jlmcallister
Verified buyer
08/15/25
Great look into the life of a session player
In addition to the performance lessons, I loved the stories about how the songs came together and the writing process.
Session Legends
Timeless Insights for Aspiring Session Guitarists & Songwriters
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About this course
The best session musicians don’t just play the notes—they shape the sound of legendary records. In Session Legends, Fred Tackett and Scott Sharrard invite you into the studio to break down 14 iconic tracks that Fred helped bring to life—either as a session guitarist, songwriter, or both.
From Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s the Night” to Boz Scaggs’ “Lido Shuffle,” Jackson Browne’s “The Pretender,” and Little Feat classics like “Texas Twister” and “Oh Atlanta,” you’ll get an inside look at the guitar work that helped define these and other legendary songs.
In each lesson, Fred and Scott unpack the techniques, tones, and creative decisions behind these recordings. You’ll hear the stories, gain insight into Fred’s approach to session work, and learn how to craft guitar parts that leave a lasting impact.
You’ll explore:
- Signature session techniques – What makes a great session player, and how to adapt to different artists
- Studio collaboration – Locking in with the groove and complementing the band
- Tone & gear insights – How to dial in classic, timeless sounds
- Songwriting advice – Crafting melodies, chord progressions, and guitar parts that stand the test of time
Each section wraps up with a jam session, so you can hear these parts in action. And with TrueFire’s interactive tools—tab sync, slow-mo, looping, and fretboard animations—you’ll have everything you need to learn at your own pace.
“In this course, we’ll dissect these 14 classic recordings and how Fred was involved—sharing his insights and techniques,” says Scott. “Then we’ll jam together, so you can hear the parts he crafted and try them out yourself—or come up with your own.”
“Music has the power to inspire, connect, and transform lives,” adds Fred. “I’m excited to share my experiences and insights with you all.”
So grab your guitar, step into the session, and let’s make some music!
What you'll learn
- Create dissonant voicings with raised 9 chords and open strings
- Play blues scale lines with vocal-style bending
- Execute chicken picking technique for rhythmic texture
- Apply common tone technique in chord progressions
- Play 16th note funk rhythm patterns with percussive muting
Release date: 03/27/2025 • 3h 50m runtime
Sample lessons
Lido Shuffle
The Part
Lido Shuffle
Lesson
Lido Shuffle
Performance
What's included
53 lessons • 28 charts • 11 Jam Tracks
Session Legends
We're Fred Tackett and Scott Sherrard, and we're thrilled to introduce Session Legends, a course that explores 14 iconic recordings Fred has had the privilege of contributing to—either as a session musician or songwriter.
Throughout this course, we’ll take an in-depth look at these classic tracks, including Rod Stewart’s Tonight’s the Night, Boz Scaggs’ Lido Shuffle, Jackson Browne’s The Pretender, and Little Feat favorites like Texas Twister and Oh Atlanta, among many others.
Each lesson will break down Fred’s involvement in these recordings, covering the techniques he used, his creative process, and the stories behind the music. To bring these parts to life, Scott and Fred will also demonstrate them in a jam session, allowing you to hear the guitar work in context.
You’ll also have the opportunity to play along with backing tracks—whether by learning Fred’s original parts or improvising your own. To support your learning, the course includes tab sync and notation, slow-motion controls, looping, and fretboard animations, so you can practice at your own pace.
Music has the power to inspire, connect, and transform. We’re excited to share this journey with you—so grab your guitar, and let’s get started!
Throughout this course, we’ll take an in-depth look at these classic tracks, including Rod Stewart’s Tonight’s the Night, Boz Scaggs’ Lido Shuffle, Jackson Browne’s The Pretender, and Little Feat favorites like Texas Twister and Oh Atlanta, among many others.
Each lesson will break down Fred’s involvement in these recordings, covering the techniques he used, his creative process, and the stories behind the music. To bring these parts to life, Scott and Fred will also demonstrate them in a jam session, allowing you to hear the guitar work in context.
You’ll also have the opportunity to play along with backing tracks—whether by learning Fred’s original parts or improvising your own. To support your learning, the course includes tab sync and notation, slow-motion controls, looping, and fretboard animations, so you can practice at your own pace.
Music has the power to inspire, connect, and transform. We’re excited to share this journey with you—so grab your guitar, and let’s get started!
