How To Use A Looper Pedal - Guitar Lesson Tutorial - JustinGuitar [QA-004]

In this guitar lesson tutorial we're going to learn how to use a looper pedal to practice licks, layers and create cool soundscapes. Lesson ID QA-004.

It's nearly all 100% free and card details are not needed to register. You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose! My theory course is the best on the web (and one of the very few paid parts of the site) and it's awesome - if your theory is lacking and you wanna fix it - that's the place to go! At my store, you'll find a huge range of super cool guitar themed t-shirts, all my (paper) books, merch and lots more 🙂 and we got proper fun backing tracks for you to jam along with too!

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[oddacorn]

I got my first looper years ago and was immediately discouraged because my timing on stepping on the button wasn't good and the beginning and end of my loops didn't flow together. This was enough to stop me for years! I'm finally getting started again, and it really is just something that takes a little bit of practice. Don't give up like I did! Practice your click timing by making one bar loops over and over for 5 minutes a day and you'll have it mastered in short order. If at any point you feel frustrated, stop for the day and promise yourself you'll give it another shot tomorrow.

[cardboard]

I got a looper for christmas off my gf but only got the power lead today to use it, and what a cool little piece of kit it is! I've tried recording my self on my phone but it doesn't pick up the sound proper and I didn't think I sounded that good. This looper changed everything and made me realise I've come a long way in 18 months of playing. I play a chord progression or even just an Em or something then layer a lick and then another and so on. It sounds amazing even the gf agreed and shes usually pissed off when I play. I've picked it up really easy but as justin says it's all about clicking down on time which took only a couple of minutes to figure out. This piece of kit has made me realise I've become a musician woop woop. Rock on people and become a looper star 💫🎸

[LazyZeus]

That jazz jam on 15:00 is awsome. Justin, you have to make more jazz lessons.

[williamb]

Every time I have a guitar question, I ask the internet and Justin has the answer. What a teacher.

[charliefoxtrottherd]

I got talked into buying the Boss Looper Station (the RC-300). It's a whole pedal board in itself. It has so many functions that it's overwhelming. But then I really got serious about it and found a few sites that have loops that can be downloaded (drums, keys, etc) and now I am a one man band. I play every Thursday night for 2 hours at the Stacked Pickle (for free) and it's just me, my rig, and guitar. All I do is sing and play. So much fun, and it helps when you are in front of people. You would be surprised how that pressure makes you focus and play so much better. All due to the looper.

[RickRose]

You're a tremendous inspiration. Your ability to just lay down a "soundscape" like you did there is mind-blowing. Makes me want to practice. Thanks!

[bentleycharles]

"Be cool with the idea that it's going to take time to get it together" Super advice, J.

[brettpenza]

I have to say, Justin. I've seen a lot of your videos. You do a great job. No pretense, just showing the love for the music and giving out some great info. Really, you have a great way of including us all in to the wonder of music. Always a pleasure. Thanks very much.

[lunkercarp]

I have seen several videos demonstrating how to properly use a looper...but Justin you really nailed it. simplified it . really great video.

[JohnOhkumaThiel]

It’s funny, I was the Manager of the Learning Center at Berklee College of Music for seven years, where I would teach people who often had never even used a typewriter how to use a music sequencer and also basic general computer stuff, would typically encounter anxiety by first timers who thought they might type something into the computer or click on the wrong thing, and it would burst into flames. So total first timers with computer and synth technology—I’m originally a sax player by the way—first thing I would have them do is play a game, just to get them used to moving the cursor and such, but also reduce their nervousness about technology.

Here I am, years later, born again musician on guitar, just got my first effects pedal—a multi effects pedal which includes a looper—and I’m having that same hesitance to even try it out beyond the preset functions. I bought a multi effects pedal because I wasn’t sure which sort of pedal I wanted first—reverb, delay, looper, distortion—and this gave me the most bang for my buck and more; in fact it even provides a major upgrade to the iRig I was originally using.

So here I am, now the nervous student, shutting up, not twiddling with my instrument, listening, and I have to say this is the perfect lesson. Thanks so much. I’m going to try a basic Blues groove and riff over it, and I predict that will give me the confidence to try more complex music on it.

I haven’t played live in front of an audience on guitar yet, so maybe after I get the hang of this thing I’ll try putting a hat out and doing the busker thing as a learning experience.

You really covered all the basics.

One of the benefits of the unit I bought, it includes drum tracks, but the drum tracks don’t get recorded in the loop, so that consistency of tempo isn’t a huge obstacle. On the other hand, my particular unit only has a 30 second loop.

[williamb]

After playing guitar for 6 months following Justin’s course, I’m not afraid of anything on guitar. I’ve learned that everything can be done if you practice enough. Knowing that adds a whole level of comfort and excitement to the guitar journey.

[DKomnicide]

I remember I immediately bought a looper pedal years ago after I heard that soundscape towards the end of this video. That part blew my mind, and I came back after all this time to listen again... Brilliant

[miquelmarti]

I'v been noodeling on and off for decades and learned nothing but repeating the same pentatonic licks. A looper + drum machine brought me to the next level. It teached me to stay in tempo and to listen to the other instruments carefully before playing my licks, otherwise you can't call it music. Now I can't stop improvising and searching for new triads on the fretboard. Once you'v discovered them, you won't even need to memorize it. Just keep playing and try to make the guitar to behave like a voice (play less notes and make it more meaningful). It's so addictive, I'm running home after work time just to feel like being the new Gary Moore LoL

You only learn to walk by walking.

[rileymcgill]

Very helpful. I've been playing guitar for 15 years and just gotta looper. This thing is really making me relieze how much better I need to get and how much more I still need to practice

[bentleycharles]

"Start playing first." Very good advice.

[terryfisher]

Been shredding 47 years. Just got my EHX 720 Stereo Looper. Had trouble with the chain of pedal command until I watch and listened you. Thanks you so much. Also learned how to time the loop by playing a bit before and overlap a bit after. That smoothed out everything!

[ninobenjamin]

Justin i just wanna thank you for the lessons. i was almost gonna give up guitar because i wasn't getting any better and i practiced all the time but am now following ur lesson packs... thank u so much

[PabloGarcia-hinb]

I leant my boss rc-2 to a friend many years ago, and I never saw him (or the pedal) again. Then I just went on with my life, ignoring the loop-shaped hole in my life. Then I saw the thumbnail for this video on the side of my screen in youtube and it just convinced me to go out and get a new one.

[mattbockbrader]

I bought a Ditto years ago on Justin's recommendation. It's been sitting in my box of guitar odds and and ends ever since. This week I finally built a little pedal board with scrap lumber and re-watched this demo. With a little practice, I'll get the hang of this pedal. Who knew that throwing down some blues licks over a one chord vamp could be so fun!

[ProfessorFrenzy]

Just got my first looper, the TC Ditto. This lesson is just what I needed to get the loops synced from beginning to end. Thanks.