Joshua Ray Gooch
PRESENTS

Rock Learning Pathway

Take a journey through the decades of rock.

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WHo it's for

Intermediate

Progress from fundamental rhythm & lead techniques to advanced rock 'n' roll shredding in the style of legends.

Time

3 months

Joshua will guide you through 6 grades of instruction with daily practice plans and assessments.

Outcome

Versatile rock vocab 🤘

You'll leave this pathway with a well-rounded set of rock skills and a deep understanding of the genre's history.

Keep going

Take the next step

Once you've built your rock foundation, step up your skills next with advanced Learning Pathways.

What you'll learn

In this music-first Learning Pathway, we'll show you how to play rhythm and lead in the style of rock 'n' roll icons.

  • Rock through the decades: from 50s to modern day
  • Play like Hendrix, ACDC, the Strokes, & so much more
  • Spice up your soloing with expressive rock techniques
How it works

Your guided learning pathway

In this 3-month program, LA rock guitarist Joshua Ray Gooch will break down concepts and techniques pioneered by legendary rock guitarists throughout the genre's lifespan. With guided jams, daily practice exercises, and straightforward lessons, you'll know exactly what to work on at every step of the way.

Decades (Part I)

To kick off the Learning Pathway, Joshua will start at the absolute roots of rock 'n' roll.

You'll learn techniques pioneered at the birth of rock by Chuck Berry before blasting off into 60s surf rock and ending up at the polished grit of 2000s pop punk.

Decades (Part II)

In this grade, you’ll take another trip through the decades of rock to build upon the knowledge you developed in Grade 1.

Here, you'll learn how to play like Bo Diddley, The Kinks, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Police, Elvis Costello, NOFX, The White Stripes, and more. 'Nuff said!

Decades (Part III)

Deepen your rock skills.

In this grade, you'll kick things off by diving into early rock rhythms. Then, we'll shift gear to study AC/DC, U2, The Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age.

Grade 4. Decades (Part IV)

Here, we'll take one final journey through the decades of rock as you forge into some more advanced material. In this grade, you'll solo like George Harrison, play rhythm like Hendrix, take a page out of the prog rock playbook, study Johnny Marr's approach to guitar, strum like the Strokes, and descend into drop D tuning.

Grade 5. Rock Legends (Part I)

With your time travel trips complete, we'll shift focus to intently study some of rock's most iconic players. In this Grade, you'll tackle the styles of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Joe Walsh (The Eagles / James Gang), Brian May (Queen), and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath).

Grade 6. Rock Legends (Part II)

You'll be deep in advanced territory at this point in the pathway. Here, we'll focus on (arguably) the most influential rock guitarist of all time: Jimi Hendrix. After two days of intense Hendrix study, we'll move on to Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Angus Young (AC/DC). Finally, we'll cap off the grade by exploring how major pentatonic, hexatonic, and Dorian soloing take part in the rock lexicon.

Curriculum

Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.

6 Week Plan

Grade 1. Decades (Part I)

Journey through 70 years of rock history.

We're with you every step of the way in this Learning Pathway. In every lesson, Joshua will break down a new concept and run through mini drills with you so you can lock it into your muscle memory. To cap off each day's work, you'll put what you learned in a musical context with a guided jam session.

Day 1. 50s – Boogie rhythm

Kick things off with the roots of rock by diving into bluesy boogie rhythms of Chuck Berry.


Day 2. 60s – Surf rock

Let’s get tubular! Capture the wavy sounds of SoCal surf rock pioneered by legends like Dick Dale.


Day 3. 70s – Punk rock

Grab your leather and get your power chords ready. It’s time for the blistering crunch of early punk rock.


Day 4. 80s – The Cure

Study the melodic power of Robert Smith’s genre-blending rock sounds.


Day 5. 90s – Nirvana

You can’t talk about rock without Kurt Cobain. Learn how to wield the massive grunge sounds he blended with pop-inspired songwriting.


