Learn to Play Guitar
Step into the world of music with award-winning songwriter Jimmy Yeary as your guide. In this series of beginner-friendly guitar lessons, Jimmy shares the same simple techniques he learned from his father—helping you go from holding a guitar for the first time to strumming real chords and songs. Each lesson builds on the last, giving you practical tips, clear demonstrations, and plenty of encouragement. Whether you dream of playing around the campfire or writing songs of your own, this series will get you started on a journey that’s both fun and rewarding.
Lesson 24: Borrowing Melodies to Spark Creativity
Jimmy Yeary teaches how great songwriting often starts by borrowing the feel of songs you already love. Using his hit Why Wait (recorded by Rascal Flatts) as an example, Jimmy demonstrates the intro lick and shares how it was inspired by Little River Band’s The Other Guy. He explains why it’s okay to mirror melodies or phrasing from favorite songs, then reshape them into something uniquely your own. This lesson blends guitar technique with songwriting insight, showing how imitation can lead to originality.
Lesson 23: Turning Scales into Something Musical
Jimmy Yeary introduces you to your very first guitar lick—a simple but powerful scale-based phrase designed to build dexterity, coordination, and confidence. He breaks it down slowly, showing multiple picking approaches (all downstrokes, alternate picking, or a mix) and encourages you to repeat it until it becomes second nature. Once mastered, this single lick can unlock dozens of variations and open the door to improvisation. It’s a challenging but rewarding step beyond chords and strumming.
Lesson 22: Writing Lyrics with Heart
Jimmy Yeary takes you behind the scenes of writing “I Called Mama,” recorded by Tim McGraw. He explains how the song was born out of personal loss, the choice of opening lines, and why holding back details can make lyrics more powerful. Jimmy emphasizes the principle of writing your own story—because when you feel it, others will too. This lesson is both a masterclass in lyric writing and a reminder of how songs connect us through authenticity and emotion.
Lesson 21: “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” (Drop D Strumming)
Jimmy Yeary shares the story behind She’s Somebody’s Daughter, written with longtime friend Drew Baldridge—a song that went viral and became Baldridge’s first No. 1 as an independent artist. Jimmy teaches it in Drop D with a capo on the third fret, walking through the chords (G, A, B minor, D) and demonstrating the downstroke “chunking” strum that drives the song. You’ll see how a simple progression, played with intention, can turn into something powerful.
Lesson 20: The Boomerang Effect
In this lesson, Jimmy Yeary shares what he calls the boomerang effect—the surprising way consistent effort can suddenly transform into exponential progress. Drawing on stories from childhood, his early career in bluegrass, and even the writing of “I Called Mama” for Tim McGraw, Jimmy shows how persistence pays off in unexpected leaps forward. It’s a reminder that your practice on guitar (and in life) is never wasted, even when progress feels slow.
Lesson 19: “I Called Mama” (Part 3 – Verse Progression)
Continuing in Drop D, Jimmy walks through the verse progression of I Called Mama, keeping the picking pattern steady while moving through the altered G, the adjusted E minor, and a thumb-muted A. The focus is on timing, clean transitions, and staying relaxed as you connect the shapes in real tempo—turning a challenging pattern into a smooth, musical groove.
Lesson 18: “I Called Mama” (Part 2 – Strumming Technique)
Building on the drop D tuning from Part 1, Jimmy Yeary teaches a challenging strumming and picking pattern from his song I Called Mama, recorded by Tim McGraw. This technique combines alternating down–up movements with subtle finger adjustments that change the feel of the D chord. Though tricky at first, practicing this progression will sharpen your rhythm, strengthen your dexterity, and give you a deeper understanding of how creative chord shapes and strumming can transform a song.
Lesson 17: “I Called Mama” (Part 1 – Drop D Tuning)
Jimmy Yeary introduces you to drop D tuning using his hit song I Called Mama, recorded by Tim McGraw. You’ll learn how to retune the low E string to D, adjust your G and A chord shapes, and practice muting techniques to keep everything sounding clean. Jimmy also demonstrates a picking pattern that makes the most of the deeper, richer sound this tuning provides. It’s a step up in difficulty, but mastering drop D will open the door to new textures and inspiration in your playing.
Lesson 16: Introduction to Songwriting
In this lesson, Jimmy Yeary shifts from guitar technique to the art of songwriting. He explains how personal stories and real-life experiences can become powerful lyrics, using his own #1 hit I Drive Your Truck as an example. Jimmy encourages you to draw from your own memories and emotions, showing how authenticity and honesty are the keys to creating songs that truly connect with listeners.
Lesson 15: The Guitarist’s Essential Chord Guide
Jimmy Yeary takes you through the essential chord shapes all across the neck, showing how each major chord (A–G) can be played in multiple positions. From open chords to bar chords and higher up the fretboard, you’ll see how learning these shapes expands your ability to play songs, licks, and scales anywhere on the guitar. While challenging at first, this lesson is foundational for truly understanding the neck and becoming a versatile player.
Lesson 14: Avoiding Discouragement and Building Dexterity
In this lesson, Jimmy Yeary steps away from teaching songs to share encouragement for staying motivated on your guitar journey. He talks about setting goals, learning from other players, handling nerves, and trusting the slow-but-sure process of practice. Jimmy illustrates this with personal stories about learning mandolin and banjo, reminding you that progress often feels invisible until it suddenly clicks. To wrap up, he demonstrates a simple but powerful dexterity exercise that will prepare you for future licks and scales.
Lesson 13: Playing “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”
Jimmy Yeary teaches you how to play his hit song Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, recorded by Kenny Chesney and David Lee Murphy. Along with a new strumming pattern, he walks through the chords you’ll need (G, C, D, A minor, and F as the flat seven) and even shares a few shortcuts and passing notes to make the transitions smoother. This lesson blends rhythm and chord work while showing how real songs can fast-track your growth as a guitarist.