Essentials Primer Beginners Guitar Course “Preview”
Introduction
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu (Ancient Chinese Philosopher) When I started playing the guitar many years ago I had no idea that all these years later it would bring me to you today. I’m genuinely excited and I hope that this is the first step of many that you, your guitar, and I will take together. My first lesson was horrific and it made me think my teacher hated me. My fingers ached; they refused to do what I wanted them to do. I had to borrow guitars for every lesson because I didn’t even have my own guitar; the other students seemed way better than me, and yet…I started to enjoy it. In spite of all of that I began to love playing or more accurately – trying to play. I discovered that playing music made me appreciate it in an entirely different way than merely listening to it. Honestly, it felt like I’d found the unlock code to an esoteric world full of wonder and magic that was in plain sight but remained invisible to most – not unlike the train platform to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. I started to make new friends that played all kinds of instruments; we shared ideas; we wrote awful songs; we pretended to be rockstars into the wee small hours. I also found great joy just playing my guitar peacefully, alone in my room, while my family watched tv and ate snacks in the living room. During this time I realised I was part of something. I wasn’t exactly sure what that something was, however I felt like I had started a very special journey. I didn’t care that I didn’t know where I was going and it didn’t matter. I was just happy to be along for the ride with my trusty guitar as sidekick and confidante. Life is a journey, and learning guitar is a journey within that journey. Our lives are full of ups, downs, trials, tribulations, circles and squares, yet I’m beyond grateful that the guitar has been a refrain in the song that is my life’s journey. Every now and again when I turn on my metronome I ponder how it may have clicked off the many beats of my life if I hadn’t decided to see what this piece of wood and strings was all about. My name is Joshua Rogers – welcome to the Essentials Primer Beginners Guitar Course for You! Grab your guitar – your journey is about to begin.
Course Overview
This course is comprised of modules. Within each module are lessons and exercises that are numbered and named for easy reference. You can find and navigate to any course content in this eBook quickly and easily by clicking on a module, lesson or exercise in the table of contents. Each module begins with an overview where I explain what you will learn in the module. Modules are usually comprised of instructional videos, music scores, quizzes, and exercises aimed at gradually building and strengthening your technique, theory and mental fortitude. I strongly recommend that you finish one module before proceeding to the next, otherwise you may find yourself struggling unnecessarily with material that is too advanced which leads to frustration, which in turn hinders progress. The course has been designed to introduce you to guitar using classical guitar fundamentals. It avoids rushing in with lofty promises of teaching you to play songs because that approach often ends in tears. Beginners feel compelled to play exactly like the song, only to discover their efforts are futile, progress slows, and in the worst case they give up entirely. Instead, you and I are going to play the long game. We trade short-term thrills for long-term gains and ability. Crafting technique and theory over time resulting in a consummate guitarist that is armed with the techniques and theoretical knowledge to confidently make music alone and with collaboratively. During this course you will learn how to:- Strum and pick with your fingers
- Recognise the symbols used to name the fingers on both hands
- Name all the strings on the guitar
- Understand two different time signatures
- Count different rhythms, name notes, dotted notes, and their values
- Read tablature and develop an awareness of music notation
- Recognise and understand the effect of sharps and natural signs
- Play eight different chords and a chord progression that is used in thousands of songs
- Play Ode to Joy, Malagueña Facil, and the 12 Bar Blues in A
- Accompany and be accompanied by another player
- Interpret the meaning of several musical symbols and score indications
- Four different scales including G major, A Pentatonic Major, D Pentatonic Minor, and E Pentatonic Major
- Improvise and create your own solos using the A, D and E Pentatonic Scales
- Cope and deal with finger pain, lack of progress, information overload, poor motivation and more
- Use classical guitar techniques for both hands
- Communicate and share your experiences with like-minded people on their own journey’s via the NBN Guitar Community Forum
House Keeping & Essential Equipment
Below are some tips to help you get through the course in good time with minimal stress and interruptions:
- Get your guitar set up by a luthier or guitar technician
- Buy a metronome, guitar tuner, and a stand
- Keep your guitar in good condition
- Have a spare set of strings handy
- Keep snacks and a drink nearby
- Practice in a quiet tidy space
- Tell people your routine
- Minimise distractions
Course Information