Day 6. 00s – Pop Punk
Explore the chugging muted rhythms of Green Day and Blink-182.


Day 7. Recap
Review what you learned and put in some listening time with one final assignment.

Performance pieces

Perform songs that incorporate the concepts you just learned in a purely musical context. Here, you'll have the opportunity to jam with a live-recorded band of pro musicians. You can submit your performance to the Pickup Music team for personalized video feedback – who said online learning wasn't interactive?!

Final quiz

Cap off the grade with a quiz to make sure you've adequately absorbed the core concepts involved.

Grade 2. Decades (Part II)

Take a second lap through the decades of rock history.

Day 1. 50s – Bo Diddley

Get to know one of the most crucial strumming patterns in rock and roll history. The Bo Diddley beat.


Day 2. 60s – The Kinks

Combine catchy rhythmic patterns and power chord riffs, with gritty distortion and you’ll discover the British rock sound.


Day 3. 70s – The Who and The Rolling Stones

Discover how the 1970s changed the game for rhythm guitarists by studying 3 of its most creative players.


Day 4. 80s – The Clash, The Police, Elvis Costello

Learn how rock bands began to diversify their songwriting approaches by drawing on reggae, salsa, and other external influences.


Day 5. 90s – Skate Punk

Two underground worlds collide to create the perfect environment for punk rock classics.


Day 6. 00s – The White Stripes and Dan Auerbach

Learn how two bands flipped the script on an entire industry by drawing their playing influences from the masters that came decades before.

Day 7. Recap and listening assignment

Cap off the grade with a review and one final listening exercise to test your memory.

Performances

Apply what you learned in a musical context with three performance pieces that you'll play with the help of a live-recorded band backing track.

Get feedback

Get personalized video feedback on your playing from the Pickup team.

Final quiz

Make sure you're ready for Grade 3.

Grade 3. Decades (Part III)

Hone your rhythm skills, and explore a new round of iconic rock artists.

Day 1. 50s – Chuck Berry lead playing

Take a shot at double stops, and learn how to incorporate them in your own playing. You'll learn how to mix minor pentatonic/blues scales with the major pentatonic scale.

Day 2. 60s – Expanding on the boogie rhythm

Strum with the rhythm that the drivers made as you learn three rhythm parts that feature double stops galore in combination with a steady pedal tone.

Day 3. 70s – Malcolm Young’s rhythm playing

Malcolm and his brother Angus formed AC/DC together – they both played guitar so they had to figure out how to make both rhythm and lead guitar pop. Today, you'll learn how great music is often about what you don't play.

Day 4. 80s – The Edge and U2

Cross your t’s and dot your 8th notes. Today, you'll explore the delay-soaked sounds of U2's The Edge – an innovative guitarists who has pushed the limits of guitar composition and arrangement.


Day 5. 90’s – The Smashing Pumpkins

One order of #5s, in octaves, please. Today, we’ll focus on one technique that The Smashing Pumpkins are often associated with: drones and octaves. You’ll use them to fill rhythmic space AND as a melody device.


Day 6. 00’s – Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age

Rock, but make it pretty. Today, you’ll learn how open strings add beautiful colors to otherwise simple chord voicings.

Day 7. Recap and assignment

Review what you learned and complete a listening assignment.

Performances

Apply what you learned in a musical context with three performance pieces that you'll play with the help of a live-recorded band backing track.

Get feedback

Get personalized video feedback on your playing from the Pickup team.

Final quiz

Make sure you're ready for Grade 4.

Grade 4-6.

Forge into advanced rock territory.

Grade 4. Decades (Part IV)

Take a closer look at the 60s and beyond.

Day 1. 60s pt. 1 – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

If we can feel it, we can think it…let’s try both. Here, you'll study the unique guitar stylings of George Harrison.


Day 2. 60s pt. 2 – Hendrix rhythm playing

Explore chord embellishments to liven up your rhythm playing in the style of Jimi Hendrix.


