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Unbound Guitar: Acoustic Excursions

Acoustic Studies Video Masterclass

Marty FriedmanTommy EmmanuelSteve VaiEric GalesEric Johnson

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Unbound Guitar: Acoustic Excursions
Alex Skolnick

Alex Skolnick

Educator

acoustic

Genres

About this course

“Though he’s pretty much a household name in heavy metal, Alex defies categorization by musical genre.” (Making Music, Jan 2015).

An original member of Bay Area thrashers Testament (which he joined at age sixteen) and a respected New York improviser of multiple styles, Alex Skolnick is also the leader of the critically acclaimed world acoustic project, Planetary Coalition. In this Acoustic Excursions edition of his Unbound Guitar series, Alex dives deep into his technique and creative approaches on acoustic guitar.

”I’ve always had a strong relationship with the acoustic guitar and in fact, many of my songs are written on acoustic even though I may ultimately record and perform them on electric.

In this course, I’ll perform 5 full-length acoustic compositions, but I’ve broken out each of song sections into a series of individual studies so that I can pass on many of the techniques and creative approaches that, for me, make acoustic guitar so much fun and gratifying to play.

I've had a great time taking these songs and converting them to acoustic (or in some cases, bringing them back to acoustic). My hope is you’ll be able to use many of the approaches and techniques that I cover here useful in your own playing!”

Alex will explain and demonstrate all of the key concepts and approaches along the way. You’ll get standard notation and tabs for all of the key playing examples. Plus, you’ll be able to use TrueFire’s learning tool to sync the tab and notation to the video. In addition, you’ll be able to loop or slow down any of the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace.

Grab your guitar and let’s take an acoustic excursion with Alex Skolnick!

What you'll learn

  • Use open strings to create resonance in chord voicings
  • Navigate chromatic voice leading within chord progressions
  • Combine melody and bass notes simultaneously using hybrid picking
  • Use fretting hand muting to control unwanted string noise
  • Differentiate song sections through textural changes
Release date: 09/12/2019 • 2h 03m runtime
intermediatelate intermediateadvancedacoustic guitarguitarfingerpickingtechnique
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Sample lessons
Conundrum Excerpts
Conundrum Excerpts
Overview
Conundrum Excerpts
Conundrum Excerpts
Performance
Intro Section
Intro Section
Breakdown: Conundrum Excerpts
A Section and Phrygian Modal Riff
A Section and Phrygian Modal Riff
Breakdown: Conundrum Excerpts

What's included

38 lessons • 31 charts

Unbound Guitar | Acoustic Studies Edition
Hi, I'm Alex Skolnick. Welcome to this Acoustic Excursions edition of Unbound Guitar!

I've always had a strong relationship with the acoustic guitar and in fact, many of my songs are written on acoustic even though I may ultimately record and perform them on electric.

In this course, I'll perform 5 full-length acoustic compositions, but I've broken out each of song sections into a series of individual studies so that I can pass on many of the techniques and creative approaches that, for me, make acoustic guitar so much fun and gratifying to play.

Feel free to learn all of the full-length compositions or just cherry pick the sections, moves, creative approaches, or techniques that appeal to you.

Either way, I think you'll be able to put many of them to work in your own music whatever style of music you prefer to play.

Everything is tabbed and notated and you can loop or slow down the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace.

Ready to start? Grab your acoustic and let's hit it!
Unbound
The track that follows is "Unbound", which includes right hand "slapping" technique, types of voicings, as well as the use of harmonics and open strings.
Unbound
Let's take a look at "Unbound".
Intro Tapping Section
Let's take a look at the intro, which includes right hand slap techniques and coordination between the left and right hands.
The A Section
Now we'll break down of the A section, or first main section (post-intro) three note and two chords, blended with open strings and certain strings muted.
The B Section
Here's a close look at section B, in which longer melody notes are played as intervals embellished with the ringing of open strings.
The Bridge
Here the tune modulates and the tonal center is now A, with three-note chords bouncing off of the open B. This is followed by two-note chords and harmonics. Each chord is described here and there is a special focus on the string ringing throughout, which gives the part its character.

+ 31 more lessons

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Reviews

6 results

leeofcalifornia

Verified buyer

11/15/25

Unbouond Guitar: Acoustic Excursions

This course is a unique and powerful approach to acoustic guitar that I have not seen anywhere else. Django Tango is a beautiful piece in the style of gypsy jazz and Django Reinhardt which uses a series of pull offs in the introduction that is something to emulate. Other studies show novel techniques. The artists is a true musical pioneer.

JacobMadsen

Verified buyer

12/07/22

The master is no less a master on the acoustic

I get the Alex Skolnick courses on TrueFire as much to listen to him play, as to improve my own play. He is a true master on the instrument and his down to each approach combined with extraordinary technique is mindblowing.

Djentledude

Verified buyer

07/17/22

A1

Veronica

10/28/21

Acoustic Excursions

A great content, where Alex shows a series of techniques, rhythms and guitar licks that can help you to increase your skills and get a fresh and innovative perspective of what can be done with an acoustic guitar. You have a variety of concepts and techniques, some more difficult than others, but that will undoubtedly expand your repertoire. If you want to get a better level and a broader perspective of the acoustic guitar, this lesson is recommended.

Sam

12/05/19

Good Stuff

I'm really enjoying this course. It's a stretch for me, but I take it one step at a time and am noticing my right and left hand coordination and speed is improving. Next summer I'll be sitting on a raft in the Grand Canyon playing the West Virginia Jam and that will be very satisfying.

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