Welcome to the Tom Morello MasterClass review! Tom Morello is an acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and political activist who has worked with some of the music industry’s biggest names.
In his MasterClass, Tom shares his knowledge and experience to help aspiring guitarists develop their skills and achieve their musical goals.
This review will explore what topics are covered in the class, how it’s structured, and what viewers can expect from taking this course.
Who is Tom Morello?
If you’re here, Tom Morello is probably already known to you. Here are some bizarre facts about him that you may not be aware of.
Tom Morello is ranked #26 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time and has won two Grammy Awards and the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for his work against world starvation.
Bruce Springsteen asked Tom Morello to contribute to his limited-edition record, The Ghost of Tom Joad, since he is such an iconic electric guitar player.
Morello is a fantastic guitarist and has a degree in social sciences from Harvard University. He also had brief cameos in Iron Man 2 and Star Trek. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer to get a feel for Morello and his teaching method.
Who Can Take This Course?
1. Guitarists looking at developing a unique voice:
Tom spends a lot of time elaborating on how to use his inspirations to create his style.
You can learn to do the same by watching Tom break down his riffs and compositions and discussing how he borrows from various musical genres.
2. Songwriters:
Tom offers many useful exercises for improving your songwriting abilities and concentrating on rock-based songs.
He showed several strategies and procedures for building riffs and parts for songs, and I thought the riff-writing sections of the course were excellent.
3. RATM/Audioslave fans:
Even though I’ve read several interviews and articles by Tom Morello over the years, this MasterClass taught me significantly more about his method of writing in RATM than all the interviews and videos combined.
This is an excellent resource if you want to learn more about how Tom composed the guitar parts for RATM. He covers complete songs in a few case studies and often utilizes RATM riffs as examples throughout the course.
What Will You Learn in the Course?
Like every MasterClass, Morello begins with an introduction that discusses his history and qualifications to teach this particular subject.
He asks his pupils to leave their idols behind and push the musical limitations that could be restricting them right now as he starts his lesson.
Riffs, a Morello-favored electrical guitar style, are covered as the course moves on.
This set of tutorials includes an in-depth look at Morello’s instruments and equipment and how he utilizes them to create a noise chart that aids in the creation of new sounds and song parts.
The next topic of Morello’s video lessons is about musical influences, or more precisely, other artists whom he admires.
He talks about musicians who have inspired his music as well as how students might learn more successfully from musicians they may look up to.
This links to a collection of practice-related video tutorials. These include the value of practicing and the methods Morello suggests for honing your talents, such as playing slowly or quickly with finger exercises and more.
The creation of music and melodies will next be explored, along with a look at the pentatonic and blues scales, how to improvise solos, and how to lose yourself in your music while playing a sol.
This collection of video tutorials includes case studies from other guitarists, such as Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen, as well as an overview of his own work with Rage Against the Machine.
Morello’s online course covers songwriting in depth. The next set of video tutorials covers song composition, covering topics like how to create a unique or genuine sound.
As an example, he breaks down one of Rage Against the Machine’s greatest singles in a case study on how to compose impactful and honest lyrics.
Finally, Morello discusses how to perform well on stage, including how to warm up for a performance, put together a strong line-up, and locate musicians you get along with.
The last session of the course focuses on Morello’s instruments and gear and offers parting advice on music as an art and how to push yourself as a musician.
What will you get Inside Tom Morello’s Masterclass?
1. Introduction: Tom introduces himself and sets the stage for helping students find their true, unique voice on the guitar.
2. Developing Your Creative Voice: He encourages students to move beyond imitation and start developing a style that feels personal.
3. Riffs: Tom shares techniques for creating powerful, unforgettable riffs that define his sound.
4. Gear: Pedals and Effects: He breaks down his pedal setup, showing how he uses effects to make his guitar stand out.
5. Tones and Sounds: Students learn about crafting different tones that bring depth to their playing.
6. Tom’s Noise Chart: Tom guides students in experimenting with unusual sounds that push the boundaries of traditional guitar.
7. Tom’s Influences: Rock, Jazz, Classical, and Folk: He explains how these genres helped shape his unique sound.
8. Tom’s Influences: EDM, Blues, and Hip-Hop: Tom discusses how these other styles inspire his approach.
9. Practice: He offers tips for building a consistent practice routine that drives improvement.
10. Technique: Developing Speed: Tom shares exercises to help students play faster and more precisely.
11. Beginner Theory: Pentatonic and Blues Scales: He introduces essential scales that form the foundation of rock guitar.