Day 3. 70s – Prog rock

Delve into the jazz-fueled sounds of prog rock with ddd time signatures, parallel sus9 chords, and gallop-style picking.


Day 4. 80s - Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr was truly one of a kind. Today, you'll learn how he incorporated arpeggiation, open strings, and chorus pedals into his playing.


Day 5. 90s – Shifting time signatures and drop D

Get some grungadelic heaviness into your lexicon through low tuning and quirky rhythm. Today's lessons will get you into the sound of bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.


Day 6. 00s – The Strokes

Learn about the garage rock revival led by the Strokes. Two crunchy guitars, melding together in a similar register is a staple of The Stroke’s sound. In this lesson, you’ll learn one side of a twin-guitar piece.


Day 7. Recap and assignment

Lock it all in with a review and listening homework.


Performances

Apply what you learned in a musical context with three performance pieces that you'll play with the help of a live-recorded band backing track.


Get feedback

Get personalized advice on your playing from the Pickup team.


Final quiz

Make sure you're ready for Grade 5.


Grade 5. Rock Legends (Part I)

Take a deep dive into how seven different iconic rock guitarists wielded their axes.

Day 1. Eric Clapton

Get a lesson in blues rock from ol’ slowhand himself.


Day 2. Jeff Beck

Dive into the nuances that made Jeff Beck’s unique playing shine.


Day 3. Jimmy Page

Get the led out with the ripping mania of Jimmy Page’s blues-fueled shredding that helped skyrocket Led Zeppelin to fame.


Day 4. David Gilmour

Learn how to make your guitar scream out to the heavens and leave plenty of room via sonic space.


Day 5. Joe Walsh

Few musicians manage to take part in one iconic band. Joe Walsh did it three times. Here, you’ll capture his sound.


Day 6. Brian May

Ramp up the drama in your playing with the stylings of Queen’s Brian May.


Day 7. Tony Iommi

It’s time to get heavy. Learn how Tony Iommi paved the way for heavy metal with Black Sabbath.


Performances

Apply what you learned in a musical context.


Get feedback

Get personalized advice on your playing from the Pickup team.


Final quiz

Make sure you're ready for Grade 6.

Grade 6. Rock Legends (Part II)

The final gauntlet is upon you! Finish off the pathway with three final rock bosses, then dive into some conceptual melodic vocabulary.

Day 1. Jimi Hendrix lead playing (Part I)

There's no denying that Jimi is quite simply the king of rock guitar. We've saved his ferocious licks for last.


Day 2. Jimi Hendrix lead playing (Part II)

Take your Hendrix knowledge to the next level.


Day 3. Billy Gibbons

Learn how Texas blues left a cigar-shaped print on rock music.


Day 4. Angus Young

Wild clothing and even wilder licks. Step into the frenetic world of AC/DC’s lead guitarist and riff-writing genius.


Day 5. Major pentatonic and hexatonic soloing

Add new flavors to your minor pentatonic scales, then add a sixth note into the mix.


Day 6. Dorian soloing

Discover the Dorian mode and learn how to add an extra darkness to your next solo.


Day 7. Recap

A short recap of the grade and some honorable mentions.


Performances

Put your soloing skills to the test with these


Get feedback

Get personalized advice on your playing from the Pickup team.


Final quiz

Cap off the Learning Pathway and set sail on your next guitar journey.

Student stories

Learn how Rock Learning Pathway has helped real guitarists break through their playing plateau and realize their potential.

“My favorite part about Pickup Music is probably nerding out in the forum with everyone. Just knowing you have a creative community to reach out to if you have any questions or you're stuck in a rut.”

Vicki Huang

United States

"I would highly recommend Pickup Music to pretty much anyone who has been playing for a few years and doesn't feel like they are getting better any more."

James Harrod

United Kingdom

“One of the things that's been the most fun for me has been the SongSquad challenges... connecting with other people in the Pickup Music community on Instagram and just encouraging each other as we're learning songs and practicing.”

