Fingerstyle with Don Ross

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Don Ross

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Don Ross, an award-winning, Billboard-topping fingerstyle artist, will teach you everything you need to know to get started in fingerstyle guitar.

28 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

95% Appoval

607 of 623 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.

Included

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Full Course Breakdown

In this series, Don Ross delivers his extensive knowledge on many aspects of fingerstyle guitar. Not forgetting beginners, he starts off his series with a manageable pace, covering the basics in-depth.

Begin the Course
1

Don Ross Series Introduction

New fingerstyle instructor Don Ross introduces himself, his background, and what you should expect in this series.

3:54 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Playing Style

Don Ross talks about the way he plays and how he got started in his particular style. He also brushes on right hand technique and thumb pick style.

14:09 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

3

Finger Assignments

Don Ross takes some time to talk about where he places each right hand finger while playing fingerstyle. This is a great lesson for those who wish to fix old habits, or are just starting out in this wonderful style.

9:10 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Travis Picking

Don Ross talks about fingerpicking patterns with a focus on Travis Picking. He explains the pattern thoroughly and at a step-by-step pace so that it can be picked up by fingerstyle players of any level.

22:55 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Travis Picking Part 2

Don Ross dives into Travis Picking once more. This time, he specifically focuses on patterns for chords that have a root note on the fifth string.

14:10 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Travis Picking Part 3

This time, Don Ross demonstrates Travis patterns with chords that have a root note on the fourth string.

9:21 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Thumb and Brush

Having thoroughly explored Travis picking, Don Ross now takes some time to talk about the "thumb and brush" technique.

12:27 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

8

Altered Vs. Open Tunings: Altered

Don Ross takes a couple lessons to talk about altered tunings and open tunings. In this lesson, he takes a closer look at altered tunings.

8:05 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Altered Vs. Open Tunings: Open

Don Ross now discusses open tunings. Open tunings get their name because the open strings are tuned to a specific chord.

18:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Open G Tuning

Don Ross talks more about open G tuning and how to make it more applicable to your playing by applying the Travis pattern you have already learned.

13:46 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Open D Tuning

Don Ross talks about open D tuning, how it's similar to open C tuning, and how you can incorporate it into your playing.

17:44 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Open C Tuning

In this lesson, Don Ross explains open C tuning. As with the G and D tuning lessons, he explains how open C compares to other open tunings, how to tune, and what it can add to your playing.

26:48 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

DADGAD Tuning

Don Ross looks at DADGAD tuning in this lesson. He explores different ways to play, how to tune, and discusses why it has become so popular.

17:56 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Harmonic DADGAD

Don Ross takes another look at DADGAD and how you can play harmonically in this tuning.

11:19 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

15

DADGAD and Travis Picking

Don Ross continues his discussion on DADGAD tuning and brings it all together with Travis picking.

10:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

DADGAD Chord Voicings

Don Ross takes a final look at DADGAD tuning in this lesson. This time, he explores some great chord voicings that are sure to spice up your playing.

10:41 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

CGCGAD Tuning

Don Ross takes a look at a unique and beautiful tuning, CDCGAD, or in Don's words, the "Fred" tuning, and explores what can be done with it.

14:35 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Brooke's Waltz Part 1

Don Ross takes a look at the first part of his original song "Brooke's Waltz". This song is in the CGCGAD tuning you learned about in the previous lesson.

17:44 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Brooke's Waltz Part 2

Don Ross moves on and covers the second portion of his original song "Brooke's Waltz".

12:05 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

20

Brooke's Waltz Part 3

Don Ross finishes up the trio of lesson on his song "Brooke's Waltz". This time around he talks about the song structure, as well as the funky behind-the-nut vibrato he ends the song with.

15:43 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

21

Extending Harmony

In this lesson, Don talks about how you can use simple music theory to add colorful extensions to your chords and also create new open tunings. This is a very useful lesson for all guitarists.

18:41 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Upright & Locked Position Part 1

Don Ross delves into one of his sweeter melodies - "Upright & Locked Position". In this lesson, he offers a short review on the tuning he uses and teaches the first portion of the tune.

18:22 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

24

Upright & Locked Position Part 2

Don Ross teaches the B section of his song "Upright & Locked Position".

8:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Upright & Locked Position Part 3

Don Ross returns to his song "Upright & Locked Position" and teaches the C part. He then talks about combining the three major sections of this song, as well as how to end it.

18:39 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

26

Harmonics Part 1

Harmonics sound awesome, and no player's arsenal is complete without this versatile technique. Don introduces harmonics and talks about playing both natural and artificial variations.

13:19 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

27

Slap and Brush Harmonics

Don Ross talks about "slap" harmonics and "brush" harmonics and how they can be used.

8:36 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

28

The Ripple Effect

Don Ross teaches a harmonic technique he calls the "ripple effect". This technique was originally made popular by guitar legend Lenny Breau.

11:43 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

The Ripple Effect Part 2

Don Ross builds on lesson 28 by discussing more ways in which the "ripple effect" can be used.

