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Guitar: Basics 1—UC Approved
Description: Welcome to Guitar: Basics 1! This course is designed to get students excited about playing guitar by serving as an introduction to the instrument, playing technique, types of music, and important figures in guitar performance. By taking this course students will learn how to play properly and how to read standard notation and tablature, chord diagrams, and chord charts. Students will also learn guitar care, maintenance, history, composition, and performance techniques. They will develop the ability to hear technique in other players and work to refine this listening skill. Students can expect to encounter a variety of listening and playing assignments, as well as lesson quizzes and exams. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of recordings that reflect the progress they made and will be ready for the next semester! This course is an entryway to an awesome world of playing in many different styles. By taking this beginner course, students are preparing themselves for a lifetime of making music for their own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.
Credit Hours: 0.5
Price: $250 [$200.00 Course Fee | $50.00 Admin Fee]
Subjects: Electives, Guitar, Music
ENROLL
Lessons Overview:
Lesson 1: An Introduction to the Guitar
- Guitar history
- Types of guitars
- Parts of the guitar
- Holding the guitar
- Plucking and picking
- Hand health
- Tuning the guitar
Lesson 2: Playing With Both Hands
- Left hand position and fingering
- How to read music diagrams
- Fretting warm up
- Strumming
- G, C, and D chords
Lesson 3: Reading TAB and Rhythms
- Warm up exercises
- Beats and rhythm
- Reading rhythms
- How to read tablature
- Reading rests
- Guitar care
- String replacement
Lesson 4: Reading Notes on the First and Second Strings
- Notes on the first string
- First string études
- Notes on the second string
- Second string études
- Dotted rhythms
Lesson 5: Standard Notation Fundamentals
- Standard notation
- Up picking
- Alternate picking
- Rhythm assignments
- The tie
Lesson 6: Accidentals
- Guitar history
- Accidentals
- Notes on the third string
- Syncopation
Lesson 7: Full Chords and Strum Patterns
- Alternate strumming
- Five strum patterns
- D7 chord
- Full G, C, D, and E minor chords
- Playing two chords per measure
- Performance review preparation
Lesson 8: Playing in Other Time Signatures
- 3/4 Time
- Two chords per measure in 3/4
- Simple meter
- Other time signatures
- Pickup measure
- The tie in strumming notation
Lesson 9: The G Major Scale
- Guitar history
- G major scale
- Dotted quarter note
- Anticipated chord changes
- Notes on the fourth string
Lesson 10: The C Major Scale
- Guitar history
- Notes on the fifth string
- C Major Scale
- Notes on the sixth string
Lesson 11: A Deeper Understanding of the Fretboard
- Fretboard understanding
- Chromatic scale
- Major scale construction
- “Say and Play” warm up
- Beyond the 12th fret
Lesson 12: Keys and Key Signatures
- Keys and key signatures
- Minor scale construction
- Relative scales
- Theory assignments
- Performance review
- Preparing for your final exam
*Please note: there are other lesson components and assignments that are not reflected on this summary.
Required Materials:
- Guitar (in playable condition)
- Guitar pick
- Tuner
- Metronome
- Computer and internet access
- Recording device (video camera, smart phone, tablet, computer, etc.)
Optional:
- Strap
- Replacement strings