Guitar Lessons - zero 2 hero - Christmas Songs - Part I

Like To Learn Some Christmas Songs as Guitar Instrumentals? Start Here!

zero 2 hero - Christmas Songs - Part I - enables Non-Music Reading Guitarists to play Christmas song melodies as beautiful guitar instrumental pieces. This course takes a quick and simple one or two string approach, unlike other courses that just teach fingerings that are impossible to play, use sheet music, complex timings and take years to learn.

Course Preview

Check out the preview videos to give you an idea of how the course works. You will also see videos of me mixing all the techniques from simple one line parts to various chord inversions to come up with an unrehearsed, in the moment version of the tunes, camera running and me just jamming. I would probably never again play the tunes in the way they are recorded. It was captured in the moment. I included it to show what the techniques could ultimately be used for and how close or far from the melody you can stray and still engage the listener. It is YOUR instrumental after all. And remember, YOUR imagination is your best friend.

There are some passing notes that may not fit exactly. I could have recorded more "perfect" versions. But that is not the objective of this course. It is about creating something that has never before existed; that is until YOU create it. Remember, in order to create art, you first have to create. Pick up your guitars and play and don't forget,

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep."

- Scott Adams

I Am A Beginner

You will begin with the tune “Happy Birthday To You” to get you up-to-speed with all the basics that you will need. You will learn the melody on one string. Next you will add a Simple Bass Note. That is your first simple Solo Instrumental Piece. It really is as simple as all that. Now you are ready to perform in public.

The next stage is to add another note to the melody. This becomes an harmonised 2 note melody. Then we add bass and we have a full chordal sounding version of Happy Birthday.

And because I believe in having fun as you learn, there is a fantastic dexterity challenge at the end of the section too! Be the Guitar Hero, learn it. Then, impress and challenge your guitar playing friends to play your cool version of Happy Birthday!

Learn By Doing

You play along WITH each video. This is not a course where you watch me demonstrate each technique and then you try to figure out what I just did and decipher it. You play ALONG WITH ME. I break each section down into tiny pieces and we play them together, bar by bar, as we learn the whole tune. So you are going to have to work – but not too hard. It’s only a few notes at a time after all! And, I try to make sure that we have fun while doing so.

After all, it is learning by doing.

To Go Fast, Go Slow

This is a comprehensive course that is nearly 5 hours long. The good news is that you do not have to finish the course to start using what you learn straight away. In fact, the best way to use this course is to go slowly.

The course is taught in a slow, deliberate yet dynamic fashion. You play everything a note at a time, each one building on what came before. How far you choose to go with it is up to you.

You can choose to learn the melody and use it as a solo piece when playing with friends. Or add some bass notes and play it as a beautiful simple instrumental. Add harmonised notes and sound like two instruments at the same time. Add bass and chordal ideas and play a more complex arrangement. Or take bits of each section and come up with your own unique, instrumental version of each tune. How far you go and how quickly you go is up to you.

I Cannot Read Music

You do not have to be able to read music to learn how to play instrumentals on your guitar. Also, the videos are very clear, shot from two points of view. Everything is broken down clearly. And slowly.

All examples taught are notated in TAB. There are pdf files for you to download and keep.

This All Sounds Complicated To Me

I understand your fear. I want you to imagine how you felt just before you learned your first ever guitar chord.

Imagine how you feel about the same chord Now.

Learning to play instrumentals is no more difficult than learning your first chord.

Using this course, it becomes a simple skill that any guitar player at any level can learn.

I Don’t Have Time?

Everyone has time to learn a few notes on a few strings. Surely it is worth the effort to be the player that you know you can be?

Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love, Time is not.

― Henry van Dyke Jr

Love Your Audience and Be Remembered.

Why not create timeless memories this Christmas for your friends and family by using what you learn from this course? Create dynamic introductions, interludes and endings to your playing. No longer be the same as all those other guitar players who just bang out a few chords.

Instead, use your skills in a musical manner. Use them throughout your playing to add depth, colour and shade. Use the runs, licks and chords effectively to increase tension. Then release it with the next run. Bring the listener with you.

