Tom Morello MasterClass Review:
Fine Tune Your Electric Guitar Playing Skills
Last updated on: July 24, 2023, Written by:
Bill Tremlon
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As someone keen to upgrade his guitar skills, finding an opportunity to learn from a legendary icon was no less than a blessing. Tom Morello, the Grammy Award-winning guitarist, brings forth his personal anecdotes and expert techniques. He teaches you how to become the guitarist you have always dreamed of being, unleashing your inner rock performer.
While I started this MasterClass with a mindset to unveil the techniques of playing an electric guitar, I found it to be so much more. From developing your creative voice to crafting original riffs, Tom’s masterclass offers an unparalleled opportunity to tap into your artistic potential.
In this Tom Morello MasterClass review, I will walk you through the transformative journey, conveying my personal experience after completing the course.
Contents
Tom Morello MasterClass Outline
To sum up my Tom Morello’s Masterclass review in a phrase, it offers more than just generic guitar lessons. With his signature energy and expertise, Morello reveals the secrets behind his iconic sound, taps into various subjects, including improvisation and songwriting, and inspires you to embrace your unique voice.
Tom Morello MasterClass Review In a Nutshell
| ⭐ Rating: | 8.3 ★★★★★ |
| 🥇 Category of class: | Music |
| 📈 Suits best for: | Amateur and experienced guitarists, and fans of Tom Morello’s music |
| 🕒 Lenght: | 5 hours 34 minutes |
| ⏳ Avg. Lesson Duration | 12 minutes |
| 🛍️ Course Essentials: | Electric guitar |
| 💼 Complementary material: | 190-page PDF class book, Tom’s MasterClass Backtrack |
| 📚 No. of Lessons: | 26 lessons |
| 🛒 Payment options: | Individual / Duo / Family |
| 💵 Price: | 10 – 20 $ (billed annually) |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 30-day satisfaction guarantee |
| 🎁 Free trial: | ✅ |
Key Skills You’ll Learn
- Developing your unique creative voice and sonic palette;
- Techniques to create powerful, dynamic riffs;
- Developing original sound;
- Creating innovative solos;
- Developing speed and dexterity to play guitar;
- Improvisation;
- Songwriting and production.
Is Tom Morello MasterClass For Me?
Tom Morello’s Masterclass is incredibly valuable for guitar enthusiasts, especially those familiar with his style. While beginners lacking foundational knowledge may find it challenging, hobbyists and experienced players will thrive. Packed with actionable tips, clear assignments, and theoretical insights into Morello’s distinctive approach, this course is a must for anyone looking to elevate their guitar-playing skills.
Our Evaluation
Total score: 8.3
PROS
CONS
In This Tom Morello’s MasterClass
Review, You’ll Learn
Tom Morello MasterClass Teacher Review
Meet Tom Morello
Tom Morello’s name needs no introduction in the world of electric guitar. His career spans over three decades, and the impact of his music is undeniable. He gained prominence as the guitarist of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, where his innovative playing style and politically charged lyrics resonated with audiences worldwide.
Throughout his career, Morello has won multiple Grammy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists of this generation. His secret lies in creating innovative riffs, use of effects, and impressive solos. His distinctive technical ability is up for grabs in this MasterClass.
Tom Morello as a Teacher
Although Morello is primarily known for his outstanding guitar skills, it was great to see his teaching style and theory knowledge shine through this MasterClass. He has years of experience instructing guitar and has a remarkable ability to break down concepts and practice theory.
His teachings can enable even a novice guitar player to explore his techniques confidently and get you a step closer to becoming an advanced guitarist.
Tom Morello dives deeper into advanced ideas in his MasterClass, demonstrating his deep understanding of how to write songs, what gear to use, and much more. His meticulous approach and strict practice regimen back his immense success as an artist. In this MasterClass, Morello generously shares invaluable tips taught at prestigious music schools, offering students an opportunity to learn from a true guitar virtuoso.
