Life Of The Party
Genre and Style Guitar Course from Michael Ripoll
Learn the fundamental building blocks to be able to play any song from beginning to end with confidence and the ability to actually entertain those around you while doing so!
26 Lessons
Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.
Multi-Camera
Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.
Guitar Pro
All tabs and notation provided in PDF and Guitar Pro formats.
Tabs & Info
Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.
Full Course Breakdown
Look, let’s be frank...if you pick up a guitar in the middle of a crowded room, chances are you’ll be noticed and even prompted to play something. I say go for it! That’s right, throw all caution to the wind, dig the pick out of your pocket and jam out one of your favorite songs! Heck, make it a sing-a-long crowd pleaser so every can get involved!
Begin the CourseLearn To Play Songs HERE!
Learn the fundamental building blocks to be able to play any song from beginning to end with confidence and the ability to actually entertain those around you while doing so!
4:13 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Identifying The Elements - Rhythm
Learn how to pick out and create many different types of rhythmic sounds on your guitar. You'll also get your perspective set on how important rhythm guitar is to your guitar playing.
7:26 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Identifying The Elements - Melody
Melody just might be the most important building block in music! It's debatable, but certainly worth pondering. What are some of the first melodies you remember getting stuck in your head? In this lesson, we'll learn how to create melody!
6:25 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Identifying The Elements - Harmony
Harmony is simply the support of a melody. Harmony can exist in several different forms. It can be in the rhythm instruments or a supporting vocal, or a single note harmony from any number of instruments. Nomad demonstrates a cool way to practice harmony in this lesson.
5:49 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Identifying The Elements - Lyrics
We're looking at how lyrics and melody work together from a guitar player's perspective. Lyrics are an important part of song form and it is an art to get them to work together to compliment one another and not get in the way of each other. Nomad uses an example from one of his own songs to illustrate a good working relationship between the elements.
7:15 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
A Little About Song Form
Using the original song example from the last lesson, we're going to get a better feel singing and playing along with yourself as well as honing in on different parts that make up a complete song.
10:02 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
More About Song Form
We'll look at other musical examples from Nomad's world that will further drive home the importance of identifying and working with different parts of popular songs. We'll start off by looking at the bridge.
9:23 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Groovin' & Tempo
Learn to march to the beat of your own... Guitar? Yep! In this lesson, you'll learn how to harness that inner groove that is inside all of us and just waiting to be discovered and shared with others.
8:36 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Time Moves On
Understanding how the groove works within the time signature is so important when it comes to really getting in the zone with a song. You don't have to be able to count every little subdivision as you strum, but you should be able to count the general feel. Nomad walks you through this.
6:06 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
The Value of Notes
Once you unlock the little mystery contained in the value of notes, learning and performing songs will be SO much easier! There's a bit of theory involved, but don't get scared It's pretty straight forward.
12:34 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
How to Mimic the Groove
The drums, the bass line, and the entire arrangement of a song feeds the whole groove and feel. Learn how to capture that energy with your guitar in a performance that doesn't necessarily have all those elements!
16:38 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Natural Strumming
The strum pattern can be the hardest aspect of a song to capture because trying to be too precise can actually make you play less like how you really want to sound... Comfortable and awesome! Nomad breaks down how to be imprecise yet strum how you want to strum!
7:19 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Dividing It Up
In this lesson, we'll hone in a bit more on the actual subdivisions that make strumming what it is. Now that you know how to sound natural, this is the next step in becoming a great strumming machine.
24:39 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Even If You Don't Sing...
...You should sing a little! Why? Because even a little singing makes vital connections between your brain and your ears! Singing is a way to massively train your ears and will make you a better all around musician.
11:40 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
That Memorable Melody
What's the first thing you remember about a song? That's right... It's the melody. If it doesn't have a great melody that you can remember and hum while you're driving or in the shower, it probably isn't worth spending your time on. Nomad teaches you how to get that melody out of your head and into your guitar playing.
9:41 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
What Key Are We In?
If you can get a head start on figuring out the key you're playing in just by listening to a song, you'll be in much better shape when you actually go to sit down and learn the song. Nomad gives some great tips on how to train your ear in this direction.
19:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
In One A-Chord
How do we build chords from a Major scale? This is extremely helpful when song writing but also is great to understand how any chord progression works. Nomad will break down how the Major scale and basic chords work together and tie it all in to making your songs sound great!
7:42 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Background Vocal Harmony
In the previous lesson, we looked at how the guitar harmonizes with itself in the context of how chords work. If you're playing chords, your always harmonizing. Now, we'll take a look at how harmony works specifically with vocals!
9:09 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
How Chords Progress
Learn how to create chord progressions by looking at how chords relate to one another. You'll find out which chords work well together and how to join them together for that perfect flow!
9:58 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Just Passing By
Work on adding passing chords to your chord progressions and how to identify a passing chord when you're figuring out a song. They can be kinda sneaky, but if you know what to listen for, you'll get them before they fool you.
7:08 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
The Capo Guy
There are so many great ways to use a capo. You can dial in the right key for a singer, you can add interest by playing chords or lines in a completely different part of the neck than your jamming partner, and you discover new ways to play chords and progressions that are just not possible in any other way!
14:34 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Take The Lead
Lots of bands have two or more guitar players. You need to know your role as you start to play with others. It's important that you not only know the difference between rhythm and lead playing. Maybe you'll play rhythm sometimes and lead other times. Learn how to wear both hats and go between the two seamlessly!
10:49 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Identify Yourself
We're nearing the end of the series and you have done well if you've come this far! Hone in on how to dial in the sounds and tones you hear in the songs you're trying to learn. In many cases, getting the right sound is key to a great performance.
13:38 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Save The Best For Last
In the instructor's humble opinion, the SOLO is where every guitar player gets to have the most fun! As we near the end of course, and you learn how to save your cool stuff for just the right moment, you can open up into a well-thought out guitar solo!! Have fun... Get the right perspective!
23:42 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Take Your Time
Nomad talks about the process and order you should go through when sitting down to figure out a song. What should you focus on first? Where should you devote your attention when it comes to the tiny details? Nomad dives right in!
12:04 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Shapes & Sizes
Once you've figured out the song, you can look at the chord shapes and then mess with them! Nomad goes over how to give your basic shapes new life.
13:54 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Let's Start. Together.
Setup your account and explore our courses, teaching tools and resources.
Get Started