Alec Fehl

GUI
TAR

Latest Studies

Busted Windows

This intermediate solo comes in two flavors: Level 1 and Level 2. They are essentially the same melody, but Level 2 incorporates bends and faster runs in bars 8 and 16. There are two harmonies - a high and low for each level. The chord progression puts us in the key...

Sweeping Study 1c

This study focuses on jazz chords. Major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, and minor 7b5 (half-diminished).Backing TrackMore Studies

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart). When I was about 16 years old, I received a few cassette tapes from 15 year old Paul Gilbert shortly after he was featured in Guitar Player magazine's Spotlight column. (The same issue/Spotlight that also featured an unknown Yngwie...

Invention No. 8

Bach Invention No. 8. I've indicated CAGED boxes on the transcription. It's nice to see how the CAGED shapes are used throughout. Backing TracksMore Studies

Invention No. 4

Bach Invention No. 4. Going for the 80's metal sound on guitar 1 😏Backing TracksMore Studies

Invention No. 1

Bach Invention No. 1. I've indicated CAGED boxes on the transcription. It's nice to see how the CAGED shapes are used throughout.Backing TracksMore Studies

Sweeping Study 1b

Now that you've developed a smooth sweeping motion from Sweeping Study 1a, this sweeping study (1b) focuses on a few new three-string shapes: dominant 7 and diminished. Backing TrackMore Studies

Sweeping Study 1a

This sweeping study focuses on the E-B-G strings and integrates all inversions of major and minor triads. The chord progression is played a total of four times with each iteration varying the sweeps. It starts easy and gets pretty challenging. Think of this as four...

Legato Study #2 (Melodic Power Rock)

This study is primarily in C melodic minor, but uses some non-diatonic chords and borrows from C harmonic minor to add movement and interest. The piece is basically two sections with section A repeated at the end with a slight variation. The tab is six pages, but...

Outside Picking Study #2 (metal)

This outside picking study in A harmonic minor is carefully composed so that every string cross is accomplished with outside picking - so pay close attention to the pick strokes in the tab. The piece starts on a downstroke and is alternate picked from there. Section A...

Alec Fehl

Lessons

Studio Work

Live Gigs

Workshops

I started playing guitar when I was 6 years old, but didn’t really get serious until high school. I started lessons learning my open chords and how to read music. Eventually, I learned a few scales and then started learning my favorite songs and solos. I graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1989, moved to Los Angeles where I gigged for about 10 years, and finally settled in Asheville, North Carolina where I teach guitar, play in bands, teach computer programming/hardware, and write computer text books. I’m grateful to Peter Marks (my first guitar teacher from 6 years old through junior high) and Bob Loiacano (my guitar teacher through high school). They provided a great foundation on which I have built my musical life. Thanks guys. Good teachers are important!

Learning to read music early and teaching computer programming have taught me how important the fundamentals are. Learning your chords, basic music theory, and how to read both tab and standard notation set the groundwork for being able to use scales, play songs, and make music. Learn your chords kids. Open chords, CAGED chords, barre chords, ‘jazz chords’, … Everything – I mean everything – revolves around chords!

EXPLORE

Learn. Listen. Play.

Lessons

I teach online via Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, or in person through the Asheville Music School.

Jam Tracks

While the studies are composed and transcribed pieces of music, the Jam Tracks are for you to practice improvisation skills. Use those scales and arpeggios you’ve been practicing to improvise.

Studies

Studies apply what you’ve learned in lessons to musical ideas. Playing scales and exercises with a metronome certainly has value, but come on! You’ve got to use what you know to make music!

Old Stuff

Everyone starts somewhere. Playing music is a lifelong journey of constant learning and improvement. I think it’s comforting to know that not everyone became a great player overnight. It takes years to hone musical chops and ideas. So here’s part of my journey starting from when I became serious about the guitar.