Country Guitar in 6 Weeks – Combined 6 Weeks Set
By Steve Trovato
Welcome to the Country Guitar in 6 Weeks guitar lesson course—an expertly structured programme designed to guide your playing towards realistic, achievable goals in just six weeks. This course is built for guitarists who want clear direction in their practice, removing the confusion of not knowing what to work on and replacing it with a logical, step-by-step pathway into authentic country guitar playing.
Each week introduces carefully selected techniques, concepts, and licks that gradually build your understanding of country soloing. The material is delivered at a manageable pace, making it ideal for players who may have previously felt overwhelmed or intimidated by other learning resources. Steve Trovato presents everything in easy-to-digest sections, ensuring that every new idea connects seamlessly with the last.
Course Overview
Across the six weeks, you’ll develop a strong foundation in country guitar, covering essential scales, phrasing concepts, and stylistic approaches used by some of the genre’s most iconic players.
Week One focuses on the major pentatonic scale in a single position, alongside variations that expand your phrasing. You’ll work on right-hand picking accuracy and begin to understand the nuances of country phrasing. By sequencing the major pentatonic scale, you’ll learn how to create flowing, musical lines, rounded off with licks inspired by the smooth and melodic style of Vince Gill.
Week Two expands your fretboard knowledge with a three-octave horizontal pentatonic scale, explored in two keys. This week emphasises developing strong picking techniques while introducing the concept of building solos through repetition and variation. Slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and sequencing are all brought into play, giving you the tools to craft expressive lines in the style of Dickey Betts.
Week Three introduces diatonic 6ths, a staple of country harmony, and shows you how to apply major pentatonic ideas across changing chords. You’ll explore pedal steel-inspired licks using bending techniques, alongside chromatic passing tones that add sophistication to your playing. Combining pick and finger techniques enhances your articulation, with stylistic nods to the sound of the Eagles.
Week Four moves into a more blues-influenced territory, teaching you how to play a classic country blues. You’ll develop your chicken pickin’ technique, focusing on precision, muting, and attack. By combining major and minor pentatonic scales, you’ll unlock bluesy country phrasing that adds depth and character, with licks inspired by the legendary James Burton.
Week Five introduces a classic country boogie blues feel, incorporating muted bass lines for rhythmic drive. You’ll begin working with dominant 7th arpeggios, learning how to connect chord tones to your lead playing. This week also explores combining chords and licks seamlessly, helping you create more dynamic and musically engaging parts in the high-energy style of Danny Gatton.
Week Six brings everything together as you learn to play over a four-chord progression, applying your accumulated skills in a musical context. You’ll be introduced to major triad arpeggios and the fundamentals of hybrid picking, before developing this technique into a powerful tool for speed, articulation, and expression. The course concludes with licks inspired by the virtuosic style of Albert Lee.
Key Techniques Covered
Hybrid Picking
Hybrid picking combines pick and fingers to deliver speed, precision, and dynamic control. Learning this technique allows you to execute complex string-skipping ideas and articulate country-style licks with clarity and punch.
Double Stops
Double stops add harmonic richness and are a defining element of country guitar. Mastering them enhances your ability to create fuller, more melodic lines that stand out in both rhythm and lead playing.
String Bending & Bluesy Expression
String bending is crucial for expressive phrasing. Developing accurate bends improves your pitch control and enables you to emulate vocal-like melodies, adding emotion and authenticity to your playing.
Slides
Slides connect notes smoothly and are essential for achieving that fluid, pedal steel-inspired sound. They help improve phrasing and make transitions between positions more natural.
Arpeggios
Arpeggios allow you to outline chord changes clearly, giving your solos a stronger musical foundation. This improves your improvisation and helps you create more intentional, harmonically aware lines.
Finger Picking & Travis Picking
Fingerstyle techniques develop independence between your thumb and fingers, allowing you to play bass lines and melodies simultaneously. This adds depth and versatility to your playing.
Syncopated Rhythms
Syncopation brings life and groove to your playing. By working on rhythmic variation, you’ll develop a stronger sense of timing and make your phrasing more engaging.
Open String Riffs
Using open strings adds resonance and a signature country texture to your sound. This technique expands your tonal palette and encourages creative fretboard movement.
About Steve Trovato and His Influence
Steve Trovato is a renowned guitarist and educator with deep roots in country, blues, and rock guitar. His playing reflects the influence of iconic artists such as Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Danny Gatton, and James Burton—players who helped define the sound of modern country guitar. Trovato’s teaching style is clear, practical, and focused on musical application, ensuring that every concept you learn can be immediately used in real playing situations.
Why Take This Course?
This course is perfect for guitarists who want a clear, structured approach to learning country guitar. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll have developed a strong technical foundation, improved your phrasing, and gained the confidence to apply authentic country ideas in your own playing.
Techniques Used in This Course
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Steve Trovato
To fans of country music, Steve needs no introduction and as an educator Steve holds a fulltime position in the Studio Jazz Department of Southern California. Steve has had a huge impact on the guitar learning scene with his old country guitar video and his Voodoo Blues series of books...