FRUSTRATION-FREE
GUITAR LESSONS
Your teacher,
Rob Hampton
I teach you to play and sing the songs you love with fun, clear videos. Your music will be campfire worthy in no time!
Learn great rock, folk, and country tunes
Build a solid foundation of guitar skills
Sound amazing
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
You deserve a teacher who understands the challenges you face, and can guide you past them.
About Me
Hi, I'm Rob Hampton.
Since 2003, I've introduced hundreds of private students to the guitar, from 4-year-olds to CEO's of Fortune 500 companies.
And through this site, I've helped over 29 million guitarists.
I love helping everyday people have extraordinary experiences making music.
I help the music teaching community through my book Rob's Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook and my other website, GreatestGig.com.
In my spare time, I like to rock climb, play with my three little boys, and daydream about my next trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
LEARNING GUITAR SHOULDN'T BE A STRUGGLE
YouTube is overwhelming.
The big guitar instruction sites are impersonal.
Chord charts and tablature are confusing.
You don't need 1000's of hours of lessons. You just need one good teacher: Someone who cares about your progress and who really understands how everyday people learn to play guitar well.
My courses and song lessons are carefully sequenced so that you never hit a wall. And because every lesson helps you make real music, you stay motivated and have a blast.
Every new member receives a personal video welcome message from me.
BECOME A HEARTWOOD GUITAR MEMBER
and you'll get access to:
CONFUSION-FREE COURSES
Strum and Sing in 60 Days
Travis Pick Like a Pro
FUN SONG LESSONS
Learn classic singalong songs like "Let it Be" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
POWERFUL RESOURCES
A Library of 155 Strum Pattern Videos
Daily Guided Practice Videos
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
Bi-Weekly Q&A's on Zoom
Members-Only Forum
STRUM & SING IN 60 DAYS
A Frustration-Free Introduction to Guitar
Strum and Sing in 60 Days will teach you how to put your strumming on autopilot so that you can sing along with confidence.
Along the way, you'll learn rock-solid fundamentals of guitar playing.
I've taught thousands of guitarists like you how to strum and sing using this formula, and I GUARANTEE it'll work for you.
SKILLS YOU'LL LEARN
Perfect Tuning
Bad tuning means bad music, no matter how good you are.
Fretting with Ease
Most beginners waste energy and torture their fingertips by fretting wrong. The secret is fretting close to the highwire.
Playing in Rhythm
You’ll learn to play in sync with a recording by playing the simplest kind of guitar part: A quarter-note bass line.
Efficient Practicing
If you want to play cleanly, it’s critical to avoid mistakes while you practice. But how do you do that when playing hard stuff?
Quick Chord Changing
The key to making quick, accurate chord changes is to stay in contact with the strings using anchor and lead fingers.
Strumming Smoothly
There are four principles of good strumming that enable you to play on autopilot.
Using a Capo
I’ll teach you how to change the key of your song using this simple string clamp, enabling you to match the song to your unique voice.
Singing while Strumming
You’ll learn how modify your strum pattern to make singing manageable, then slowly increase the difficulty, so that you’re never overwhelmed.
SONGS YOU'LL LEARN
"Midnight Special" (Traditional)
"Can the Circle Be Unbroken" by The Carter Family
WHAT YOU'LL GET
40 Online Video Lessons
Accessible on any device, wherever you have an internet connection.
Gorgeous Practice Tracks
Jam Tracks for each song you’ll learn have been professionally recorded at a variety of tempos.
Printable PDF's
You can print chord charts, tablature, and other handouts for quick reference when you’re away from the computer.
Fast, Friendly Support
Contacting me with problems, questions, or feedback is as easy as clicking the “Feedback” tab on every lesson page.
I have to tell you... this course is, hands down, one of the best online courses I've ever taken or seen. Your content, flow, and the way you teach is INCREDIBLE!
Justin Michael Williams
TRAVIS PICK LIKE A PRO
Make Fingerstyle Magic
Who Travis picked?
The Beatles, John Denver, Paul Simon, John Prine, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Kansas, Bonnie Raitt, Mississippi John Hurt, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Tommy Emmanuel...
...and so can you!
Travis Pick Like a Pro features clear, carefully-sequenced, frustration-free video lessons teaching you this gorgeous technique.
Feel the satisfaction as notes cascade from your guitar--one of the coolest sounds ever.
SKILLS YOU'LL LEARN
Proper Hand Positioning
Get great tone, and avoid pain and injury, by learning correct picking technique
Fingerstyle-Friendly Chords
Fingerpickers often use chord shapes that both sound better and are easier than their strummed counterparts. No need to barre an F chord!
Accompanying Your Voice
You'll learn how to pick and sing (if you wish) "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver, "Orphan Girl" by Gillian Welch, and six more songs.