Vin Thomas

United States

"Pickup Music really helped me push my musical boundaries."

Wytse Hokwerda

Germany

REAL students

Don’t take our word for it, take theirs

What guitarists love about this course

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Included in your membership:

All-access pass

Learning pathways that get results

Video feedback on your playing

Practice with a live band

Weekly live lessons

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Included in your membership:

All-access pass

Learning pathways that get results

Video feedback on your playing

Practice with a live band

Weekly live lessons

New releases every month

60-day money back guarantee

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Frequently Asked Questions

If your questions aren’t answered below, please chat with us.

Is Pickup Music right for me?

Are you a guitar player who feels like you haven’t made progress in a few months… years… or even decades? 

You’re probably stuck in what’s called the ‘intermediate plateau’. This is very common and can be very frustrating.

What’s the cause? Well, it’s pretty easy to learn the basics on guitar. Learn a few open chords and you can play Wonderwall and hundreds of other songs. Learn a couple of scales and a few licks and you can play some lead. 

But what then? Triads? Modes? Arpeggios? The phrygian scale?!

Without a clear plan and learning system you fall back to playing the same old chords and licks over and over again. Or you bounce around free lessons online but nothing seems to stick. It’s a recipe for a lot of practice without much progress. 

That’s where Pickup Music can help. We specialize in taking players stuck in a guitar rut and turning them into advanced guitarists.

We do this through Learning Pathways that take you on a step-by-step journey towards fretboard mastery. We give you a highly structured system that shows you exactly what to work on each week to make serious progress. 

These Learning Pathways take the guesswork out of your practice routine. You are guided through a proven grade-by-grade system with daily lessons, play-along practice exercises and interactive workouts. 

But it’s not all about theory. We apply everything you learn to real music. That’s why every grade of our Learning Pathways build up to performing a song with a live backing band. This simulates what it’s like to play a real gig, with real musicians. It’s the absolute best way to learn. 

You also get 1:1 video feedback on your playing from our expert instructors and can attend weekly live lessons. This personal feedback makes Pickup Music the closest thing to taking in-person lessons, but at a fraction of the cost.

So does this method actually work? Will you see results in your playing?

The most common thing we hear from new members is that they’ve made more progress with Pickup Music in a few months than in years of teaching themselves. As one member recently told us, “I'm finally seeing progress for the first time in many years”.

Want to hear about other members’ experiences with us? Read our independent Trustpilot reviews.

Is Pickup Music worth the money?

Private guitar lessons will cost you about $50 per lesson or $2,600 a year. 

Going to a music academy will cost you about $40,000 a year.

A Pickup Music membership will cost you  just $180 for the whole year. 

That works out to 50 cents a day! 

But it’s not just about the money. It’s about not wasting your precious time. It’s about making actual progress on this beautiful instrument. 

By following our proven Learning Pathway system, you can stop wasting your time and effort trying to guess what you should practice next. Our guided programs eliminate the guesswork so you know exactly what you need to focus on each day and week to make lasting progress with guitar.

What makes Pickup Music better than other guitar lesson sites?

Most online guitar lesson sites are very good at teaching one-off songs and licks. Or they get super famous guitarists to record one-hour video lessons talking at length about their particular style and career.

The problem is that these approaches don't stick. They don’t help you to actually get better as a guitarist. You can waste a lot of time bouncing around these types of unconnected, one-off lessons. It’s a recipe for a lot of practice without much progress. 

Pickup Music takes a different approach. We give you a highly structured system that shows you exactly what to work on each week to make serious progress. We take you beyond the basics through a step-by-step journey towards fretboard mastery. 

By following a Pickup Music Learning Pathway, you are getting the most guided way to learn guitar. Over 6 grades, you are taken through daily lessons and practice exercises that carefully explain what’s going on behind the music. 

