Live and Video Lessons
(All my products are available for purchase at the bottom of my Homepage)
I have been teaching guitar for over 25 years. My specialty is traditional Blues and most forms of American Roots music. I have always been searching and studying obscure players from our past. Their recordings are just as exciting and innovative to me as anything being produced today. I search out old melodies hoping that students and listeners find them fresh and soulful. I study the methods and styles of my heroes. I also try to understand the history of the musicians and the environment they lived. So if you want to learn Jump Blues, Western Swing or any Roots derived music I would look forward to meeting you and exploring that journey together. I have a foundation of teaching through chord grips and utilizing chord tones to navigate the guitar neck. I profile musicians to internalize quotes. I love being investigative with my students. The deeper we dig and further down the rabbit hole we go the better. I look forward to the opportunity to work with some of you.
I teach private lessons locally and internationally by Skype, Facetime, or Zoom. If you live in the Los Angeles area I also teach in person. I also organize clinics Nationally and locally with my guitar picking friends. I have conducted clinics with Paul Pigat, Kid Ramos, James Harman, Lynwood Slim, Deke Dickerson, Kirk Fletcher, Nico Duportal, Stephen Nikleva, Pete Anderson, Keith Wyatt, Kid Anderson, TK Smith, Jonathan Stout, Gino Matteo, and Rick Holmsrtom.
I have for sale my instructional video modules. I think they are very clear and might be a good place to start. You can see what I have available at the bottom of my homepage. My module on Tiny Grimes comping and Junior Barnard Chord phrasing, truly long overdue. I didn’t want to just show phrases, but wanted to teach the concepts in a way that will become intuitive to the player. I really want the viewer to internalize the theory and execute the comping lines with authority. Like the Kid Module I produced these videos with the best resources I had available to me. I hope you enjoy these on more of my favorite guitar players.
If you are an experienced player and desire a custom recorded video lesson regarding a specific player or genre let me know. Examples being a 20 minute lesson on Bill Jennings turnarounds. All delivered by “Hightail” email link. Allow at least 2 days for delivery. This gives me time to compile and organize a good lesson for you.
I have my first five video lessons teaching my jump blues guitar method. This series is designed as an introduction teaching some basic concepts on how I approach music I will stress this is an introductory module.
My second jump blues module, is more stylistic. I pick up where I left off teaching advanced comping and lead lines by Bill Jennings and Les Paul.
Teddy Bunn and Rene Hall are a couple overlooked guitar players and a couple favorites of mine so I thought it was important to spend a few lessons talking about these players. We have heard Rene Hall’s playing on the Domino’s Records as well as Richie Valens.
My Rhythm Changes video is a great place to start for getting acquainted with 32 bar forms, and how to solo over them.
My swing guitar lessons for the blues guitarist. Looking into some of my favorite swing songs and how to teach fellow blues guitarists to play organically over changes. I have a series of backing tracks (vol. 2) that are useful with this module.
The Solo and early Electric blues module is great for solo or band use. Covers some cool Lonnie Johnson diminished ideas as well as Lockwood concepts.
My subscription module is my content driven guitar geek out. No fancy camera work just me providing a song or artist ideas. Here is a quick sample of this. You receive a video download every two weeks, and it’s only 7.50 per lesson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjlWVRgqPBA
My Mickey Baker Module has been by far one of the most popular. I take a lesson or a few and create a downloadable video demonstrating and explaining the lesson. I also shed light on application. The point at which most people burn out is when the book explores soloing and improvisation over the illustrated chord progressions in part 1. I have transcribed the single note solos from standard notaion into tablature. Where applicable I have also made Ireal pro midi tracks and charts. This monthly sub is only 8.00 per month.
The Phrasing subscription was an answer to my students question “How do you create an articulate musical solo that is improvised . I created a progressive method that explores strategies and foundations for strong confident soloing. I also expose the deficiencies roots guitarists seem to all have and how to bring those weaker points up to our stronger talents. This is a monthly subscription for only 6.50. Here was the initial trial lesson. https://youtu.be/CL_cnNg7sx0
Tommy Harkenrider, Jump Blues, and Swing Guitar Video Method.
Tommy Harkenrider Jump Blues Module 2
Rhythm Changes Guitar Lesson by Tommy Harkenrider
Teddy Bunn and Rene Hall Lesson Module
Swing guitar for the Jump blues guitarist
All my products are available for purchase at the bottom of my Homepage
