Course Subjects

Scales and Melodic Technique.

Learn diatonic and pentatonic major and minor scales in all keys in all positions on the fingerboard and how to play through position shifts smoothly. Learn to see at least five different keys vertically in any one position on the fingerboard. Picking, hammer on, pull off, string bending, damping, and muting techniques are covered. Discover melodies within the scales and how to apply information learned in this subject with the subject of ear training.

Chords.

Learn how to construct simple to complex chord voicings and arpeggios from scales. Chord progressions with varied rhythmic feels are presented. Picking, strumming, damping, and muting techniques are covered. Learn to see any single chord connected horizontally along the entire fingerboard and to see at least five different chords vertically in any one position on the fingerboard.

Harmony & Theory.

Study the components of tonal music and the language used daily by professional musicians when discussing those components. Scale structure and harmonization, individual chord structures, meter and rhythmic math, and applied chord / scale relationships are topics covered.

Ear Training.

Learn to recognize and categorize musical tones and relate them to scale and chord / arpeggio shapes on your guitar. Study how to hear tones by numbers and convert those numbers to pitch in any key and to write pitch in standard music notation. Learn to apply this skill to play melodies and chord progressions in any key by ear. Rhythmic ear training is also covered. This skill develops recognition of meter and rhythm and how to write it in standard music notation. Combined application of all these skills facilitates the ability to learn songs quickly, the ability to play by ear in general, and the ability to transcribe music in standard music notation.

Music Reading.

Develop the ability to recognize the symbols used in standard music notation and to play written music from the page. Learn to read rhythm and pitch with a unique system and to apply skills learned in Scales and Melodic Technique and Ear Training to find your way through written melodies. Learn the names of every note on your instrument in an organized, applicable and sensible manner.