Soundscapes

Interactive Video Masterclass with Orianthi

Marty FriedmanTommy EmmanuelSteve VaiEric GalesEric Johnson

Get this course and 1,000+ more with All Access

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.

Purchase Individual Course for $24.99
Soundscapes

About this course

”If I was going to pass the baton to somebody, she would be my first choice.” - Carlos Santana

Orianthi was six when her father put a guitar in her hands. What followed reads like a Hollywood movie script; her unwavering focus, fierce dedication, and unbridled passion for the instrument led to musical collaborations with Steve Vai, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Alice Cooper, Michael Bolton, Prince, ZZ Top, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer and a long list of other like marquee artists.

The artistic range, level of musicianship, and stage presence required to play alongside such a diverse range of artists and genres is why we’re so thrilled and proud to welcome Orianthi to the TrueFire family with her first interactive video masterclass, Soundscapes!

Whatever your style or level of play, you will likewise be thrilled as you play your way through one of the richest, most enlightening masterclasses that we’ve ever produced.

”Throughout my career, I've had the honor of working with and learning from legendary artists and guitarists, who have profoundly influenced my playing style and inspired me to develop my own creative approaches and voice on the guitar.

I’ll show you my picking approaches and how I use vibrato, bends, phrasing, dynamics, and other techniques to craft expressive phrases to help make your solos distinctive and engaging.

We’ll work on dialing in a killer guitar tone, creating heavy riff-driven parts, and finding that irresistible rhythm pocket.

We’ll practice and play everything together over ten backing tracks, which I recorded with my band specifically for this masterclass. The jam tracks cover a variety of feels, tempos, and progressions — all inspired by my own songs.

My sole objective with this masterclass is to help you create your own signature sound. Take my techniques or creative approaches that appeal to you, put your own twist on them, work them into your own playing, and create your own soundscapes!”


Orianthi shares and demonstrates her creative approaches and signature techniques, including Ascending Riffs, Building Tension, Octave Riffs, Dynamics, Tone Changing Mid-Solo, Soloing Over Changes, Drop D, Unison Bends, Palm Mutes for Heavy Riffs, Wah Pedal Expression, Pick Scrapes For Drama, Rakes Into Big Bends, Hybrid Picking for Faster Lines, Vocal-Like Phrasing, Tight Power Chords, Tapping and Melodic Transitions, and much more.

Orianthi’s guitar prowess is just one facet of her artistic DNA. Her solo career as a singer, songwriter, and bandleader reveals superpowers that shine brilliantly on her albums and live on the stage.

You’ll have all of TrueFire’s advanced learning tools at your fingertips to personalize your workspace and learn at your own pace.

The tab and notation are synced to the videos with looping and slow-motion controls for the optimal learning experience. You’ll also get tab and standard notation files to print out, Guitar Pro files, and backing tracks to download and practice with.

Grab your guitar, and let's dig in with Orianthi!

P.S. Start crafting your own signature sound with Orianthi’s Soundscapes edition of In The Jam, which features all of the tracks in the masterclass. Switch camera angles and mix, mute, or solo any of the audio tracks for complete control of the jamming experience.

What you'll learn

  • Create an 80s-inspired progressive rhythm part
  • Understand different vibrato styles (slow BB King style vs aggressive SRV style)
  • Learning about custom pickup design and tonal characteristics
  • Understanding the versatility of high-quality instruments across multiple genres
  • Develop basic vibrato technique
Release date: 10/26/2023 • 2h 39m runtime
Start Course
Sample lessons
Light It Up Jam
Light It Up Jam
Overview
Light It Up Jam
Light It Up Jam
Performance
Inspiration & Drop D
Inspiration & Drop D
Lesson & Demonstration
Unison Bends
Unison Bends
Lesson & Demonstration

What's included

65 lessons • 51 charts • 13 Jam Tracks

Soundscapes
Hey there, I'm Orianthi, and I'm stoked to welcome you to my interactive masterclass, "Soundscapes."

Throughout my career, I've had the honor of working with legendary artists like Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai, and Carlos Santana, among many others. These experiences have profoundly influenced my playing style and inspired me to develop a unique approach to guitar.

Join me as we dive into my creative approach to guitar playing, exploring topics like crafting expressive phrases, achieving a killer guitar tone, mastering vibrato, and so much more. Together, we'll unlock your potential with some of my signature picking techniques, approaches to string bending, dynamics, creating heavy riff-driven parts, and of course, finding that irresistible rhythm pocket.

We'll work with a variety of rock and blues-rock progressions, inspired by some of my favorite songs and jams, and I'll share my secrets to creating your own signature sound.

With TrueFire's cutting-edge learning tools like synchronized tablature, looping, and slow-mo, you can learn at your own pace.

Join me on this journey to transform your guitar skills and create your own Soundscapes. Grab your guitar, and let's go.
Heaven In This Hell Jam
I wrote this track quite some time ago. Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics recorded the entire album at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, with John McBride. What a blast! We completed the whole record in about a week. This track has a distinct Delta blues feel, especially noticeable in the opening riff.

It’s in E, and I absolutely love using the wow effect, particularly for the solo. All the soloing aligns with the E pentatonic.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Heaven In This Hell Jam
I wrote this track quite some time ago. Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics recorded the entire album at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, with John McBride. What a blast! We completed the whole record in about a week. This track has a distinct Delta blues feel, especially noticeable in the opening riff.

