Jim Oblon

Virtuoso guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Jim Oblon has toured and recorded with Paul Simon, Lucinda Williams and many others. His latest album is 2023’s I Wanna Be Loved.

Latest articles by Jim Oblon

Closeup of a man's hands playing a Fender Telecaster-style guitar.

“You’ll find it in many old blues tunes”: You need to learn how to solo over this chord progression

By Jim Oblon published

Paul Simon guitarist Jim Oblon shows you how to tailor your leads to the classic I-VI-II-V progression – a jam night staple that’s a lot of fun, too

Artist Lessons
A portrait of Jim Oblon superimposed against a sky-high background as the sun is setting, the margins of the image look like an old photographic negative. Oblon wears a wide-brimmed hat and plays a Telecaster.

How you can use arpeggios to imply dominant 9th chords in your solos (it's easier than it sounds!)

By Jim Oblon published

Understanding the chord shape and the theory behind it is easier than you might think, and it offers another strategy for navigating the fretboard on the fly

Lessons
Jim Oblon plays a resonator guitar in a dimly lit image

The “train beat” is a staple of country and blues music – and learning to play over it will hone your hybrid picking and timing

By Jim Oblon published

Jim Oblon's debut Guitar World column is all about country-fried rhythm guitar, but it's a lesson for any player who wants to understand pocket and groove

Techniques