Each grade then builds up to song performances that apply everything you’ve learned with a live backing band. These challenges - where we simulate what it’s like to play a real gig, with real musicians - is the absolute best way to learn. 

The Learning Pathway method takes the guesswork out of your practice routine. Most guitarists start to see a rapid acceleration in their progress in a matter of weeks.

You can also get 1:1 video feedback on your playing and weekly live lessons. This personal feedback makes Pickup Music the closest thing to taking in-person lessons, but at a fraction of the cost.

Want to hear about other members’ experiences with us? Read our independent Trustpilot reviews.

What exactly do I get from a Pickup Music membership?

When you become a Pickup Music member you get unlimited access to our huge library of lessons:

  • 13 Learning Pathways giving you step-by-step instruction over 3 months
  • 47 Master Classes going deep into different styles over 2 weeks
  • 500+ original songs from some of the world’s best modern guitarists 
  • 100+ essential lick packages to add new flavors to your playing
  • 200+ 5 minute lessons for bite-sized learning. 


You get to enjoy amazing features that create a premium learning experience:

  • day-by-day lessons
  • 1:1 video feedback on your playing
  • weekly live lessons
  • progress tracking
  • interactive TAB
  • multiple HD camera angles 
  • play-along practice exercises
  • downloadable course notes and diagrams
  • quizzes to test your understanding
  • jam tracks with the Pickup Music Live Band
  • exclusive members-only forum, contests and giveaways.

How do the Learning Pathways work?

Learning Pathways are kind of our special sauce here at Pickup Music. They take all the guesswork out of what to practice. 

You get day-by-day lessons, play along practice exercises with your instructor, interactive jams with the Pickup Music live band and you can submit videos of your playing for feedback from the Pickup Music team. 

We designed this system so that you will know exactly what to practice every time you pick up the guitar. This means that even if you only have time to practice with us once a week, you will still make great progress by following a Learning Pathways. 

How often do I need to practice to see results?

Ideally you would practice about three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. But we know that life gets in the way sometimes! So here’s the good news: deliberate practice matters so much more than how often you practice.

After working with thousands of guitarists, we’ve found that the most important thing is to know exactly what you’re going to practice before you pick up the guitar. Even if you can only use Pickup Music a few times a month, you will still make really good progress if you stick to the step-by-step structure of our Learning Pathways.

How long are the lessons? 

Pickup Music's lesson plans are designed to suit the amount of time you have available to practice.

  • Only got a few minutes? Try our 5-Minute Lessons to quickly add a new skill to your toolbox.
  • Got half an hour? Try one of our Essential Lick Packages or original Songs  to expand your vocabulary in different genres.
  • Got a couple of days? Try a Master Class with one of our world-renowned artists. Each class is broken up into short, digestible modules focused on one topic. 
  • Ready to really commit to a multi-week program? Try one of our Learning Pathways. Over 3 months and 6 grades of learning, these detailed courses will take you on a day-by-day journey to master each level in the genre. Learning Pathways include daily practice exercises so you know exactly what to focus on. These courses are the best way to make lasting progress.

Whichever approach you choose, we recommend building the exercises you learn into your daily practice schedule. The best way to improve as a guitarist is through a consistent practice routine rather than sporadic, longer sessions. Learning guitar is a day-by-day, life-long journey.

Can I take the lessons at my own pace?

Everything on Pickup Music is designed to be taken at your own pace. There are no deadlines, so you can work at your own speed. You can stay on a topic until you really understand it before you move on.

While we divide our Learning Pathways into ‘days’ - this is a suggestion only. Some learners might take a few days in one sitting, while others will spend a few sessions on a single day. You can go at the pace that feels most comfortable to you.

How does the 1:1 video feedback work?

We want our members to get the closest thing possible to in-person lessons but at a fraction of the cost. That's why you can now get individual video feedback on your guitar playing from our team of expert instructors.

