Guitar Guru Secrets: A step-by-step course for beginners
Folks have been asking me for this for a LONG time. And I finally got around to putting the whole thing togther… A step-by-step approach for beginner guitarists. It’s called, “Guitar Guru Secrets.” And we’re planning to go live with the web site on Thursday, Sept 3rd, 2009.
I’m going to be releasing several videos from the course over the next few days. So watch your email inbox. Ok?
I gotta run my kids to piano lesson. Talk soon.
Cheers,
Dan Denley
August 26th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
GOOD.AN´GOOD…
August 26th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Good video Dan, I see that the key signature is Emaj.
I’m used to look’in right. You are such a very good teacher. I’m look’in forward to learning all you’ve got.Keep up the good work Dan
August 26th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Dan,
Good basics but what I really dug was the finger picking intro part of the video. Looking forward to the new release.
Chris
August 26th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Dan, thanks for the example, will watch what I’m really doing with my arm from now on!
Was never taught the “right” way to pick, just did what looked good!
Thaks!
August 26th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Good video - last example however shows you only using your wrist - and not your whole arm.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Dan,
Good video. What I have learned from this is that picking is very much an individual choice of “how to’s.” In the verbage you say to use the down stroke and yet about three quarters through you use both up and down. Also, you say to use the whole arm to stroke the strings and yet, you use the wristy action near the end of the video. This makes me think that the hands and the mind are coordinated to make the correct sound without a whole lot of form and function.
Keep up the good work.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
The courses must be selling…you are playing a Martin in this video.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Thanks Dan,
With your help I am progressing and the finger picking and fret fingering helps.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Thanks, Dan. The lesson quality was great. The info on moving the arm verses the wrist was insightful. Perhaps you could have explained why so that we students will understand the long term relevance. Not to be nitpicky, but in the balance of the video you used your wrist with not much arm movement…
August 26th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
When I first heard the opening tune I said Ya!!! But then here is this kid stuff.
Loved the tune though!
August 26th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Simple and easy to understand. Keep up the good work.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
hi there
soo nice shoot video , clean clear view, love it, looks really fantastic, nice collors, good sound and ouuh where are the tabs for the first part, that one that I really would love to doo like wise you, Dan!??
August 26th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Dan,
Could you show me how to do the intro to this video?
Tim
August 26th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
This is what I have been wanting to learn, Right on the money Dan.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
How do you get that cool video effect. It almost illuminates the picker.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
great lesson dane; and its great for a timing exersize also thanks
August 26th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Good instructional, but the opening segment has you picking something else and I kept waiting to see you incorporate the alternating bass on the A and low E
August 26th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Thanks Dan! good exercise to get us started. Don
August 26th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Nice little Rift, easy to play and easy to remember.
Keep up the good work.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
hi guys, i got your picking video and it took my back when i was 12-14 yrs old. my nona said if i painted her bedroom, she would by me a guitar!. i took a few lessons back in the 70’s and the teacher would teach me picking my strings. made a great sound. since my fingers are now messed up { anyone suffer from arthritis or duprengrens disease , makes your fingers crooked and hard to make chords. i also miss picking, and would listen to melanie, get her music book and pick thru the chords of her songs ! good memories. hugs from philly jo
August 26th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Good morning,
I appreciated the video, but I found it a bit misleading. You quote “picking”, that I would understand as playing with the fingers, as you play during the intro, but then you end up with a lesson to teach how to mastre the position of the fingers
Did I understand something wrongly ?
Thank you
August 26th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
It sounds as though you are playing in water but instructioal though
August 26th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
This is great.You explain everything very well. Your tips are great.Thank you.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
very interesting dan…i had never thought about wrist movement…now i’m gonna check and see if i am moving my wrist too much instead of using my arm…
August 26th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
This was a cool exercise: clear, just enough for a good bite, and something to build on.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
very good simple exerse good for finger movement. But i only play with three fingers on the left hand i can adapt to this.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Good delivery, easy to understand, thank you!
