About
Welcome to my blog! I’m Eric Blackmon!
Eric Blackmon has played various instruments for 50 years, toured professionally for 40 years and taught music professionally for the last 10. Now he is here to share what he has learned with you. Learn unique musical methods on more than one instrument!
Eric Blackmon is owner and instructor at EEMusic Music Creation Learning Center, Greenville South Carolina, USA.
Eric is the creator of YouTube’s MOST FRIENDLY MUSIC TUTORIAL CHANNEL featuring over 1200 music tutorials, lessons & covers from various music genres on various instruments by multi-instrumentalist Eric Blackmon! Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano/Keyboards, Ukulele,Strum Stick and Congas all played by the same guy! in many styles! EricBlackmonMusic! https://www.youtube.com/user/EricBlackmonGuitar/videos
Join The EricBlackmonMusic YouTube Army! Support the EricBlackmonMusic channels when you purchase EricBlackmonGuitar tee-shirts and other items! https://teespring.com/stores/ericblackmonguitar-youtubegear
Hi Eric,
Just took up the guitar after a 20 year break, I lost my wife to cancer several months ago and needed to get something uplifting back in my life. Your video lessons are fantastic, your style of teaching is so relaxed, approachable and encouraging. You have given a huge amount of instruction and more importantly for me at this time, pleasure and positivity. Keep up the great work.
James.S
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Thanks for finding my channel James! Glad to be able to bring some musical joy to a fellow musician! I promise to keep posting as long as I am able as time allows! Thanks so much for watching EricBlackmonMusic!
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I began taking your YouTube lessons months ago, and have become a much better player because of you. I am an advanced beginner (if you give me some grace), and your lessons have ‘opened my eyes’ as to what one can do on the guitar. Of course, learning guitar takes practice, and more practice. But your tutorials make it easy and enjoyable! Thanks very much!
Ed
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That’s awesome Ed! No matter where we are on the guitar “totem pole” we can learn something new about it everyday if we keep it simple and keep examining it! Thanks so much for watching my videos! I promise that there is more to come! ROCK ON MY FRIEND!
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hie Eric..I believe you are the best guitar teacher i have eve come across. .I live in Canada, Vancouver,but originally from Zimbabwe, Southern Africa. I am 52 and I have struggled since 2010 to learn bass, electric and acoustic I appreciate these lessons i get on video via email. I wish I could come there..and take private lessons from in South Carolina. i feel like I am getting no where by myself..I was watching and playing along with your video on solos without scales.. its amazing..!!!!!!!
man you are great.!!!! may God bless your work…
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Hello again Eric. I’m new to guitar and am interested to know what would be an affordable lightweight good sounding electric guitar.
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Take a look at the (Fender)Squier Electric Strat style guitars. Don’t buy the absolute cheapest one though. Look for the step up models, which start at around $199.00 up(new). They are of decent quality. The lowest priced ones ($125-179) are not very good. Thanks for watching my videos!
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It’s a beautiful guitar, no doubt! A friend of mine has one of those MIM (Made in Mexico) Strats and he loves it. It’s completely up to you, but you should think long and hard about how much money you want to spend at this point in your development. An expert can make a $200 guitar sound like a $600 guitar, but a novice won’t get any more out of a $600 guitar than they can get out of a $200 guitar. Also, you can buy a typical MIM Stat all day for around $500, even less if they go on sale. This special edition looks awesome, but you are paying $200 extra for the paint job. If that’s nothing for you then go for it, but if that’s a lot of money for you, then think about it before you stretch your budget. Besides that, if you get into it you may find that you will also want some other types of guitars real soon, plus some other goodies like pedals and stuff. If you blow your budget on one really cool electric then you may not have the funds to get a decent acoustic for practice, or a travel guitar if you are on the road a lot like I am. I’ve only been playing for about a year, but already I have 3 electrics, 1 acoustic and a travel guitar. The most expensive one I have cost me $300. I love ’em all, and they all make me happy. At my skill level I’m not even close to hitting the limits on any of the guitars I have. When/if I ever do, then I’ll consider shelling out the big money. Buying an expensive guitar is not a short cut for learning to play one. You have to pay your dues and practice, practice, practice. Whatever you decide to get, just stick with it.
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great points…at this stage I’d make a 100k guitar sound bad 😉
send along a link to an option I should/could consider. I’m not too concerned about color, just one that has good components and sound (MIM is cool by me; I’ve heard that they produce better quality than most). Thanks for the awesome reply!
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Hi. I do not have any tracks for sale, however you can try YouTube red, where you can purchase videos. You may be able to get them in MP3 or MP3 form. Thanks for watching my videos!