Course Instructor
Module 1
About this Course
Introduction
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu (Ancient Chinese Philosopher) When I started playing the guitar many years ago I had no idea that all these years later it would bring me to you today. I’m genuinely excited and I hope that this is the first step of many that you, your guitar, and I will take together. My first lesson was horrific and it made me think my teacher hated me. My fingers ached; they refused to do what I wanted them to do. I had to borrow guitars for every lesson because I didn’t even have my own guitar; the other students seemed way better than me, and yet…I started to enjoy it. In spite of all of that I began to love playing or more accurately – trying to play. I discovered that playing music made me appreciate it in an entirely different way than merely listening to it. Honestly, it felt like I’d found the unlock code to an esoteric world full of wonder and magic that was in plain sight but remained invisible to most – not unlike the train platform to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. I started to make new friends that played all kinds of instruments; we shared ideas; we wrote awful songs; we pretended to be rockstars into the wee small hours. I also found great joy just playing my guitar peacefully, alone in my room, while my family watched tv and ate snacks in the living room. During this time I realised I was part of something. I wasn’t exactly sure what that something was, however I felt like I had started a very special journey. I didn’t care that I didn’t know where I was going and it didn’t matter. I was just happy to be along for the ride with my trusty guitar as sidekick and confidante. Life is a journey, and learning guitar is a journey within that journey. Our lives are full of ups, downs, trials, tribulations, circles and squares, yet I’m beyond grateful that the guitar has been a refrain in the song that is my life’s journey. Every now and again when I turn on my metronome I ponder how it may have clicked off the many beats of my life if I hadn’t decided to see what this piece of wood and strings was all about. My name is Joshua Rogers – welcome to the Essentials Primer Beginners Guitar Course for You! Grab your guitar – your journey is about to begin.
Course Overview
This course is comprised of modules. Within each module are lessons and exercises that are numbered and named for easy reference. You can find and navigate to any course content in this eBook quickly and easily by clicking on a module, lesson or exercise in the table of contents. Each module begins with an overview where I explain what you will learn in the module. Modules are usually comprised of instructional videos, music scores, quizzes, and exercises aimed at gradually building and strengthening your technique, theory and mental fortitude. I strongly recommend that you finish one module before proceeding to the next, otherwise you may find yourself struggling unnecessarily with material that is too advanced which leads to frustration, which in turn hinders progress. The course has been designed to introduce you to guitar using classical guitar fundamentals. It avoids rushing in with lofty promises of teaching you to play songs because that approach often ends in tears. Beginners feel compelled to play exactly like the song, only to discover their efforts are futile, progress slows, and in the worst case they give up entirely. Instead, you and I are going to play the long game. We trade short-term thrills for long-term gains and ability. Crafting technique and theory over time resulting in a consummate guitarist that is armed with the techniques and theoretical knowledge to confidently make music alone and with collaboratively. During this course you will learn how to:- Strum and pick with your fingers
- Recognise the symbols used to name the fingers on both hands
- Name all the strings on the guitar
- Understand two different time signatures
- Count different rhythms, name notes, dotted notes, and their values
- Read tablature and develop an awareness of music notation
- Recognise and understand the effect of sharps and natural signs
- Play eight different chords and a chord progression that is used in thousands of songs
- Play Ode to Joy, Malagueña Facil, and the 12 Bar Blues in A
- Accompany and be accompanied by another player
- Interpret the meaning of several musical symbols and score indications
- Four different scales including G major, A Pentatonic Major, D Pentatonic Minor, and E Pentatonic Major
- Improvise and create your own solos using the A, D and E Pentatonic Scales
- Cope and deal with finger pain, lack of progress, information overload, poor motivation and more
- Use classical guitar techniques for both hands
- Communicate and share your experiences with like-minded people on their own journey’s via the NBN Guitar Community Forum
House Keeping & Essential Equipment
Below are some tips to help you get through the course in good time with minimal stress and interruptions:
- Get your guitar set up by a luthier or guitar technician
- Buy a metronome, guitar tuner, and a stand
- Keep your guitar in good condition
- Have a spare set of strings handy
- Keep snacks and a drink nearby
- Practice in a quiet tidy space
- Tell people your routine
- Minimise distractions
Course Information
Course Instructor
