My course for intermediate guitarists designed to help you break through to a new level of freedom and confidence in your playing…
… And become a well-rounded guitarist who doesn’t just play songs, but can create your own music, express yourself fluidly, and jam with other musicians.
Paul Davids – Next Level Playing
For Intermediate Guitarists
A strategic and fun 7-level roadmap to level up your playing with over 35 video lessons, including PDFs with tabs, downloadable backing tracks, original solos, and more
Lifetime Access
Learn at your own pace with full lifetime access to all course materials, plus you’ll be protected by a 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
How to Take your Guitar Playing to the Next Level
The path to becoming a well-rounded guitarist who can confidently improvise, create your own sound, and jam with other musicians.
Three Keys to Unlocking the Next Level on Guitar
In music, everything is connected
1. Connections are a foundation for creativity
Of course, getting better at guitar takes practice, but more importantly, it requires a deeper understanding of music.
In music, everything is connected.
And learning about these connections and understanding the “how” and “why” behind the music actually makes it possible to become far more expressive and creative.
For example, once you understand how chords and scales relate to each other within a given key, you can:
- Know exactly which scale to use as a guide for choosing notes when you’re “noodling” in that key – which means the music you make up will sound like a perfect fit
- Have a logical foundation for figuring out what chords are being used in songs you hear (especially when chord sheets so often have errors)
- Easily transpose chord progressions into different keys in your head, instead of having to use online chord transposition tools
In connecting your knowledge of theory to your technical skills, you’ll have a much greater command of the fretboard and be able to easily find the notes and chords you’re looking for.
This combination of technique and understanding will help you become a well-rounded guitar player, and even though it might sometimes seem a bit dry or “technical,” it is the path to more creativity and freedom on the guitar.
2. Improvisation is a skill that can be developed
Of all of the skills that make you feel like a “real guitarist,” being able to improvise is right at the top of the list.
But it can also feel mysterious and intimidating – and incredibly awkward to try in front of other people. In fact, many players have a secret fear: that because improvisation doesn’t come naturally to them, they might not have enough talent to do it at all.
The truth is, improvising is actually a skill that can be practiced and developed, step by step.
With an understanding of those practical connections between scales and chords, plus some strategies for using them to build your improv “chops,” you can become confident at improvising, whether you’re playing at home or soloing at a jam session with friends. And you’ll be able to play with intentionality, finding the notes and chords that go along with whatever key you happen to be in.
Anyone can develop and improve their improvisation skills
I’ll show you how to maximize your practice time and get the most from it
3. You need a roadmap for your practice
Many intermediate players practice by going down various “trails” on the Internet…
They watch some music theory videos in one place, learn a new riff from another place, and get chord charts from somewhere else.
And even though they are learning some interesting things, it’s hard to “connect the dots” between the various things and apply it to their guitar playing in a practical way.
Plus, in order to make progress on the guitar, you actually need to challenge yourself in new ways, which means working on things you aren’t good at yet or haven’t spent much time developing.
But this can be a difficult thing to do on your own, because it’s natural to gravitate toward the things that come most easily or feel most comfortable.
As a result, many players end up putting in the hours, without actually doing the things that will pay off in the long run.
This means that, in order to take your playing to the next level, you need a step-by-step “roadmap” – a resource to give you direction to take the right steps, in the right order.
And, you need guidance to challenge yourself in new ways, so you don’t fall into the same old patterns or well-worn routine.
It’s once you hone in on the areas that require improvement (such as technique, ear training, improvisation, and theory), and strategically focus on strengthening them that you’ll be able to reach the next level in your personal evolution as a guitarist.
Experiencing the enjoyment that guitar has to offer
I hope you can start to see that becoming a real next-level guitarist is a goal that is possible for anyone, as long as you have the right roadmap in place and are committed to the journey.
And with the resource I’m about to share with you, you will have the guidance necessary to allow you to move to the next level – even if you have been “stuck” for years.
Of course, it requires commitment, but it’s well worth the effort it takes to get there.
And it’s once you follow this path that you’ll be able to “unlock” experiences like these:
- You’re hanging out with friends who happen to be musicians too, and you’re able to grab your guitar and start confidently jamming along with them, even if you’ve never heard the song before.
- You’re at home on a rainy day, and you can sit by the window and pass the time “noodling” on your guitar to express how you’re feeling, without having a specific song to play.
- You’re trying out a new song by your favorite artist, and you’re able to find the notes and chords all over every part of the fretboard like it’s second nature.
- You pull out your guitar at a gathering of friends and family and start to impress people with just some random playing in the background.
- You’re playing along to one of your favorite songs, and you can add your own sound to it, making up new riffs and solos by ear, just for fun.
It’s at this level of playing that chords and notes become connections, the fretboard feels like home, and the guitar becomes your voice.
It’s a milestone well worth reaching…
Hi, I’m Paul Davids
I first picked up the guitar when I was 12 years old. I was a kid with a red Squier and dreams of playing like Green Day, Metallica, and a local band called “de Heideroosjes.”
These days, I really enjoy teaching guitar and helping other people experience the same creative joy that’s brought me so much pleasure over the years.
It’s why I started my personal channel on YouTube, which has grown into a pretty popular guitar channel with over three million subscribers from all over the world!
On the channel, I share all the things that interest me, based on what I’ve learned from over two decades of playing, songwriting, and producing.
I received a music degree, with a minor in teaching guitar, from Rotterdam Conservatory.
For 11 years, I taught private lessons to hundreds of students of all different skill levels in 1-on-1 sessions as well as in group lessons.
And in 2018, I took a big step and created a resource to teach fundamental guitar skills to hundreds of students online through my beginner-level guitar course, Learn, Practice, Play.
