Guitar music theory • fretboard • lead guitar • songwriting

Stop Copying Licks.
Start Making Your Own Music.

Lessons that show you why things work on the fretboard, so you can write riffs, solos and songs of your own — not just play other people’s.

Pick yours by skill level — beginner, intermediate or advanced. 100% free.

Watch Jill's story

Jill — PIL Method student, now touring

Jill didn’t know a lick of theory until she learned the Play It Loud Method. Now she’s on the road playing for crowds around the world.

“He doesn’t just show you what to play — he explains why it works, which really helped me develop a deeper understanding of the instrument.”

“Everything he teaches feels directly applicable — you’re not just memorizing shapes or patterns, you’re learning how to actually use them in real playing situations.”

James C. — Play It Loud student

Start Here

The most-read lessons on Play It Loud. Pick one and dig in.

Beginners

Never touched a guitar? Your first chords, first songs and a simple 7-day plan.

Chords

How chords are built, the shapes worth knowing and how to use them in real songs.

Scales

What scales are actually for, and how to stop running patterns and start making music.

Songs

Songs people recognize the second you play them, plus pop, country and hip-hop picks.

Scales

When to use each one, and why the same shape can sound happy or sad.

Lead Guitar

All five shapes, how they connect, and how to make music with them.

Theory

The chord-scale relationship, minus the confusing mode charts.

Theory

Why theory turns so many guitarists off — and why it doesn’t have to.

Seasonal

Creepy riffs and spooky songs to play this month.

Best place to start

Stuck In The Pentatonic Box?

Pentatonic Prison Break is 27 short courses that get you out of the box shapes and playing the whole fretboard like you mean it.

  • 27 courses for $27 — about a dollar each
  • One payment, yours to keep
  • Your $27 is never wasted: it counts toward the Play It Loud Method if you upgrade within 30 days
$27one-time

Go Deeper

Courses for when you’re ready to put it all together.

The full system: theory, fretboard, soloing and songwriting, built for players who want to create.

Melody over speed. Learn the phrasing and note choices behind Slash’s most memorable solos.

Cheat sheets for the fretboard, CAGED, modes and theory — print them and keep them on your music stand.

playitloudblog

Who's Behind This?

Hey there, my name’s Matt and I’ve been playing guitar since August 2003. I started out pretty much just like you, with no idea how to play electric guitar, acoustic guitar, metal guitar, or any kind of guitar — and the online guitar lessons at the time were just awful. So I learned despite all of that.

Play It Loud is for beginners, intermediates, pros and songwriters. I teach through real song examples, guitar music theory, songwriting principles and lead guitar.

Read my story →   Grab the free lessons →

Not Sure Where To Start?

Tell me what kind of player you are and grab the free lessons made for your level.