Beginner training plan
Your first lessonMy first lesson is usually spent getting to know the student and seeing how experienced they are with music and how I can best assist.
Lesson 11+Lessons 11–15: Expanding Technique & Repertoire
Barre Chords: Intro to F and B minor, strengthening hand position
Chord Variations: Sus chords, add9s, 7th chords in context
Fingerpicking / Arpeggios: Travis picking basics, classical-style right hand patterns
Intermediate Songs: Pieces that mix open chords, riffs, and dynamics
Rhythm Feel: Shuffle vs. straight, strumming variations across genres
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Lessons 16–20: Theory & Expression
Scale Work: Pentatonic expansion (positions 2–5), major scale patterns
Improvisation: Playing over a 12-bar blues, creating melodic phrases
Songwriting Basics: Using I–IV–V progressions, experimenting with chord substitutions
Ear Training: Recognizing intervals, learning songs by ear
Dynamics & Tone: Controlling loud/soft playing, muting, harmonics
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Lessons 21–25: Building Musical Identity
Genres Exploration: Rock, pop, funk, folk, blues (depending on student’s interest)
Lead Playing: Bending, vibrato, hammer-ons/pull-offs, slides
Improvised Solos: Using pentatonic shapes to “tell a story”
Writing Riffs & Hooks: Encouraging creativity through small original ideas
Performance Skills: Playing with backing tracks, building stage confidence
Lesson 4-10Lessons 4–5: Building Comfort & Confidence
Chord Expansion: Moving beyond open chords (adding Dm, A7, C7, etc.)
Switching Practice: Smooth transitions between chords, basic chord-change drills
Strumming Patterns: Introducing new rhythmic feels (down-up, syncopation, palm muting)
First Complete Song: Simple 2–3 chord progression that they can play through start to finish
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Lessons 6–7: Strengthening Rhythm & Technique
Strumming Variations: Shuffle feel, accents, dynamics
Intro to Power Chords: Moving from open chords to root + fifth shapes (great for rock songs)
Basic Riff Playing: Learning a recognizable riff (e.g., Smoke on the Water or Seven Nation Army)
Playing with a Metronome: Internalizing steady rhythm
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Lessons 8–9: Exploring Melody & Musicality
Single-Note Playing: Basic melody lines, easy scale fragments
Intro to Scales: Pentatonic scale (box 1) for finger dexterity & improvisation basics
Call-and-Response Exercises: Teacher plays a short lick, student copies
Combining Chords & Melody: Playing riffs inside chord progressions
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Lesson 10: Putting It Together
Song Study: Tackling a full beginner-friendly song with both chords and a riff/melody
Improvisation Basics: Jamming over a simple backing track with the pentatonic scale
Performance Practice: Playing along with recordings to develop timing and feel
Goal Check-In: Reviewing progress, celebrating wins, and setting the next milestone (barre chords, fingerpicking, songwriting, etc.)
