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Subscribe and get a free lessonBeginner training plan
Your first lessonLesson 1–2: Getting Started
• Book Reference:
• Hal Leonard: pp. 2–5 (parts of guitar, how to hold, tuning, first notes on strings).
Lesson 2-3Hal Leonard: First melodies with notes on 1st and 2nd strings.
• Alfred’s: Adding notes + “Playing with others” play-alongs.
• Your Add-On: Add C and D chords; strumming down/up.
• Songwork: First 2–3 chord song (kid-friendly or worship tune).
• Goal: Play melody lines from the book and strum simple chords.
Lesson 4-10Hal Leonard: Review songs, rhythm reading, first duets.
• Alfred’s: More complex songs, early ensemble work.
• Your Add-On: Introduce F chord (with options: partial, mini-barre). Explore strumming variations (syncopation, worship strums).
• Goal: Student can play a full song from book + strum along to a recording.
Lesson 11+Hal Leonard: End of Book 1 / transition into Book 2 (sharps, flats, full melodies).
• Alfred’s: More songs, fun riffs, intro to scales.
• Your Add-On: Barre chords, power chords, fingerpicking or intro to soloing depending on interest. Build a 3–5 song setlist.
• Goal: Student feels confident strumming songs, reading simple notation, and understanding chord progressions.
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonPhase 1: Technique Mastery
• Scales & Modes
• 3-notes-per-string major & minor scales across the neck.
• Modes of the major scale (Ionian → Locrian).
• Pentatonic scale extensions + connecting positions.
• Arpeggios
• Major, minor, dominant, diminished & augmented arpeggios.
• Sweep picking & economy picking studies.
• Chord Vocabulary
• Expand beyond CAGED: 7th chords, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, altered dominants.
• Drop-2 and drop-3 voicings.
• Right-Hand Mastery
• Alternate picking at high tempos.
• Hybrid picking & fingerstyle.
