Utilizing the advantages of Dropped D tuning is a great way to get into writing hard rock/metal riffs.

If you're not already aware, dropped D tuning is achieved by dropping the 6th string of a guitar in standard tuning down a whole step to D.  Here are some ways you can achieve this:

• Method #1 (Easiest):  Use an electronic tuner to tune the 6th string to D.
• Method #2:  With the guitar tuned to standard pitch, play the 7th fret on the 6th string followed by the open 5th string (A).  Tune the 6th string down until the note on the 7th fret sounds identical to the open 5th string.
• Method #3:  With the guitar tuned to standard pitch, play the 12th fret harmonic on the 6th string followed by the open 4th string (D).  Tune the 6th string down until the harmonic on the 12th fret sounds identical to the open 4th string.

Power Chords
One of the main benefits of Dropped D tuning is that it allows you to play power chords with a single finger barred across the bottom 2 or 3 strings.  Barring across the bottom 2 strings gives us a root and a 5th.  If we extend this to the 4th string (D), we get an additional root up 1 octave (as a result of the 6th and the 4th string both being tuned to D).  Below is a visual demonstrating why our power chords change shape as a result of this tuning.

Positional Pentatonic Playing - who doesn’t love alliteration?

This post focuses on using different patterns of the Minor Pentatonic scale to change keys without shifting to a different part of the fretboard.
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Let’s look at the backing track we’ll use to practice this concept.

A two-chord vamp, this track cycles between Am7 and Cm7. For the Am7 chord, we’ll improvise using the A minor pentatonic scale, specifically Pattern #1 starting at the 5th fret of the 6th string.

Once I saw the announcement that Linkin Park had recruited a new singer and drummer, a lot of thoughts came to mind, especially about the new singer.
The first question I had was, "How do you fill shoes as big as Chester Bennington's?" How can anyone be expected to take on that role and step into the legacy Linkin Park created with Chester? I wrote down my thoughts as I tuned into their live concert stream, and after a while, the answer came to me: you don’t.

Interactive Video Masterclass for Flatpicking Guitarists
Style: Acoustic, Bluegrass
Official Course Page

Bryan Sutton’s Wide Open Flatpicking is a course that I had the pleasure of transcribing for TrueFire.com, launching on August 22, 2024

About The Artist
I’ll be honest, I was not familiar with Bryan Sutton prior to diving into this project. However, I was very impressed with his abilities both as a teacher and as a player. In this course, Sutton offers an approach to flatpicking on acoustic guitar with a variety of awesome tunes that is both detailed and easy to grasp.
Course Overview
The ten songs Bryan chose for this course cover a wide range of techniques, ensuring that you can get the most out of learning from Bryan as your teacher. I was blown away when I realized just how much improvisation Bryan is doing in these performances at such a high speed. He is a truly a master of his craft.
This is one of those courses that, even if you spend a ton of time on one example, you’d be able to see some great improvement in your playing. There is so much content in each tune that, even after I transcribed every single note, I found myself wanting to go back and dissect what he was doing.
Approach
It’s very obvious that Bryan has spent a lot of time thinking about how not only how to play pieces that sound great, but our relationship tot he instrument and how to optimize the quality of what we play. In this course, Bryan goes through 10 tunes that will help you hone your abilities to cleanly play through these awesome tunes, many of which are quite fast!
Just as valuable as the performances, the demonstration videos highlight man great insights for playing the instrument well. Bryan challenges you to observe your playing deeply so as to ensure you sound as good as your potential will allow. He talks about how you should really listen to the fine details of your playing and how this detailed listening will make you a better musician.
Bryan’s teaching style is just as articulate as his playing. You can rest assured that you will come away with a focused approach to set you on the path toward mastery of this style.
Recommended Prerequisites

• Basic open chords
• Basic understanding of alternate picking
• Basic understanding of 8th note rhythms

Includes

• 52 Video Lessons
• 18 Charts (.pdf)
• 10 Jam Tracks (.mp3)
• 18 Tabs (.gp or .gpx)

Conclusion
If you’re looking to add a couple of quick licks to your playing, this is not the course for you. Depth is the name of the game here and Bryan Sutton delivers a course loaded with years of knowledge. If you’re looking to develop bluegrass flatpicking mastery, look no further than Bryan Sutton’s Wide Open Flatpicking.