Though I initially didn’t know what to expect, the response to the course was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, to a degree well beyond what I had ever hoped for.
And throughout the process of putting out my beginners’ course, I received messages from thousands of intermediate guitarists who wanted help making progress to reach the next level of playing.
So with many months of work, I put together an online course just for intermediate guitarists, to provide a strategic roadmap for becoming well-rounded, fluent musicians.
Introducing…
My course for intermediate guitarists designed to help you break through to a new level of freedom and confidence in your playing…
… And become a well-rounded guitarist who doesn’t just play songs, but can create your own music, express yourself fluidly, and jam with other musicians.
Understand, Play, Create
Inside Next Level Playing, we’ll use three aspects of guitar playing in each level of the course, all designed to help you have fun and learn how to express yourself more freely on the guitar.
Understand: You’ll learn the “why” behind every note, chord, interval, fingering, and technique so that you can stop the endless loop of playing by rote and understand what you’re playing.
Play: You won’t just memorize theoretical principles and strategies; you’ll put them into practice with fun songs and riffs – supported by energizing backing tracks – and have a blast playing every day.
Create: After connecting the dots with theory and practicing new skills, you’ll be ready to start creating your own sounds, improvising new riffs and noodles, and spicing up your favorite songs with your own personal touch.
Next Level Playing provides you with the step-by-step guidance you need… and then challenges you to start creating music for yourself.
Building Your Guitar Skills “Toolkit”
While working through this self-paced course, you will:
- Build your skills “toolkit” with systematic, strategically planned lessons that connect new skills and knowledge, giving you the freedom to create your own sound
- Understand the theory behind how chords and scales are connected, and use them in practical ways as a creative springboard to improvise, play solos, or create your own songs
- Gain confidence using your entire fretboard, and know how to find notes and chords easily in any position
- Become fluent in the “language” of music so you can more easily communicate and collaborate with other musicians
- Start improvising with scales and chords as basic building blocks, and then use artistic techniques to make your improv more expressive and completely natural
- Learn seven original solos, including the “how” and “why” behind every note and scale so you can gain confidence playing solos and even writing your own riffs
- And, you’ll be able to “get” other guitarists on a deeper level, whether it’s understanding every video on my YouTube channel or following along in John Mayer’s live chats.
Here’s What You’ll Learn Inside Next Level Playing…
In Level 1, you’ll learn:
- Ways to find notes quickly, anywhere on the fretboard
- Better barre chord technique
- What chord progressions mean and how to work out which chords to play
- How to play major and minor chords everywhere on the neck
- The major scale and how we use it in improvisation
In Level 2, we’ll be looking at:
- How knowing one simple scale (the pentatonic) can be enough to play great solos
- Improving your bending technique and making it sound better
- Why triads are important, and different ways to play them
- Adding licks to your playing whenever and wherever
- How to play a solo and improvise in a minor blues
In Level 3, you’ll learn:
- How 7th chords can spice up your chord progressions
- How the neck is constructed by shifting licks up and down the neck
- How to transpose a chord progression into a different key
- Increasing your speed and accuracy across the fretboard with the pentatonic scale
- The Aeolian mode: the minor scale
In Level 4, we’ll cover:
- Becoming a faster, more versatile player with “3 notes per string” scales
- How to give chords a “solo” feel by adding embellishments
- Creating a unique sound by learning how to use the harmonic minor scale
- Incorporating triads and voice leading into your playing
- Learning a cool solo that uses the harmonic minor scale and coming up with your own version
In Level 5, I’ll show you:
- One of the biggest secrets to my playing: how I keep in time
- Fretting techniques you can use to give your chords a new sound
- How to use Dorian mode, which you hear a lot in blues, funk, and pop
- My picking technique, and different positions for arpeggios
- How to give your chords a fresh sound using hammer-ons and pull-offs
In Level 6, you’ll learn:
- How to play chords like Hendrix, Frusciante, and Mayer
- How the CAGED system can help you navigate the fretboard
- Breaking out of that pentatonics box by playing “diagonally”
- What target notes are, and how they can make your solos stand out
- A great solo in a 6/8 time signature combining many skills we’ve learned
In Level 7, I’ll show you:
- A great option for playing lead over 7th chords (it’s the “Mixolydian mode”)
- How to play extended chords (with the 9th, 11th, and 13th intervals)
- How to nail 12-bar blues rhythm and solos
- How to play blues shuffles and blues rhythm guitar
- How to mix your techniques and keep your solos interesting
Is this course right for you?
You’ll know Next Level Playing is a good fit for you if…
- You’ve been feeling “stuck in a loop” at an intermediate level for a long time, but practicing more doesn’t seem to help…
- You’ve been longing to express yourself and be more creative, but don’t feel confident improvising or noodling around…
- You know some scales and chords but don’t know how to connect them to find the right notes for every song and key…
- You’ve felt like an imposter because you can play songs you’ve practiced but can’t make up your own as you go…
- You’ve watched a video from a guitarist you admire, and wished you could understand it better
If any of the above sounds familiar, I’m confident that Next Level Playing will help improve your playing and take it to the next level – even if you’ve been playing for years (or even decades) without much progress.
Closing Thoughts
Playing guitar at the “next level” is one of the most rewarding pursuits I’ve ever undertaken.
And, like any other craft, it takes a great deal of well-directed effort to move from fundamental proficiency into creative freedom…
It’s hard work.
It requires grit, passion, and determination.
But it’s worth every minute of practice to get there.
After two decades of playing guitar, I can confidently say that there are few things as rewarding as being able to express yourself through your music, and being able to confidently connect on a deeper level with other musicians.
And if you’re ready to go on that journey, I’d love to be your guide along the way.
I hope you’ll join me inside the course.
– Paul Davids
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 10 weeks
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 57
- Assessments Yes