About MasterClass
Since 2015, MasterClass brings 180+ online classes from top-tier instructors in almost any field. It includes pre-recorded video lessons from masters such as Richard Branson, Martin Scorsese, Aaron Sorkin, Gordon Ramsay, and many others.
The video quality equals Hollywood movies, and every MasterClass course is carefully structured. But that’s not all. There are interactive assignments, MasterClass community activities, and an ever-growing video library to enjoy. The sheer amount of content can make it hard to begin. Cursums will help you to choose wisely.
Originality and Novelty of the Content
While there are various platforms where Morello shares tips and tricks on guitar playing, such as his Guitar World interview or YouTube videos, or the article about his gear settings on Guitar Chalk. The information available is incomplete and lacks a systematic approach. Aspiring learners still need a cohesive learning path to acquire value that truly elevates their skills.
Fortunately, Tom Morello’s MasterClass offers an excellent solution where learners can access a comprehensive and well-structured curriculum designed by Tom Morello himself. The course includes video lessons, a downloadable workbook, and interactive assignments.
Learners can also benefit from the community aspect of the MasterClass platform, where they can interact with fellow guitar enthusiasts and receive feedback on their progress.
While music courses by other artists are available on MasterClass, such as Christina Aguilera’s MasterClass or Mariah Carey’s singing course, Tom Morello’s MasterClass stands out as the most unique and comprehensive option. Unlike other guitar courses focusing solely on technical aspects, Morello’s MasterClass delves into his creative process, musical philosophy, and unique approach to guitar playing.
Content and Structure of the Tom Morello MasterClass
Tom Morello’s MasterClass is structured progressively to enhance your guitar playing skills. The average lesson length in the course is around 12 minutes, allowing for digestible and focused learning. The longest video in the course provides an in-depth exploration of Tom Morello’s riff-creating process and runs for approximately 21 minutes.
There are a series of around 26 video lessons covering various aspects of guitar playing. The duration to complete the entire course may vary depending on the learner’s pace. On average, it takes around 4 hours to finish the video content if you watch it at 1.5x speed.
The time required to complete the workbook assignments will depend on the individual guitar players level. For instance, in the chapter Practice of the Workbook, Morello suggests practicing for a whole month to improve your skills.
Unleashing Your Artistic Voice
Unleashing Your Artistic Voice
As the first lesson kicks off, Tom Morello sets the stage for the course, guiding learners to uncover their own style as an artist. In the second lesson, learners are encouraged to think beyond influences, challenge boundaries, and develop their own musical identity. Tom empowers students to break free from imitation and embrace their unique perspectives, fostering creativity and originality.
Morello shows you the building blocks to create a unique, artistic self. I loved how he encouraged us to use mistakes while playing guitar to find our own sound.
Mastering Electric Guitar Techniques
3-5 Lessons Summary
These lessons of the electric guitar MasterClass focus on honing guitar skills and exploring various techniques. The Lesson on Riffs delves into the heart and soul of Tom’s musical legacy, teaching learners how to experiment with slides, tuning, and chukkas to create their own riffs. He then walks you through the use of different pedals to create a wide range of unique sounds and effects.
Lesson five explores the creative process of sound discovery and learning to create your distinct sonic palette.
Two lessons related to guitar techniques, which come later in the class, are worth mentioning in this section. The lesson Technique: Developing Speed offers finger exercises and strategies for guitar players to improve speed and dexterity. The class – Beginner Theory: Pentatonic and Blues Scales demystifies the pentatonic scale and helps beginners start improvising solos.
Unlocking Musical Creativity
6-15 Lessons Summary
Lesson six is a treat for Morello fans and every experienced guitarist, as he highlights his unique approach towards developing a noise chart that assists him in formulating innovative sound elements for his songs.
Further lessons explore Morello’s influences, showing how diverse musical genres can inspire and shape one’s playing. He talks about his inspiration from various music genres, including Rock, Jazz, Classical, Folk, EDM, The Blues, and Hip-Hop
The section includes lessons on adept improvisation, crafting solos like Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads. There is a lesson on case study of his own solo The Ghost of Tom Joad that he performed with Bruce Springsteen. The crux of these lessons is Morello encouraging learners to go beyond their comfort zones and defy conventions in music while creating their own sound.
