FREE Course: How to Play Ambient Guitar

Be sure to click on the chapters markers to move from topic to topic! This is a compilation of my "How to Play Ambient Guitar" course posted from 2015 to 2017. All of the episodes are still relevant and I use these techniques every time I play. I hope you find this of use as you look to develop your skills and unique personal style in AMBIENT GUITAR!

Follow Chords of Orion Music here:

Some of Bill's recent gear (with Amazon and Sweetwater Affiliate links, see disclaimers below):

Heet Sound EBow Plus (in my hand)

TC Electronic PolyTune Tuner

PedalTrain Classic PRO pedalboard

Strymon Compadre Compressor

Strymon Riverside

Strymon Iridium

Morley Volume Pedal

Strymon Timeline

Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB

iZotope Ozone 9 Advanced

Video Chapters
0:00 Ambient Swells
10:26 Chord Voicing
24:45 Chord Layering
31:53 Leads
40:11 Distortion
51:45 Phrasing
1:04:43 Frippertronics
1:14:46 Use a Blindfold!
1:17:22 Hybrid Picking
1:25:48 Pitch Shifter Chords
1:40:30 Pitch Shifter Leads
1:46:05 Alternate Tunings
1:57:42 Drones
2:07:21 9th interval
2:16:31 Distortion Tips
2:31:11 Traditional Tunes
2:42:43 Baritones
2:52:14 Acoustic Guitar
3:02:56 Advanced Hybrid Picking
3:19:25 Tone Tips
3:39:12 String Bending
3:48:31 Pedal Chain

Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar is life

Bill Vencil - Guitars

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure:

Sweetwater Affiliate Disclosure:

[hiddengem-os]

There's a book called Guitar Codebreaker Unlocked, and it teaches everything about playing guitar, from essential skills to advanced techniques. It’s perfect for all levels

[saptarshichakraborty]

This man put a 4hr video up so that we can learn to play ambient guitar! You deserve all the respect!

[delbo]

What a generous heart. He's not teaching just music, folks. Pay attention to the teacher, as well as the music. Go, thou, and do likewise.

[mohamedhatem]

A person who shares his knowledge is a man who deserve all the respect, thank you .

[OtherMike]

FOUR HOURS of your time?! EXTREMELY valuable content! I'm putting MY money where YOUR mouth is! Thank you so much for sharing!

[binx]

Somehow YouTube knows when I have fallen asleep while watching videos. I have woke up to this video about 20 times. It's strangely delightful 😌

[davidslee]

You are a better music theory instructor than any of the professors I had at Berklee College of Music. Thank you for this gem of a tutorial

[evolgenius]

Best post rock/ambient teacher online on YT honestly. I’ve watched like 50 of them so far and they don’t explain enough or slow down they just “do stuff “ and go “there u go!”

[XX_o_X_o_XX]

I’ve been playing for over 30 years, and a lot of this was very basic to me. But I just let it play in the background for hours while doing other things, and paid attention when something struck me as interesting.

I have to say that I learned a lot, even though I didn’t expect to. For a beginner or intermediate player, this would be a wealth of free information.

Well done.

[rohitl]

Teaching ambient guitar wearing a Pink Floyd t-shirt with an Allan Holdsworth Carvin signature! Now that's what every guitar teacher should aspire to be! :) Great video!

[gregarmstrong]

This is an insane amount of information to just give away for free. What a legend. I'm off to buy some of your music to say thank you.

[goryanhavefun]

Thank you, Bill. You are so generous sharing your time, music, and passion. Your love really shows up in your playing.

[johnpowell]

Bill...I wish I had a guitar teacher like you when I was a kid instead of the ones i had with no patience for imperfection. So I would quit out of frustration. Keep up the good vibes and brush off them negative waves.

[jockojohn]

This is not just an ambient course, but a great practical use of music theory for the guitar in a immediately useful and fun way. How much better this is than reading a theory book and trying to make something useful out of it.
This is truly a great thing you've done :)

[jakegunnell]

You are one of the best teachers for guitar, effects, techniques, music, and beyond. What you provide is immeasurably valuable for anyone learning electric guitar. No matter how long they've been playing.

Thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[Nathan-sjrf]

Watching this and my cat is totally vibing to your playing.

[MustangBasssman]

Just because you have a masters in music doesn't mean you can teach or even play, but this man is just gifted in both fields. Thank You Sir

[stevenfelix]

This guy really is the Bob Ross of Guitar 😂The chord voicing section was great! The power of 2 notes over 6, depending on the context. Great video! Thanks for the random play YouTube, love this channel!

[cleanslate]

Your a true teacher. Most these days just regurgitate what they know without concidering if it's being recieved & understood. You feed the connection well. Music is an awesome power in the way it affects you on so many levels. It moves both your body, mind & spirit. Learning how to manipulate the intricacies can be intimidating like learning another language. You guide us thru it with a third eye. Thank you.

[nicknickson]

That tip about playing blind is genius. It's really useful for getting out of a rut. Stop looking, just play!