Mike Campese

Guest Columnists

• Phrygian Dominant Shred Patterns

  Moving the Phrygian Dominant scale in a more horizontal fashion across the neck.
  April-May 2021
• Picking Exercises To Melodic Phrases

  Examples that will help strengthen your picking, constructed in a more musical fashion.
  February-March 2021
• Connecting Scale Patterns

  A great way to connect the five basic major scale patterns.
  December-January 2020
• Know Your Roots

  Great when learning modes - hear the sound of each mode over a tonal center.
  October-November 2020
• Picking Exercises: Chromatic Sequential

  Strengthen your upstrokes so they are as strong as your downstrokes.
  August-September 2020
• Connecting Scales

  If you know all of your scale patterns, but are not sure how to connect them, this lesson will help you.
  June-July 2020
• Quarantine Lines

  Stuck inside? Take advantage of the time and challenge yourself to get to the next level.
  April-May 2020
• Ascending Shred Lines

  Creative ways to move around the fretboard at a blazing fast speed.
  February-March 2020
• Harmonic Major

  This scale is most common in jazz, but can be applied to any style of music.
  December-January 2019
• Outside Lines

  Taking the diminished scale and incorporating it with a basic blues scale box.
  October-November 2019
• Triad Arpeggio Sequences, Part 2

  Even more ideas to spice up your arpeggio sequences by altering the order of the notes.
  August-September 2019
• Triad Arpeggio Sequences

  Time to build technique and spice up your arpeggio sequences by altering the order of the notes.
  June-July 2019
• Scales: Combining Rhythmic Variations

  Now, Mike mixes up the rhythms when practicing scales to make things that much more interesting.
  April-May 2019
• Practicing Scales With Rhythmic Variation

  Building your chops while making practice time more interesting and even, fun.
  February-March 2019
• The Altered Scale

  Mike digs a little deeper into the Altered scale, aka Super Locrian.
  December-January 2018
• "All Alone" Solo Excerpts

  Mike teaches soloing over chord changes with a track from his album, "The Fire Within".
  October-November 2018
• "The Fire Within"

  Mike has a new album, "The Fire Within". and breaks down a few of the notable tracks.
  August-September 2018
• Harmonic Minor (Unlocking Sounds)

  Mike delivers the keys to unlocking specific sounds, such as the Phrygian dominant mode, from the Harmonic Minor scale.
  June-July 2018
• Triad Arpeggios

  Gaining fluency with triad arpeggios will help your soloing and rhythm playing.
  April-May 2018
• Chromatic Riffs and Lines

  Mike shows you several ways to spice up your riffs, lines and solos with some chromatic passing tones.
  February-March 2018
• Hanon Style, Scale Sequences

  Mike teaches you scale sequences (in the Hanon style, adapted from piano) that are great for your dexterity and precision.
  December-January 2017
• Harmonic Minor: Movable Patterns

  Mike shows you moveable type patterns for the harmonic minor scale, and some ways you can get some fresh new modern type sounds.
  October-November 2017
• Movable Picking Patterns

  focusing on picking and moveable shapes that will help to create longer lines.
  August-September 2017
• The Modes In One Position

  Confused about the modes? Here is a way you can practice the modes that may help.
  June-July 2017
• Picking: 3-String Picking Ideas

  3-string picking ideas that are great for developing your picking, and to help create lines.
  April-May 2017
• Picking

  These 2-string scale fragment examples will increase your speed and your picking technique.
  February-March 2017
• Constructing Lines With The 5th Intervals

  Read about new ideas for using perfect 5ths in your playing.
  December-January 2016
• Arpeggio Sequences

  Here are Mike's technique to help spice up your solos, instead of just running up and down arpeggios.
  October-November 2016
• Technical Muscial Examples From 'Chapters'

  Mike Campese teaches you short snippets from some songs off his brand new album "Chapters".
  August-September 2016
• Picking And Independence

  These exercises and examples will help you to improve your finger independence as well as your picking.
  June-July 2016
• Melodic Minor Shred Lines

  Just by flatting the third you can develop a whole new shredding sound.
  April-May 2016
• Maintaining Your Chops

  Mike Campese reminds you that if you don't use it, you will surely lose it.
  February-March 2016
• String Skipping

  Mike Campese will help you build on your scales with his string skipping exercises.
  December-January 2015
• Shredding With Position Shifts

  Mike Campese is back to help you out of the box - the scale pattern box, that is.
  October-November 2015
• Major Triad Arpeggios

  Mike Campese will help master your triads in all 12 keys, focusing on the sharp keys for the major triads.
  August-September 2015
• Flat Keys

  Mike Campese covers the flat keys moving around the circle of fourths.
  June-July 2015
• Tapping Arpeggios

  Mike Campese puts both hands on the fretboard to deliver more triad arpeggios.
  April-May 2015
• Single String Arpeggios

  Mike Campese delivers a fistful of single string triad arpeggios - major, minor and diminished.
  February-March 2015
• Sweeping Arpeggios

