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Funky Fingerstyle Guitar

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How to Arrange Stevie Wonder for Solo Guitar

Enjoy lesson 1 here 🙂
Click the big yellow button to access lessons 2,3,4,5.

Free Instant Access

Get an insiders look at how to add groove bass lines, right hand slaps and jazz harmonies into an arrangement. I’ll show you how I approach songs like “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Superstition.”

Here’s what real life students are saying…

(And hey…I’d love to feature you here as well!)

“If you are ready to take your fingerstyle playing to the next level, then Adam Rafferty’s lessons are for you.

The songs are beautifully put together, and taught in bite size pieces that enable one to progress towards learning the entire song.

Adam’s teaching style is such that it feels as if he is sitting in the room with you, walking you through the piece. I highly recommend these videos, it’s helped take my playing ability to a higher level.”

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Tim Shaw

“I first came across Adam Rafferty searching for “learning guitar.”

Adam´s playing appealed to me, and yet I learned even more from his approach, philosophy and attitude towards the instrument and towards music making and performance in general.

I have been a happy amateur guitar player all my life, and yet his insights gave me better habits.

It helped my focus on what is important, and I recommend his site to all my friends.”

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Kjell-Åke

Sweden

“I am a guitar teacher by trade. As a teacher, player, and lover of guitar music I have been influenced by Adam in tons of positive ways.

Adam’s talent extends as a teacher just as easily as his ability to create amazing music.

He is inviting, concise, and helps you build confidence as a player approaching his catalog.

If you are willing to put in the effort, he provides all the tools you need to feel successful, and he presents the information in a sincere, insightful, and fun way!”

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Dave Francis

www.guitarborist.com

“I have been following Adam Rafferty’s videos, DVD lessons and blogs online for several years now.

He is an exceptional performer and teacher and I have found that applying many of his techniques has improved my playing and my confidence immensely.

Though fingerstyle arrangements can be quite challenging, Adam reduces the work load by getting right to the techniques that ease the pain.

His gift is making a difficult piece sound simple and he helps me do the same.”

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Bob Brounley

professional fingerstyle guitarist from Florida

A Message From Adam

“What chords are you using?“

Actually, arranging isn’t based on chords. It’s based on “lines.”

I’ll show you how I fit entire Stevie Wonder songs on one guitar (which I teach on the DVDs.) It’s simpler than you think!

“Aha” moments await you – just watch the free “behind the scenes” video lessons.

Groove on!

Adam

Here’s What You’ll Get From This Lesson…

  • You’ll learn 5 powerful techniques that will help you sound like “an entire band” on one guitar!
  • You’ll start to see (and hear) what I call the 3 levels of guitar arranging.
  • You’ll get insights into right hand thumb / finger independence.
  • You’ll be able to apply these concepts in your playing immediately.
  • You’ll learn how to have an effective practice routine. I’ll show you exactly how I do it.

Get Access to the Video Lessons Now!

What are you waiting for? The links for videos 2,3,4,5 will be sent to you – within minutes.

Free Instant Access

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. hyeong seok Choi says

    February 3, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    Great!!!!!

    Reply
    • Paweł says

      March 27, 2021 at 11:43 am

      Wspaniała lekcja😉😀.

      Reply
  2. Lars says

    February 6, 2014 at 3:09 am

    I guess I always knew, or sensed intuitively, the “top, middle and bottom” structure of fingerstyle guitar playing.
    I’m intrigued by your video, because you seems to offer a learnable approach to making that idea become a usable. tool, And that, to me, is worth learning.

    It’s an insight comparable to me with two other great ideas I learned from quotes 2 great guitarist. – both now in the Great Auditorium.
    (1) Joe Beck: “I think of the guitar as a cross between a saxophone and a piano..”
    (2) Howard Morgen: Pretty much the same thing, actually, except he does not mention the saxophone. lol.
    But he talks about music being in constant motion, while music SCORES or TABS detract from that by tending to present “snapshot” views of a musical melody. (e. g. “Chord progressions.”

    I THINK I am ready now, to listen and learn. BTW, Adam, I’m 63, and I’ve been learning to play guitar for about 50 years!
    Bring it on, Adam.

    Reply
  3. teiki says

    February 8, 2014 at 3:53 am

    hello
    I love to play guitar so much and I am dreaming to play like him,I KNOW i have a lot to do more but I AM STILL PRACTISING
    THANKS A LOT ADAM DON T STO P TO TEACH

    Reply
  4. Ramon B. Joaquin says

    March 13, 2014 at 1:20 am

    Nice to see someone explaining clearly how to do it, keep on groovin’ and tnx.

