Sam Bell’s Guitar Gym Volume 3

Sam Bell’s Guitar Gym Volume 3 is the next step in developing serious guitar technique and fretboard fluency. Designed for intermediate to advanced guitarists, this course delivers an intense yet rewarding workout that refines precision, speed, and creativity. Each lesson is crafted by Sam Bell, one of the UK’s most respected and versatile guitarists, blending his trademark technical mastery with musical flair. Whether you’re working on fluid scale runs, complex picking mechanics, or fretboard visualisation, this volume will help you push your playing to new heights.

About Sam Bell

Sam Bell is a world-class guitarist known for his impeccable technique and expressive phrasing. A leading educator and performer, Sam’s playing bridges the worlds of rock, fusion, and progressive metal. His work with bands like Mask of Judas and his solo material demonstrate his ability to combine technical complexity with deep musical emotion. Influenced by legends such as Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, and Guthrie Govan, Sam brings the same energy and precision to his teaching. His lessons are clear, challenging, and incredibly rewarding, helping players unlock their full potential.

E Minor 3 Note Per String Pentatonics

The course begins with an exploration of E Minor 3 Note Per String Pentatonics, a modern and expanded approach to traditional pentatonic shapes. This concept adds extra notes per string, allowing fluid, high-speed runs that cross the fretboard seamlessly. Learning this technique enhances your alternate picking control and your ability to visualise scale patterns horizontally across the neck. For players looking to move beyond basic box shapes, this is an essential step toward complete fretboard freedom.

A Minor 3 Note Per String Pentatonics

Building on the previous section, A Minor 3 Note Per String Pentatonics reinforces these ideas while challenging your string-crossing accuracy. By practicing these shapes in a different key, you strengthen your transpositional understanding and improve your legato flow. The exercises demand consistency, articulation, and awareness of hand synchronisation, making them perfect for developing clean, controlled phrasing even at high speeds.

E Minor String Skipping Lines

In this section, Sam introduces E Minor String Skipping Lines, a powerful way to create wider melodic intervals and dynamic phrasing. String skipping forces your picking hand to leap across non-adjacent strings, helping develop accuracy, rhythmic precision, and dexterity. This technique encourages creativity in improvisation and brings a fresh, modern sound to your solos. Players who master string skipping gain the ability to break away from predictable linear runs, crafting more expressive and musical lines.

3-1-3 Patterns

3-1-3 Patterns are an advanced exercise designed to challenge your picking and timing coordination. The concept involves playing three notes on one string, one note on the next, and three on the following — a demanding yet highly effective workout. These patterns not only improve alternate picking and legato transitions but also sharpen your sense of rhythmic subdivision. Learning to navigate these shifting patterns boosts your improvisational vocabulary and helps integrate complex sequences into musical phrases.

2-1-2 Patterns

Following a similar logic, 2-1-2 Patterns focus on precision and control. By changing the number of notes per string, you learn to adapt your hand movements quickly while maintaining even tone and timing. These shapes are particularly beneficial for mastering pull-offs and hammer-ons, enhancing fluidity between fretted notes. This lesson trains your ears and fingers to respond intuitively, allowing you to build speed without sacrificing musicality.

Combining All Elements Into Lines

Once the foundational exercises are in place, Sam guides you through Combining All Elements Into Lines — the heart of the course. Here, you’ll learn to weave pentatonics, string skipping, and complex rhythmic groupings into expressive, melodic lines. This section emphasises how to use technical skills musically, integrating slides, vibrato, and string bending to give your playing emotion and dynamics. The goal is to turn practice into performance, connecting technique with creativity.

Cool Down Exercise

Every great workout ends with a Cool Down Exercise, and Sam’s approach ensures you finish the session with relaxation and control. This part focuses on maintaining accuracy at slower tempos, reinforcing good technique and posture. It’s an opportunity to review patterns at a manageable speed, keeping your fingers supple while improving endurance. The cool down also acts as a mindfulness practice for guitarists — helping to prevent tension and improve long-term consistency.

Full Performance & Play-Along

Finally, Full Performance & Play-Along brings everything together. Sam demonstrates the techniques in a complete musical context, allowing you to see how each concept translates into expressive, real-world guitar playing. The play-along section gives you the chance to perform alongside Sam, applying all the learned material to a professional backing track. This immersive experience is the perfect way to solidify new skills while enjoying the thrill of making music.

Guitar Techniques Featured in Guitar Gym Volume 3

• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Slides

Sam Bell’s Guitar Gym Volume 3 is more than just a set of exercises — it’s a structured, inspiring journey designed to transform your technical skills into expressive musicianship. Whether you’re aiming to increase speed, precision, or creativity, this course delivers everything you need to take your playing to the next level.