Category Archive

So many guitarists just learn their favorite parts to songs. I’ll bet this kid was glad he learned “Jesus of Suburbia” all the way through. Fortune favors the prepared mind. Louis Pasteur

Hi Guitarists, It’s been a long time coming. Heartwood Guitar is finally moving to a new server today, which will bring you lightning-fast browsing. Over the next few days, you may see some funkiness while we make the transition. For example, subscribers to the strum pattern videos currently have no way to cancel via the My Accounts page. If you …

What an amazing video: Anyone who’s played a harmonic on the guitar knows that string vibration is a magical, mysterious phenomenon. I’ve heard it compared to a moving passenger train. As the countryside flies by, your teacup is rattling on your saucer: That’s one kind of vibration. But the whole traincar is vibrating too: A second vibration. The traincar is …

I’ve been in mad-scientist mode this past weekend, making some changes to the site design. What day is it? Where did all these dirty dishes come from? Let me know if you think the work was worth it. What’s Hot There’s now a list of the most popular songs, both on the web and on this website, in the sidebar …

“Q” was not for “Quiet” on April 30th, when we descended on the Q Cafe for the 2011 Spring Coffee Shop Jam. The show featured my guitar students, and the students of my friends Brady and Mark, who teach bass and drums. The Coffee Shop Jam is always incredible, and this was no exception: Moments of epic grandeur, quiet beauty, …

I love getting fan mail from musicians using my strum pattern videos. it’s me again, Rob, but really i have to tell you that your videos have changed my guitar playing life…after 45 years of playing the same old DDUUDU (nice enough in its way), i really have all sorts of new rhythm options thanks to your videos…it all just …

The following is an excerpt from Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook. When was the last time you were terrified trying something new? I’m not talking about the fear of sharks at your first surfing lesson. I mean trying something you really want to do, but you’re worried that Jah had other intentions when he doled out your aptitude. Perhaps …

My 11-year-old student Connor had quite a week. Last Tuesday he appeared on TV. And on Saturday night, he gave an electrifying performance with his fellow metalheads at the School of Rock Presents: Classic Metallica show. Never have I seen Connor so energized. He had me pumping my fist in the air, screaming the lyrics with him. A couple vids …

Yesterday morning I joined my 11-year-old guitar student Connor at The Seattle Channel’s studio to watch him perform for the show Art Zone with Nancy Guppy. Nancy had contacted me a couple weeks ago looking for a rock guitarist to perform on an episode dedicated to young local artists. I sent her links to some of the videos from my …

The Princess Bride. A ’59 Les Paul. Lucky the goldfish’s funeral. There’s something satisfying about a true classic. I thought I’d dig up one of my favorites from this blog: Strumming 101. Since I posted this tutorial on how to strum a guitar in 2005, over 100,000 people have visited it. Every week or so, someone leaves a comment telling …