Answering your questions. Now I've got one for you.

I thought a good old fashioned mailbag episode would be nice. You guys ask such great questions on the channel; I think some of them deserve expanded answers; hence this video. Actually, some of them deserve their own videos so I can properly expand on the idea. So I've got ideas for some upcoming videos to do just that. Also, I have a question I'd like to ask you back: What do you think is missing in the YouTube guitar space? There are many great resources. What can I offer? I am building material for courses. Looking for topics, I suppose. Thanks for hanging out!

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0:00 Welcome! Here’s a quick lesson in developing a hook over a chord progression
3:11 Let’s answer some other questions from the comments!
5:26 TWO TIPS for GREAT guitar tones at LOW volumes.
9:13 How do I get a clean tone from a dirty amp?
10:47 Why I use the ET65 speaker for most of my recording work
11:37 How would I write E G A B in the Nashville number system?
13:02 How often am I changing strings?
13:15 Why don’t you always share songwriters’ names?
17:07 Do I prefer recording mono or stereo tracks?
20:17 Why do I downstroke driving rhythm parts instead of alternate picking?
21:35 How did I come up with the 2- and 3-note voicings of the chords I play?
23:08 Upcoming courses!
27:00 QUESTION: what do YOU think is missing in the guitar and music instruction world?
28:14 Being focused on modes set me back a few years, if I’m honest
28:48 If I’m thinking anything, it’s chords
30:01 once again for the people in the back, what do you MOST want to learn?
Thanks again for hanging out, and please SUBSCRIBE. :)

[frankpratte]

What is missing? I think you are already filling what I can't find elsewhere. I love your accompaniment to tunes, the fills, the chord voicings... hooks that add so much to the tune. It's great content for a songwriting guitar player.

[henrykc]

There is one thing you do what others don't and this is the main reason why I love your channel. You record guitar parts to real tracks sent to you by producers or other artists. I watch what you play, how you approach the task, you explain the sound you chose. Because of this I notice details that I would miss listening to finished songs. I learn a lot and it motivates me to grab my guitar and play. There are tons for youtube channels with guitar lessons, but nobody offers what you offer. So now your channel is my #1.

[edjones]

Old drummer here here’s some good advice
Keep doing a lot of the same shit you’re doing it’s awesome
If anything I could add, would be to emphasize on the pocket the groove you have such a superb talent in that area and I think that’s the biggest thing missing from most players out there
Pocket and it comes from good technique which you when you reiterated the two things don’t take it on the chin and practice

[randyupchurch]

..Thank you, Sir, for ALL that you do for "us"...I truly enjoy your "style"...Much-love from Southern Illinois...Peace...

[TexasJackdaw]

Great response on that question (I found quite rude) about not sharing the name of the song. The question might have born out if ignorance, not knowing the ins-and-outs of publishing and the overall music business. Especially regarding a session player. I’d lean to giving the comment the benefit of the doubt (which I feel you did). Very classy Justin in how you handled it. Completely transparent. Thank you.

I have several friends in Nashville and LA who do session work. I do a lot myself - and am really enjoying watching your approach (which is surprisingly similar from Nashville to LA). The fact that you simply introduce yourself as “a guitarist that records songs in Nashville” is so modest. I’m sure this channel will grow exponentially with each video you release.

[kilgoretrout]

I guess what's missing is what you're talking about: Content that distills the essence of complementary rhythm playing and mix filling into a few key points that I can practice and fall back on when I'm playing with other people.

I have no idea what to play if another guitar player is already playing something cool. I end up competing for the spotlight instead of filling out the sound. I try to lay back, but all I "hear" in my ear is one-note lines; the stuff I've seen you and Tom do are these cool 2- or 3+ -note things that blend in perfectly with a main guitar part, the vocal, and drums. I'm not comfortable enough with those things to hear them and execute them when I play with others.

In general, I want to be able to hide in the mix but also complement and elevate it if possible. Tom and other youtubers say to learn all the guitar parts of my favorite songs, but I wonder if there're a few key rules of thumb that experienced guitarists use. Thanks!

[nohillforahighstepper]

Here's a little trick that not many pickers know about, or use.
For good OD at lower output volumes, try a balanced output tube in the OD position, usually T2 on Fenders. The reason this works is because when you dime the output volume on a regular tube, the levels are almost equal on both sides of the tube, which isn't necessarily true at lower volumes. But running the balanced tube will give you similar OD at lower volumes.
Balanced output tubes are considerably more expensive but worth a try...
😊😊😊

[Emperorjones]

Justin, I think your summary at the close perfectly described what you can offer. Understanding chord voicings and how they add color and emote is gold. It compels the listener and the artist to ask for more.

[thumbody]

I have been a session guitarist for decades as well. I'm 66 and been playing since I was 10 and recording since I was 19. I'm kind of rusty now but still doing it for friends and colleagues occasionally. Mostly, I do it for my own stuff these days.