Songwriting and Studio Recording
16-21 Lessons Summary
From lesson sixteen onwards, Tom takes you to the topic of song creation. I found this section to be one of the most significant portions of the course. Morello gives valuable insights into writing music and emphasizes the importance of originality in sound.
He shares his process to create RATM riffs and his studio recording techniques. Morello takes one of Rage Against the Machine’s biggest hits and uses it to explain structural arrangement.
The next lesson, Lyrics and Melody, delves into the creative process of writing honest lyrics and finding fitting melodies. The section concludes with a lesson on studio recording, offering theoretical and practical strategies for maximizing recording sessions.
Performing and Band Dynamics
22-26 Lessons Summary
Tom Morello’s MasterClass isn’t limited to learning guitar playing, guitar tricks, and song creation. He provides valuable advice about performing live as well. He guides students on preparing for a performance, overcoming stage fright, warming up, and crafting a compelling line-up.
Morello further explains band dynamics and suggests selecting like-minded bandmates. He navigates through the challenges that arise from creative collaborations. He challenges guitar players to push their boundaries and evolve as musicians constantly while creating their own music.
You will also explore Tom’s signature guitars and amps. It was interesting to listen to the stories behind each instrument. The course culminates with his parting thoughts on music as an art form.
Fast-Track Lesson Plan
To get the most out of Tom Morello’s advice on guitar playing, you can navigate the course in 2 hours 27 minutes by taking the following lessons.
| No. | Lesson | Duration |
| 2. | Developing Your Creative Voice | 10:07 |
| 3. | Riffs | 20:57 |
| 4. | Gear: Pedals and Effects | 16:22 |
| 5. | Tones and Sounds | 17:27 |
| 6. | Tom’s Noise Chart | 15:06 |
| 7. | Tom’s Influences: Rock, Jazz, Classical, and Folk | 12:09 |
| 8. | Tom’s Influences: EDM, the Blues, and Hip-Hop | 11:49 |
| 9. | Practice | 8:01 |
| 10. | Technique: Developing Speed | 9:02 |
| 13. | Improvisation | 8:35 |
| 19. | Lyrics and Melody | 12:33 |
| 20. | Studio Recording | 14:57 |
Engagement and Retention of Tom Morello MasterClass
The Tom Morello’s MasterClass engages learners through its visual appeal, high-quality instruction, ease of understanding, and ability to follow along with the instructor. The lessons are presented in a well-structured and organized manner, allowing learners to progress easily.
Tom Morello’s instruction quality is outstanding. He delivers the lessons with clarity, passion, and expertise, making complex concepts accessible to learners of all skill levels. His teaching style is engaging and relatable, fostering a connection with the learner.
My Firsthand Experience With Tom Morello’s MasterClass
What I liked About Tom Morello MasterClass
Encourages Artists To Go Beyond Limits
Tom Morello’s MasterClass is worth taking because he encourages artists to get out of their comfort zones by teaching them to think beyond their influences. He repeatedly discusses challenging conventional boundaries, developing your musical voice, and exploring new directions by incorporating diverse musical influences. In the final lesson, he challenges learners never to stop pushing their artistic boundaries.
Lots Of Practical Guitar Playing Tips
Unlike most MasterClass courses, Tom Morello ‘s course is filled to the brim with practical tips enhancing guitar playing. Fused with his insightful words, the practical lessons are incredibly helpful when experimenting with new techniques. You can apply the knowledge gained through the assignments given in the workbook to become a compelling guitar player.
Classbook Perfectly Supplements Learning
While the video lessons are invaluable, the downloadable workbook is also extremelly helpful. It is curated to aid the learning process and is packed with study material and musical notes for each demonstration Morello gives in his electric guitar MasterClass. There are no mind numbingly boring exercises, and the assignments actually facilitate elevating the skill.
