Fret Zealot’s 2024 Holiday Playlist
If you’re sick of the same old Christmas songs on the radio, we’ve put together a playlist of holiday songs that actually rock.
Merry Shredmas!
Why learning guitar in winter is the perfect way to start your musical journey
Winter – the perfect time of year to stay inside and pick up a new hobby. If you want to learn how to play guitar, there’s no better time to start than winter, when you’re spending less time outside and more time at home.
Here are a few reasons why winter is the perfect time to pick up a guitar and start learning:
There’s not much else going on
Especially if you live in an area that gets cold in the winter, there are fewer social obligations and less fun stuff happening outside during winter. Why not direct your energy toward learning a new skill while staying cozy?
It’s the perfect activity for Dry January
In 2024, about a quarter of Americans participated in “Dry January”, cutting out alcohol for the entire first month of the year. If you’re one of those folks this year, you can spend your Saturday nights learning how to play your favorite songs on guitar rather than out at a bar!
Utilize New Year’s resolutions
Learning how to play guitar is a great New Year’s resolution – and it can be much easier than “completing a marathon” or “cutting out sugar completely”. You can set small, tangible goals for yourself while learning guitar, like memorizing six chords or playing a simple song – and that will help to keep you motivated!
You can learn from your couch
Who doesn’t love a hobby that you can participate in from the comfort of your own home?
You’ll have a cool new skill to show off by springtime
Everyone learns at their own pace – however, if you dedicate even a half hour a day to learning guitar, you can develop real guitar skills pretty quickly!
Try this 30 Day Beginner Challenge to get you from absolute beginner to being able to play a guitar solo in a month!
Master 12 classic Christmas songs with Fret Zealot guitar lessons
The holidays are here! Make them a little merrier with 12 classic Christmas songs, reimagined in the style of some of your favorite artists, like Green Day, Slash, and Brian May.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (in the style of Brian May)
Give this classic Christmas carol a glam rock twist, Brian May-style with this lesson!
Read about the story behind this song – which involved guitars being banned from church – here.
Deck the Halls (in the style of Green Day)
This lesson adds a John Mayer-style groove to a classic carol.
Jingle Bells (in the style of Stevie Ray Vaughan)
Jingle Bells with a Texas blues shuffle – oh, what fun.
In this lesson, “Joy to the World” gets a cool update with a blues shuffle feel.
This song was meant for sing-alongs, so this lesson keeps it simple. Partridge in a pear tree not included.
Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy – metal
Who said The Nutcracker can’t be edgy? The metal version of this ballet song will have your listeners wanting an encore.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas – David Gilmour style
Classic Christmas meets Pink Floyd.
The First Noel – Tom Misch style
“The First Noel” gets a makeover, thanks to jazzy chord progressions a la Tom Misch.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Slash style
Give this Christmas classic an epic spin with a Slash-inspired rendition.
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful – Cory Wong style
Christmas gets funky with this Cory Wong-inspired version of a Christmas carol classic.
Learn these songs by The Arctic Monkeys with Fret Zealot
The Arctic Monkeys are one of the first bands who found major success via the internet. Formed in Sheffield, England in 2002 by friends Alex Turner, Matt Helders, and Andy Nicholson, The Arctic Monkeys put out their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006. It became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history. When it was released in the U.S. a month later, it was the second fastest selling for a debut indie rock album in America.
The Arctic Monkeys’ style has been described as many genres, including garage rock, alternative rock, indie rock, and psychedelic rock. Frontman and guitarist Alex Turner said in a 2012 interview that he and his friends were influenced by Oasis, and that he also listened to a lot of The Eagles thanks to his mother. Turner also cited hip-hop acts like Outkast, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan and Roots Manuva as inspiration.
You can learn these Arctic Monkeys songs with Fret Zealot:
The organ chords used in this 2007 track are the same from the soundtrack for “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”. It has frequently been used as a closer for the band’s live shows since its release, and the song found new popularity on TikTok in 2022.
“Do I Wanna Know” sounds similar to the band’s 2012 song “R U Mine?”, although it’s more downtempo. Turner uses a Vox 12-string electric guitar to play it live.