12. Theory: Unlocking the Fretboard: Tom helps students understand how to use the entire neck of the guitar.
13. Improvisation: He teaches techniques for creating music on the spot and staying present in the moment.
14. Solos: Tom offers his approach to crafting solos that are both impactful and expressive.
15. Solo Case Study: “The Ghost of Tom Joad”: He provides a detailed breakdown of one of his iconic solos.
16. Rock Songwriting Fundamentals: Tom covers the basics of writing rock songs that resonate with listeners.
17. Riff Rock Writing: Verses and Multitracking: He gives tips on building verses and layering guitar parts.
18. Riff Rock Writing: Chorus, Solo, and Arrangement: Students learn how to arrange different song elements into a cohesive piece.
19. Lyrics and Melody: Tom discusses how to write authentic lyrics and melodies that stick.
20. Studio Recording: He shares advice on recording guitar in the studio to create maximum impact.
21. Case Study: “Killing in the Name”: Tom breaks down the creative process behind this classic song.
22. Live Shows: Philosophy and Nerves: He offers insights on stage presence and managing nerves before a performance.
23. Live Shows: Practicalities and Performance: Tom provides practical tips for putting on a live show.
24. Bands and Collaboration: He discusses the dynamics of working with other musicians.
25. Gear: Tom’s Guitars and Amps: Tom walks students through his favorite guitars and amps, explaining how he uses them.
26. Conclusion: He wraps up the course, encouraging students to make the guitar a personal and lifelong journey.
In this MasterClass, Tom combines personal insights, practical techniques, and hands-on exercises to help students develop their own musical identities on the guitar.
Why Do I Recommend Tom Morello Masterclass?
4 reasons why I recommend Tom Morello Masterclass are:
1. Thorough workbook:
Almost all of the riffs that Morello plays for the class are notated in tabs and conventional musical notation, whether they are well-known riffs like the Cochise riff or spontaneous improvisations.
You’ll also see notation for what your fingers play, as well as what you’ll hear written down alongside riffs with layered effects.
It allows you to follow along with Morello’s playing, try out various techniques, and fully comprehend what he is doing.
I really valued having it to work with since preparing this level of detail had probably taken hours. Thanks to it, I was even able to play the Cochise riff on the electric harp straight away!
2. Well-thought-through content:
Unusual for a MasterClass course, the material leans toward the practical with really useful advice for enhancing your guitar playing.
The lectures advance, breaking down many concepts one at a time, and then conclude with further anecdotal advice from Morello.
I sometimes thought the anecdotal sessions were a bit too slow-moving, but after such an intense semester, I was happy to see the recent talking head classes.
3. Morello is an awesome teacher:
Sometimes, the issue with well-known educators is that although they are knowledgeable in their field, they have no clue how to educate. Morello has extensive expertise in teaching guitar privately to live pupils, and it shows.
He knows how to simplify things for a novice (despite not being a musician, I felt able to experiment with guitar riffs) and how to go a bit deeper with more complex ideas.
He has obviously given his work a lot of consideration as an artist. He didn’t get to where he is by mistake. Therefore, he can properly explain the measures you need to follow to become better at playing.
In this MasterClass, Morello offers some of the same top-notch advice that I have learned from the finest professors in the world and from two internationally recognized music institutions from which I graduated.
4. Great balance of practical and anecdotal:
There are many useful lessons and advice in this MasterClass, as well as several insightful remarks from Morello. I thought the balance was perfect. I would practice or do tasks after certain classes, which helped me play more effectively.
Although I like this kind of lecture, the anecdotal teachings are what really set this course apart.
It’s fascinating to learn about Morello’s experiences with his many bands, including Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage, and to discover how he came to be regarded as such an iconic figure.
Is Tom Morello’s Masterclass Worth It?
Yes, Tom Morello’s MasterClass is worth taking, especially for guitar players who want to develop a unique style. Tom shares more than just techniques—he teaches students how to push boundaries and find their own voice.
With lessons on riffs, effects, songwriting, and even performance tips, there’s something for every level. Plus, his stories and insights make it feel personal and inspiring.
For anyone serious about guitar and creativity, this course offers real value and motivation.
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Conclusion: Tom Morello Masterclass Review 2024
Tom Morello’s MasterClass offers a unique opportunity for guitar players of all levels to learn from one of the greats of rock history. His lessons provide inspiration and valuable advice on techniques that can be used in any genre of music.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to develop your playing or an experienced player looking for new ideas, this class has something for everyone.