What I Didn’t Like about Tom Morello MasterClass
Not For Beginners
If you don’t have the foundational knowledge of playing guitar, Tom Morello’s course will be tough to navigate. Tom offers unconventional tips, which aren’t easy to grasp for beginners. However, experienced guitarists and fans of Tom Morello’s music can find value in the course and benefit from its content.
Teachings Limited To Tom Morello’s Style
Tom Morello’s class is a deep insight into his personal approach and playing style. The course is most suitable for individuals who are specifically interested in learning Morello’s unique style or wish to delve into case studies centered around Rage Against the Machine or Audioslave.
Is Tom Morello MasterClass a Good purchase?
Price of Tom Morello MasterClass
The pricing of Tom Morello’s MasterClass is in line with other top online courses on the platform. The wealth of knowledge and insights offered by Tom Morello justify purchasing the all-access pass of MasterClass, worth $10 per month. With his legendary status and unique playing style, Tom provides invaluable lessons and shares his creative process to curate hit numbers.
Whether you are an aspiring guitarist or a fan of his music, the opportunity to learn directly from a Grammy Award-winning artist like Tom Morello is an extraordinary experience that makes the MasterClass subscription worth every penny.
| Plan | Price |
| Individual (one device) | $10 per month |
| Duo (two devices) | $15 per month |
| Family (six devices) | $20 per month |
Does the Class Live Up to the Hype?
I highly recommend Tom’s Masterclass to aspiring guitarists, as it comprehensively explores Tom Morello’s unique guitar-playing style, creative process, and musical philosophy. He is a true master, diving deep into each topic engagingly. The course is especially helpful for those who want to develop their unique voice as an artist.
In the initial lesson, Tom pledges to lay the groundwork enabling you to emulate his style or discover your unique musical voice. His MasterClass delivers on this promise, ensuring you’re adept at executing Tom’s riffs by the course’s conclusion.
Tom Morello MasterClass: Ratings from Around the Web
I came across mixed reviews on Tom Morello’s MasterClass, where some people expressed that the content of the course was nothing new, while others couldn’t stop praising Tom Morello’s instructional skills. However, Tom’s course generally receives positive ratings.
Redditors have mixed reviews regarding the content of the course, but there is a clear affinity for Tom Morello’s teaching style, which is proven by the comments below:
-“I’m looking to learn some basic theory and stuff from someone a guitarsit to be able to bridge the gap between learning theory and learning guitar but thank you man I think I’m going to do it.”
Essentials Used in the Tom Morello MasterClass
Having an electric guitar is essential to practice the techniques taught by Tom Morello. Apart from that, the following things supplement your learning:
- A notebook for taking notes
- Access to electric guitar playing practice space
- Recording equipment
Courses Similar to Tom Morello MasterClass
Other Courses of Music on MasterClass
- Danny Elfman’s Masterclass on film scoring
- Armin Van Buuren MasterClass on Dance Music
- Timbaland MasterClass on Producing and Beatmaking
- Questlove MasterClass on Curation and DJing
- Christina Agulera MasterClass on Singing
- Usher MasterClass on the art of performance
- Ringo Starr MasterClass on Drumming and Creative Collaboration
- Metallica MasterClass on being a band
- Carlos Santana MasterClass on The art and Soul of Guitar
- John Legend MasterClass on Songwriting
Alternatives to MasterClass
Udemy
Udemy is one of the most popular online learning providers, with a massive choice of various classes. The learning platform covers a range of music courses for beginner and advanced learners.
Coursera
Coursera is another big name in the online courses market, with a lot to offer in music-related fields. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of the field without spending much money on online learning.
Skillshare
Skillshare focuses on practical courses, with educational videos substituting expensive college courses. The aim is to provide users with marketable skills for finding a job. There are some courses related to creating your own music as well.
Tom Morello MasterClass: FAQ
Blogger | Life-long learner
Bill Tremlon
I’ve spent the last ten years passionately studying various online learning platforms. Udemy, MasterClass, Coursera, and Skillshare are the main ones, but I review lesser-known study tools as well. I test and analyze each course and lesson thoroughly before sharing my research.
Blogger | Life-long learner
Bill Tremlon