreciate this lesson in music theory as it applies to their instrument. Andrew does a great job of explaining how to learn how to convert sheet music and demonstrates it all very well in this guitar lesson.

How To: Bend chords on an electric guitar like Albert Lee
If you're a musician in need of some lessons, there's no better way to learn than with MusicRadar's so-called "Tuition" instructions. Although the title tuition is misleading, this video class is anything but costly, because it's free, right here. Whether you're looking for help with your voice, bass, electric guitar, drums, guitar effects, piano, Logic Pro or production techniques, Music Radar is here to show you the way.

How To: Play "Funky Monks" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you want to play guitar like John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers then this how to video is the place to start. With this tutorial you can learn how to play the main riff from "Funky Monks" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the acoustic guitar. This lesson is geared towards intermediate guitarists because it assumes prior knowledge of guitar playing. Marty Schwartz covers technique of bending in the song "Funky Monks." Watch this how to video and you will be able to sing and play "Fu...

How To: Use a talkbox with your guitar
Watch to learn how to use a talkbox in conjunction with your electric guitar. The guitar in the video is a DeArmond S73; the amp is an old solid-state Squier Champ 15G. The driver is the classic Electro-Voice 1823m.

How To: Properly tune your electric blues guitar
Charles Sedlak shows you 'blues buffs' how to properly tune your guitar for a perfect blues experience. You already know how? Fine, then don't watch. But you'll be missing out.

How To: Tighten the cable input jack on a Stratocaster
This is a step-by-step video tutorial on how to keep up your guitar maintenance by tightening your cable input jack, a very simple but extremely important maintenance routine for your guitar. If you let the cable input jack loosen, it could end up costing you quite a bit for repair. First, you are going to need a 1/2" socket and a Phillips head screwdriver. You will need to unscrew the cable input jack. Next, use the 1/2" socket to tighten the nut on your input jack. Then screw the cable inpu...

How To: Play "Throw Down the Sword" by Wishbone Ash on guitar
Playing your favorite songs on the guitar is not as difficult as it seems. With this tutorial you can learn how to play "Throw Down the Sword" by Wishbone Ash on the electric guitar. This lesson is geared towards intermediate guitarists because it assumes prior knowledge of guitar playing. Marty Schwartz covers the finger picking as well as the chord structure for "Throw Down the Sword." Watch this how to video and you will be able to sing and play "Throw Down the Sword" by Wishbone Ash.

How To: Play "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 on guitar
Want to master "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete (and we mean complete) breakdown of the song and its constituent parts. While this tutorial is geared toward those who already have some knowledge of the guitar, players of all skill level should be able to follow along given adequate time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing "ISHFWILF" on your own guitar, watch this video g...

How To: Play "Walking Blues" (Muddy Waters vs Son House)
Learn how to play the Delta Blues with this great guitar lesson. You'll see how to play the blues song "Walking Blues", two different versions, in the style of both Muddy Waters and Son House.

How To: Play "Grow Old With You" by Adam Sandler on guitar
Playing your favorite songs on the guitar is not as difficult as it seems. With this tutorial you can learn how to play "Grow Old With You" by Adam Sandler on the electric guitar. This lesson is geared towards intermediate guitarists because it assumes prior knowledge of guitar playing. This lesson covers the finger picking as well as the chord structure for "Grow Old With You." Watch this how to video and you will be able to sing and play "Grow Old With You" by Adam Sandler.

How To: Play "You Are My Sunshine" on the guitar
If you are looking to begin playing the guitar then this how to video is the place to start. Here's a simple accompaniment for "You Are My Sunshine" using three chords and some basic fingerpicking. You will learn the chords for this song and some easy fingerpicking techniques. With this tutorial you will learn how to play and sing along to "You Are My Sunshine."

How To: Play "Som Sarn" by Sek Loso on electric guitar
Watch this guitar tutorial video to learn how to play "Som Sarn" by Sek Loso on electric guitar. Instruction includes names of chords. Beginners will have no trouble learning how to play Sek Loso's "Som Sarn" on electric guitar by watching this helpful how-to video.

