The Joker – Steve Miller 3/3 - Riff Ninja Academy

The Joker – Steve Miller 3/3

Welcome to the final lesson in our series on The Joker! In this one, I'm going to show you how to combine the bass line with the chords to make the song sound rich and full—like you've got a whole band backing you up.

This is the "secret sauce" that takes your playing from basic strumming to something that really sounds professional. And this is exactly the level of detail I put into every song in my Easy Strumming Songs course.

Watch the lesson below—then I'll show you how you can get 10 complete songs taught with this same depth.

What You're Learning in This Final Lesson:

This is where everything comes together. I'm teaching you how to integrate the bass line with your chord playing—so you sound like multiple guitars at once.

You'll learn:

  • How to substitute bass notes with chord strums (makes it easier and still sounds great)
  • Why those alternate chord voicings from lesson 1 are a "real bonus" for this technique
  • The finger-anchoring trick that lets you switch smoothly while keeping the bass going
  • Multiple approaches to combining bass and chords (none are "wrong"—pick what works for you)
  • How to be creative with the integration instead of just following tab robotically

This is what separates complete arrangements from just "playing chords." You're learning how to make one guitar sound full and complete.

You've Just Seen My Complete Teaching Method

Over these three lessons, you've learned:

  • Complete chord progressions and multiple voicing options
  • Strumming patterns that capture the original feel
  • How to handle unusual song structures (like that 9-bar chorus)
  • Bass lines and solo sections
  • Arrangement structure from start to finish
  • How to combine techniques to sound like a full band

That's exactly how I teach all 10 songs in Easy Strumming Songs.

Not just "here are some chords." But complete, performable arrangements with every detail you need to confidently play these songs for people.

Songs like:

  • American Pie (Don McLean)
  • Blowin' in the Wind (Bob Dylan)
  • Country Roads (John Denver)
  • Free Fallin' (Tom Petty)
  • Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  • Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
  • Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel)
  • Hey Jude (The Beatles)
  • Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett)
  • Stir It Up (Bob Marley)

Each one gets the same three-dimensional treatment you just experienced with The Joker.

Here's the difference:

You just spent time learning ONE song with this level of completeness. Imagine having TEN songs like this—a real repertoire you can pull out whenever someone says "play something."

That's what Easy Strumming Songs gives you.

After 45 Years of Teaching, Here's What I Know:

Most guitar players learn fragments. A cool intro here. Part of a verse there. But they never have complete songs they can confidently play from start to finish.

You just experienced something different with The Joker. You learned the intro, the verse, the chorus, the bass line, the solo section, how to combine techniques, and how to structure the whole arrangement.

That's a complete song. Not a fragment.

Now imagine having 10 of these. Songs everyone knows. Songs that get people singing along. Songs you can play from memory without hesitation.

That's the difference between noodling in your bedroom and actually being able to share music with the people you care about.

Easy Strumming Songs gives you exactly that—10 complete arrangements, taught with the same care and detail you just saw.

The only question is: Are you ready to build that repertoire?

P.S. - You've Already Invested the Time

You just spent time learning The Joker across three detailed lessons. You know my teaching style works for you. You know you can follow along and actually learn complete songs.

Don't let that investment stop here. Take what you've experienced and multiply it by 10—that's what's waiting for you in Easy Strumming Songs.

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