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Hi Eric,
Are you familiar with African guitar styles and playing intervals?
Do you know the music of Prince Nico Mbarga?
Definitely could use some help figuring out some of the great double stop licks played by Prince Nico’s guitarist Jacob Nguni.
Thank you for your lessons!
Dan
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Hi Dan! Sorry but I am only familiar with American music styles because of playing in public venues in the US all my life. This is definitely some music that I would like to explore in the future! Thanks for watching!
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69 years old and what a blessing it is to view your in depth lessons playing tunes that have eluded me for decades. When I started playing in 1963 there was no internet, Youtube or cell phones. I had to play a record moving the needle 100’s of times to learn a lick.
Bravo👍
Lenny
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Man! Me too. I wore out a bunch of LP’s doing that! Those days are over! More cool stuff coming, so stay tuned my friend! Thanks so much for watching my videos!
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Good morning Mr Blackmon, Thank you for sharing your talent and gifts with us. I am writing to ask how I can get permission to use your track in a Poem please? Thanks sincerely in advance – Aindre
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Absolutely. Just make sure you give credit to my YouTube channel! Thanks for watching my videos!
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Hello Eric. I’ve watched some of your bass tutorials on youtube and it has inspired me to purchase a bass. My one dilemma is, I’m left handed and I am unsure if I want to play left hand or right hand. What should I do?
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Hi Carlton. Since you have not already started to play, your hands don’t know if the bass is left or right, so if you work at it you will be able to play right handed bass just fine. Watch my video on this subject and it might help you to decide. Have a great day and good luck! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8b-oJZSYT4
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Hi Eric,
Just listend to your How to play an Electric guitar solo… and found it most interesting. How can I get hold of your computer background blues ryhtm to make my solo sound better?
Thanks a lot and hope you´ll have a great day.
Mats
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Hi! There is a link to the backing track in the description of the video. In fact, every solo video that I have posted has a link to whichever backing track was used in that video. Here is link to ALL my solo tutorials! Thanks for watching Mats! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyMukWNzyV8&list=PLHdKL0zeGNk5BCJETeLNfh55evqT6SnlL
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Have you ever thought of doing a one week workshop in your hometown?
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Hi! I have considered it, but it is just impossible. My overloaded schedule of projects simply will not permit it. Thanks for asking and for watching my channel!
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Eric – I’ve been one your many followers. I’ve finally found the time to fully focus on guitar – that’s what retirement does for ya!! – and I just wanted to say thanks for all the sharing you do on Youtube etc. You taught me Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” with the special touches that late great Teenie Hodges placed on this song. Thanks once again and a Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. Robert – Leesburg, VA
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Awesome! Thanks for watching my channel! I will doing an Hd update tutorial for Let’s Stay Together in 2018, so stay tuned!
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Hi Eric, just wanted to say many thanks for your generosity in sharing your videos. I’m 52 and have been wanting to learn for years and I’ve just started, Your videos on the Old School 12 Bar Blues are really helping me progress and have great fun. It’s almost an addiction! I also appreciate your advice about a step-up (Fender)Squier Electric Strat style guitar as a good entry point for E Guitar. I’m really looking forward to exploring your other tutorials as I progress. It’s really so generous of you to share your knowledge and help others in this way and it’s much appreciated. Thanks again and all the very best from Switzerland, David
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Hi Phil! Greetings from the USA! It is my pleasure to pass along many of the things that I have learned and am learning everyday about music! I used to ask questions about the very things that I publish, to other musicians( and teachers that I was paying)! They seemed either to not have real answers or were very secretive about what they knew, so I started to do my own research, which is what appears on my YouTube channel. You can’t take it with you, so I have much, much more to share as I have the time, so stay tuned! Thanks so much for watching EricBlackmonMusic Videos! Rock on my friend!
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I am having trouble hearing and picking out individual notes of a chord. When I hear a busy piano or a guitar chord on a recording I usually can hear 2 notes, maybe 3 on a good day. Should I be worried about this? Is this a skill that a serious musician should have? How can I improve it?
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Hi. This gets better the longer you play. Also try listening to songs through headphones. It is a lot easier to hear parts with headphones vs speakers. Thanks for watching!
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Hi Eric – I really like your Summer Breeze tutorial. I’m pretty clear on the chords now (thanks!), but I struggle getting the strum pattern right. Can you provide any insight or tips? Thanks, Jeff
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Hi Jeff! The main strumming pattern in that song is 1/8 note strumming with emphasis on D UD U U UD. Hope that helps! I hope to do an updated version of that tutorial in the future with strumming explanations. Thanks for watching!
