The John, Paul and George guide to Melody, Harmony and Song Form
Blues & Pop Melodies
On "Can't Buy Me Love," Paul McCartney sings a diatonic melody with notes borrowed from the blues scale – which sounds better than "the right notes."
How Those Harmonies Work
On "You Can't Do That," John's vocal turns a straightforward V7 chord into a 7#9 "Hendrix chord." Meanwhile, George's signature riff uses a classic b3/natural 3 move.
Songwriting Essentials
What's the difference between a chorus and a bridge? Check out how either one can turn a basic twelve-bar blues verse into a pop song masterpiece.
Practical Theory for Guitarists and Songwriters
The Beatles famously couldn't read music and wouldn't have recognized the term "mixolydian mode" if it was standing naked in the crosswalk on Abbey Road. And yet they wrote some of the greatest and most memorable songs of all time. Obviously, they knew what worked even if they didn't use the same labels Beethoven (and George Martin) did. But wouldn't it be cool to understand why those songs sound so good, and what makes them work the way they do?
In Shawn Persinger's four-week online class, The Beatles And The Blues, you'll learn the essentials of music theory – scales, chords, chord progressions - by analyzing the Beatles' guitar riffs, chord vocabulary and vocal harmonies. You'll also learn how the Beatles combined standard diatonic harmony with the twelve-bar form and pentatonic melodies to create their irresistible synthesis of blues edge and pop appeal.
Can't you just do it by ear?
Clearly, yes – it worked for the boys from Liverpool. But if you don't have the opportunity to play your favorite r&b, rock 'n' roll, motown, music hall and standard tunes nine sets a night, six nights a week for the next three years, absorbing countless chord progressions, melodies and song forms along the way, wouldn't it be nice if there was a more efficient way to learn why those songs work the way they do?
Guitarist , educator, songwriter and author Shawn Persinger has been teaching Beatles Theory for the past six years. For this special four-week online class, he's distilled those ideas about melody, harmony and rhythm down to the essentials, with a special focus on the Beatles' use of the blues.
Whether you want to play more informed solos, come up with better guitar parts or add some new songwriting ideas to your toolkit, The Beatles And The Blues will provide you with all of that and more.
HOW IT WORKS
Sign Up
Use the secure form below to sign up for the four-week class, which includes replay access through October 14, plus all the downloadable PDFs
Take The Class
Learn the essentials of melody, harmony and rhythm while gaining insight into the Beatles' songcraft
Learn Practical Theory
Get a hands-on understanding of how melody and harmony work in the real world of great songwriting
How much theory should I already know to take this class?
Another question we anticipate...
Is this workshop part of the Fingerstyle Five membership?
How long do I have access to the videos?
WEEK ONE
Are the Beatles a Pop band that plays the Blues or a Blues band that plays Pop?
Wednesday 09/09/26
WEEK TWO
She’s a Woman…or is She? From 1964’s “She’s a Woman” to 1969’s “Get Back” The Beatles never lost sight of the Blues.
Wednesday 9/16/26
WEEK THREE
Psychedelic Blues: How The Beatles held on to the Blues even at their most experimental.
Wednesday 09/23/26
WEEK FOUR
The Beatles Bluesiest Guitar Solos
Wednesday 09/20/26
Sign up now for the complete four-week class and get 25% off for being a Fingerstyle Five member!
Full price: $79
Member price: $59.25
THE BEATLES AND THE BLUES
$79
Taught by Shawn Persinger
Please note:
All four classes will remain available for replay for fourteen days after the final class on Wednesday, Sept. 30th.
