Acoustic + Electric Tunes | Levels
Beginner Acoustic
This collection of beginner acoustic tunes will teach you how to arrange songs for a single acoustic guitar, as well as how to create a complementary second part.
By playing these songs, you’ll improve your ability to switch between open-position chords and gain the theoretical context to understand how music works.
Beginner Electric
While it’s usually best to start learning on an acoustic guitar, beginner electric guitarists do exist—and they need a place to start too.
There’s no dedicated course for beginner electric tunes just yet, but you can still explore the chords, lyrics, and TAB for the songs I’m considering including.
Intermediate Acoustic
Most intermediate acoustic tunes go beyond basic open-position chords—we’ll need to move up the fretboard and use CAGED barre chords as well.
In the course, we’ll also add licks, extend chords, and play vocal melodies. Most importantly, we’ll invent second guitar parts so we can play these songs together.
Intermediate Electric
These intermediate electric tunes will help you master the CAGED system across the entire fretboard—for both chords and pentatonic scales.
By studying a wide range of styles, you’ll not only improve dramatically as a guitarist but also build a repertoire that could open the door to playing in a band.
Advanced Acoustic
Advanced acoustic tunes often use extended chords and, at times, unique or complex voicings that incorporate open strings.
Studying these songs in depth will give you a complete understanding of the guitar fretboard, including how to build any scale, arpeggio, or chord.
Advanced Electric
The advanced electric course has been in the planning stages for years, aiming to expand on the concepts introduced in the intermediate course.
The specific advanced electric tunes that will be included are still being finalised, but you can explore them now with chords, lyrics, and TAB.
Acoustic + Electric Tunes | Genres
Ballads + First Dances
Whether you’re looking for the perfect first dance or an emotional piece for an audition, this collection of Ballads and First Dances is ideal for working on your expression.
Learn tunes from artists like Burt Bacharach, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Eva Cassidy, Ben Harper, Etta James, Chet Baker, Elvis, Norah Jones, and many more.
Blues + Jazz
The foundation of popular music, Blues and Jazz tunes are essential for any serious guitar player to explore in depth.
By studying these iconic songs, you’ll not only learn key licks and melodies but also gain an understanding of the language of these vital genres.
Country + Folk
In the primarily acoustic genres of Country and Folk, building a strong repertoire is crucial—it’s the key to getting gigs.
Learn songs by artists like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, America, Don McLean, and many more.
Dance + Disco + Funk
Indie + Heavy Rock
Riff-based Indie and Heavy Rock tunes require in-depth study to understand why these songs work so well in their styles.
Learn songs by bands like Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine, Green Day, Kings Of Leon, Jack White, Blink-182, and many more.
Motown + Soul
Motown and Soul are fantastic genres for improving your electric guitar skills. The harmony is straightforward, leaving plenty of room for improvisation.
Learn tunes by artists like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, and many more.
Pop + Rock
When a song doesn’t fit into a traditional genre, it often lands in the Pop and Rock category. This section includes a diverse mix of styles and sounds.
Learn tunes from artists like Tom Petty, Eagles, Toto, Oasis, Elvis, Clapton, John Mayer, Kings Of Leon, R.E.M., Radiohead, Bruno Mars, and many more.
Reggae + Ska
Originating in Jamaica, Reggae and Ska became widely popular after their arrival in the U.K. These genres offer a unique rhythm and groove to explore.
Learn tunes from artists like Bob Marley, Madness, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Afroman, 10cc, Men At Work, The Police, and many more.
Rock N’ Roll + Early Pop
As popular music began to take shape, the earliest styles that emerged from Jazz and Blues were Rock ‘N’ Roll and Early Pop.
Learn tunes by artists like The Beatles, Elvis, The Monkees, Chuck Berry, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones.
Songbook A-Z
As a guitarist, your repertoire is your greatest asset—it’s your ticket to playing with other musicians.
To help you build it, I’ve gathered all the tunes into a Songbook you can use in acoustic duos, jazz trios, indie/rock/pop bands, and funk/soul ensembles.
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About Me
Discover more about me, my journey, and why I chose to teach guitar online after working in a music college and writing for Guitar Techniques Magazine.
Most importantly, learn why I believe in teaching guitar through playing tunes, rather than practising scales or studying theory in isolation.
Artists + Bands
Behind every song you learn, there’s an artist or band with a rich catalogue of music waiting to be discovered.
Dive deeper into the stories of these great artists and bands, and let their tunes guide you to success.
Blog
The blog is where you’ll find content that doesn’t fit into the main categories, tunes, or lessons. It’s a space for gear reviews, news, and fresh ideas in the world of guitar.
Whether you’re after gear tips, guitar world updates, or new playing ideas, the blog has something to keep you inspired and informed.
Chordacus
Chordacus is a free chord, arpeggio, and scale finder that shows how the CAGED system works. It’s an essential tool for understanding the guitar’s harmonic structure.
Available in both chromatic and “within a key” versions, it was developed with input from Spytunes students and is perfect for visualising the fretboard.
Ebooks
Spytunes used to offer eBooks on guitar playing. Now, as a member, you’ll have access to these as part of The Spytunes Method.
It covers essential concepts and techniques, providing a solid foundation for your guitar journey.
Guitar Chords
Learn major CAGED guitar chords and shapes through video lessons. This system helps you master the fretboard and build any chord, arpeggio, or mode.
You’ll also learn how to play minor CAGED chords, expanding your harmonic knowledge and giving you more versatility in your playing.
How To Play Guitar
In one of the first video series I made, you’ll learn how chord shapes connect to pentatonic scales—watch the How To Play Guitar series to get started.
Discover how to use modes to follow chord changes. Understanding intervals and applying them in context will improve your ability to phrase and play musically.
Metronome
Spytunes’ tap tempo metronome helps you stay organised while practising songs and exercises. You can manually enter the tempo or simply tap it in.
The metronome also lets you add accents, which can help you master complicated rhythmic patterns and improve your timing as you practise.
Online Guitar Tuner
Spytunes offers a free guitar tuner that can be set to 432Hz, the magical frequency of the universe. Use it on your phone to tune your guitar before starting your lessons.
You can also set the tuner to 440Hz or adjust it to work with any song, making it versatile for different musical contexts and tuning preferences.
Top 10 Chord Progressions
Learn to recognise the top 10 chord progressions used in most hit songs. These progressions are key to understanding how music works and how songs are structured.
Memorise these progressions with song examples for each. Studying them will improve your ability to play and create music across genres.