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Eric, I have watched your ukulele videos and think they are very good. I would like to request some blues videos for the baritone ukulele. There is so very little info for us baritone players, any amount could be appreciated.
Thank you
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Hi! Sorry to report that I do not own a Bari Uke, so I am not likely to be adding anything on it!
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Hi eric. I am a relative beginner with guitar after having a vision of a family band while watching my 10 year old learn cello. Suddenly i saw us playing shaft with me on rhythm guitar and his cello laying down the bass line. So while i am taking lessons i found you explaining the wah pedal and shaft rhythm. You make it clear, easy to follow, and your videos are inspiring me and make me want to practice. If i ever run into you, would love to take you out for coffee. Thanks!!!
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It’s a deal! You also might be interested to know that as soon as I can find time in my schedule, I am going to produce an updated more detailed “Shaft” wah tutorial, so stay tuned! Thanks for watching and best wishes to you and family!
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Hi Eric, here from Aruba, and am very happy having finally found a site and for sure well experienced musician, to further improve my skill on the guitar.
I like all kind of music, but specially jazz and blue.
I like your tutorials and the way you instruct, easy to comprehend, and the step by step approach is excellent.
Would like, if possible follow, any course on a persobnal basis, at the EEMusic MusicCreationLearmning Center.
I enjoy the site
God bless and have a great day
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Hi Eric. Thanks for being a resource. Do you have any lessons on the modes (for a SC boy)? I love the mixolydian and dorian, as well as the aeolian, but am having a tough time with them. I can’t seem to do anything but run up and down the scales.
thanks
Jim
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Hi Jim! Thanks for watching EricBlackmonGuitar YouTube! Here is a playlist that includes some mode tutorials! I plan to add more as time permits! Have a great day! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk4gmIYTgbPPjIcIbI40o-l6
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Best teacher..Outstanding you are Eric..And Easy to understand..Lastly THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.
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You are very welcome my friend! Thanks so much for watching EricBlackmonMusic YouTube!
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Brother Eric! Love your videos and instructions. I have a question: Do you have a video or tips for how to have a productive practice? As a beginner I struggle with how long I should focus on scales, chords, and learning songs. What’s the amont of time should I practice on each to make my hour effective?
Keep up the good work!
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Hi Danny. Please check out my Guitar Practice Playlist! Hopefully you will find something that you can use in there! Thanks! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk7U_SVYdGqhOzDuKDf57VlV
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Hi Danny! The key is to practice until you reach a goal, whatever time it takes! Here is my Practice Routine YouTube Playlist! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk7U_SVYdGqhOzDuKDf57VlV
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Hey Eric, I’ve a subscriber for quite a while now and have listened to you lessons, in particular the ones with playing lead without scales. Because I am an older guitar player and my hands and fingers don’t react like they use to I have to go over things many times. I appreciate all you do.
I have a request for showing not only the fingering on the frets, but also showing the picking you are doing on the strings , so I get an idea of the up and down picking or just straight picking. It sure would help… Thanks again
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Hi. Since you are in the learning stages of soloing, speed or whether you are picking up or down or up and down is not a big factor. The most important thing is getting the notes you want. However, here is a playlist of picking tutorials that might help with the picking thing. Thanks for watching my videos! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk6Y3_6QPcwn9sk8DOgoIhtP
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Hi Bill! Check out my “How To Use A Guitar Pick” playlist for tips. I will add more to it as I have the time! Here is the link! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk6Y3_6QPcwn9sk8DOgoIhtP
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Hey Eric! Enjoy your bass lessons on YouTube. Can you purchase your videos?
I would love to have all your stuff on bass.it really easy to understand. And it’s fun.👍🏽
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Sorry Darryl, but YouTube is the only resource for my stuff outside of one on one classes that I do everyday! Here is my ALL Bass YouTube Playlist! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk5_IhMgoT1U3GI2GfaNnsq3
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Hi Eric, I love Blue Music and you are the right person who I really highly respect for the efforts you give to guitar lessons on Youtube. I am planning in the near future to visit you and buy a guitar from you Center. I am 64 years old and slow playing guitar, buy determined to learn. I hope I learn more from your valuable leassons. thanks
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Awesome! Time for some blues guitar! In the meantime, here is my Easy Blues Guitar YouTube Playlist for you to check out! Thanks for watching my stuff! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk4e2176yspo5bJK1i2kEdZ6
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I’m a 65 french guy that had not really improved his guitar playing since he started as a teenager. Recently I found Eric’s « South California Purples » tutorial on YouTube. Eric is such a good teacher : cool, clear, soft, precise, encouraging. Since then I’ve learned a lot with him. Thank you very much Eric!
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Awesome! I am a 65 year old American guy, so I can certainly relate! Thanks for watching my videos Jean! More to come!