9:04 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

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Don Ross

607
  • Montreal, Quebec
  • Playing since 1968
  • 73 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course


Don has toured regularly since 1989, across Canada, the USA, a dozen European countries, Japan, Taiwan, China, Australia, Russia and India. He has played with symphony orchestras in Canada and Germany, and collaborated live and on recording with Andy McKee, Canadian singer/guitarist Brooke Miller, & Toronto bassist Jordan O’Connor. He also composes scores for television, radio and film, and does production and recording engineering for a variety of other musicians. In addition to acoustic guitar, Don also plays electric guitar, slide dobro and lapsteel guitar, voice, piano, keyboards, bass guitar and drums.
Reviews & Feedback 95/100 with 623 ratings
Korrun

Shouldn't I be able to choose all three options not just one?

seabee

He seems to be a very nice person and experienced guitar player. I like the way he explains on how to play and where to put your fingers and such. Keep up the good work Don

gubnet

A great relaxed comfortable teaching style. The lessons were just the right length and had the right amount of content so as to maximize a students learning opportunity. Very high quality lessons and worth the Jamplay subscription even if the s

bunker

Great intro to the style and tools

tercelink

I enjoyed this whole lesson set, as many on jamplay... this one was a great response to my current venture into the land of open tunings.... thanks! Don Ross is articulate and clear to understand, also he has a pleasant charisma that makes it

Pach907

I've always enjoyed Don's music, and dabbled in DADGAD for years. I've learned more in the last ten minutes than I have in the last year. Thank you Don.

LeslieD48

I was able to pick this up in just one viewing. Not gonna say it was perfect but I can play it. Yay!!!

cherylg

This guy is the best!

Frequency

Great Guy!

vinchow

Ron's english is easy to understand

dbarinecutt

great layout I like how he takes time through the lesson

stratoplaya

Wish he had a beginner theory lesson. (i.e. circle of fifths, pentatonic scales, chord creation, etc.) because he is so easy to understand. He does not confuse me with his explanations and examples. Great job!

eric.hanson0

Don Ross is teaching me how to play guitar. I finally get it because of how he teaches it.!

gabrielpeace

FANTASTIC TEACHER: clear instructions, perfect pacing & explanations, supportive & enabling attitude & demeanor!! Easy to understand!

JoeCib

Don's style of teaching is so easy to follow. When I first watched the intro to fingerpicking I thought it was way beyond my playing skills. But just after the first lesson Don made it so easy I was playing along with him! Thanks for this won

Southern Cash

It's hard

balco

Great teacher, perfect pace!

Sactown900

Do you have too learn Travis Picking before you play like Don? I am big fan of Steve Oliver, Mark Antoine, Jesse Cook, etc. Just wonder if all these folks are starting us out on the Alternate Bass Thumb, because thats were all Finger-style sta

Jess Araujo

I like his personal tips.

nylfh

great lessons on Travis picking

dchicoz

Another amazing lesson... Wonderful instructor!

gekko

The DADGAD lessons are fantastic. Very logical and well explained. You can see how it's all put together and it's easy to get it sounding great. Thanks!

sixstringer

The best presented lesson on the particular skill in question that I have found. And although I could not select another option, the teacher was great as well

halgeirsvage

I've recently been dabbeling in a bit of DADGAD tuning, yet not been able to quite comprehend why I do what I do other then "The tab says so" This intro to DADGAD has been very helpful for me to wrap my wittwe bwain around the tuning

Cjouini1

Wonderful teacher!! I've been able to do what I thought impossible for me "ICAN PLAY IT "

superjerm

Literally starting each day listening to Don. For both the musical theory and the cadence and relaxed mode that he teaches in.

clm123

What I have been looking for on this site

MAP1970

Great teaching! And he play well as he knows....

ErnestoM

Very easy to understand. I've never tried fingerstyle as I play mostly electric, but wanted to expand my horizons. I made the right choice with Don!

Worship_Guy

Easy to understand, great refresher...

mbscardoso

First two options.

baronep

Checked all three,

alexchristie

great teacher , very nice person, and exactly the style i want to master.

spardacus

I love Don's insights - they are both interesting and relevant. I always learn something when I visit Don's contributions.

timrizzo

This and the other sections on Travis picking are fantastic and the highlight of this fingerstyle series.

Superfly6928

Wow. Is it too much to say that Don Ross is as good a guitar teacher as he is a player? That seems impossible because he is a monster composer and player. But I've never heard a clearer, more concise and easy-to-understand explanation of DAD

Jazzjude

Yay Don! Great lesson, easy to understand and follow along! Great job! You made it fun!

tryingnow

It's surprisingly hard to find a teacher who can actually teach picking of any kind

mobidevjc

I saw the excellent video on YouTube and thanks to Don’s excellent instruction, I decided to,join JamPlay.

michaelvick51

I have loved the playing style of Don Ross for years and have always wanted to learn from him and some of his original songs. And here I am, a dream come true.

Petehunt123

At last I am beginning to understand where to find the chords in open tunings and how they are formed Thanks Don for great lessons

Busufu

Great lessons easy to understand from a great player too

Hudd

Thanks Don! I am enjoying the Travis Picking series and getting better!

Uummmmii

These are really step by step and easy to understand lessons, just what i was looking for, thank you