GUITAR 101: Introduction to the Guitar and Basic Principles
Bobby Kittleberger
bobby@guitarchalk.com
Office hours: Available via email
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This example syllabus is for a theoretical series of guitar lessons (a course) that
covers all of the basic tenants of learning the guitar in order with proper sequencing, topical buildout
and application opportunities for the student. This course covers a ten-week period in which guitar
anatomy, chords, scales, intervals, soloing technique and basic music theory topics are all discussed and
applied.
OBJECTIVES: As a result of this series of lessons, you will be able to:
Understand the parts and anatomy of a guitar.
Know how to engage in basic strumming and picking of both open strings and single fretted
notes.
Know how to use a tuner to tune your guitar to a standard E - A - D - G - B - E tuning.
Identify different types of guitars (acoustic, electric. Etc.).
Know the notes for the first 12 frets on all six strings or at least the high E, low E and A string.
Play sing notes with a pick moving from string to string and/or fret to fret.
Be able to play basic power chord shapes (dyads) and the common open chords from the CAGED
system.
Know and be able to use basic minor, major, power and barre chords.
Remember and utilize basic major, melodic minor and pentatonic guitar scales
Understand and put into practice basic soloing technique including bends, vibrato, sliding and
alternate picking.
Play through and be comfortable with simple chord progressions that allow you to play through
full songs.
GUITAR LESSON COURSE CALENDAR
Day Date Topic Application
Week 1 01/02/2017 Guitar anatomy Playing single notes (open and
fretted)
Basics of holding a Tuning with a tuner
guitar Identifying different types and
Tuning to standard parts of the guitar
tuning
Holding a pick and
picking notes.
Week 2 01/09/2017 Identifying notes on the Play through and memorize the
fretboard for the first 12 notes on the first 12 frets for at
frets least the sixth, fifth and first
strings
Name the notes as your play
them
Week 3 1/16/2017 Playing single notes and Play single notes while moving
moving through the from fret to fret and/or string
fretboard and/or to string while also naming
different strings whatever note is being played,
referring back to the fretboard
memorization from week two.
Week 4 1/23/2017 Playing basic two-note Be able to play two-note power
power chords (dyads) chords and move them to
and the open chords of different frets without a
the CAGED system. moderate amount of speed.
Play the open chords covered
and change between them
slowly
Week 5 1/30/2017 Playing other types of Use the chords learned thus far
minor, major, power to play some simple chord
and barre chords progressions and easy songs.
Week 6 2/6/2017 Cover some of the Use basic progressions and
simpler and more even songs to provide a
common guitar scale context in which to play the
shapes barre chord shapes covered
Week 7 2/13/2017 Talk about interval Use scales for some basic
theory (fretboard note improvisation. Show the
spacing) and illustrate student how to break in and
some of the most out of scale patterns and how
common interval shapes to use them to create melody
(major second, major and/or harmony.
third, perfect fifth, etc.)
Week 8 2/20/2017 Cover bends, vibrator Provide some examples of
and reinforce the improvised tabs and then have
concept of alternate the student come up with their
picking. own solos (something simple)
that incorporates these new
techniques.
Week 9 2/27/2017 Cover some more Revisit the application from
complex and/or lengthy week seven.
scales.
Week 10 3/6/2017 Cover basic strumming Work on some full songs that
and rhythm technique have a heavy rhythm to follow
with some background and that allow the student to
on beat and keeping practice going from intense
time (4/4 time, 3/4, etc.) playing to lighter, more subtle
Also cover the basics of guitar parts.
song dynamics (when to
play louder or softer).
