Lisa Pursell
Lisa is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Lisa started playing local venues as a teenager in and around Atlanta as a guitarist for hire. At the same time, she began teaching guitar privately and playing locally on recording sessions. In this still-early stage of her career, she was soon teaching at local music stores. After attending a local college and studying classical guitar, she began teaching at the Atlanta Institute of Music.
In 1992 she moved to Hollywood, CA. to attend the Gu... (more)
Lisa currently offers 68 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 68 beginner lessons.
Lisa Pursell's contribution to JamPlay
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Basic Electric with Lisa
Lisa will guide you through the basics of electric guitar with a rock and blues flair in this series.
Introduction to Series
JamPlay is proud to welcome Lisa Pursell to the teaching roster! Lisa introduces herself and her rock / blues background in this lesson. She also explains how she will bring a new perspective to our Beginner Electric Guitar series. Whether you are just starting or want to learn some new electric guitar tricks, Lisa is sure to take you where you want to go.
12:37 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
The Basics of Electric Guitar
Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives into string directions, tuning, holding the guitar, and right hand position. She finishes up with with a mini quiz and an overview that will prepare you for the next lesson.
19:39 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Learning Your First Open Chords
Lisa jumps right into your first "open" chords. She demonstrates how to play these chords in detail, so you can begin playing some simple progressions on your own.
15:48 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Chords and Bass Runs
Lisa continues her lesson series with more basic chord shapes. In addition, she introduces bass runs that help tie these chords together and add a level of sophistication to your playing. Combining these two techniques will open many doors for guitar playing.
11:45 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
More Chords and Bass Runs
Lisa picks up right where she left off in her last lesson. Here she demonstrates some additional bass walk downs that can be used to intensify your guitar playing.
5:37 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
Hybrid Picking
Lisa shifts her focus to the right hand in this lesson. Here she introduces a picking style known as hybrid picking. This technique requires you to use the pick and pluck the strings with your fingers at the same time. Hybrid picking can be used in a variety of stylistic settings to produce a unique tone and texture.
7:08 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Triads
Lisa explains triads in this lesson. Simplistic and unique, yet powerful and bold, these little guys will allow you to explore some fresh new sounds on your guitar.
6:26 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Travis Picking
Developed by Merle Travis, Lisa explains this hybrid style picking technique in detail. Travis picking, which involves playing an alternating bass line, is a common form of picking within country and fingerstyle music.
8:47 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Triads and Fingerstyle
Lisa introduces some new picking techniques that can be applied to the triads you have learned. She demonstrates how these triads can be embellished with melodic ideas to create an overall more creative sound.
18:54 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
The Blues Shuffle
Lisa introduces the blues shuffle. You will learn several chordal variations on this classic rhythmic pattern.
14:16 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
I, IV, and V Chords in Different Keys
Lisa introduces the I, IV, and V chords. She explains how these chords can be found in any key by counting up the musical alphabet.
8:35 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Sweet Rock Groove
Lisa compiles the information from the last couple of lessons into a nice rock groove. This is a great way to take what she has previously taught and turn it into a nice melody for you to jam around with. She also demonstrates where you can add or subtract certain notes within the groove to create your own unique rhythm sound.
6:47 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Barre Chords
Lisa Pursell is back in lesson 13 with barre chords. She explains how to play various forms of the major, minor, and dominant seventh barre shapes. A discussion of economy of movement and why it is important to rhythm guitar is also included.
12:25 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Syncopated Rhythm
Lisa breaks explains how the left can be used to mute the strings within a funky, syncopated groove. She provides a few practical exercises that will help you become acquainted with this technique.
5:05 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Reggae Rhythm
Lisa demonstrates a short and juicy lesson on reggae strumming patterns. Most reggae patterns are played in 4/4 time with a strong emphasis on each of the upbeats.
3:15 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Syncopated Rhythm Revisited
In Lisa's 16th lesson of her Beginner Electric Series, she reopens the topic of syncopated rhythms.
5:29 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Single String Technique
Lisa covers some warm-up exercises that are beneficial for both the left and right hands.
6:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Slide Technique
Lisa presents a small lesson on the slide technique. This technique can be used with scale patterns to help create a more expressive and personal sound.
8:55 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Pull-off Technique
Lisa teaches a classic rock lick that combines the pull-off technique with a pedal tone.
4:12 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Hammer-on Technique
Lisa covers the hammer-on technique. This technique is essential for all guitarists to master.
2:13 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Some Blues / Jazz Chords
Lisa simplifies and breaks down some chords commonly used in the blues and jazz genres.
8:10 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
6th Intervals
An interval is the musical distance between two different pitches. Here Lisa covers the 6th interval and some practical ways that it can be used.
8:16 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
3rd Intervals
Lisa continues to explore important intervals used in music. Here she explains diatonic third intervals and where they are located on the guitar. She also provides a musical excerpt that will allow you to put this knowledge into practice.
7:58 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Tool Box Tips
Lisa introduces some techniques that will help you improvise effectively within the major pentatonic scale. Techniques include triplet sequences, hammer-ons, pull-offs, double stops, position shifts, and more.
23:05 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Minor Blues Scale
Lisa introduces the minor blues scale. This scale, which adds the b5 degree to the minor pentatonic scale, is one of the most commonly used scales in almost all styles of music.
13:40 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Texas Style Shuffle Rhythm
Taking things back to the SRV sound, Lisa demonstrates this Texas style rhythmic shuffle. She breaks this pattern down by demonstrating its bass line and the muting techniques required to play it.
10:00 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
E7(#9) Chord
Lisa takes a quick moment to cover this unique chord. Some dub E7(#9) as the "Classic Hendrix Chord." However you see it, this colorful sound is an essential addition to your guitar toolbox.