How To: Play "Sweet Home Alabama"
Learn how to play guitar with this classic Lynyrd Skynyrd song from our favorite guitar teacher Justin Sandercoe. This is the first video but make sure you watch the second one so you can play all of "Sweet Home Alabama". This is really for advanced players.


How To: Play an E minor (Em) chord on an electric or acoustic guitar
In this guitar lesson, learn how to play an E minor triad on a guitar in standard tuning (EADGBE). With the guitar, as with any other instrument, if you want to improve, you'll need to practice. Fortunately, the Internet is awash with free, high-quality guitar lessons like this one. For more information, and to learn how to play a E minor on your own guitar, watch this video tutorial for beginning guitarists.

How To: Play "The Final Countdown" by Europe on electric guitar
Want to master "The Final Countdown" by Europe on the guitar? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song and its chords. While this tutorial is geared toward those who already have some knowledge of the guitar, players of all skill level should be able to follow along given adequate time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing "The Final Countdown" on your own guitar, watch this video tab!

How To: Get a similar solo tone like in "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin on Guitar
Jimmy Page had a very specific twangy, high pitched, whiny tone that he used in the recording of "Whole Lotta Love" and a couple of other very recognizable songs during their solo and interlude sections. If you've ever wondered how to get a similar tone check out this video on some amp settings and different pick up positions to get you a similar tone.

How To: Shield your pickups cavity on your electric guitar
Single coil pick ups are notorious for being noisy and for having a lot of buzz. One way that you can get rid of the buzz and save yourself from sounding annoying and unprofessional on stage without messing with your volume knob or buying expensive noise gates is putting in copper shielding in your pick up cavities and on the pick guard! In this video you will get a complete walkthrough of how to install the shielding and rewire your guitar back to normal!

How To: Mic your guitar amp and get a great sound in a live setting
When playing live, having the BEST sound possible is probably the most important part of the show! (well you know, besides rehearsing and stage performance, but that's a completely different subject!) When you're playing out, you need to be prepared to have a sound man who has absolutely no idea what he's doing or how to mic anything, including your amp. In this video you will get a full walkthrough of the different mics that you can use including dynamic mics and condenser mics, and differen...

How To: Play "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath on an electric guitar
Want to play Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" on the electric guitar? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song and its chords in tab notation. While this tutorial is geared toward those who already have some knowledge of the guitar, players of all skill level should be able to follow along given adequate time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing this Black Sabbath song on your own guitar, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Play "Flake" by Jack Johnson on electric guitar
In this video, we learn how to play "Flake" by Jack Johnson on electric guitar. If you are just starting out on the electric guitar, this is a great song to learn as a beginner. After you learn all the chords on the guitar, you will start out with the intro to the song. From here, you will move onto the different verses of the songs. Start to sing in the lyrics as you are playing throughout the song. Make sure you are stopping, pausing, going higher, and going lower as you continue to play. W...

How To: Transition between chromatic & major scales on guitar
In this free video guitar lesson, you'll learn how to transition between major and chromatic scales. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one.

How To: Play "Amazing Grace" on slide guitar in the key of E
Want to know how to play the "Amazing Grace" hymn on slide guitar? Learn how with this free video guitar lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for intermediate players, rock guitarists of all skill levels can play along given a little sticktoitiveness. For more information, and to get started playing "Amazing Grace" on your own guitar, watch this how-to!

How To: Play "Desolation Row" by My Chemical Romance on guitar
Long before My Chemical Romance made "Desolation Row" a hit, a legendary and music-changing artist named Bob Dylan sang it loud and proud as the closing track on his 6th studio release in 1965, Highway 61 Revisited. In this video tutorial, learn how to play My Chemical Romance's version of "Desolation Row" on acoustic guitar with help from Your Guitar Sage.