5 Songs Chad Benefield Is Learning on Fret Zealot
For the last couple of months, I have been learning how to play the guitar using Fret Zealot. By the way, if you haven't heard of it, check it out. It's the revolutionary method of learning guitar with light. Yes! LED lights basically show you where to put your fingers on the guitar in order to be able to play chords. It's genius! And it works — even for someone like me, who has the most uncooperative fingers in the history of erect man.
I have always had dreams of being a singer-songwriter, sitting on a stool at a writers' round and testing out some new original tunes for the crowd at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
I have written a couple of dozen country songs, but because I couldn't play the guitar, I had to create those melodies in my head. It would have been much easier to chord them out on my own.
Now that I am learning chords (Thank you, Fret Zealot), I am now having even bigger dreams. I mean, look. I know I am not going to be headlining The Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Auditorium or Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Heck, I won't even be headlining Brasher's Little Nashville, a bar in my hometown of Owensboro, KY., and I am even good friends with the owners. But, if I was going to headline somewhere, you better believe these songs would be on my set list.
Fret Zealot has tutorials on how to play each of these. And, look. The five songs below are some of my favorites of all-time. As you'll see, my musical tastes are all over the place. My concert set list would be too.
Oh, and just wait for my honorable mention. If I had the chance to pick up a guitar and play this in public, I would do it in a second. Ready for it?!!! Though this Fret Zealot tutorial didn't quite make my Top 5, I have already watched it and I plan to eventually career it.
Heck yeah! I would TOTALLY rock that song out. And, literally, Fret Zealot has a quick 12-minute tutorial on how to play it.
Okay, now here we go with the rest of my list. Picture it. You just bought my concert ticket (it was likely greatly discounted on Groupon). You stopped by the concession stand and bought a $20 beer. You bought my $40 concert t-shirt and you're standing in the pit waiting for me to come to the stage to play and sing.
Here's what you're getting.
THE FIVE SONGS I'M LEARNING ON FRET ZEALOT
#5-HERE WITHOUT YOU- 3 DOORS DOWN
I love that song and it suits my voice really well. An acoustic version of that song is going to SLAY!! I can just see the cell phone lights in the arena now.
#4- TENNESSEE WHISKEY- CHRIS STAPLETON
Another song that absolutely suits my voice. Plus, let's be honest. I do mornings on a country radio station, so I am certainly going to have to throw some meat to the base. LOL. And, I freaking love that song.
#3- STRONGER (WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU)- KELLY CLARKSON
Kelly Clarkson is one of my favorites of all-time. In her season of American Idol, I power-voted for her to win that title. I have seen her in concert about ten times and this song is a true concert anthem. With Fret Zealot, you can learn how to chord it out and I am going to. I want my fans going CRAZY in the arena and this song's going to do it.
#2- SOMEONE LIKE YOU- ADELE/DAVID NAIL
I am a sucker for a big old power ballad and I. LOVE. THIS. SONG. And, being a country guy, I am obsessed with David Nail's "country" version of this Adele smash. His version is driven by piano. Mine is going to be powered by Fret Zealot.
I have a list of my Top Ten Favorite Songs of All-Time and this Prince song is definitely on it. Look. I'll lay it out. When I say goodnight to the crowd, but the arena lights stay off and people start stomping their feet and cheering because they know I'm coming back out for an encore, THIS is going to be that encore. I am going to close my hypothetical concert with "Purple Rain" and the fans are going to be singing right along with me.
Okay, I am now snapping back to reality. And while it may not be as glamorous as my rock-star fantasies, reality isn't so bad. I may not be invited to play these songs at the Grammy Awards, I can play them in my living room.
Yes! YOU can learn all those songs (and a BUNCH more) with Fret Zealot's amazing online tutorials. Those videos are just another reason Fret Zealot is considered the Netflix of Music Education.
Check it out at fretzealot.com. Learn how to play guitar with light. And, who knows? I may invite you on tour to be my opening act.
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