The lyrics for “I Wanna Be Yours” are based on a poem by the same name, written by John Cooper Clarke in 1982, which is frequently taught in schools in England and read at weddings. For the band’s 2013 album AM, lead singer Alex Turner adapted the poem into a song that embodied the overall paranoia feel of the album.
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High
The third single from the Arctic Monkeys fifth studio album, AM, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” was described as an “R&B rock” “blues rock”, and “funk rock” song. Released in 2013, it was the band’s first top 10 single since “Fluorescent Adolescent” in 2007.
This 2007 hit is often mistakenly called “Brainstorm”, but the spelling is no accident. The titular subject of “Brianstorm” is a real person named Brian whom the band met backstage at a Tokyo gig, and that “When he left the room, we were a bit in awe of his presence. So we did a brainstorm for what he was like, drew a little picture and wrote things about him.”
Iconic music feuds: Legendary beefs that shaped the industry
Sometimes, it’s hard to get along. These legendary music beefs are some of the industry’s most notorious – even if the affected parties have made up and moved on!
Stevie Nicks vs. Lindsay Buckingham
Warner Bros. Records
Nicks and Buckingham were in a relationship when they joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975. They previously had played together in another band, as well as a duo project, Buckingham and Nicks. The couple broke up as the band wrote and recorded 1977’s Rumours. They continued to play music together – with tracks like “Dreams”, “Silver Springs”, and “Go Your Own Way” documenting the journey – although the pair report “shooting eye daggers” at each other during live performances. Both embarked on solo careers, although they eventually returned to the band. When Fleetwood Mac planned to go on tour in 2018, Buckingham asked for a delay in tour dates so he could promote his solo work, which created tension between him and Nicks. Buckingham was fired from the band and later sued them for millions, with the lawsuit settled by the end of 2018.
Don Felder vs. Don Henley and Glenn Frey
Krwessel2024, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Eagles’ Felder, Henley, and Frey wrote one of the most iconic guitar songs ever while in the band – “Hotel California”. The rift between Felder and Henley and Frey started when the band erased Felder’s vocals on his song “Victim of Love” while he was out to dinner, and became worse during promotion for the band’s next album, The Long Run. During a political fundraiser show in 1980 that Felder didn’t want to take part in, the band trash talked each other on stage and threatened to beat each other up after the show. The band ended up breaking up from 1980 until 1994.
They got back together in 1994. However, Felder was fired from the Eagles in 2001. Felder filed wrongful termination and breach of contract lawsuits against the band, Henley, Frey, and others, seeking $50 million in damages. Henley and Frey then counter-sued Felder for breach of contract and for writing a “tell-all” book, Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001). The matter was settled out of court in 2007.
Felder said he hadn’t ruled out patching things up with Frey before his death in 2016. “I had always hoped somewhere along the line, he and I would have dinner together, talking about old times and letting it go with a handshake and a hug,” he told the Associated Press.
Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour
Roger Waters, Nick Mason, David Gilmour and Richard Wright. Trade ad and inside cover for Pink Floyd’s album Meddle. Capitol Records.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and David Gilmour have been feuding on and off since the mid-1980s. The two clashed creatively for years until Waters quit the band in 1985. Waters started court proceedings in 1986 to dissolve the group, but Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason pushed back. Pink Floyd continued on, with Waters rejoining the band only once, in 2005 for a Live 8 charity concert. The rift shows no signs of being repaired, with the two feuding over Twitter and in the press.
Oasis vs. Blur
Britpop bands Oasis and Blur clashed in summer of 1995, when Blur moved the release date of their single “Country House” to the very same day that Oasis issued their single “Roll With It”. Blur’s Damon Albarn said in a documentary that he felt that the other band consistently picked on them. “Oasis were like the bullies I had to put up with at school,” Albarn said.
Tensions remained high after both bands released their albums later that year, but in the decades since, they seem to have warmed up to each other. Noel Gallagher joined Albarn and Graham Coxon onstage at a show for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2013,
Noel Gallagher vs. Liam Gallagher
Will Fresch, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Oasis has had a beef of its own, between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The band formed in 1991 and had success with their debut album, 1994’s Definitely, Maybe. Tensions rose on the tour promoting the album, including a less-than-stellar gig at Los Angeles’ Whisky-a-Go-Go which resulted in Liam hitting Noel with a tambourine and walking off stage before the show was over. In 1996, Noel led an MTV Unplugged performance while Liam sat out, heckling his brother.
