Rick Beato
Rick Beato is a musician, producer and educator who helps listeners hear more in their favorite songs through musical breakdowns, lessons and conversations with the people who made them.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Rick’s team an official invite.
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Latest
Rick’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- What Makes This Song Great?2020 · Nirvana song breakdown
YouTube - David Gilmour: The Studio Interview 20252025 · Interviewer
YouTube - Book and lessonsThe Beato Book InteractiveMusic theory · Author and instructor
- Carolina2013 · Co-writer, Parmalee
Music - GibsonRick Beato Les Paul Special Double Cut2022 · Gibson signature guitar collaborator
Overview
- Based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Work
- Musician, producer, songwriter, educator and interviewer
- Education
- Ithaca College; New England Conservatory, MM ’87
- Breakout
- A viral video of son Dylan demonstrating perfect pitch led to music lessons on YouTube.
Mini bio
Learning by playing.
Rick studied cello and double bass before finding a connection with guitar. After studying music at Ithaca College and earning a master’s at New England Conservatory in 1987, Rick taught at Ithaca. Studio work later brought Rick to Atlanta, where Black Dog Sound Studios opened in 1995.
Before the camera.
Years of recording, teaching and songwriting sit behind the channel. Rick co-wrote Parmalee’s “Carolina” with the band; it reached No. 1 at country radio in 2013. Brent Smith also credits Rick as a co-writer of Shinedown’s “Son of Sam.”
A family video became a classroom.
In its 2025 alumni profile, New England Conservatory traces the channel’s beginnings to a 2015 video of Rick’s son Dylan identifying chords by ear. Questions from viewers prompted lessons about theory and ear training. Rick later built a home for song analysis and long conversations with musicians.
Listening closely.
What Makes This Song Great? pulls apart familiar recordings to explain their songwriting and production. The interviews bring that same curiosity to artists such as David Gilmour and Billy Joel. Fans can follow a chord, a guitar sound or a studio decision all the way back to the person who made it.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music and instruments
- 2022Rick Beato Les Paul Special Double CutSignature guitar collaboration with Gibson
- 2013Carolina · ParmaleeCo-writer
- 2008Son of Sam · ShinedownCo-writer with Brent Smith
Video
- 2026The Billy Joel InterviewInterviewer
- 2025David Gilmour: The Studio Interview 2025Interviewer
- 2020What Makes This Song Great? “Smells Like Teen Spirit”Host and musical analyst
Awards
Quotes
I make these videos so I can upload my brain.Rick Beato, New England Conservatory alumni profile
On sharing musical experience and knowledge through YouTube. The source is linked below.
Trivia
- Rick played cello and double bass before taking up guitar.
- Rick’s signature Gibson finish is called TV Blue Mist.
- Rick said supporting the Save the Music Foundation helped motivate the signature guitar collaboration.
Find Rick
Follow Rick for song breakdowns, lessons and conversations about making music.
Are you Rick Beato?
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