It’s in E, and I absolutely love using the wow effect, particularly for the solo. All the soloing aligns with the E pentatonic.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Swampy Blues Influences
When I was super young, my dad would play a lot of Delta Blues. I remember him bringing home a Robert Johnson box set when I was about 13. I was obsessed with it, loved the way he played, the bass notes, the melodies—it all inspired me greatly.

I wrote many songs and riffs influenced by that style, especially "Heaven in this Hell". The opening is super swampy, Delta Blues-influenced, a nod to my dad bringing home those records. I use different dynamics in my playing. I often play without a pick, keeping it ready between my fingers for when I need it.

The main riff transitions into a heavier feel when the band kicks in. I use this technique in a few of my songs. I find using a pick can sometimes be too harsh, so I keep it handy but not always in use. I love big guitar riffs, especially ones you can sing along to. Many of my guitar riffs originate from vocal melodies. I might hum a tune, record a voice memo, and later realize it would make a cool guitar riff, like with "Heaven in this Hell".

I was walking down Ventura Boulevard, humming the melody, and later added an octave to make it heavy. In the original recording, I used an octave fuzz, doubling it to make the sound super fat and live, with my bass player doubling up as well, making it sound massive.
Ascending Riffs & Building Tension
Another way I enjoy building up to my solos is by using ascending riffs or chords, a technique I especially employ in "Heaven in this Hell." The song seamlessly transitions into a ripping wah solo, a process that amplifies the musical tension leading up to that moment. With just the bass and drums accompanying, it creates a space where I can just wail away, reminiscent of a Hendrix-like vibe where the guitar is at the forefront.

I'm drawn to the robust, heavy sound emanating from the simplicity of a three-piece ensemble. When the chorus resumes, the full band, including the keys and the other guitar player, kicks back in, marking a dynamic shift in the musical atmosphere. My appreciation for such dynamics was instilled in me by my dad at a very young age.
Octave Riffs
The guitar solo for "Heaven in this Hell" has a wild sound to it. I'm known for being tough on my guitars, bending the strings intensely. Being a big Stevie Ray Vaughan fan, I’ve adopted an aggressive style of vibrato. With the wah pedal fully engaged, it gives a biting edge to the sound.

My guitar picking is a bit unusual; it’s not just alternate picking. I incorporate my fingers as well, especially during faster runs. I believe this approach, partly inspired by country music styles, allows me to play faster. I haven’t mastered the "chicken picking" technique yet, but I enjoy incorporating elements of it into my playing.

The aggression in the solo is palpable. With the wah pedal engaged, it emits a “wild cat” sound, a raw, beastly tone that I aimed for, particularly noticeable in the first few notes of the solo.

In the solo section, there's an octave part that I really like because of its heavy, dark, almost demonic sound, aligning with the theme of "Heaven in this Hell." Yet, it transitions to a lighter, airy sound towards the end. In the original recording, there's an acoustic guitar part to achieve this effect. Live, I bring the intensity way down, influenced heavily by Santana, who’s had a significant impact on my playing.

During this part, the band mellows out, creating a beautiful moment in the performance, further enhanced when the keys join in. It creates a luscious, full sound that adds a distinct vibe to the show.
Sensitive Santana Solo Vibes
Towards the end of the song, there’s a shift where everything mellows out. I dial my volume and tone down, typically setting the tone to about three or four. I often use the neck pickup on my PRS, accompanied by a generous amount of reverb—I'm a huge fan of reverb.

Santana’s playing, especially in "Europa," has been a significant influence. His sweet tone and melodic approach have a way of transporting you to a different place, an experience that deeply affected me as a kid. I appreciate how this song transitions from aggressive tones to a more serene ending. It’s as if everyone chills out, concluding the piece on an atmospheric, cloud-like note.

I typically adjust my gain levels using my volume control, not a pedal. My setup is straightforward—primarily wah, occasionally delay, a tuner, and straight into the orange amp. It’s convenient because I don't need to hit another pedal for an extra boost when I'm on the other side of the stage; I just adjust my volume.

When soloing in this mellowed section, I bring the volume way down to draw out the sweeter notes. It's all about simplicity and control, with the volume knob being central to achieving the desired sound intensity and tone. The ability to manipulate the sound so directly and intuitively is something I really enjoy.

+ 58 more lessons

Start Course

Reviews

7 results

joedynaflow

Verified buyer

02/15/26

Solid very good instructions from a stellar guitar player. Thank You J. D

cfearn

Verified buyer

12/21/25

Good learning

Great course

checcoboss

Verified buyer

10/24/25

A good one

Very useful

sandstorm222

Verified buyer

02/09/25

Totally Recommend For Intermediate Guitarists

Love the course. I’d say it’s more for an intermediate player, so it was perfect for me. She’s quick to the point with no unnecessary explanations. The interactive tabs are just brilliant, as she’s a speed goddess, I can keep up with what she’s playing.

davide.brandino

Verified buyer

08/25/24

Outstanding guitar course. Interesting, and really useful.

Stop searching. Start improving with All Access.

Try 14 days free. Cancel any time.