about account add arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up back-arrow register-arrow book-mobile book categories chat-bubble-mobile chat-bubble close college contact-us credit-card drag email-square facebook-mobile facebook-square facebook faq film history home load modal-error person pinterest-square play-mobile play queue remove resume search share show star tick trailer trash twitter-mobile twitter-square twitter university warning warning youtube-square open-eye close-eye promo-tag tag check info info active
logo

Great Guitarists Stories and Styles

Hear the stories behind the music you know and love as Professor Colin McAllister walks you through the fascinating histories of some of our most iconic guitarists.


Watch First Lecture

Pink Floyd's Second Guitarist: David Gilmour
1 Pink Floyd's Second Guitarist: David Gilmour - 08 min
David Gilmour wasn’t Pink Floyd’s first guitarist, but he was the band’s most well-known. Professor McAllister takes you into Gilmour’s early days and how he went from watching Pink Floyd to playing with them. See how his masterful string bending technique and lyrical vibrato has made him an icon....

17 Lectures

1
Image of Pink Floyd's Second Guitarist: David Gilmour
Pink Floyd's Second Guitarist: David Gilmour
0 of 08 min
2
Image of Eric Clapton's Acoustic Blues
Eric Clapton's Acoustic Blues
0 of 08 min
3
Image of The Watercolors of Pat Metheny
The Watercolors of Pat Metheny
0 of 11 min
4
Image of Two-Handed Tapping with Eddie Van Halen
Two-Handed Tapping with Eddie Van Halen
0 of 07 min
5
Image of Andy McKee: 100 Million YouTube Views Later
Andy McKee: 100 Million YouTube Views Later
0 of 08 min
6
Image of Surf's Up: Dick Dale Channels the Ocean
Surf's Up: Dick Dale Channels the Ocean
0 of 08 min
7
Image of The American Folk Ballad
The American Folk Ballad
0 of 12 min
8
Image of Alex Lifeson and the Art of No Compromise
Alex Lifeson and the Art of No Compromise
0 of 07 min
9
Image of Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz
Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz
0 of 07 min
10
Image of Andy Summers of The Police
Andy Summers of The Police
0 of 07 min
11
Image of Muleskinners: Where Bluegrass Began
Muleskinners: Where Bluegrass Began
0 of 10 min
12
Image of All Thumbs: The Wes Montgomery Revolution
All Thumbs: The Wes Montgomery Revolution
0 of 10 min
13
Image of John McLaughlin: The Way Beyond
John McLaughlin: The Way Beyond
0 of 09 min
14
Image of Adventures in Bossa Nova: Jobim and Gilberto
Adventures in Bossa Nova: Jobim and Gilberto
0 of 09 min
15
Image of Blue Note's House Guitarist Grant Green
Blue Note's House Guitarist Grant Green
0 of 09 min
16
Image of Where Did Tal Farlow Go?
Where Did Tal Farlow Go?
0 of 08 min
17
Image of Joni Mitchell in DADGAD
Joni Mitchell in DADGAD
0 of 08 min

Reviews

d********m
March 30, 2019
Where's Jimi?

Reply

Delete

m********m
January 19, 2019
I was most interested in the Bluegrass "lecture." However, it was terribly lacking. It was obvious McAllister knew little about Bluegrass guitar or its origins. He certainly didn't demonstrate any of it. Why not feature, or mention some of the great Bluegrass guitarists? Why not play something "bluegrass"? This lecture needs to be redone by someone who knows that genre--it sounded like a 'foreigner' reading a script about another country. He wasn't even pronouncing the names correctly. This is not meant to disrespect Mr. McAllister. I'm sure he's a fine player, but not one who can play Bluegrass correctly. P.S. I LOVE The Great Courses and have watched and bought scads of them over the past 10 years. I believe this is the first time I've ever left a comment.

Reply

Delete

m********m
December 25, 2018
Seems very specialized history on these famous guitarists. Unless you have a background on these musicians, I don't think you'll get much out of these short sketches.

Reply

Delete