August 26th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
More great lessons from a really great teacher. There are a lot of players out there and a lot of teachers but none quite a good at teaching as Dan. Thanks! for sharing your talent with us Dan.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I like the video but it dont show me what to do with the begining of the video on the finger picking part of the song. why?
August 26th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
verry good but it dont show me what to do with the verry first part of the video and how to do the fingerpicking pat of the song why?
August 26th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hi Dan, I just bought your finer-picking lessons and can’t wait to get started. This is what I have been looking for for a long time. This video really helps me as a beginner to get into really making good sounds and is exciting. Thanks and keep up the great work!
August 26th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
finally a good simple video that shows exactly what’s going on.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Looks great! Sounds like a good follow up for a beginner like me. Good exercise. Looking forward to its’ debut.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Dan,
Nice job as always. I watched this with my son and he understood most if it. (He is a very smart 13 month old. lol) He said he was confused on the “top string ” part. Why do we call the first string the top string when it is on the bottom as the guitar sits in your lap? I think it would help to explain that in the video. It is very confusing for beginners. I heard a nice tip for knowing what part of the arm to use: the faster the movement the smaller the joint. I think turning thew wrist like opening a door is better for picking. It limits movement and energy. C ya, David p.s. How’s your daughter doing?
August 26th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
This lesson was awesome! I haven’t picked up my guitar in a long time, but am motivated after watching the video. I nice simple lesson that makes sense. Keep ‘em coming!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Thanks, Dan. I am sure that this is the way for the serious students to go. At 87 and only interested Jazz (mainly blues), I have decided to adopt the Wes Montgomery method using the thumb only. I like the mellow sound and don’t expect to be a speed burner. You have some great courses and I would have loved to be young enough to learn the “correct method”. Again, you are one of the most talented and organized teachers I have run across. I wish you continued success in your field. Bill Easton
August 27th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Dan, Thanks so much. Makes it easier although I found myself doing the same thing you did. Started out with using the whole arm on the down stroke, but reverted to wrist action. Still works out fine. Great video. Thanks so much.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Wow Dan some of the best video/audio you had so far! The site just keeps improving.
Cheers, Joe
August 27th, 2009 at 1:19 am
A big improvement over your past audio/video quality. Very professional.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Hi. i receive most of your promo stuff and it is always good.
is it possible to download your courses rather than wait for a dvd. i live in south africa and it could take forever to get to me, even worse the post office will steal it.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:52 am
thank you for this video,i’m very glsd to watch it…
August 27th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Hi Dan thanks for the video,as i m a beginner it really helped me.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Hi Dan!
I’ve been watching your videos for a long time, and the quality just gets better and better. I’d like the tab for the finger picking intro, too!!!! If I want to improve my finger picking it seems there are millions of basic exercises, but not many intermediate ones. Which one of your courses would you recommend (I like Arlo Guthrie’s simple finger picking styles, or some country and blues.)
Thanks Dan!
Cathy
August 27th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Dan,
Have to agree with Cathy as I have also been watching your videos for quite some time. You make everything seem so easy and one can follow the videos very easily and quickly. I have been playing accoustic for a while now but my picking leaves a lot to question if you know what I mean. Like what I’ve seen
Thanks
Merv.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:33 am
Dan is one of the best guitar teacher.This video is the best explained picking on the internet.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Hi Dan,loved the lesson and like lots of other students,I´d really like to learn the intro of the piece.I have bought your beginers lesson and am waiting for it to arrive so I can start I live in Tenerife.I love the finger style of John Prine,any chance of you teaching us some of that? Thanks once again for the lesson.Des
August 27th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Most clear video that you have presented. I’m encouraged to start practicing again. Would love to have seen the tab for the intro. Thanks for great tips.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Hi Dan; I been playing about 40 years and play lead in a pro dance/dinner music band. I used to teach and I don’t usually go to beginer guitar sites but I was curious. I like what your doing with the pick thing but it is boring to a student. I used to teach about the same thing to the tune “Peter Gun”…open, open, second, open, third, open, fourth, third…repeat. Then have the student practice using all down strokes, all upstrokes, and alternate strokes and practice this exercise on every string fast and slow. As a treat we would turn on the od and they would play the tune and I would improv over their licks (we stuck to key of E during this process). Your a good teacher.
gary
August 27th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Nice video, however in your instruction you say to use an arm motion, but when you do the exercise you are using your wrist to pick, without arm motion.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Good stuff Dan,
I would have bought your last offer, but you don’t have PayPal.
