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Desi Serna

This podcast features free audio guitar lessons taught by Desi Serna, author of Fretboard Theory and Guitar Theory For Dummies. Learn how scales, chords, progressions, modes, and more get applied to the fretboard and familiar songs. Hear how to best get your playing skills in order. Begin to improvise and compose. Understand why your favorite songs sound so good. ➝ What do you specifically need to do in order to play guitar better? Visit the GuitarMusicTheory.com website to get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level. Discover how to progressively play and sound better—today, in as little as 33 minutes!

Guitar Music Theory

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a recent performance with Nashville-based cover band Party of 5. I share how I prepared for a 40-song setlist, what the band expected from me, how I organized and learned the music, the guitar gear and live rig I used, and what it was like performing the show.
 
Along the way, I discuss some of the songs and guitar parts I found especially fun or challenging, a few surprises from the gig, and lessons that can help any guitarist become a more prepared, versatile musician.
 
Whether you're interested in playing live, joining a cover band, or simply learning songs more efficiently, you'll pick up practical tips you can apply to your own guitar playing.
 
In this episode:
 
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How I prepared for a 40-song cover band gig
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Learning a large setlist efficiently
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Organizing charts and setlists for live performance
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My guitar, Kemper, and live rig
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Songs that were especially fun or challenging to learn
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What surprised me about the performance
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Lessons every guitarist can take away from the experience
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🎸 Ready to make serious progress on guitar?
 
My annual Fall Guitar Intensive is opening soon. It's a 12-week coaching program designed for hobby guitarists who love classic rock, blues, country, and related styles and are ready to stop spinning their wheels. If you're looking for structure, accountability, expert guidance, and a supportive community, be sure to sign up for my email list so you don't miss the announcement.
 
Visit GuitarMusicTheory.com and click Subscribe at the top of the page, or enroll in one of the free video courses featured on the home page.

Ep189 How I Prepared for a 40-Song Cover Band Gig

In this episode of the Guitar Music Theory Podcast, Carrie Underwood keyboardist Scott Sheriff returns to help me break down one of the Eagles' most beloved songs, "New Kid in Town."
 
Together, we explore the key, chord changes, harmony, tones, and techniques that make this classic recording so memorable. From sophisticated chord changes and beautiful voice leading to tasteful guitar fills and layered vocal harmonies, this song is a masterclass in musical craftsmanship.
 
Scott previously joined me on:
 • Ep147 Scott Sheriff - Keyboardist For Carrie Underwood and Huey Lewis Tribute
 • Ep156 Biggest Part of Me - How Does This Song Work? - Scott Sheriff
 
FREE GUITAR TRAINING
 Visit GuitarMusicTheory.com to enroll in a free video course calibratd to your current level.

Ep188 The Genius Behind New Kid in Town with Scott Sheriff

Episode 187 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast features the return of Nashville music producer Jason Wyatt Kuhn from We The People Music.
 
Jason first appeared on Episode 173, "From Demo to Radio – Inside Music Production," where we discussed songwriting, studio production, and the process of turning musical ideas into professional recordings. Since then, one of my students, Charles Vincent, has worked with Jason and his team to record several original songs, and I was invited to contribute lead guitar solos to two tracks: "Pretty Little Thing" and "The Way She Moves."
 
In this episode, Jason and I discuss the recording and production process behind these songs, from rough demos and arrangement ideas to polished final mixes. We also listen to sections of the tracks and break down my guitar solo approach from both a theoretical and artistic perspective, including melodic phrasing, chord tone targeting, emotional pacing, and building solos that support the overall song.
 
If you've ever wondered how original songs come together in the studio, how professional music production works, or how to craft memorable guitar solos that truly serve the music, this episode gives you an inside look at the creative process.
 
Jason Wyatt Kuhn and his team are also available for hire, whether you're a hobbyist looking to professionally record your music or an artist pursuing a serious music career. If you have song ideas, demos, riffs, or unfinished material you'd like developed into polished recordings, visit:
 https://www.wethepeople.music/
 
Get free guitar training customized to your skill level and musical interests at:
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com

Ep187 The Art of Recording Guitar Solos with Jason Wyatt Kuhn

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and professional guitarist Ryan Jones.
 
Ryan shares his journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana to studying music in California, connecting with Christian artist Tommy Walker, and eventually touring and recording at a professional level.
 
We talk about what it's really like to work as a guitarist on the road and in the studio, including Ryan's move to Nashville in 2014, where he built a career doing session work and collaborating with producer and drummer Scott Williamson.
 
Then everything changed.
 
When COVID hit, the music industry ground to a halt overnight. Ryan shares how that disruption forced him to rethink his path, leading him to develop new skills as a software developer and eventually land a role at Sweetwater—bringing him full circle back to his hometown.
 
Along the way, we also dig into:
 
• What the recording process is really like for working guitarists
 • Amp tones and how pros think about sound
 • Real amps vs. modelers—what actually matters
 • How to adapt when your music career takes an unexpected turn
 
This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a working guitarist—and what it takes to keep moving forward when things don't go as planned.
 
Summer Jams Zoom Class (2026)
https://desiserna.as.me/schedule.php

 
Free Video Course
 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.

