Course Overview
This “Intro to Guitar” course introduces new students to the guitar. The course begins with introductory material that does not require a guitar, and then moves on to six levels of guitar instruction which is equivalent to the instructional material that would be covered within 6-12 months of private in-person guitar lessons.
Both acoustic and electric guitar methods are covered, including styles such as: classical, country, rock, pop, blues, jazz, funk, hip-hop, R&B, soul, gospel, etc.
Lessons are taught in a similar style and format as in-person lessons, with each lesson containing relevant information pertaining to technique, sight reading, music theory, ear training, repertoire, song writing, and more.
Attached files will be available for download and printing when necessary.
Lessons have a Q&A style review in the video as well as an online quiz so that students can check their progress before moving on to the next lesson.
This course is intended to be professional, well-organized, and primarily educational, but it is also fun and light-hearted. All students are welcome, from hobbyists both young and old to the next generation of aspiring professionals.
This course includes:
• 7 SECTIONS
• 40 LESSONS
• OVER 50 VIDEOS
• OVER 25 SONGS COVERED
• OVER 20 HOURS OF VIDEO CONTENT
• OVER 50 PAGES OF MUSIC NOTATION MADE JUST FOR THIS COURSE
• ALL STUDY MATERIAL IS INCLUDED
• REVIEW Q&A IN EVERY LESSON
• ONLINE QUIZES FOR EACH LESSON
• NEW MUSIC VOCABULARY WITH EACH LESSON
Course Goals
Upon course completion, students will be able to play the guitar with confidence in open through second position on the fretboard. They will be able to play all basic chord shapes as well as major and minor scales. They will be able to perform songs in several different styles as well as read music in both tablature and standard notation. They will feel comfortable discussing basic topics in music theory and ear training. Students who complete this course will understand the true depth and breadth of the field of guitar music and will be able to move forward into an advanced study of any music style that they prefer.
Target Audience
This video-course is primarily intended for beginners of all ages. However, keep in mind that it is more scholarly in tone than a free online lesson would be (Youtubers for example) and will take serious effort to complete successfully. It begins with a 10-lesson course introduction followed by the standard lessons in sections 1-6. These sections increase successively in difficulty as far as technique and music knowledge are concerned, but the stylistic and repertoire portions of each lesson vary according to the theme of that section. Sections 1 and 2 focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to master rhythmic strumming and basic lead/riff playing, and could be completed by an elementary student with help from a parent and perhaps a smaller-sized instrument. Sections 3-6 dive deeper into specific guitar styles, focusing on fingerstyle, jazz and blues, rock, and R&B/Soul/Funk respectively. These sections are more appropriate for a well-motivated middle school or high school student, but younger students can still learn a lot from this material if they receive help and patience from a trusted adult.
Course Requirements
No prior music knowledge or study is necessary. It helps if the prospective student is interested in music and listens to music often. I sometimes reference the keyboard of a piano, so at least knowing what a piano looks like would be helpful. Otherwise, this course is designed, to the best of my ability, to be all inclusive from the ground up.
Required materials include a guitar, an amplifier (if you have an electric guitar), various guitar related items (strings, picks, etc.), a music stand, a desk or suitable workspace, a notebook and writing utensils, and a quiet room that is comfortable for practicing.
The course introduction includes advice on how and where to purchase all required items.
No music books are required as I include digital scans of any published material that I wish to cover, or I have included my own music documents created specifically for this course.
COURSE TOPICS
Course Introduction
In this section I will do my best to cover all the basics of guitar and music knowledge so that you have no unanswered questions moving forward.
Section 1.
In this section we will begin our study of chords and scales, physical technique, and basic music knowledge. We will conclude this section by learning how to play songs that only require chordal strumming.
Section 2.
In this section we will continue our study of musical terms and learn more advanced techniques including playing riffs and moveable chord shapes. We will review all of our new techniques as they apply to a song by The Beatles as well as basic blues form.
Section 3.
In this section we will continue to develop our knowledge and technique, and we will learn how to play fingerstyle guitar in music genres such as classical, country, and Bossa Nova.
Section 4.
In this section we will continue to develop our knowledge and technique, and we will learn how to play blues and jazz style techniques including string bending and rhythmic comping.
Section 5.
In this section we will continue to develop our knowledge and technique, and we will learn how to play rock guitar techniques from the 1960s-2010s such as distorted power chords, pick scrapes, artificial harmonics, and dive bombs.
Section 6.
In this section we will continue to develop our knowledge and technique, and we will learn how to play guitar in the context of music genres such as R&B, soul, funk, Motown, neo-soul, and hip-hop from the 1970s-2010s.