PLEASE, GET PAYPAL. I’m sure there are others like me who like this method of payment. Could up your sales. Just a suggestion. Thanks and best regards.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Clear and easy to understand. looking forward for your next video. keep it up
August 27th, 2009 at 8:35 am
good video will be useful for begginers, like all your courses clear and decise and I would recomend them to anyone picking up the guitar for the first time Making learing fun but also making sure that the hours of practice will pay off is the key to mastering the guitar you are never too good to learn something new
August 27th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Ok Dan even after 40 year there is always something to learn. This video is really top. I do like it.
Pierre.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:09 am
good stuff Dan, i really appreciate
August 27th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Very basic, but a great drill for beginners.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi Dan;
I have most of your online videos and have leaned tons of good tips,licks etc.My mail box probably could cover one of your coursed.All of your videos are great,I spend a lot of time on the computer and very little time to actually to get down and really play [lifes a b&*^%]sometimes,so when at the computer i get a chance to play a little. Please don’t stop GREAT STUFF.
Bud
August 27th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Dan,
The main point you wished to make, when to shift your fingers, was achieved and will be helpful, but I think you subconsciously reverted back to picking with wrist, rather than arm movement during the last 2/3 of the video. I thought you were not really a fan of picking with wrist movement! I really have trouble picking if I don’t have an anchor point somewhere and this means I’m not moving my whole arm. I look forward to a mini course focused on basic picking!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Excellant,
but it looked like at the very end you were moving your wrist and not really your arm, lol.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Very basic, but that’s what I need as a beginer
suffering the effects of a stroke.
I will come back to it often.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Great video Dan! I’m learning such a lot just by watching your free videos. Missed your $20 offer on the acoustic guitar course. You now have my main email address so I’ll be ready for the next one.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Dan,
Good clear instruction,I will check frequently for intermediate level.Thanks
August 27th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Great video for easy basics!
For all the whiners that are complaining about
the intro, read your email! It says, and I quote:
“Hey, here’s a new video from my new course
for BEGINNERS”
August 27th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Nice!!! I can follow it ok. What is the perpose of doing it? Anything that goes with it? Thanks.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Good clean explanation and tips.
I like the opening riff, gives you something to shoot for.
Keep going.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Dan:
I noticed the same thing that Scott did… you seemed to discontinue using the “stiff arm” motion at end of the video… a little wrist action crept in. Other than that… it’s a good instructional piece.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Dan:
Thank you for the demo, I have watched a lot of people and could not understand.
You make it look easy.
August 28th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Just watched video this is fine advice for begining guitar some people say fingering does not matter i totally disagree i think it is vital for developing a clean technique .
August 28th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
thanks a lot Dan its superb!an clear, hope for more videos.
August 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I do believe that this is what I have been looking for. True beginner information, and practice tips. Hope it comes out in a DVD+printed songbook
format. I’ve never been very comfortable with the on-line material. I guess that is showing my age.
Thanks for all the lessons, and the time and effort you put into them. Best of luck with your latest venture.
Grumpy
September 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for years of your free videos, keep ‘em coming. Nice variety and coverage of various levels. Best wishes.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I am sorry to say that the format which the video is sent I am unable to open to view.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I do appreciate the videos that provide valuable helpful guides.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
ITS TO EASY FOR ME I NEED HARDER STUFF. JOETHESHAKER-RBLE
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