Here's how it works:

  • Choose a performance piece to learn at the end of each grade of a Learning Pathway.
  • Upload a video of yourself playing the performance piece.
  • An expert instructor from our team will review your playing and send you back a detailed video on what you're doing well and what you need to work on.
  • Repeat for each grade of the Learning Pathway.

Want to see a sample? Check out this recent video feedback from Pickup Music instructor Jack Handyside.

Is Pickup Music good for beginners?

Absolutely! We make learning the guitar fun and simple – the way it should be.

Too many people get frustrated with guitar because they develop bad habits and poor technique. Avoid these costly and time-consuming mistakes by taking Pickup Music's structured and step-by-step approach to learning guitar.

You'll start with Pickup Music's introductory program Beginner Learning Pathway. Over three weeks, we break down everything from simple chords and melodies to rhythm and lead playing. By the end of the program, you'll be able to play any simple pop or rock song (and even write your own).

Most importantly, we make sure you don't get stuck in the beginner's plateau - a common pitfall for guitarists who are just starting out. You'll keep making progress through Pickup Music's guided Learning Pathways. These programs are designed to quickly take you from a beginner player to an intermediate one who feels comfortable across the whole fretboard.

Is Pickup Music good for intermediate and advanced guitarists?

Pickup Music is the best platform available for intermediate and advanced guitarists. Our courses take you beyond the basics to advanced concepts like the CAGED system, triads, arpeggios, modes and improvisation.

The biggest trap for intermediate players is bouncing around from lesson to lesson without a plan or structure to get to that next level. We are known for taking intermediate and advanced players who have hit a ceiling and busting through until they reach the next level.

Am I too old for guitar lessons?

Many of Pickup Music’s members are in their 60s and 70s and have seen amazing success with our programs. Our platform is designed to be user-friendly for all ages and skill levels. And our supportive community is made up of guitar learners of all ages, cheering each other on.

How does the 14-day free trial work? 

When you first sign up to a Pickup Music membership, you enter your credit card but it will not be charged for 14 days. That means that if you decide to cancel within 14 days of signing up, you won't pay anything. 

And we send you a reminder before your trial is about to end so you don’t forget about it. 

If you decide to cancel after that, you won't be charged at your next billing cycle. That means: if you’re a monthly member, you won’t be charged for the next month. If you’re an annual member, you won’t be charged for the next year.

How does the 60-day money back guarantee work?

In addition to the 14-day free trial, we offer a 60-day money back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your progress in the first 60 days of your membership, we will give you your money back - no questions asked.

Is it easy to cancel?

Absolutely! You can cancel at any time (although we'd be sad to see you go). Cancelling is easy, no tricks. Just go to your account page and click a button.

You won't be charged anything if you cancel during your 14-day free trial.

If you cancel after your 14-day trial, you won't be billed again at your next billing cycle. Your membership will remain active until it expires on the day it was originally set to renew.

Note: Once your membership expires, we'll save your progress on your Dashboard if you decide to rejoin at a later date.

What’s the difference between the annual and monthly plan?

The only difference is the price. The monthly membership is $29.99 charged monthly and the annual membership is $179.99 charged once a year. 

That means that if you select the annual plan you will pay 50% less and save $180 over a year compared to the monthly plan. 

We'll also send you reminders before we bill you each year so that you don't accidentally forget about it.

We give such a big discount for annual members because it aligns with our long-term vision to inspire and support lifelong guitar learning.

Can I buy lessons individually?

We don’t sell lessons individually. But the good news is you get access to every single lesson on Pickup Music through the one membership. If you’re only interested in one lesson, you could purchase a monthly membership and cancel when you’ve finished it – we have a hunch you’ll want to stick around though :)

How do I restart my membership?

It’s easy to rejoin Pickup Music and we’d be thrilled to have you back! We even saved all of your lessons for you while you were gone on your Dashboard.

To restart your membership, simply head to this page, select the plan of your choice, and sign up with the email address you used to sign up the first time around.

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