The fighting continued until 2009, when Noel quit the band shortly before the band was set to play the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. “People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer,” Noel said in his note to fans.
Liam went on to form Beady Eye with the remaining Oasis members, and Noel formed his own project, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. The brothers continued to snipe at each other in the press, on talk shows and on social media for the next decade, but appear to have worked it out – Oasis’s reunion tour is scheduled in the U.K. in 2025 with more dates expected in other parts of the world.
David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen
Promotional image of rock band Van Halen taken in 1984. From (l-r); Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. Warner Records.
Van Halen found huge success with their album 1984, but the album’s creation led to creative conflicts in the band which would culminate in Roth’s departure from the band. Roth didn’t like Van Halen’s use of synthesizers on “Jump”, and left to pursue a solo career after the 1984 tour.
After Van Halen’s death in 2020, Roth reflected on their friendship and musical legacy, saying: “Playing with Ed, writing songs with Ed, and presenting those songs with Ed was better than any love affair I ever had. And some of those songs, I think, might last forever—or until the last syllable of time, like Shakespeare said. They became anthems. Where are they playing ‘Jump’ right now?”
2024 Fret Zealot Holiday Gift Guide
The holidays are coming up fast! Want to really “wow” the VIPs on your list? Get them what they’ve been dreaming about – the gifts to help them unlock their inner rock star.
Whether your giftee is a seasoned pro or a complete newbie, we have the presents to help them tap their highest potential.
All of these instruments come with Fret Zealot LEDs pre-installed, so they’re ready to play!
Shop Pay is available for all items in the Fret Zealot store!
Check out these limited-time deals to save big on the perfect gift!
For everyone on your list:
Fret Zealot All-Access Pass subscription
In-person guitar lessons are so 2023. Put hundreds of guitar courses, thousands of songs lessons, and hundreds of thousands of tabs at their fingertips with the Fret Zealot app. They can learn guitar the way they want – any time, any place.
For a limited time, get an Elmore pedal FREE with a Fret Zealot All-Access Pass subscription. Use code FZEL at checkout.
For the beginner:
A classic dreadnought acoustic with a quality tone and build, the DR-100 is a perfect choice for any first-time guitar learner! Check out this review.
For the Paradise City dweller:
Epiphone Slash “AFD” Les Paul Special-II Performance Pack
The ultimate gift for the Slash fan in your life. This AFD Les Paul Special-II was designed by Slash himself, and this kit comes with a premium gig bag, signature guitar picks, and a Snakepit-15 practice amp – everything they need to rock out. Check out this review!
For the world traveler:
For the person on your list who’s always on the go – this full scale length electric travel guitar weighs only 5 lbs. 3 oz and is just 33.75″, making it perfect for the #VanLife traveler or the person who is always sending you postcards from the road. It comes with a padded gig pack with a pocket for their notebooks, tablets, and accessories!
For the hard rocker:
The power chord expert in your life will love this solid body electric guitar with a rich, snappy tone, mahogany body, and push-pull coil tapping. It’s available in multiple colors, so you can pick the one that matches your rock star best! Check out this review.
For the vintage enthusiast:
This updated classic sounds as good as it looks. The body features curvy lines and classic aesthetics inspired by the British Café racer motorbikes, as well as two Yamaha Alnico V humbuckers for a wide tonal range. Check out this review!
For the country crooner:
This acoustic/electric guitar is a playable work of art that the Tim McGraw fan in your life will go crazy over. Its Grand Concert-sized body provides warmth, projection, and midrange punch – they’ll be playing it anywhere they can!
For the indie rocker:
With a lightweight body that’s ideal for jumping around on stage with and two Alnico V single-coil pickup for a variety of clean, rocking tones, the Pacifica is a great pick for your emerging indie artists. Check out this review.
For the singer/songwriter:
For the person on your list who is always going to open mic nights – the Yamaha A1M Dreadnought will bring their songs to life. With a built-in traditional System 66 preamp, it sounds great for both live performance and recording. Check out this review!
For the bassist (or bass curious)
Yamaha BB234 Electric Bass Guitar
This bass guitar is great for first-time learners or guitar players looking to dip into the deep end of sound. It features a comfortable Yamaha body shape with a thinner profile, to make playing a breeze. Check out this review!
