Rock Learning Pathway
Take a journey through the decades of rock.
Intermediate
Progress from fundamental rhythm & lead techniques to advanced rock 'n' roll shredding in the style of legends.
3 months
Joshua will guide you through 6 grades of instruction with daily practice plans and assessments.
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.
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
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Curriculum
Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.
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.
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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!
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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.
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.
REAL students
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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.
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Your Instructor
Joshua Ray Gooch
Journey through decades of rock & learn how to shred like the greats. Joshua specializes in breaking down rock 'n' roll guitar concepts.
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Frequently asked questions
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