2:29 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
5 Scale Positions
Lisa demonstrates the 5 scale positions of the major and minor pentatonic scales. Each position can be used alone or in combination with the other patterns to create many different scale runs. Make sure you have your alternate picking technique sharpened up.
20:19 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Faster Chord Changes
Lisa will cover a metronome technique that will help develop faster chord changes.
3:24 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Organizing a Practice Session
Lisa provides some great tips on how to set up and organize a practice session that will maximize progress.
6:28 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
Beginner Music Theory
Lisa dives into some beginner music theory and discusses how to use a mnemonic system to remember note locations.
5:48 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Understanding Minor Chords
Lisa takes a look at how to build minor chords. She explains the crucial difference between major and minor chords.
3:21 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Barre Chord Concepts
Lisa explains some important theory information pertaining barre chords.
8:08 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Barre Chords in a Blues Progression
Lisa breaks explains how to find the appropriate barre chords within a I-IV-V blues progression.
5:03 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Octave Shapes
Lisa takes a quick look at how octave shapes are created and where they can be found.
3:08 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Improvising with Intervals
Lisa demonstrates some ideas on how to improvise using intervals. She begins with the perfect fourth interval for this lesson.
3:59 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
5th and 6th Intervals
Lisa continues her last lesson by explaining how 5th and 6th intervals are frequently used in melodic lines.
10:08 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Major Scale
Lisa dives into the major scale and demonstrates a commonly used pattern.
8:01 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Major Scale - G Shape
Lisa explains how to play the C major scale using the 'G' shape from the CAGED system.
6:39 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Syncopated Rhythm
In this lesson, Lisa demonstrates how syncopated rhythms work and the different ways they can be applied within a 16th note or triplet-based rhythm.
11:56 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Chords and Patterns
Lisa explains how chord shapes and scale patterns relate to one another.
8:15 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Major Triads
Moving all the way up the neck of the guitar, Lisa demonstrates major triads and explains the fundamentals of how they are built.
4:11 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Minor Triads
Lisa now goes on an in depth adventure into minor triads.
12:42 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Minor Arpeggios
In this quick lesson, Lisa touches on some minor arpeggio ideas.
3:15 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Scale Application
Lisa demonstrates how to use different scales to create new ways of building both solos and rhythmic styling. She utilizes a backing track to help make her point.
4:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Single and Double String Slides
Welcome to the 46th lesson in Lisa Pursell's Beginner Electric series! This lesson covers many creative ideas as well as the techniques behind single and double string slides. Enjoy!
9:14 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Pull-off Technique
Lisa demonstrates a few practical examples of the pull-off technique.
10:49 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Adding the Blue Note
Lisa takes a dive into the minor blues scale as a whole. She demonstrates where you can find what are called "blue notes" within pentatonic scale patterns.
14:05 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Understanding Vibrato
Vibrato is a fantastic and simple technique to understand. This lesson offers different ideas on how you can apply some vibrato to your playing.
5:34 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Sweep Picking Technique
This lesson provides an in depth look at both downward and upward sweep picking techniques.
8:26 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Shell Voicings
Want to play a lighter voicing of a full chord? This technique is called "shells" and Lisa demonstrates several common shell voicings in this lesson.
17:27 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Blues Turnaround Ideas
Need some ideas to bring resolution to a unique blues progression? Let Lisa inspire you with some blues turnaround ideas. She demonstrates different keys and applies some hammer-on and pull-off techniques as well.
16:09 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Harmonizing the Major Scale
Lisa explains how to harmonize the major scale with diatonic triads.
19:40 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
8 Bar Blues
Lisa lays down an improvised 8 bar blues solo with the help of a backing track. Then, she discusses how she created her lead lines.
7:18 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Harmonizing with Diatonic Triads
Lisa continues to demonstrate ways to harmonize notes utilizing diatonic triads. She provides some tips on how to improvise with these triads as well.
22:48 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Connecting Patterns Via Sequencing
Lisa demonstrates ways to connect patterns using melodic sequences. She moves up and down the neck and provides some ideas that will help you make your own sequencing connections.
19:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Blues in A
Lisa takes a quick look at how to add the "blue note" into the A minor pentatonic scale.
6:48 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Full Neck Harmonization
This in depth lesson explains how to harmonize the major scale while utilizing the entire neck of the guitar.
51:58 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
The F#m7(b5) Chord
Lisa demonstrates the F#m7(b5) chord and the different places it can be played on the neck.
3:40 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Extensions
Lisa will use the C Major Add 9 chord shape to help demonstrate how extensions can be used to spice up an arpeggio.
3:54 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Passing Tones
Utilizing some of the scale work from previous lessons, Lisa touches on the topic of passing tones and demonstrates some examples accompanied by a backing track.
8:23 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Creating a Solo
Developing a simple and tasteful solo can be difficult. However, when you understand how chords and scales relate to one another, developing a solo becomes a simpler process. Lisa provides examples and tools to help make this a reality.
28:03 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Chord Progression Theory
This very quick lesson explains the theory behind the chord progression used in the last lesson.
2:57 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
A Major Pattern 4 Sequencing Ideas
Want to learn some fresh sequencing ideas in A major? Lisa provides two ideas that can be applied to a new solo or melody.
13:40 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Using a Metronome
Lisa provides some insight on how to successfully utilize a metronome during a practice session.
3:51 Runtime
1.0 Difficulty
Rhythmic Chord Playing
Lisa discusses some creative ideas on how to apply 9th chords to your rhythm playing.
6:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Creative Double Stop Ideas
Welcome to Lisa's 67th lesson! Here she provides some creative double stop ideas that can be applied to many different keys.
12:19 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Swing Blues in C
Lisa demonstrates a swing blues intro lick in the key of C.
3:32 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
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