BEYOND CHORDS - Unlock your leading guitar playing

Join Nat Martin for an inspiring weekend exploring expressive licks, melodic fills, improvisation and the techniques that bring guitar solos to life.

Building on ideas from Nat’s Blues Vocabulary online courses, we’ll explore how to turn familiar scales, chord shapes and guitar patterns into musical phrases that really work.

Through practical workshops, demonstrations and plenty of playing together, you’ll develop the confidence to improvise, create your own solos and find your individual sound.

What We’ll Be Covering

Develop your technique, expand your musical vocabulary and discover new ways to express yourself on the guitar.

Lead Guitar Vocabulary

Learn how to transform simple scales and familiar patterns into expressive musical ideas.

• Pentatonic scales and useful melodic patterns
• Classic blues and rock licks
• Connecting ideas across the fretboard
• Developing phrases through repetition and variation

Phrasing & Expression

Discover how great guitarists bring personality and emotion to their playing.

• String bending, vibrato, slides and articulation
• Timing, dynamics and rhythmic phrasing
• Creating space and contrast within solos
• Making simple musical ideas sound more expressive

Connecting Chords & Melody

Explore how understanding the relationship between chords and scales can transform your improvisation.

• Finding melodic ideas within chord shapes
• Using chord tones, triads and arpeggios
• Adding tasteful fills between chord changes
• Moving naturally between rhythm and lead playing

Creating Your Own Solos

Put everything together and develop greater confidence when improvising.

• Building solos from simple melodic ideas
• Creating tension, release and musical direction
• Combining familiar licks into longer phrases
• Improvising over songs and backing tracks

Throughout the weekend, we’ll apply these techniques to real music through practical exercises, group workshops and plenty of opportunities to play.

How the Weekend Works

Friday – Getting Started

Friday evening is a relaxed opportunity to meet the group, settle in and start making music together. We’ll introduce some of the essential ideas behind expressive lead guitar playing through accessible exercises and informal group playing.

Saturday – Develop Your Lead Guitar Skills

Saturday is our main workshop day, exploring lead guitar vocabulary, phrasing, improvisation and the relationship between chords and melody. Nat will demonstrate practical techniques and musical examples, with plenty of opportunities to experiment, ask questions and develop your playing.

After dinner, we’ll enjoy an informal evening of music-making, putting the day’s ideas into practice.

Sunday – Find Your Own Sound

Sunday brings everything together as we explore how to construct solos, develop melodic ideas and improvise with greater confidence. Through group playing and practical guidance, you’ll leave with new techniques, musical ideas and a clearer understanding of how to develop your own lead guitar style.

Course Suitability

Suitable for guitarists who are comfortable with basic chords and want to develop their lead guitar playing.

You don’t need to be an experienced soloist or have an extensive knowledge of music theory.

This weekend is particularly suitable if you want to:

• Move beyond rhythm guitar and explore lead playing
• Turn familiar scales into musical solos
• Improve your bending, vibrato and phrasing
• Understand how melodies connect with chords
• Develop confidence when improvising
• Enjoy playing and learning alongside other guitarists

Previous experience with Nat’s Blues Vocabulary online courses is not required.

What to Bring

Please bring your guitar, essential accessories and a notebook. An electric guitar is particularly suitable for this course, although acoustic guitarists interested in developing their lead playing are also welcome.

We’ll provide further guidance about amplifiers and other equipment before the weekend.

What’s Included?

Our residential package includes:

• Guitar tuition with Nat Martin throughout the weekend
• Practical workshops covering lead guitar and improvisation
• Individual guidance within a small-group environment
• Group playing and musical exercises
• Accommodation in an en-suite room
• Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals
• Morning and afternoon refreshments
• Relevant course materials and practical guidance

Non-residential attendance and arrangements for non-playing partners may also be available.

COURSE PRICES

Book early and enjoy our 2026 prices for Beyond Chords – Unlock Your Lead Guitar Playing with Nat Martin.

EARLY-BIRD OFFER – SAVE UP TO £45

Book by 31 January 2027 to take advantage of our special early-bird prices.

From 1 February 2027, standard course prices will apply.

Payment Options

You can pay the full course fee or secure your place with a deposit, with the remaining balance payable nearer the course date.

SMALL GROUP – LIMITED PLACES

Places are limited to approximately 10–14 participants, ensuring everyone has opportunities to develop their playing, ask questions and receive individual guidance throughout the weekend.

Early booking is recommended to secure your place.

Venue

De Vere East Horsley, Surrey

Set within the beautiful Surrey countryside, De Vere East Horsley provides a comfortable and inspiring setting for a residential weekend of guitar playing. With accommodation, dining and teaching facilities together in one location, it’s an ideal environment to concentrate on developing your skills while enjoying the company of other guitarists.