What I think is missing in YouTube tutorials is not just how, but why, when coming up with guitar parts for songs. Blending your instrument with other elements in a mix so that it reinforces the melody and/or vocal without interfering. How and why to choose chords, voicings, and sounds that have their own space in the mix without masking other elements Sometimes they need to stand out and other times they need to blend in. When does that need to happen and why? That's something that took me a long time to learn and I don't see other YouTubers covering it.

I have tried to explain it to inexperienced players and can never quite come up with a way to explain it to them when they don't have any experience to relate it to. Hopefully you can.

BTW, I love your content. I'm always on the hunt for something new I haven't thought about or realized.

[chasearrington]

If you offer a course, I will definitely buy it. Your playing is very inspiring & that’s something you could offer that no one else is doing. People watching your videos want to be able to independently express themselves like you do by coming up with unique ideas that support the song. Thanks for sharing! ❤

[jamesseamusdillard]

It's not the how to play, it's the why play that. You are teaching me to listen and to think about how to serve the song. It's not about a lick but the lick, the one that serves the song and elevates the track.

[thesunabsolute]

I know this video is a few months old, but as someone who’s purchased dozens and dozens of courses, I figured I’d throw in my wishlist. I’ve also worked in instructional design as a software engineer, so I think about this stuff a lot 😂. Given your unique strengths, I’d structure the course as follows: I would write a demo song, that you can use to reference when introducing topics like Nashville number system, diads, useful chord shapes. Walk the student through your approach and apply the method of thinking only about chords to construct parts. At the end of the course, the student would be able to take the demo track, drop it in GarageBand, and begin tracking parts. This could also work as a segue way to a mini lesson on recording guitar. I feel keeping this song oriented approach, can cut a lot of the filler BS you see in courses crammed with licks and such. Happy to discuss this more, since I love to nerd out on this stuff. If not, best of luck and I’ll definitely be buying whatever you put out! ❤

[nohillforahighstepper]

I think what is missing from YouTube, or music education in general, is composition instruction.
We have many, very talented music "technicians" that can parrot work from any and all composers. Classical musicians might fall into that category. Not to take anything away from their talent, in any way.
But IMHO, we have a severe lack of musicians who can compose new music. We just don't teach that until college. There are, of course, some exceptions. But, for the majority of musicians, music composition is something we have to figure out all by ourselves.

[BrentonScottKempster-epzn]

JO imho you're one one of the essential 'Nashville Nutrients' for healthy guitar diets : ) ...any more laid back u gonna fall of that chair cheers for takin the time man !

[mortonwilson]

OK - child of the 60s here, I have been working as a Producer for the last 40 years in HK, Singapore & Shanghai and I play guitar whenever I can on tracks . . . but also work with some terrific guitarists with way better skills than I have. Everything I have seen on your channel is either a 'nod my head' thing, or, 'didn't think of that'. . . Really, really enjoying your whole laid back approach to explaining how you work. If you are going to do an educational series I think it would be a gift for amateurs and pros alike - and, THB, you have already started - the vids I have seen are all cool and sharing a low key pro insight. All the best!

[boatingforbeginners]

I've learned so much already, from using your ideas mixing output tube breakup with pedals, to chord progressions and soloing over them, You've inspired me to try lots of different things on the fretboard, totally new to me after 47 years of playing gigs. I feel that the natural way that you conduct and present your videos are also super inspiring and that's what makes me come back time after time, There's always something to learn and enjoy from your videos, even just listening to you talk about things there's always something super interesting. Ive never done home recording, but you've now inspired me to seriously consider it as its so exciting, so that's defo a course id be interested in, how to set up a home studio, what gear you'll need etc How to make your own backing tracks, how you get the inspiration for a new solo or chord progression, There's a whole new world there waiting for you Justin and a whole lot of us just waiting for when your ready to inspire us even further than you already have. It's AWESOME and THANK YOU

[fdhenard]

Videos about "what the guitarist is thinking" when they're playing solos is really helpful to me. I like your playing, and I saw a video where you talked about that briefly. Essentially you were talking about being melodic by knowing the chords underneath the solo that you're playing. I would love to learn more details around that. i.e... how you come up with the "riffs" or melodies that you come up with over the chords

[kcliveandlocal]

Didn’t know until now you have t-shirts 10-10-1 love it!! Deluxe Reverb Settings..

[JarickL]

Man this is simple stuff but so powerful. Great wisdom!

[robertfoster]

Hello Justin.. I really like watching your videos.

Just wanted to make a comment about your Kelly amp.

Dale Fortune was the guitar tech who worked on my guitars in the late 70’s he made some amazing Stratocaster style replacement necks for me.

I remember him introducing me to Jim Kelly in 1979 when he shared the shop with Dale.

You have a real gem of an amplifier and I wish that I had kept some of Dale’s necks that he made for me.

Please keep the videos coming it’s inspiring to watch how you approach different facets of a song