Life Of The Party

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Michael Ripoll

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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.

Included

Access this course, along with all other courses with Membership.

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 Course
1

Learn 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

View this Lesson
2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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

26

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

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Michael Ripoll

56
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Playing since 1984
  • 133 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Michael "Nomad" Ripoll is a consummate professional in the music industry with a list of credits and accomplishments that span decades. Best known as a masterful guitar virtuoso who has played with a seemingly endless list of the most respected names in the music world, Michael has always strived to exceed the boundaries of a traditional musician’s career by proactively seeking and securing opportunities to excel in other facets of the industry.

While he remains an artist and singer-songwriter first, Michael also operates as the Musical Director for world renowned artist and friend Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, has launched an innovative online format for guitar instruction, and has even contributed to major motion picture film scores. Working with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sting, Natalie Cole, the American Idol Tour, the Pussy Cat Dolls, India Arie, and countless others, Michael is regarded as one of the industry’s most sought after session players and touring musicians.

Michael earned the nickname "Nomad" after he started posting pictures and videos of his travels around the globe on his website and YouTube. Follow Nomad everywhere his guitar takes him here at JamPlay and at

ilikenomad.com
Reviews & Feedback 72/100 with 65 ratings
1mlr

I just like his presence. Like his approach!

telboy

I like the shorter "time" approach. Sometimes I cannot devote that much time to a lesson...eg one hour. So your shorter lessons are building blocks that get my attention. But all the essentials are there. You are a seriously talented teach

Thomas1691

it has got me going....YAAAA

B757767727

Nice style

pgoelz

So my biggest issue with the lesson is that the actually played part seems to have more beats that the slowed down demonstration of the techniques. You'd probably have to watch someone like me try to do what you're doing based on the lesson to

aramis75

This song you write sounds like parts of the 'Boxer' lyrically . Musical it is well written, so sure as Paul Simon's song is. To me your song would be a great protest song - like this = Do this. do that etc. - Noman!