  Mike Campese gives you a nice sweep picking arpeggio workout using the chord progression from Pachelbel's Canon in D.
  December-January 2014
• Wider Type Shred Lines

  Mike Campese touches on a more modern approach, incorporating different types of patterns into odd-numbered lines.
  October-November 2014
• Repeating Speed Picking Patterns

  Mike Campese delivers patterns that foster some of the fastest, most accurate picking you can imagine.
  August-September 2014
• Technical Exercises, Part 2

  Mike Campese returns with a second set of exercises to help you improve your picking, dexterity, and overall technique.
  June-July 2014
• Technical Exercises

  Mike Campese is back with exercises to help you improve your picking, dexterity, and overall technique.
  April-May 2014
• Composing Without Your Guitar, Part 2

  Mike Campese is back with additional ideas on how to compose - anytime, anywhere.
  February-March 2014
• Composing Without Your Guitar, Part 1

  Mike Campese is back with ideas on how to compose - anytime, anywhere.
  December-January 2013
• Chameleon

  Mike Campese is back with excerpts from his latest CD, "Chameleon".
  October-November 2013
• Bach Cello Suite No. 1, Part 2

  Mike is back with the second part of a Bach excerpt arranged for guitar.
  August-September 2013
• Bach Cello Suite No. 1

  Two for one - a Bach excerpt arranged for guitar, along with some timeless advice.
  June-July 2013
• Inside/Outside And Reverse Picking

  Explaining inside/outside picking, and how it can help you alternate pick difficult passages.
  April-May 2013
• 5/8 Time

  Showing you how to apply 5/8 time to your playing and how to change meters smoothly.
  February-March 2013
• 4/4 To 5/4

  Here's how to play in 4/4 time, switch time signatures and remain in time.
  December-January 2012
• Putting It Together

  Take a small pattern and turn it into a larger phrase that will sound cohesive.
  October-November 2012
• Up 4 Back 1

  Mike Campese introduces you to a cool scale sequence that is not commonly used.
  August-September 2012
• Sweeping Arpeggio Shapes Wrapup

  Building on the last two columns, Mike wraps up the series with a G minor arpeggio progression.
  June-July 2012
• More Sweeping Arpeggio Shapes (You Should Know)

  Building on the last column, Mike adds more examples here, building on his previous sweeping columns.
  April-May 2012
• Sweeping Arpeggio Shapes (You Should Know)

  Mike gets a little more detailed here, building on his previous sweeping columns.
  February-March 2012
• Carol Of The Bells

  Here is the main guitar line from Campese's version of this holiday classic, as featured on his Christmas album.
  December-January 2011
• Creating Modes From Pentatonics

  If you are familiar with pentatonic scales, this may be a great way to get into modal playing.
  October-November 2011
• 7 Note Groupings

  You've grouped in fives; now add two, and we'll group in sevens.
  August-September 2011
• Groups Of 5

  Mike is back to take your scales up to a whole new level.
  June-July 2011
• Exotic Scales: Hirajoshi Scale

  Mike is focusing on the Japanese Hirajoshi scale in this lesson on exotic scales.
  April-May 2011
• Triad Arpeggios

  Just when you thought all arpeggio topics had been covered, Mike's back with triad arpeggio practice ideas.
  February-March 2011
• Grinch Lesson

  Mike Campese serves up a holiday treat - his take on the Grinch's theme song.
  December-January 2010
• Phrygian Dominant

  Mike Campese returns to revisit more ideas for the Phrygian Dominant scale.
  October-November 2010
• String Skipping Lines

  Mike Campese is back with more ideas he used on his "Electric City" CD.
  August-September 2010
• "Electric City" Song Shred Excerpts

  Mike Campese introduces you to techniques from his 2010 CD.
  June-July 2010
• Pedal Points

  Mike Campese gives you exercises and tios on how to pedal your way to musical nirvana.
  April-May 2010
• Speed Picking

  Mike Campese helps you to increase your speed and technical facility.
  February-March 2010
• Moto Perpetuo Continued

  Mike Campese takes you through another section of this excellent Niccolo Paganini piece.
  December-January 2009
• Moto Perpetuo

  Mike Campese takes you through this short, but excellent, Niccolo Paganini piece.
  October-November 2009
• Chord Tone Fluency

  Mike's got a great way to learn your arpeggios and triads all over the neck.
  August-September 2009
• Harmonic Minor Scale

  Here's a master class on the distinct sound of the harmonic minor scale, with your instructor, Mike Campese.
  June-July 2009
• String Skips

  Here's some new ideas for looping string skipping ideas, with your instructor, Mike Campese.
  April-May 2009
• Octave Displacement

  Learning ways to substitute notes using octaves with your instructor, Mike Campese.
  February-March 2009
• Melodic Minor

  Applying the melodic minor scale to rock music with Mike Campese.
  December-January 2008
• Speed, Accuracy And Coordination

  Great exercises to keep your hands in shape from Mike Campese.
  October-November 2008
• Synthetic Scales

