John Shannon

John Shannon

John is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com

“The good thing about growing up in Pittsburgh is that there’s actually a really rich underground music and jazz history there,” says singer/songwriter John River Shannon. Coming from another source, those words might not raise eyebrows, but Shannon’s desert-influenced, mystical-leaning folk-pop is more rustic than Rust Belt; more likely to conjure images of campfires and canyons than dingy basements and speakeasys. Then again, a conversation with Shannon reveals a f... (more)

John currently offers 61 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 61 intermediate lessons.

John Shannon's contribution to JamPlay

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Rock

Rockin Rhythm Guitar

Rock guitarist John Shannon takes you on a journey to improve your rhythm playing. Effecting all facets of rock playing, rhythm is the foundation of quality playing.

1

Introduction to Rock Rhythm Guitar

Meet John Shannon and his approach to rhythm guitar. John discusses why he put this lesson series together and what his aim is to bring you.

5:29 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

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2

Rock Rhythm Player's Toolbox

To get started in his lesson series, John discusses what should be in every rock rhythm guitarist's toolbox. He discusses timing devices like the metronome and things like what amps might be best suited in your own toolbox.

10:56 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Rock Tempo Zones

Now that you have your rock toolbox built, it's time to start developing your rhythm playing for rock. In lesson three, John discusses the importance of the metronome and identifies the three tempo zones that you're going to be working in throughout the course.

8:05 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Down Strokes

Lesson four in the rock rhythm series is all about the down stroke. This stroke drives the rhythm home and is a staple for most rock rhythm players.

9:12 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Up Strokes

Lesson five covers the opposite from the down stroke; the upstroke. The up stroke may not be as driving as the down stroke, but utilizing it can create melody and harmony in your rhythm playing and will be fundamental to proper rhythmic strumming techniques.

7:25 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Power Chords

Lesson six is all about the mighty power chord! John discusses the various ways to create a power chord and espouses their excellence when it comes to rock rhythm guitar.

8:51 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Palm Muting

Palm muting is a powerful tool to help shape and define your tone while playing. It also aids in creating that signature rock rhythm sound.

8:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Full Chords

Previously, John has touched on the power chords and other smaller chord voicings that help cut through the mix and make you stand out. Now it's time to look at bigger, more full-bodied chords that stand apart.

9:59 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Strumming

You've looked at the upstroke and downstroke individually in previous lessons. Now it's time to tie the two together and delve in to rhythmic strumming.

15:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Octaves

Lesson 10 is all about the octave chord shape. This chord shape provides some cool rhythmic flavors, but also presents other challenges. John discusses it and demonstrates it's use in rock rhythm guitar.

9:39 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Combining Elements

We've reached a junction in the series where you've started to develop several different tools. In this lesson you'll start combining them to create more variety in your rhythm playing.

9:20 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

12

Combining More Elements

Practice is a cornerstone of being a well-rounded rock rhythm guitarist. As such, John Shannon provides another opportunity to take a look at combining elements you've learned previously.

8:44 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Pull-Offs

It's time to start adding more tricks to your bag go rhythm techniques for rock guitar. In this lesson you're going to learning the pull-off technique and how it can add texture to your rhythm playing.

10:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Hammer-Ons

The next technique in your tool-bag is going to be the counterpart to the Pull-Off and is known as the Hammer-On.

12:23 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Drop D Tuning

Lesson 15 starts off a focus on altered tuning from standard. To start with, John discusses Drop D. He teaches you how to get into the tuning, how it alters your playing and then how to get back to standard tuning.

12:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Multiple String Muting

In lesson 16, John discusses muting multiple strings simultaneously. This is done with the palm of the hand and will often be part of the palm muting technique.

11:24 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

The Rhythmic Chuck

In lesson 17, John Shannon uses the multi-string mute technique along with a strumming chuck to help you create a nuanced and rhythmic line.

7:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Open G Tuning

Lesson 17 is all about open g tuning. This tuning is made popular by bands like The Rolling Stones and their guitarist Keith Richards. John shows you how to get to open g tuning from standard, discusses it's uses and shapes, then helps you get back to standard tuning.

12:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

19

Single Notes with Power Chords

John Shannon takes a now familiar power chord and discusses how to add single notes along with it to create a moving and melodic rhythm line.

9:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Rock Fingerstyle #1: Thumb and Two Fingers

It's not time to switch gears and discuss the world of fingerstyle. To get you started, John Shannon discusses and demonstrates the use of the thumb and two fingers for the style.

8:51 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

Rock Fingerstyle #2: Pick and Middle Fingers

Now it's time to tackle another aspect of the Fingerstyle technique. In lesson 21 you'll be utilizing the pick and your middle fingers, also commonly referred to as hybrid picking.

11:04 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Rock Fingerstyle #3: Textural

Now that you have a basic understanding of the fingerstyle techniques, it's time to apply them in a way that adds texture to your rhythm playing.

10:16 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Rock Rhythm Delay

In lesson 23, John Shannon discusses the use of a delay pedal and how to integrate it into your rhythm playing.

13:59 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Open Strings with Moving Chords

Another rhythm element that John Shannon imparts is the ability to move chords while ringing open strings. He discusses the technique in this lesson.

9:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

25

Harmonics

In lesson 25, John Shannon discusses the uses of harmonics in rhythm playing.

14:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

26

Right Hand Tapping

Bringing in some lead elements can really spice up your rhythm playing. In this lesson, John discusses the use of right hand tapping for rhythm playing.

12:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

Advanced Metronome Use

The use of a metronome is an important aspect in keeping good time. A well rounded rhythm player can also use it in advanced ways to help timing on things like compound meter and triplets. In this Lesson John shows you how.

8:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

Rhythmic Stabs

Rock Rhythm guitar sometimes has a characteristic stab and mute effect that is used. In lesson 28, John Shannon discusses and demonstrates this technique.

8:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

29

Ghost Notes

In lesson 29, John Shannon talks about ghosted notes that are typically slid away from and carry no duration value.

10:00 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

Rock Rhythm Slide

Taking a page from the previous lesson, you'll once again be sliding. This time using a finger slide to create a smooth, slinky effect.

11:03 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

31

The Arena Chord

Made popular by rock legend Pete Townshend, the arean chord not only cuts through the mix, but it adds style and flair to your live performances. For the final lesson of this series, John shows you how to create it.

10:19 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

Rock

Rockin Rhythms and Beyond

If you loved John's series Rockin' Rhythm Guitar, you'll love this series as well! Rockin' Rhythms and Beyond takes you into new, advanced rock rhythm guitar territory. Rhythm is not only what clarifies your melodic ideas but also what allows you to connect to the bass and drums to give the music shape, style and punch. In this course we will go further into developing your rhythmic abilities by thinking and playing from a rhythmic perspective.

1

Series Introduction

Join John Shannon as he introduces his series, Rockin' Rhythms and Beyond. In this series, John will take a look at some advanced rhythm guitar techniques designed to turn you into a great rock rhythm guitar player.

3:40 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

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2

The Five Tempo Zones

To start off the course, John explains the 5 tempo zones we'll be using throughout the series.

11:23 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

3

Tempo Awareness

As a rhythmic player, it's very important to be able to adjust and adapt to different tempos, and to be able to recognize different tempos.

6:35 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

4

Kick Drum Sync

The bass player is not the only one who can sync up with the kick drum! John shows us how to make a band even more cohesive by syncing up your rhythm guitar playing to the kick drum as well.

9:25 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Funk Rock With the Thumb

John now explores the tonal differences between using your thumb versus using a pick.

8:13 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Funk Rock with a Pick

Now John takes the same type of riff and plays it with the pick to illustrate the tonal differences.

4:42 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Playing with Thumbs and Fingers

The subtle textures of using the thumb and fingers together is a must know technique for any rhythm player. In this lesson John shows us a riff to help get us acquainted with this technique.

8:38 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

The Envelope Filter

The envelope filter pedal is a great tool for rhythm playing. It can add depth and character to your rhythm parts. In this lessons, John demonstrates the pedal and gives some advice on how to configure and use it.

