Beginner guitarists
You should be comfortable with basic single-note playing to take this class. If you can fret and pick individual notes, you're ready to start soloing.
7 days
Dan will guide you through 7 days of step-by-step instruction with daily practice plans and assessments.
Play expressive solos
This class will help you build a strong foundation for soloing with the core techniques and coordination every beginner lead guitarist needs.
Take the next step
Once you've mastered this challenge, keep learning with more challenges and guided Learning Pathways.
What you'll learn
In this class, Dan Kalisher breaks down the techniques you need to start turning basic notes into real lead guitar phrases. Each day focuses on a key part of lead playing so you can build a solid foundation for solos, riffs, and melodic ideas.
- Make your lead lines sing.
- Stop sounding stiff, start sounding musical.
- Develop fundamental lead guitar techniques.
- Take your first steps into the world of soloing.
Curriculum
Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.
Your guided learning experience
In this 7-day Challenge, Dan will help you go beyond scales and shapes to start building complete phrases with better feel.
Picking hand
Start your shred-ucation with the most important picking skill for speed and precision: alternate picking.
Dan will help you improve your accuracy and control to keep notes consistent without tiring out your hand.
Fretting hand
Now, you’ll build strength and dexterity in your fretting hand with proper technique.
Dan will show you a great exercise that will work your fingers and help you dial in your fretting skills.
Expressive articulation
Great lead playing is more than just playing the right notes.
In these lessons, you’ll learn how to add character and movement to your lead lines with slides, legato techniques, and vibrato.
Day 6. The mechanics of bending
Bending is one of the coolest guitar techniques, but it's also one of the hardest to nail cleanly. Fortunately, Dan's got some tips to help you build strength and bend in tune.
Day 7. Dynamics
For your final lesson, you'll learn how to control the volume of your notes to turn your phrases into interesting musical conversations.
Performances
Before you move on from this class, Dan will challenge you to learn a song and put everything into practice in a real musical setting. This is your chance to apply the techniques in context and start making them your own.
Day 1. Picking hand
Start the class by zooming in on your picking hand. You’ll work on clear note attacks and a picking motion that stays steady even when phrases get faster.
Day 1. Picking hand
Great picking is all about conserving energy and staying relaxed. Dan will help you develop an effortless picking motion that stays close to the strings. You’ll start with single-string exercises before expanding across the strings.
Day 2. Fretting hand
Your fretting hand is the other half of the lead-playing equation. In this lesson, Dan will give you a practical exercise that will strengthen your fingers and improve dexterity. Bonus: It’s a great daily warmup routine.
Day 2. Fretting hand
The secret to fast playing is keeping your fretting fingers close to the strings. You’ll learn how to hold the neck properly to avoid tension and give your fingers the freedom they need to fret lightly and move quickly.
Days 3-5. Expressive articulation
In these lessons, Dan will show you how to make your phrases smoother and more vocal using techniques like slides, legato playing, and vibrato. Turn simple notes into musical ideas with character and flavor.
Day 3. Slides
Why play a note when you can slide into a note?! Dan will help you keep your eye on the target note as you slide up or down your fretboard. This will help make sure that you always slide with intention and precision.
Day 4. Hammer-ons and pull-offs
Hammer-ons and pull-offs let you quickly string together notes without having to pick again. Dan will guide you through practicing these moves with proper form and technique so you can start incorporating them into your lead playing right away.
Day 5. The mechanics of vibrato
Vibrato is the best way to add your personality to every phrase. This helps the note sustain for a little longer, and it imitates how singers add that shaking effect to their target notes. No two guitarists have the same vibrato, and you’ll learn to dial in yours today.
Days 6-7. Bending and dynamics
In these final days, you’ll put the finishing touches on your beginner lead playing journey by learning how to bend in tune and control the volume of individual notes.
Day 6. The mechanics of bends
Dan will help you bend strings with more strength and better pitch control. You’ll learn how to aim for a target note and avoid the common mistakes that make bends sound flat.
Day 7. Dynamics
Turn your phrases into great conversations by honing your touch. You’ll learn how controlling your dynamics can greatly change the way a lead line feels.
Performances
Now that you’ve worked through the core lead techniques, it’s time to use them in full performance pieces. You’ll play three beginner-friendly songs that help you turn these lessons into real lead guitar parts.
REAL students
Don’t take our word for it, take theirs
What guitarists love about this course
FULL REFUND, NO QUESTIONS ASKED
Improve your playing or get your money back
We’re so confident that we can improve your playing that we’re underwriting your membership with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
Your Instructor
Dan Kalisher
Dan is an expert session guitarist, pedal steel player, and producer who’ll help you become a more confident rhythm and lead guitarist.
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Frequently asked questions
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