Famous guitarists who also play drums
Lots of famous guitar players started out behind a drum kit. Playing multiple instruments is a great way to broaden your horizons when it comes to musicianship – it can make you approach guitar completely differently!
Here are some famous guitarists who are just as good with a pair of sticks as they are with a six-string:
Dave Grohl
Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl famously played drums in Nirvana (1990 to 1994). Before that, he provided the drums for punk rock band Scream.
Grohl started playing guitar at age 12, and switched to drums in high school. He said he taught himself how to play drums by listening to Rush and punk rock. “When I got 2112 when I was eight years old, it f—ing changed the direction of my life,” he told RTTNews in 2013. “I heard the drums. It made me want to become a drummer.”
In 1994, after Kurt Cobain’s death and Nirvana’s subsequent dissolution, Grohl recorded a 15-track demo, in which he recorded all of the instruments himself. He briefly played drums for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, although he turned down an offer to join the band permanently. He also played drums with Pearl Jam a couple of time during this time period.
The demo Grohl recorded was eventually remixed and released as The Foo Fighters’ debut album in 1995. He switched to lead vocals and guitar for Foo Fighters, but still plays drums on some Foo Fighter recordings.
Frank Zappa
Fotopersbureau De Boer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Avant-garde musician and artist Frank Zappa’s first instrument was the drums. He learned the basics of drums in a summer school course at the age of 12, where the students practiced on wooden planks rather than kits. He joined his first band in high school as a drummer.
Chris Cornell
Shayne Kaye, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Legendary Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell took piano and guitar lessons as a kid, but started his professional career with Soundgarden on drums. The band had another drummer come in a year after their inception to allow Cornell to focus on vocals and rhythm guitar.
Danielle Haim
Kim Metso, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
One-third of the pop-rock band Haim, Danielle Haim is both a talented guitar player and a drummer. She plays drums for Haim (which is made up of Danielle and her sisters Este and Alana Haim) in the studio and for some songs during live performances.
Wolfgang Van Halen
Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang Van Halen has gotten plenty of attention for his guitar playing, but he got his start behind a kit. “It was the only thing my dad actually sat down to teach me. He sat me down at a table with a couple of magazines,” WVH told Yahoo! Entertainment in 2023. “He had me play eighth notes with my right hand, or quarter notes, I guess.”
Famous musicians and their famous mentors
For young artists trying to make it in the music industry, having a famous musician show them the ropes and help put them in the right places can be a huge advantage. Many successful musicians have “paid it forward” by taking new artists under their wing.
Here are a few well-known examples of mentorship in the music industry:
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton
Parton is actually Miley Cyrus’s godmother – the country superstar got close to the “Party in the U.S.A” singer’s father, Billy Rae Cyrus, in the 1990s. She has also acted as a mentor to Cyrus since her Disney channel days on “Hannah Montana”, appearing as “Aunt Dolly”. Parton provided guidance for Cyrus as she broke out as a solo artist, and the two have collaborated on multiple projects, including NBC’s “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2023, and a collaboration on Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar.
Trent Reznor and David Bowie
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor toured with David Bowie in the 1990s. Bowie’s music had already been a huge influence on Reznor – especially albums like Scary Monsters. On tour, Bowie joined his protege for performances of “Hurt”, and also gave him advice on dealing with the pressures of fame. “There were a number of times where the two of us were alone, and he said some things that weren’t scolding, but pieces of wisdom that stuck with me: ‘You know, there is a better way here, and it doesn’t have to end in despair or in death, in the bottom,'” Reznor told Exclaim in 2016.
Many successful artists can call Prince their mentor – including Lizzo. The Purple One took a young Lizzo, who was performing in girl groups at the time, as his protege at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota. The late icon was dedicated to help foster the careers of Black women creatives. “My relationship with Prince was like Charlie and we were the Angels,” she told David Letterman on his Netflix show. “It was kind of like that.”
Qunicy Jones and Ray Charles
Ray Charles was only a couple of years older than a young Quincy Jones – but he was a big inspiration to the young man who would later become a music industry titan. Jones’ first collaboration with Ray Charles happened when he was just 14 and Charles was 16. “He was just an energetic young kid and he really loved music. You could tell that he wanted to learn, he wanted to know, Charles said of the mentorship. “And since I was able to show him some things, that made me happy, that’s what stirred my heart. I could help this kid.” Jones would go on to become a multi-talented musician, producer, and composer – a true music industry legend.