  You can make your own scales with these tips from Mike Campese.
  June-July 2008
• Scales Beginning With Each Finger

  Develop both dexterity and versatility with these fretboard exercises.
  April-May 2008
• Three Octave Arpeggios

  Use the entire neck of your axe with these three octave ideas.
  February-March 2008
• Extended Scales

  Mike's ideas will help you move up the neck very quickly.
  December-January 2007
• Superimposing Major Arpeggios

  These ideas will really add some spice to your playing.
  October-November 2006
• 2 String Practice Techniques

  More ideas to help you memorize your scales break out of the patterns and ruts you have been stuck in.
  August-September 2006
• Single String Practice Techniques

  One of the best ways to memorize your scales on the neck and help you break out of the patterns you have been stuck in.
  June-July 2006
• The Mixo Cool-Blues Scale

  Mike Campese serves up a blended scale you can use to set your music apart from the ordinary.
  April-May 2006
• Chordal Picking

  Mike Campese offers an unusual technique that can yield some surprisingly cool results.
  February-March 2006
• Sweep Picking: Paganini

  Here are Mike's sweep picking techniques applied to a revered classical caprice.
  December-January 2005
• Sweep Picking

  Get out your brooms and... no wait, check that - here are Mike's hottest sweep picking techniques.
  October-November 2005
• Getting The Most Out Of Your Scales, Part 2

  Mike Campese with more examples of getting many unique sounds out of just one scale.
  August-September 2005
• Getting The Most Out Of Your Scales

  Mike Campese demonstrates that you can get many unique sounds out of just one scale.
  June-July 2005
• Picking Techniques From "The New"

  Mike Campese blazes through exercises from his all new CD, entitled "The New".
  April-May 2005
• Artful Picking

  Mike Campese opens 2005 with a great workout for your pickin' hand.
  February-March 2005
• Intervalic Lines, Part 2

  More ideas on how you can add a really cool twist to your playing.
  December-January 2004
• Scales You Must Know

  Do you know them? You must know them! Check out Mike Campese's essential scales review.
  October-November 2004
• Paganini, Part 2

  The second part of taking a well-known violin caprice to the six-string.
  August-September 2004
• Fresh New Sounds With Triads, Part 2

  Mike Campese again turns the tried and true triad into an improvisational treat.
  June-July 2004
• Fresh New Sounds With Triads

  Mike Campese turns the tried and true triad into an improvisational treat.
  April-May 2004
• Shred Licks

  Mike Campese shifts into high gear with these high tech shred licks.
  February-March 2004
• Modal Interchange

  Mike Campese is back with powerful compositional tool (and a play out of Satriani's playbook).
  December-January 2003
• Modal Arpeggios

  Mike Campese is back with more modal mayhem.
  October-November 2003
• The Modes, Part 3: Modal Progressions

  Knowing the modes, and putting them to good use, are two different things. Here's part three of Mike Campese's multi-part lesson.
  August-September 2003
• The Modes, Part 2

  Complete understanding of the modes has eluded many a guitarist. Here's part two of Mike Campese's multi-part lesson.
  June-July 2003
• The Modes, Part 1

  Complete understanding of the modes has eluded many a guitarist. Here's part one of Mike Campese's multi-part lesson.
  April-May 2003
• Developing Scale Patterns

  Sooner or later, you'll want to make your solos more exciting. Start by making up new scale sequences.
  February-March 2003
• Soloing Outside

  How you can add something different to your solos to sound a little more 'out'.
  December-January 2002
• Combining Pentatonic Shapes

  More ways to master the fretboard through the use of the pentatonic scale.
  October-November 2002
• Learning The Neck: Major Scales

  Learning the fretboard through scales by Mike Campese.
  August-September 2002
• Arpeggio Licks

  Mike returns with some fun arpeggio licks he uses in his own playing.
  June-July 2002
• Chromatic Lines

  Mike returns with some ideas on how to incorporate half-tones and other non-scale notes into your lines.
  April-May 2002
• Musical Segments And Coordination, Part 2

  Mike returns with the second part of his column on coordinating your hands, while developing speed and accuracy.
  February-March 2002
• Musical Segments And Coordination, Part 1

  Mike is back to help you coordinate your hands, while developing speed and accuracy.
  December-January 2001
• Creative Chording, Part 2

  Mike is back with a follow up lesson to help you work the neck to squeeze more creativity out of your chording.
  October-November 2001
• Creative Chording

  Mike is back to teach you to work the neck to squeeze more creativity out of your chording.
  August-September 2001
• Paganini

  Taking a violin caprice to the six-string.
  June-July 2001
• Intervalic Lines

  How to add a really cool twist to your playing.
  April-May 2001
• Etude

  A classical sounding etude designed to enhance the chops of any serious player.
  February-March 2001
• More Arpeggios Nine

  Mike Campese is back with a follow up article with even more 9ths for your entertainment.
  December-January 2000
• Arpeggios Nine

  The official arpeggios of Guitar Nine Records - always play the 9th. Take it away Mike.
  October-November 2000