Blab Music
TrueFire Launches New Online Course on Bakersfield Sound, Produced by JamPlay
A new online guitar course focused on the Bakersfield Sound has been released on the TrueFire platform. The course, titled “A Closer Look at the Bakersfield Sound,” was announced on 17 June 2026 and is available exclusively through TrueFire. It was produced by JamPlay and has a file size of 4.36 GB.
The program offers high‑definition video lessons, interactive tablature, and backing tracks that allow students to practice at their own pace. The curriculum is organized into modules that cover the distinctive techniques, melodic phrasing, and signature licks that define the Bakersfield Sound. Students learn how to play the classic hits of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, two artists who were central to the development of the style.
The Bakersfield Sound emerged in the mid‑to‑late 1950s in Bakersfield, California, as a reaction against the polished Nashville sound. It is characterized by a heavy use of electric instrumentation, a pronounced backbeat, and a twangy guitar tone. The style incorporates elements of rock and roll and honky‑tonk country, and it has influenced later genres such as outlaw country and progressive country.
Buck Owens, the frontman for The Buckaroos, pioneered the sound with a stripped‑down approach that emphasized a prominent drum track, a twangy electric guitar, and high, two‑part vocal harmonies. Merle Haggard, a member of the Strangers, also helped shape the Bakersfield Sound with his own guitar work and songwriting.
The course modules include:
Preparation for studying Buck Owens’ acoustic rhythm guitar style. Identification of the essential gear needed to replicate the Buckaroos’ tone, including high‑end, twangy guitars and percussive acoustic instruments. Development of the performance mindset and energy required for the style. Analysis of tonal characteristics such as bright, twangy sounds and percussive acoustic textures. * Contextual background on the historical production philosophy of the Bakersfield Sound.
By providing detailed instruction on these elements, the course aims to give guitarists a comprehensive understanding of the Bakersfield Sound’s musical heritage. Learners can study the genre’s roots while acquiring practical skills that can be applied to their own playing.
TrueFire is a well‑known online platform for guitar lessons that offers a wide range of instructional content. JamPlay, the producer of this course, is also a prominent provider of guitar education. The collaboration between the two platforms highlights the growing trend of specialized online music education.
The release of this course comes at a time when many musicians are turning to digital resources to learn niche styles. By focusing on a historically significant subgenre, the program adds depth to the catalog of country‑music education available online.
The course is currently available for purchase on TrueFire’s website. Students who enroll can access the full 4.36 GB of content, which includes all video lessons, tabs, and backing tracks. No additional materials are required.
In summary, the new TrueFire course offers a structured, in‑depth exploration of the Bakersfield Sound, providing guitarists with the tools to study the style’s key figures, gear, and techniques. The program’s availability on a major online platform makes it accessible to a wide audience of country‑music enthusiasts and aspiring guitarists.
The program offers high‑definition video lessons, interactive tablature, and backing tracks that allow students to practice at their own pace. The curriculum is organized into modules that cover the distinctive techniques, melodic phrasing, and signature licks that define the Bakersfield Sound. Students learn how to play the classic hits of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, two artists who were central to the development of the style.
The Bakersfield Sound emerged in the mid‑to‑late 1950s in Bakersfield, California, as a reaction against the polished Nashville sound. It is characterized by a heavy use of electric instrumentation, a pronounced backbeat, and a twangy guitar tone. The style incorporates elements of rock and roll and honky‑tonk country, and it has influenced later genres such as outlaw country and progressive country.
Buck Owens, the frontman for The Buckaroos, pioneered the sound with a stripped‑down approach that emphasized a prominent drum track, a twangy electric guitar, and high, two‑part vocal harmonies. Merle Haggard, a member of the Strangers, also helped shape the Bakersfield Sound with his own guitar work and songwriting.
The course modules include:
Preparation for studying Buck Owens’ acoustic rhythm guitar style. Identification of the essential gear needed to replicate the Buckaroos’ tone, including high‑end, twangy guitars and percussive acoustic instruments. Development of the performance mindset and energy required for the style. Analysis of tonal characteristics such as bright, twangy sounds and percussive acoustic textures. * Contextual background on the historical production philosophy of the Bakersfield Sound.
By providing detailed instruction on these elements, the course aims to give guitarists a comprehensive understanding of the Bakersfield Sound’s musical heritage. Learners can study the genre’s roots while acquiring practical skills that can be applied to their own playing.
TrueFire is a well‑known online platform for guitar lessons that offers a wide range of instructional content. JamPlay, the producer of this course, is also a prominent provider of guitar education. The collaboration between the two platforms highlights the growing trend of specialized online music education.
The release of this course comes at a time when many musicians are turning to digital resources to learn niche styles. By focusing on a historically significant subgenre, the program adds depth to the catalog of country‑music education available online.
The course is currently available for purchase on TrueFire’s website. Students who enroll can access the full 4.36 GB of content, which includes all video lessons, tabs, and backing tracks. No additional materials are required.
In summary, the new TrueFire course offers a structured, in‑depth exploration of the Bakersfield Sound, providing guitarists with the tools to study the style’s key figures, gear, and techniques. The program’s availability on a major online platform makes it accessible to a wide audience of country‑music enthusiasts and aspiring guitarists.