Galveston
In this lesson, we’re diving into the song Galveston and exploring the evolution of its arrangement, from Glenn Campbell’s upbeat pop version to a more intimate, open-tuned rendition that captures the song’s original emotional weight. As we go, we’ll discuss the fascinating journey of how taking chances in music can lead to incredible opportunities—like meeting legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb in an unexpected way and collaborating on unique interpretations of his work. We’ll see how experimentation, collaboration, and rethinking musical structure can transform a song, using open tunings and unconventional rhythms to enhance storytelling. By comparing different versions of Galveston, we’ll gain insight into how musicians shape songs to express deeper meaning, much like Dylan’s ever-evolving performances. Through this, we’ll embrace the idea that music is fluid—it’s never stuck in amber, but rather something we can continuously refine and reimagine.
Galveston
In this lesson, we’re diving into the song Galveston and exploring the evolution of its arrangement, from Glenn Campbell’s upbeat pop version to a more intimate, open-tuned rendition that captures the song’s original emotional weight. As we go, we’ll discuss the fascinating journey of how taking chances in music can lead to incredible opportunities—like meeting legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb in an unexpected way and collaborating on unique interpretations of his work. We’ll see how experimentation, collaboration, and rethinking musical structure can transform a song, using open tunings and unconventional rhythms to enhance storytelling. By comparing different versions of Galveston, we’ll gain insight into how musicians shape songs to express deeper meaning, much like Dylan’s ever-evolving performances. Through this, we’ll embrace the idea that music is fluid—it’s never stuck in amber, but rather something we can continuously refine and reimagine.
Galveston
In this lesson, we’re diving into the song Galveston and exploring the evolution of its arrangement, from Glenn Campbell’s upbeat pop version to a more intimate, open-tuned rendition that captures the song’s original emotional weight. As we go, we’ll discuss the fascinating journey of how taking chances in music can lead to incredible opportunities—like meeting legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb in an unexpected way and collaborating on unique interpretations of his work. We’ll see how experimentation, collaboration, and rethinking musical structure can transform a song, using open tunings and unconventional rhythms to enhance storytelling. By comparing different versions of Galveston, we’ll gain insight into how musicians shape songs to express deeper meaning, much like Dylan’s ever-evolving performances. Through this, we’ll embrace the idea that music is fluid—it’s never stuck in amber, but rather something we can continuously refine and reimagine.
Creative Process of Writing Songs
In this lesson series we’re exploring the songwriting process and how it evolves over time. While some start with grooves on a piano or guitar before adding lyrics, another approach is to begin with a strong title—something that sparks an idea or emotion. From there, we shape the lyrics, allowing the story to unfold before deciding on the musical style, whether it’s a rumba, a ballad, or something else entirely. This method gives us the flexibility to experiment with different grooves and arrangements, making the songwriting process more intentional and dynamic.
Find A River
In this lesson, we’re diving into Find a River and exploring how songwriting, collaboration, and musical theory all come together in crafting a timeless track. We’ll look at how the song was built around sus2 chords, a technique influenced by Jimmy Webb’s unique voicings, and how those harmonic choices create an open, rich sound. Along the way, we’ll hear about the creative circle of musicians—Lowell George, Jackson Browne, and others—who played a role in shaping and sharing songs, and how unexpected skills, like conducting and music theory, can come into play in real-world musical situations. Through this, we’ll gain insight into how songwriting isn’t just about playing guitar but involves arranging, listening, and adapting to the creative process. Now, let’s get into it!
Find A River
In this lesson, we’re diving into Find a River and exploring how songwriting, collaboration, and musical theory all come together in crafting a timeless track. We’ll look at how the song was built around sus2 chords, a technique influenced by Jimmy Webb’s unique voicings, and how those harmonic choices create an open, rich sound. Along the way, we’ll hear about the creative circle of musicians—Lowell George, Jackson Browne, and others—who played a role in shaping and sharing songs, and how unexpected skills, like conducting and music theory, can come into play in real-world musical situations. Through this, we’ll gain insight into how songwriting isn’t just about playing guitar but involves arranging, listening, and adapting to the creative process. Now, let’s get into it!
+ 46 more lessons
Reviews
2 results
tommyboy67
Verified buyer
06/18/25
Session Legends is a goldmine
Great insight to the many different iconic songs that Fred played on. Scott and Fred are fantastic musicians with a ton of experience.
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