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Artwork for Guitar Music Theory

Guitar Music Theory

Desi Serna
Music Theory
Improvisation
Guns N' Roses
Christmas Music
Guitar Solos
Slash
Huey Lewis and the News
Guitar
Steve Howe
Pentatonic Scale
Sweet Child O' Mine
Lead Guitar Unlocked
D-Mixolydian Mode
Music Composition
Fretboard Theory
Matt Reviere
Nat King Cole
Mel Torme
Bob Wells
Guitar Techniques

This podcast features free audio guitar lessons taught by Desi Serna, author of Fretboard Theory and Guitar Theory For Dummies. Learn how scales, chords, progressions, modes, and more get applied to the fretboard and familiar songs. Hear how to best get your playing skills in order. Begin to improvise and compose. Understand why your favorite songs sound so good. ➝ What do you specifically need to... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes188Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicArtsPerforming Arts

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Artwork for Guitar Music Theory

Latest Episodes

Episode 187 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast features the return of Nashville music producer Jason Wyatt Kuhn from We The People Music.

Jason first appeared on Episode 173, "From Demo to Radio – Inside Music Production," where we discussed songwr... more

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and professional guitarist Ryan Jones.

Ryan shares his journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana to studying music in California, connecting with Christian artist Tommy Walker, and eventually touring and recording ... more

In episode 185 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Desi Serna answers listener questions and breaks down how 6 chords are built, why the 5th is sometimes omitted, and examples of their use in familiar songs.

Desi also plays and discusses the PRS M... more

In episode 184 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, Desi Serna breaks down the most important scale shape on the guitar: Pentatonic Pattern 1. This versatile pattern forms the foundation of countless riffs, licks, and solos across blues, rock, and cou... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ryan Jones
Guitarist with Nashville studio and touring background; former Tommy Walker collaborator
Sweetwater (current)
Episode: Ep186 Lessons from the Studio with Ryan Jones
Mike Valeras
Adjunct guitar instructor at Belmont University and guitar educator, focusing on commercial music and improvisation
Belmont University
Episode: Ep182 From Boston to Belmont – Mike Valeras on Guitar Education and Finding Your Lane
Jason Wyatt Kuhn
Nashville music producer involved in transforming rough song ideas into polished tracks.
We the People Music
Episode: Ep173 From Demo to Radio - Inside Music Production with Jason Wyatt Kuhn
Matt Reviere
Touring guitarist with Carrie Underwood and former performer of Guns N' Roses classics.
Episode: Ep153 Matt Reviere Slash Guns N Roses Guitar Style and Tones

Host

Desi Serna
Desi Serna is an experienced guitar educator and author of Fretboard Theory and Guitar Theory For Dummies. He hosts free audio lessons focused on applying scales, chords, progressions, and modes to the fretboard with practical demonstrations and real-song examples.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • I always feel good while listening to Desi Serna's guitar 🎸 lessons podcast. Music 🎶 is a wonderful gift to have & having a teacher to explain guitar is invaluable ❤️

    Podcast Addict
    5
    conwaycreator
    6 months ago
  • Re: Ace Frehley “Tribute”

    First of all, I love this podcast. Desi knows his stuff and knows how to teach, he is an incredible teacher and great player!

    This one star is related specifically to the episode called “tribute” to Ace Frehley former original member of Kiss who sadly passed recently.

    I felt uneasy and stopped listening around 22 minutes. I just think that technique and “amazing polished chops” are really incredible but why keep putting down the playing of someone very successful in what they did AND specially... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BoizimDiXuxu
    Australia7 months ago
  • Great stuff here

    Wish I had found this podcast years ago, it’s a goldmine. Not just dry theory, lots of real song examples to back it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dgmoss5
    United States7 months ago
  • Best Guitar Teaching

    If you want to really learn guitar, you have to learn the theory. Desi’s books and podcast are such a great help and journey through mastering your playing and understanding of how it all works. Highly recommend for all players.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gbelker
    United States9 months ago
  • Fantastic Guide

    Desi is one of the best guitar teachers. His books are great and he provides a sound path to mastering the guitar for students of all levels.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    big aechive fan 2020
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many reviewers praise the depth and clarity, and the host's teaching style keeps concepts digestible for beginners and beyond.
The host is clearly knowledgeable and presents concepts in an approachable, actionable way.
Listeners note the episodes are practical and great for applying theory to real playing.
Guests and episodes are described as engaging, informative, and motivating for consistent practice.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#225
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#88
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#140
Singapore/Music
Apple Podcasts
#199
Finland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep185 Q&A 6 Chords – PRS Myles Kennedy Signature Model Guitar
Q: Cookie Boy challenges some music-theory basics; how would you respond to claims about the circle of fifths and the number of steps between C and F?
Both half-step and whole-step terminology can cause confusion; the circle of fifths focuses on scale steps, and C to F is four scale steps, not four half-steps, which aligns with the major scale formula and interval naming.
Ep185 Q&A 6 Chords – PRS Myles Kennedy Signature Model Guitar
Q: Attila asks about your Pentatonic Pattern course and whether it applies to acoustic guitar and if it can help with melody creation and improvisation.
The pentatonic course helps with pattern awareness and connecting shapes; for melodic improvisation and phrasing, Desi suggests Lead Guitar Improv 101 and Zoom-based intensives that focus on note selection, phrasing and chord-tone soloing, applicable to both electric and acoustic with the right approach.
Ep185 Q&A 6 Chords – PRS Myles Kennedy Signature Model Guitar
Q: What should a student do to bridge the gap between sit-down practice and standing-stage performance, especially regarding fretboard visibility and ergonomics?
Practice both seated and standing to acclimate to different viewing angles and postures, consider elevating the left leg for ergonomic access, use a strap, and gradually build a stage-ready set list so playing feels natural when standing.
Ep182 From Boston to Belmont – Mike Valeras on Guitar Education and Finding Your Lane
Q: How does one go from thinking, I think I might learn how to play guitar to becoming a guitar professor?
Mike Valeras describes his journey as long and full of various phases, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's influences and developing as a musician, ultimately leading to teaching at a college level.
Ep180 Q&A Song Tempos - Warm-Ups - Ear Training - Modes - Chord Extensions & More
Q: What are extensions in guitar?
Extensions are specifically when you add a ninth, eleventh, or a thirteenth chord in guitar playing, adding additional notes to basic triads.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Guitar Music Theory

What is Guitar Music Theory about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, theory-forward guitar education show that makes scales, chords, and fretboard navigation practical through clear demonstrations and song-based examples. Across episodes, listeners get structured approaches to improvisation, tone shaping, and learning paths, from foundational pentatonic patterns to advanced topics like chord extensions and production insights. The host frequently blends technique with real-world playing, using famous riffs and pop/rock tracks to illustrate concepts, and often includes guest perspectives from educators and seasoned players. A standout trait is the accessible teaching style that accommodates beginners while offering depth for intermediate players, plus occasional gear and production discussions t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Guitar Music Theory?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Guitar Music Theory:

1. Guitar Nerds
2. Know Your Gear Podcast
3. Chasing Tone - Guitar Podcast About Gear, Effects, Amps and Tone
4. Dipped In Tone
5. No Cover Charge Podcast

How many episodes of Guitar Music Theory are there?

Guitar Music Theory launched 19 years ago and published 188 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Guitar Music Theory?

Recent guests on Guitar Music Theory include:

1. Ryan Jones
2. Mike Valeras
3. Jason Wyatt Kuhn
4. Matt Reviere

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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