Ep186 Lessons from the Studio with Ryan Jones

In episode 185 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Desi Serna answers listener questions and breaks down how 6 chords are built, why the 5th is sometimes omitted, and examples of their use in familiar songs. 
 
Desi also plays and discusses the PRS Myles Kennedy Signature model guitar, highlighting its features and tonal range.
 
If you want to expand your chord vocabulary and better understand how chords function in real songs, this episode will help you connect the dots.
 
🎸 Get your FREE guitar video course
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
 
📕 Get your copy of Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP

Ep185 Q&A 6 Chords – PRS Myles Kennedy Signature Model Guitar

In episode 184 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Desi Serna breaks down the most important scale shape on the guitar: Pentatonic Pattern 1. This versatile pattern forms the foundation of countless riffs, licks, and solos across blues, rock, and country.
 
Desi explains how the pattern is constructed, why it's commonly labeled "Pattern 1," how it connects to the CAGED system, and how guitarists actually use it in real music. Along the way, you'll hear familiar song examples that demonstrate how this simple shape becomes the backbone of expressive lead guitar playing.
 
LEAD GUITAR UNLOCKED
 This lesson is based on Chapter 2 of Desi's book Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale.
 Get your copy here:
 https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP
 
FREE VIDEO COURSE
 If you're not sure what you should practice next, visit Desi's website and receive free custom video instruction tailored to your current skill level:
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
 
BEST GUITAR TAB WEBSITE
 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Ep184 Pentatonic Pattern 1 – The Foundation of All Great Guitar Solos

The pentatonic scale is one of the most essential tools in a guitarist's toolkit. In this episode, we break down what the pentatonic scale is, why it shows up in so many styles of music, and why it sounds so natural on the guitar. From Asian music to African drumming and Native American flute traditions, and then from blues and rock to country, pop, funk, and even metal, this simple five-note scale forms the foundation of countless riffs, solos, melodies, and hooks. If you want to improvise with confidence and move freely across the fretboard, mastering the pentatonic scale is a must.
 
Lead Guitar Unlocked Book
 https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP
 
Free Video Course
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com

Ep183 What Is the Pentatonic Scale and Why Every Guitarist Should Master It

In episode 182 of the Guitar Music Theory Podcast, I sit down with Mike Valeras, an adjunct guitar instructor at Belmont University here in Nashville, where he teaches commercial music and improvisation. Mike shares his guitar learning journey, early band experiences, and his formal music education, including earning both a music education degree and a master's degree. We talk about how he made the move from Boston to Nashville and ultimately landed his teaching position at Belmont. Growing up, Huey Lewis and the News was his favorite band, and today Mike is one of the guitarists in The Heart of Rock and Roll, the Huey Lewis and the News tribute band that I occasionally play with as well. It's a great conversation about musicianship, education, and carving out a career in music.
 
Free Video Course
Answer the question on my website to get a free video course calibrated to your current level. https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
 
New Book: Lead Guitar Unlocked
 Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale. From basic patterns to pro-level phrasing—learn to play licks that speak and solos that sing. https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP
 
"Migus fa Dingus" by Mike Valeras
 Listen to Mike's music on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/track/0EPzrL1s8Fc1V3OFr6nqYn?si=e1598c276fe54b38

Ep182 From Boston to Belmont – Mike Valeras on Guitar Education and Finding Your Lane

In this episode of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Desi is joined by his daughter Lila to look back at some of the biggest pop hits of 2025.
 
Together, they explore why these songs connect so strongly with listeners and what guitarists can learn from them. From chord progressions and melodies to groove, phrasing, and feel, this conversation pulls musical ideas out of modern pop songs and translates them into concepts you can apply to guitar.
 
Even if pop is not your main genre, these songs offer valuable lessons in simplicity, songwriting, and musical impact. Plus, this episode features a fun and honest father-daughter discussion that gives a fresh perspective on today's music.
 
Whether you are curious about current pop trends or looking for new inspiration for your guitar playing, this episode offers insight, analysis, and plenty of takeaways.
 
Email Desi
 https://www.guitarmusictheory.com/contact/
 
Free Video Course
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
 
New Book: Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale 
 https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP
 
Backing Tracks
 https://www.karaoke-version.com/

Ep181 Top Hits of 2025 with Lila

In this Q&A episode, Desi answers listener questions on a wide range of guitar topics—including how to choose the right song tempo, whether you need warm-ups, practical ear-training methods, when to use modes, and how chord extensions actually work. You'll also hear tips on improvisation, fretboard navigation, and developing better musical instincts.
 
If you're looking to deepen your understanding of both the technical and musical sides of guitar, this episode is packed with clear explanations and real-world examples to help you grow as a player.
 
FREE VIDEO COURSE
 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
 
NEW BOOK: Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale
 https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP

Ep180 Q&A Song Tempos - Warm-Ups - Ear Training - Modes - Chord Extensions & More

In episode 165 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, I prepare to play upcoming gigs with the Huey Lewis and The News tribute band, The Heart of Rock and Roll. I walk you through the process I go through when I'm reviewing for a show and discuss the songs I'll be performing.
 
🎸 What do you SPECIFICALLY need to do to play guitar better? Answer the questions about your playing at https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com and get FREE custom video instruction calibrated to your current level.
 
The Heart of Rock and Roll info and schedule: hueytribute.com

Ep165 Preparing For Huey Lewis Tribute Band Gig

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