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My grandson and I love your tutorials. Are there tabs available for any of your lessons, specifically the CHRISTMAS CANON ROCK?
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Hi. The only form of tabs available for my videos are tabs withing the video. Thanks for watching my stuff!
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Thanks for your quick reply. We’ll get them that way 🙂
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This is one of my original songs. I wrote it for a friend who passed. I taught myself to play guitar over the last 2 1/2 years. Now I have figured out the chords to a lot of my original songs. I’m so happy. Your videos are so helpful to me. Especially the blues lessons. I wrote a number of blues songs. Now I can write the accompaniment. Thank you so very much.
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Awesome! Love to hear that you are playing and writing music! Thanks for watching my videos!
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Hey Eric,
I just want to say thank you – sincerely. I had nearly given up guitar thinking I’ll just never “get it”, until I started your Old School 12 bar blues tutorial, and within an hour I was playing something entertaining and enjoyable! It still needs some work to smooth off the rough edges, but I am inspired all over again, you’ve really helped me, thank you so much! Best wishes from Steve over in cold and rainy England!
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That’s awesome Steve! That is why I started that series! I kept hearing from teachers that blues was the hardest to teach, and I am thinking “WHAT?!”
Glad to hear that it has helped you get going! Hand in there my friend! Please check out my easy guitar solo series! Have a great day! Guitar Solo Class https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk7CJlTNU41V4C3cSOFAeRoy
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I love your song tutorials. Do you sell chord/tab sheets which would be much easier for me? If not are you aware of any books that map songs like you do? I don’t want songs that are 10 pages of solos.
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Sorry my friend! YouTube videos are all that I do. I have thought of putting together some sort of book, but I don’t have the time an music is so vast, I would not be sure where to start! Thanks for watching my videos!
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I watching/ taking your YouTube lessons for about 10 months, and I am making sounds of music now and getting much better at playing because of you. I am an advanced, watching your lessons have took me in directions I was struggling to find and ‘opened my eyes’ as to great techniques. I have a strong desire to learn the guitar and watch and practice as much as I can. , and more practice. Your tutorials make it enjoyable as I can actually see progress after each lesson! Thank you!!! PS: Do you do music request lessons?
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Thanks for watching my videos! I really appreciate it! I am sorry to report that my hectic schedule as a teacher makes it impossible to do requests! Thanks for watching EricBlackmonMusic!
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Eric love your channel! Im a drummer first but injured my knee and was down for 6 months. My bandmates gave me bass, Just to keep me busy I found your channel one day and in five months I can play bass. Thanks do m.uch love ya brother!
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Awesome! Thanks for watching my friend! Hope that knee heals real soon so you can get back to kicking the drums!
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Hi Eric – Love your lessons! As a beginner, I find the pace of your lessons is perfect. One question I have for you is that you seem to come over the top of the neck a lot when you play chords – does this technique work for large-handed players? I have fairly large hands, and as a beginner I’m still struggling with muted strings when I play chords. Thanks for all you do, Eric!
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Hi David! I get a lot of flack from some players who say that you are not supposed to use your thumb over the top of the fretboard, but I ignore them. because my is very long, I use it to mute the low E string and use it to play bass notes on the E string when needed. I say if it works for you, use it! Thanks for watching my videos!
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Dear Eric, I’ve played guitar for 55 years. I’ve recorded 4 cds , all songs I’ve written, and worked with hall of fame musicians for years. Mostly I was a drummer and singer. The point I want to make is, in all that time I could never find anyone that could teach me that little passing lick in “knock on wood”. Thanks to you and the internet, my search is over. Now I can go to my grave in peace. I hope I get a chance to meet you someday. Thanks, Stevon
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Hey Stevon! That was one that baffled me for a long time too LOL! I decided to sit down one day and figure it out, and I promised myself that I would not get up until I did! Glad it helped you out! Thanks for watching my videos!
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Hi Eric I am from South Africa and was really blown away by your video. Solo playing is a challenge to most guitarists. Your video really pointed me in the right direction. Thanks a million from South Africa.Great work
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Awesome! Greetings from the USA! Glad that you enjoyed my video! Here is my Guitar Solo Class Playlist Link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHdKL0zeGNk5BCJETeLNfh55evqT6SnlL
There may be more in there that can help! Thanks for watching EricBlackmonGuitar!
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Hi Eric, Thank you so much for all the great material you have produced to help people like me learn guitar. I really appreciate the patient way you teach with plenty of detail and nice clear explanations. Best wishes, Ray (Australia)
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Greetings from the USA Ray! Thanks for watching my videos! More to come my friend!
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