Introduction to Guitar 1

This is the first course in our basic guitar series and serves as an introductory course for the absolute beginner. Our focus is on basic open chords and techniques that allow us to play some of our favorite folk, rock, and country songs. We will also engage in basic music theory relevant to guitar.

Some broad concepts we will explore:

• Pitch and Notes

• Standard Tuning

• Tones and Semitones

• Chromatic Scales

• Major Scales (within the context of building major triads)

• Useful Open Chords within the key of G major

  • G major

  • C major

  • D major

  • E minor

  • D7 (dominant 7th)

• Introductory theoretical consideration of seventh and suspended chords (within the practical contexts of D7, Dsus2, and Dsus4)

• Elementary four-count rhythms and strumming patterns

• Songs we will work on playing together**:

  • Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

  • Stand by Me, Ben E. King

  • Leaving on a Jet Plane, John Denver

  • Other songs based on class interest. With past classes, we have worked on songs from Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Jose Feliciano, Pearl Jam, Bob Marley, Green Day, Christmas Carols, and many more.

  • **(song selection can vary depending upon class interest and other considerations)