    Reply
  5. Pietro says

    March 19, 2014 at 2:21 am

    oh man you are great! You just said exactly what I wanted to hear…in my heart I always knew that there is a way to look at that damn music theory in a different way so that it makes sense and moves from gray and flat, to colourful and multidimensional!
    Also you bring in something more, there is a passive way to play and there is an active way, I mean the active way is when that magic happens and the stuff that is inside you comes out of your brain through your fingers and comes back to your ears like in a circle and it makes sense, it conveys something. The other way is just boring, it does not make sense and it is just struggling without joy and fascination (and that drains a lot of energy and will out of me). I was looking on the internet for something about these thoughts but I never hoped to find somebody in flesh and bones that actually does this in practice and so clearly like you.
    In the past I used to do my nice exercises as a good boy, but I always found them steryle and above all, boring and with no fun…I had enough, I first wants to get some fun which gives me energy and then I can do tons of exercises but with a musical target in mind and not just for discipline. Beyond an instrument in itself, music and sounds are really fascinating and I think that that new dimension that you bring about is absolutely essential to understand music in a visceral way.
    The funny thing is that I am starting to do this with my life as well and sometimes the same concepts apply to life in general, socially, personally etc.

    Anyway thanks for sharing and passing over

    cheers

    Reply
  6. Anthony Young says

    April 2, 2014 at 3:33 am

    Great Lesson Adam

    Reply
  7. Gyeong Chan Kim says

    April 30, 2014 at 9:11 am

    That was a simple but was really helpful!

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      May 5, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. carlton vernem says

    August 4, 2014 at 7:10 am

    Great Adam. I’m hooked on this style now

    Reply
  9. Mike Hepburn says

    October 29, 2014 at 10:40 am

    Hi. You have the best style guitar technique. Your approach is logical. Thank you. I hope to play as well as you someday. Mike

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      June 13, 2015 at 6:26 pm

      Thanks Mike!

      Reply
  10. Young says

    February 14, 2015 at 3:28 pm

    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
  11. Andreas says

    June 18, 2015 at 11:13 am

    Hey Adam,

    I really love your playing, watching you play is a lesson in itself on how to relax while picking. The penny didn’t just drop since I found you, I dropped a whole bag of them! Great teaching approach. Cheers!

    Greetings from the Netherlands,

    Andreas

    Reply
  12. Richard Tindale says

    February 7, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Hi Adam, I too was clasically trained but never really learned how to play by ear and arrange my own interpretations. Trying hard to learn songs by ear now but finding it really really difficult and a long process. Your video really hits home. Thankyou for passing on your knowledge

    Reply
  13. Ray S. says

    July 14, 2018 at 7:20 pm

    I once played guitar religiously with my brother and only with my brother (unintentional codependance )every chance I got and in 2001 he was murdered and I lost my playing partner. I haven’t played longer than 10 mins since December 19 of 01 so my old Gibson 200 look alike Cortez has unfortunately gathered more dust than memories. I feel guilty for not playing but I suppose I feel even more guilt for attempting to play as if I’m continuing on without him maybe? Either way , I was educating my younger wife on the finer tunes of the 70s when I showed her “superstitious” on the tube not knowing if I was doing it just for her or maybe for me to relive a memory for myself. Either way the first thought I had was “I wonder if I can play that on the acoustic”as I bet most players probably do . I found your instructional video and for your first time in a long time I want to play, apprehension still present, yet I fully intend to sit and if I must wrap each finger with bandaids to complete the song(as I did at 15 with house of the rising sun)I shall attempt to finish what I started.
    Im getting older and though I’ve not forgotten how-to play, the driving force to play better for someone else is what I’m missing. I will attempt to get the most from your video as I can see as I never learned tabs either. We gr .
    . $v3n; b;;; ew up learning open chords with a little of our own thrown in but I digress.
    I wanted thank you for offering free info, maybe I can make sense of it and maybe if I get it somewhat down , maybe my wife will be mildly amused. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the video , I only hope my fingers keep up with my brain. Keep making it fun !

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      July 19, 2018 at 9:59 pm

      Ray, oh man I am sorry for your loss of your brother and if there is any way I can encourage you – great. Start slow. Play one minute a day…that will turn into two, etc 🙂 – AR

      Reply
  14. johnny holmes says

    September 26, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    Cant seem to figure out how to get the free tab. would you please email them to me. thankyou

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      October 15, 2018 at 5:29 am

      Which tabs? JOhnny please check your spam folder and promotion folder for email sfrom info [at] adamrafferty [dot ] com

      Reply
  15. Roy Rodriguez says

    October 29, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    Adam thank you
    What you do is a blessing to me

    Gonna go home and practice

    God bless
    Roy

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      November 23, 2018 at 8:09 am

      Enjoy Roy!

      Reply
  16. Zach says

    December 8, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    Superstition…where can i find the tabs? I subscribed and checked email….what am i missing?

    Reply
    • Adam Rafferty says

      February 22, 2020 at 4:08 am

      Zach – gosh I am late to the comment! They are available as a DVD or download – click here

      Reply
  17. Joseph Cabella says

    April 3, 2019 at 7:37 pm

    Hello adam my name is Joe
    Cabella.i have all the abilities
    To play alot on the guitar but like you said. I need to learn the Techniques. Thank you for giving us free ideas on the subject on itt melody. Thanks again.and my God Bless you. 🌎💫🎼🎸 Philadelphia sincerely Joe C

    Reply
    • Adam Rafferty says

      February 22, 2020 at 4:24 am

      Thanks Joe!

      Reply
  18. Nicolas says

    May 31, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    Son sinceramente una maravilla tus arreglos de Stevie Wonder. Generas un groove sensacional y quiero aprenderlo de tu mano. No será facil.

    Reply

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