Making Smooth Chord Changes
Beautiful fingerstyle is all about flow. I teach you the tricks pro's use to make their chord transitions sound smooth.
Decoding Tablature
Tabs of Travis-picked songs can look like a jumble of notes. I show you how to use TravisVision (my ridiculous term) to make sense of it.
Playing Instrumental Solos
You'll learn to pick chords with your thumb and the melody with your fingers, simultaneously. A truly magical sound.
SONGS YOU'LL LEARN
In-Depth Lessons:
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver
"Orphan Girl" by Gillian Welch
"You Are My Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell
Quick Lessons:
"Let it Be" by The Beatles
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver
"Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash
"Wagon Wheel" by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
"Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison
"Me and Bobby McGee" by Kris Kristofferson
WHAT YOU'LL GET
32 Online Video Lessons
Accessible on any device, wherever you have an internet connection.
Play-Along Practice Videos
Each of the four main songs you’ll learn come with a slow practice video and a complete performance video with scrolling charts and tablature.
Printable PDF's
You can print chord charts, tablature, and other handouts for quick reference when you’re away from the computer.
Fast, Friendly Support
Contacting me with problems, questions, or feedback is as easy as clicking the “Feedback” tab on every lesson page.
I have tried various sites on YouTube including Guitar Tricks, but with your course one cannot fail to learn.
Jake Downey
STRUMMING SONG LESSONS
Like having a private lesson with me.
AMAZING GRACE
Traditional
LEVEL: ALL
Beginners will appreciate the five open chords and easy strumming options. Advanced guitarists will dig the chord/melody flatpicking solo. I even teach you a vocal harmony part. Music for the people!
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tabs for the flatpicking solo.
LET IT BE
The Beatles
LEVEL: ALL
Strum and sing this masterpiece while avoiding barre chords, and using a capo to tailor the key to your voice. Includes a flatpicking style chord/melody solo for more advanced players.
Includes: Video lesson, chord chart, and tabs for solo.
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
Johnny Cash
LEVEL: BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE
Just three open chords, a simple strum pattern, and a couple easy but instantly recognizable riffs. Whether you play it soft and mournful, or loud and rowdy, it's a great singalong tune.
Includes: Video lesson, chord chart, and tabs for riffs.
TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS
John Denver
LEVEL: BEGINNER
Best singalong song ever! Choose a dead-simple strum pattern or a slightly more challenging one. If you want to get fancy, I teach you how to end the song with a bluegrass-tinged Lester Flatt Run.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tabs for the Lester Flatt Run.
REDEMPTION SONG
Bob Marley
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
A great song with a great message. I teach the classic intro note-for-note, and offer easier and harder strumming options.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tablature for the intro.
BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE OR ADVANCED
Impossible to forget the words to the chorus! Just four simple chords, though the phrasing of the singing can be challenging. I teach the classic intro note-for-note (modified to make playing on an acoustic guitar possible), and offer easier and harder strumming options.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tablature for the intro.
WAGON WHEEL
Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
LEVEL: BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE
This is a favorite in the Hampton household. Even my little boys sing along with the simple, memborable chorus. With just four chords and two options for strumming the song--one simple, one more complex--this should appeal to beginners and intermediate guitarists. If you want a bigger challenge, I've composed a low-intermediate-level instrumental break using alternating bass technique.
Includes: Video lesson, chord chart, and tabs for the instrumental.
I'M YOURS
Jason Mraz
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
A sweet love song with a tricky strumming pattern. Serenade (and impress) your sweetheart! I've arranged the instrumental section for solo acoustic guitar.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tablature for the instrumental
FREE FALLIN'
Tom Petty
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
Just three chords, but the strumming in this gorgeous tune will provide plenty of challenge.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, and chord charts for both Capo 3 and Capo 1 versions.
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Pink Floyd
LEVEL: BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE
A mega-classic and rite of passage for any rock-loving guitarist. I teach the riff note-for-note, but also provide options for beginners.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord chart, and tablature for the riff.
"I truly feel like you are walking me through the complete process of learning to play."
Frank A.
TRAVIS PICKING SONG LESSONS
Like having a private lesson with me.
PEACEFUL EASY FEELING
Eagles
LEVEL: BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE
A little less easy, but a little more peaceful: This Travis picking arrangement has evolved over the many years "Peaceful Easy Feeling" has served as a bedtime song for my three boys. I teach both a "simple" version for Travis picking beginners, and the actual "fancy" version.
Includes: Instructional and practice videos, chord charts, and tablature for the fancy version.
WHAT THEY SAY
You are the best online teacher for beginner singer/strummers that I've discovered.
Val H.
I like the way you explain how to use emotion and life experience when playing a song, that was a revelation for me and that has helped me immensely.
Keith M.
Your website is the only resource I have tried that has actually produced real musical results.
William M.