Elton John and Lady Gaga
aphrodite-in-nyc, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Sir Elton John has a long list of proteges in the music industry – among them, avant garde pop artist Lady Gaga. Gaga broke through the music industry on her own, but John quickly took her under his wing once she emerged – backing her performance at the 2009 GRAMMY Awards, the first one for Gaga. Gaga is also the godmother of John’s children with David Furnish.
Famous musicians and their favorite candies
As you dig into your favorite candy this Halloween, you might wonder what sweet treats famous musicians prefer! We did some research on what your favorite musicians might be stealing from their trick-or-treaters this year.
The legendary Guns ‘n Roses lead guitarist told Rolling Stone that he keeps it stashed around the house.
John Mayer – Enstrom Candies toffee
The “Gravity” singer/songwriter appears to love the toffee from this Colorado-based candy maker so much, he wrote a song about it in an Instagram story.
David Lee Roth – M&Ms (but not the brown ones)
Van Halen’s tour rider famously included a clause requiring a bowl of M&Ms with all of the brown ones removed in their green rooms. David Lee Roth later explained that it was a strategy to make sure the riders were being read thoroughly by venue management.
Cyndi Lauper – Candy corn
Candy corn gets a bad reputation, but “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer Cyndi Lauper doesn’t mind. “It’s really sugary but easy to eat!” she told Us.
ZZ Top – M&Ms and baby Reese’s peanut butter cups
The long-running rock band’s tour rider included a bag of plain M&Ms, a bag of peanut M&Ms, and a bag of baby Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Tim McGraw – candy corn and Reese’s cups
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The country music legend spilled his Halloween favorites in this Instagram video.
Taylor Swift – Squashies
@xorcontent Taylor Swift favourite candies are Squashies #erastourtaylorswift #taylorswiftedit #taylornation #taylorswifterastour #taylorswifttok #taylorswift #taylorsversion ♬ Turning Page (Instrumental) – Sleeping At Last
Swift discovered the British candy “Squashies” – a marshmallow gummy – while living in England. She talks about them in this video.
Iconic songs from Woodstock: Learn to play these classics with Fret Zealot
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair – better known as Woodstock – was a pivotal moment for music history. The festival, which took place August 15 to 18, 1969 at a dairy farm in upstate New York, hosted 32 musical acts and almost 500,000 festival attendees. The event’s legacy is so vast that in 2017, the festival site became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can recreate a Woodstock of your own with these song lessons – which were performed at the 1969 festival.
Carlos Santana’s band was relatively unknown when they performed on Aug. 16 at Woodstock. Their debut album Santana was released the same month, and previously they had only played locally in the San Francisco area.
Rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival had a less-than-optimal set at Woodstock. They took the stage at 3 a.m., to a tired crowd who gave the band little energy. Rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty said that “We were ready to rock out, and we waited and waited, and finally it was our turn … there were a half million people asleep. These people were out. It was like a painting of a Dante scene, just bodies from hell, all intertwined and asleep, covered with mud.” Nevertheless, they played their set, which included the hit “Proud Mary”. The set was featured on the album Creedence Clearwater Revival Live at Woodstock.
The Who were the second-to-last act scheduled to play on Saturday, Aug. 16. They didn’t end up taking the stage until Sunday morning at 5 a.m., playing their entire Tommy album. Their finale performance happened around 6:05 a.m., as the sun rose over Bethel Woods.
Jimi Hendrix was a major star in 1969 and earned the festival’s final spot. However, Woodstock was plagued by weather and technical delays, causing the musical acts to stretch on until Monday morning. Hendrix opted to keep his spot rather than perform at midnight. As a result, he didn’t play for the entire crowd of half a million people – there were fewer than 200,000 attendees left by the time he performed with his Woodstock band, Gypsy Suns and Rainbows. The performance included his iconic rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner”.
Voodoo Child (slight return) / Stepping Stone – Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix rarely performed encores, but at Woodstock, he played his first hit, “”Hey Joe” to close out the festival.