10:20 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

9

Single Note Rhythm, Part 1

Simply playing chords is not the only aspect of great rhythm playing. In the next few lessons, John shows us how to incorporate single note rhythms into our playing.

7:53 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

10

Single Note Rhythm, Part 2: Hammer-On Phrasing

Using hammer-ons in a rhythmic context can really enhance your phrasing. Join John and he dives into this useful rhythmic concept.

8:37 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

Single Note Rhythm, Part 3: The Palm Mute

When it comes to phrasing, dynamics and control, the palm mute is one of the most valuable techniques you can apply to the guitar. John shows us how to best apply this technique.

8:23 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

12

Single Note Rhythm, Part 4: Pressure and Release

Creating pressure and release with the fingers of your left hand is a key element in varying your rhythmic playing. John gives us a simple exercise to practice this technique with.

7:11 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

13

Single Note Rhythm, Part 5: Trills

In this lesson, John explains and demonstrates the Trill technique to expand your rhythmic playing even further.

6:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Single Note Rhythm, Part 6: Descending Arpeggios

Descending arpeggios can add a cascading effect to a single note rhythm line. John teaches us a cool descending arpeggio lick that you can take and modify as your own!

7:42 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

15

Single Note Rhythm, Part 7: Pick and Middle Finger Riff

In this lesson, John uses his pick and middle finger over a riff comprised of "4ths" to illustrate the different kinds of tones you can get using a combination of different right hand techniques.

7:55 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Single Note Rhythm, Part 8: Advanced Picking and Space

Sometimes what you DON'T play can affect the rhythm of a song more than anything. John explores leaving space in your picking in this installment of Rockin' Rhythms and Beyond.

8:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Intro to Surf Rock Technique

Surf Rock is traditionally a very rhythmic genre. So it makes sense to explore it a little in this series! John shows us a cool riff that employs the trill technique to get us going.

7:50 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Surf Rock Riff

Now John takes a riff similar to the trill riff in the previous lesson and adds some movement to it. This will help you get the feel of moving around the neck while playing the trill technique.

6:13 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Rock Swing With Minor 7th Chords, Part 1

The minor 7th chord is a great chord to know that can add a lot of flavor to your playing. In this lesson, John shows us a particular voicing for the minor 7th chord that lends itself well to the rock swing rhythm he is playing.

10:17 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Rock Swing With Minor 7th Chords, Part 2

Continuing with the swing feel, John shows us another voicing for the minor 7th chord that will give you more options when using this chord.

9:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

21

Reggae Rock Rhythm Part 1: The One Drop

Reggae is a feel that commonly crosses over into the rock genre. One of the hallmarks of this feel is what John will explain in this lesson as the "One Drop".

8:48 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

22

Reggae Rock Rhythm Part 2: The Two Drop

In this lesson, John uses the reggae feel to show us the two drop technique. He also will employ the pressure and release technique to really tighten up the sound.

7:29 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

23

The Use of Space With Minor Chord Inversions

John continues with the Reggae Rock feel, but this time approaches it with a sliding chordal riff that includes a lot of space that adds to the overall feel of the riff!

9:08 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Getting the Feel of 5/4 Time

The odd time of 5/4 can seem very daunting at first. In this lesson, John teaches us that the key to learning this time signature is to spend a lot of time getting used to the feel.

6:18 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Riffs in 5

As we continue to get used the feel of "5", John shows us a new riff to help us down that road!

8:35 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

26

Getting the Feel of Playing in 7

Just like playing in 5, playing in 7 takes time to get used to the feel. In this lesson, John shows us a simple riff to get us practicing this feel.

6:50 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

Suspended Chord Riff in 7

In this lesson, John gets us used to playing in 7 even more with this cool suspended chord riff.

8:44 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

Overall Rhythm and Technique, Part 1

In this lesson, John takes several different techniques that we've learned in this series, and puts them together in a riff.

7:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

Overall Rhythm and Technique, Part 2

John gives us another combination riff that will employ several different techniques we've learned throughout the series.

10:21 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

Imposing A Different Time Feel

To wrap up the series, John shows us an advanced technique that teaches us how to impose one feel over the top of another feel.

9:52 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

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