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When any of us learn to play the guitar, the style we end up developing is ultimately influenced by the styles of the players we learn from. In other words, it’s typical for us to inadvertently express a mixture of several genres. But, what if one wishes to intentionally add a new flavor of playing to the blend?

In his course, ShapeShifter, Andy Wood gives us the tools we need to access the technique he calls, “shapeshifting.” This type of playing involves performing in one style, but mixing in new harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic elements from another.

Here are 7 free Andy Wood guitar lessons from his course, ShapeShifter!

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Cross Picking


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Cross picking is a delightful technique that I lifted from my bluegrass background. But, I apply this to all sorts of other genres. We’ll discuss the intrinsic issues, how to develop it, and I’ll also give you a few exercises to help you polish it up! Essentially, it’s just a VERY deep and difficult version of alternate picking that involves crossing over strings. This ultimately produces rolling sounds and sequenced arpeggios, etc.

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Blues Foundations Licks & Tricks


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Now we’ll head into the basic foundations of blues and blues harmony, how it’s used as the core DNA of so many different genres.

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Adding Country Flavor


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In this, we approach an “Allman Brothers-esque” major pentatonic environment and look at how to add in some country flavor. We specifically look at how to twist the Southern rock ballad thing and give it some country ballad seasoning. By the way, I’m using a floating tremolo arm so the pedal steel bends are a bit wiggly – the price of a floating trem! Fear not if you play hardtail guitar, this will not affect you.

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Stonesy G Blues Country Flavor


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For the country aspect, I go with a clean tone. The first pass through is very simple, approachable lines from any level. The second pass incorporates the more advanced techniques, alternate picking, double stops, hybrid picking, etc.

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Funky D Vamp Rock Flavor


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Back to the overdrive for our rock take! We’re again starting with simple themes using bends, etc. to set the feel. We move into wider bends with more aggression, and use single note lines, hybrid arpeggios, legato pull-offs and the “Satriani-esque” smear of notes. Then, we return to our main idea.

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Gm Jazz Fusion


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This track has a smooth vibe. We’re gonna start off with basic jazz ideas using octaves in the way that maybe george benson does. Note that we have to acknowledge each chord change as I play over it, addressing the 2-5-1 changes. The second time through is more notey, using some wider intervals and more advanced alternate picking. Plenty of chromatics in here to enjoy!

Andy Wood Guitar Lesson – Blues Rock in A


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Now we shift our playing into blues territory, and again the first time through we go simple and build a nice motif. On the second pass, we get more aggressive with wider bends and more of that Texas blues style flavoring. No crazy harmony here, just familiar blues shapes!

Digging these free Andy Wood guitar lessons? Check out his full course, ShapeShifter on TrueFire!