Phil Roberts

August 16, 2026

Why you still feel like an intermediate after years of playing guitar – and what to fix first

Phil Roberts

August 16, 2026

Why you still feel like an intermediate after years of playing guitar – and what to fix first

You’re not stuck because you haven’t learned enough random guitar stuff. You’re stuck because your skills haven’t joined up into something usable. Here’s the diagnostic tools and the 5 practical fixes.

Phil Roberts

August 8, 2026

Why your guitar solos are stuck in Minor Pentatonic box 1

Phil Roberts

August 8, 2026

Why your guitar solos are stuck in Minor Pentatonic box 1

I thought minor pentatonic box 1 had unlocked lead guitar for me. For a while, it did. Then the thing that made soloing feel possible became the thing that made every solo sound the same. Here’s why learning more scales didn’t fix it – and what finally helped me start playing more melodic solos.

Phil Roberts

December 6, 2024

Music Theory Isn’t the Enemy – Your Misconceptions Are

Phil Roberts

December 6, 2024

Ever sat down with your guitar, started noodling, and thought, *Why does everything I play sound the same? It’s because when it comes to breaking new ground, you’re missing a vital ingredient that will allow you to take the next step.

Phil Roberts

June 15, 2024

The Emotional Value of Intervals in Music: A Guide for Guitarists

Phil Roberts

June 15, 2024

Understanding the emotional value of intervals is crucial for creating melodies that resonate with listeners. In this blog post, we'll explore resolved and unresolved intervals and how you can use them to enhance your melodic creations on the guitar.

Phil Roberts

June 15, 2024

What scales should I learn to improve my soloing?

Phil Roberts

June 15, 2024

What scales should I learn to improve my soloing?

If you’re here because you want to take your guitar solos to the next level, I am about to break your world because “What scales should I learn to be better at guitar solos?” is the wrong type of question.

Phil Roberts

January 10, 2023

An example of my process for writing a song in Garageband (Pt 1)

Phil Roberts

January 10, 2023

An example of my process for writing a song in Garageband (Pt 1)

Here’s an example of how I wrote a song using Garageband. I detail the process and some of my creative choices.

Phil Roberts

June 12, 2021

What are your Questions about Improvisation?

Phil Roberts

June 12, 2021

I get a lot of emails asking about improvising: how to start, how to come up with ideas, how to not sound like you are playing scales. Are you stuck creating solos or frustrated that they always sound the same? I can help – what are your top 2 questions?

Phil Roberts

July 26, 2019

How to learn new songs / guitar covers faster

Phil Roberts

July 26, 2019

Here’s a fool-proof method for learning lots of songs fast. Great for last minute fill-in gigs.

Phil Roberts

March 27, 2019

Music Theory, Modes

The 3 crucial questions you need answering about playing guitar modes

Phil Roberts

March 27, 2019

Music Theory, Modes

Guitar Modes. Why are they such a mindf#ck? Despite the huge amount of information about understanding modes of the major scale, it’s probably one of the most confusing subjects in music theory. But when it comes down to it, you only really have 3 questions about them…

Phil Roberts

February 21, 2019

Music Theory

Where Should I Start If I Want To Learn Music Theory?

Phil Roberts

February 21, 2019

Music Theory

Learning music theory is for the most part thought of as complicated and painful that takes decades of learning. But its not (if somebody explains it well). If you’re one of the “been playing for 10 years but never bothered to learn Music Theory” types, then this one is for you.