Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

how to make cover songs feel like your own on guitar illustration

7 Tips to Make Cover Songs Feel Like Your Own

As a songwriter, do you stick to your guns and your own songs—or cave and just deliver the hits everyone can sing along with? There’s a healthier way to look at covers: as a creative vehicle that can actually enhance rather than compete with your songwriting.

man playing acoustic guitar, the learning zone

12 Ways to Challenge Yourself and Discover New Territory on Guitar

We talked to a group of artists and educators who share their favorite exercises, strategies, and tricks for helping get beyond the comfort zone and discover new territory on the guitar.

madison cunningham playing guitar in-studio

Learn to Play “Life According to Raechel,” Madison Cunningham’s Moving Ode to Her Grandmother

Learn to play Madison Cunningham's “Life According to Raechel,” a hushed, sparse, gorgeously melodic song that she wrote in honor of her grandmother.

Remembering Guitarist and Teacher Dix Bruce 1952–2023

The versatile, knowledgeable, and always cheerful musician and educator Dix Bruce passed away suddenly and peacefully in his sleep at age 70.

slash chords guitar lesson jeffrey pepper rogers sitting with guitar

Using Slash Chords to Strengthen Your Bass Lines and Chord Progressions

Slash chords are a small change to a chord voicing that can have a big impact on the sound of a progression, as we’ll explore in this guitar lesson.

Exploring James Taylor’s Singular and Sophisticated Guitar Style

In James Taylor’s music, the guitar provides much more than accompaniment. Learn how to play like James Taylor in this acoustic guitar lesson.

Jeffrey Pepper Rogers 2022 Christmas Carols

Three New Solo Guitar Arrangements of Christmas Carols for 2022

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers shares three new solo guitar arrangements of Christmas Carols: "What Child Is This?," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Jingle Bells."

Guitar Lesson: Exploring John Prine’s Simple but Distinctive Acoustic Approach

This lesson takes a tour of John Prine’s music by way of his guitar style, using examples drawn from some of his most-loved songs.

two friends pose in a music studio with their guitars

Is My Child Old Enough to Learn Guitar?

If your child (or grandchild or other kid in your life) has expressed an interest in playing guitar, you may be wondering if they’re too young to begin lessons.

Singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham with guitars

How Madison Cunningham Uses Unusual Tunings and Beater Guitars to Discover Fresh Sounds

Madison Cunningham is a true triple-threat musician: a singer and inventive songwriter, a wickedly good guitarist, and a seeker of unconventional riffs and tones.