Make this Christmas stand out from the other years and, be remembered.

Sounds Like Hard Work

There is an awful lot of very good information in these lessons. This information can be applied to many of the other tunes which you already play. The songs are deliberately chosen for 2 reasons; they are popular tunes and the techniques required are timeless and can be easily transferred to many other songs and styles of music.

Even though you will only play these songs once a year, you will very quickly learn some lick, chord inversion or run that you will find an immediate use for. This is what I call “the gold dust,” the nuggets that are contained within the course that will transform your playing.

Final Words

Imagine yourself the next time you pick up your guitar. As you smile to yourself, your fingers gracefully glide up the neck, on one string. Your thumb instinctively adds an occasional bass note. You have just played your first guitar instrumental piece. With such simple playing you will have the power to captivate your listeners and lead them on a musical journey through the story of the song.

It really is as simple or as difficult as that. So what are you waiting for? Go on. Get this course now. And be remembered as the great guitar player that you are meant to be.

Create meaningful experiences and you will make this Christmas and all your Christmases, special.

COURSE BREAKDOWN - SONG BY SONG

NEW FOR AUTUMN 2021 – How To Tune Your Guitar Without A Tuner

This is an essential skill to master so that you can always tune any string on your guitar immediately without the need to grab a tuner. No excuses for being out of tune anymore!

Silent Night

This course starts away back in 1818, with the beautiful carol Silent Night.

We are in the key of G taking advantage of all the open strings that the chord of G itself affords us. You will play the familiar melody on the first 2 strings.

Next you will add sporadic bass notes. Some of these will be to outline the chords. Others will imply the chord by harmonising the melody. Implying chords means that your listener hears the implied note in their heads at the same time as the actual harmonised note that you play. This can be used to add great emotion to a slow tune, thereby creating meaningful experiences for your listeners.

Following that, you will learn to play a version of the melody where you add an harmonised note. This expands the sound even further. Within this section you will hear some familiar harmonies which you may find useful in other tunes that you already know.

Finally, you will add bass notes to the harmonised notes and create a fuller sounding instrumental version of the tune. This is where you are encouraged to take bits from all versions and put together your own version based on your own style of playing. Be inspired by those whose playing inspires you. Mostly, be creative using the skills you have learned and let your imagination run free.

Angels We Have Heard On High

This time we are in 1862. And, in the key of D.

Firstly, you will learn a nice slow version of the melody, mostly on the high E string. Even though it is quite a sparse tune, the chorus will challenge your alternate picking as some of the notes creep up on you relatively quickly!

Then we add bass notes. They are sparse in the verse adding to a sense of serenity, calmness and space. In the chorus, more attention is needed. Here you will use harmonised bass notes to imply the underlying chord.

In the lesson my mind must have wondered off for a second as you will see from my facial expression that I seemed quite surprised at having to find a bass note and a melody note…together…Now... Sometimes, they just creep up on you!

The lesson being, just because something is familiar does not mean that it does not demand my full attention.

The final part is where we add bass and chordal ideas. In the chorus section you will explore some very nice intervals (notes played together in harmony) up and down the neck of the guitar. These provide movement and propel the tune forward. These are beautiful intervals that I would encourage every player to use in their own playing, no matter what style of music you play.

How Great Thou Art

We move forward to 1885. And switch to the key of A.

Firstly we learn the melody. Here you will have lots of opportunity to further strengthen your pinkie finger. This tune will have you playing a finger per fret and consolidating your alternate picking. All on 2 strings.

Add a simple sporadic bass pattern and you are playing a beautiful instrumental version already. Speed up, slow down, pause at your will – all to create dramatic tension and release in this tune that has stood the test of time.

In the next section you will add a beautiful, harmonised melody line. You may also find uses for some of the harmonised runs in other songs that you already ply. Either way you will sound like two guitars are playing together.

Finally, you add bass to the harmony and you have a beautiful chordal instrumental version, of this popular tune. We further explore options of using single note lines, bass runs, harmonised passages and chords to come up with a beautiful, moving rendition of this tune. There are also lots of un-tabbed moments explained of parts that can easily be transferred to your overall playing. Enjoy.