Guitar Course

Lesson 1 • Guitar Types and Selection

Compare acoustic, classical, and electric guitars across genres and playing goals. Students select the right instrument for their musical context.

Lesson 2 • Posture, Hand Position, and Ergonomics

Establish correct sitting and standing posture, fretting hand arch, and picking hand placement. Proper ergonomics prevents injury and accelerates skill development.

Lesson 3 • Basic Instrument Care and Maintenance

Perform routine cleaning, string changes, and humidity management to keep the guitar in optimal playing condition. Maintenance habits protect long-term investment.

Lesson 4 • Tuning Methods and Ear Training

Master standard tuning using electronic tuners, tuning apps, and relative pitch. Accurate tuning is prerequisite to all musical exercises ahead.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Tablature

Interpret six-line tab notation including fret numbers, open strings, and special symbols. Tab is the most common guitar notation format encountered in practice.

Lesson 2 • Rhythm Notation and Counting

Count eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and dotted rhythms using verbal counting systems. Rhythmic accuracy is essential for ensemble playing and recording.

Lesson 3 • Chord Diagrams and Symbols

Read chord grid diagrams showing finger placement, muted strings, and barre positions. Chord diagrams appear in songbooks, charts, and lead sheets.

Lesson 1 • Playing Full Songs with Chords

Apply open chords and strumming patterns to complete song arrangements. Song-based practice reinforces transitions, rhythm, and musical phrasing simultaneously.

Lesson 2 • Open Major and Minor Chords

Form and cleanly fret the most common open-position major and minor chords. These chords form the harmonic backbone of most popular music.

Lesson 3 • Seventh and Suspended Chords

Add dominant seventh, major seventh, and suspended chords to expand harmonic color. These voicings appear constantly in pop, blues, and folk styles.

Lesson 4 • Strumming Patterns and Rhythm

Execute downstroke, upstroke, and mixed strumming patterns with consistent tone. Rhythmic strumming drives the feel and groove of any song.

Lesson 1 • The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Master the five-note minor pentatonic scale in all five positions. This scale is the most widely used tool for soloing in rock, blues, and pop.

Lesson 2 • Melodic Phrasing and Expression

Shape single-note lines with dynamics, articulation, and rhythmic variation. Phrasing transforms technical scale runs into musical statements.

Lesson 3 • The Major Scale and Its Patterns

Learn the major scale formula and its five fretboard positions. The major scale is the foundation for melody, improvisation, and music theory.

Lesson 4 • Finger Independence and Dexterity

Build individual finger strength and coordination through targeted exercises. Dexterity exercises reduce fretting errors and increase playing speed.

Lesson 1 • E-Shape and A-Shape Barre Chords

Apply E-form and A-form barre chord shapes across all twelve frets. These two shapes cover every major and minor chord in any key.

Lesson 2 • Building Barre Chord Strength

Develop the index finger pressure and hand position needed for clean barre chords. Physical conditioning is the primary challenge in barre chord mastery.

Lesson 3 • The CAGED System Overview

Understand how five open chord shapes map the entire fretboard as movable forms. CAGED unlocks fretboard navigation and chord voicing variety.

Lesson 4 • Transposing Progressions to Any Key

Use movable shapes to shift any chord progression into a new key instantly. Transposition skills are critical for accompanying singers and collaborating.

Lesson 1 • Modes of the Major Scale

Understand and apply the seven modes as distinct tonal colors over chord progressions. Modes expand melodic vocabulary beyond the major and minor scales.

Lesson 2 • Diatonic Chords and Chord Function

Build and label all seven diatonic chords in a major key using Roman numeral analysis. Chord function explains why progressions create tension and resolution.

Lesson 3 • Intervals and the Fretboard

Identify all twelve intervals by sound and fretboard shape. Interval recognition is the foundation of chord construction and melodic analysis.

Lesson 4 • Chord Substitutions and Reharmonization

Replace standard chords with substitutes that share common tones or functions. Reharmonization adds sophistication to arrangements and compositions.

Lesson 1 • Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Execute legato hammer-ons and pull-offs cleanly at various tempos. Legato technique creates smooth, flowing lines that contrast with picked notes.

Lesson 2 • Building a Solo from Scratch

Construct a complete solo using pentatonic scales, bends, vibrato, and phrasing tools. Solo construction integrates all lead techniques into musical context.

Lesson 3 • String Bending Techniques

Bend strings accurately to target pitches using proper finger support and ear guidance. Bending is the most expressive single-note technique in rock and blues.

Lesson 4 • Slides and Glissandos

Perform fretted slides between notes with controlled pressure and timing. Slides add melodic connection and a vocal quality to guitar lines.

Lesson 1 • Stage Performance and Preparation

Prepare and deliver a polished live performance through structured rehearsal and mental readiness. Performance skills transform practice-room ability into stage confidence.

Lesson 2 • Improvisation Strategies

Improvise over chord progressions using scales, motifs, and listening skills. Improvisation is the real-time application of all technical and theoretical knowledge.

Lesson 3 • Rock and Pop Rhythm Techniques

Execute power chords, palm muting, and syncopated rhythms central to rock and pop. Rhythm guitar drives the energy and feel of a full band.

Lesson 4 • Blues Guitar Fundamentals

Apply the twelve-bar blues form, shuffle rhythm, and blues scale to authentic blues playing. Blues is the root of most Western popular guitar styles.