Guitar Course
This course teaches the fundamentals of guitar-playing to those worship leaders with little or no experience. It started with simple chords, because most guitarists in praise bands and pop music focus on playing chords, and then moves on to more difficult techniques.
Course Syllabus
Course Objective:
The student will learn the rudiments of guitar playing, including open and barre chords, strumming and picking patterns, and basic music and tablature reading. The course will provide the student with the skills necessary to accompany singing at the guitar and give a solid foundation for future growth in guitar playing.
Required Text:
Phillips, Mark and Jon Chappell, Guitar for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books, 1998.
Note: The tests and exam will have both written and playing components.
CLASS SCHEDULE
- Introduction to Guitar Class
Syllabus; Tuning, Posture, E Chord
Read: Introduction and Chapter 1-3 - A Family Chords
Read: 41-45
Practice: Kumbaya, p54 - D and G Family Chords
Read: 45-49
Practice: Swing Low, p55; Auld Lang Syne, p56 - C Family Chords & The “Oldies” Progression
Read: 49-52; 58-59
Practice: Michael Row, p57; Oldies in C & G - Test #1
- Music Reading
Read: 323-332 - Tablature, Left-Hand Fingering, Picking
Read: 61-67
Practice: Little Brown Jug, p68; Smokey, p69 - Review
Practice: Swanee River, p70 - Test #2
- Dominant 7 Chords
Read: 71-74; 84-85
Practice: Over the River, p81
12 Bar Blues, p84 (extra credit for writing and singing lyrics) - Minor and Major 7 Chords
Read: 75-77
Practice: It’s Raining, p82; Oh Susanna, p83 - E Barre Chords
Read: 105-113
Practice: All examples shown in text - A Barre and Power Chords
Read: 113-124
Practice: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, p126 - Test #3
- Fingerstyle
Read: 209-224
Practice: The 2 Patterns on p215; The Lullaby Pattern;
and Simple Thumb-Brush - Final Exam