MIONLINE SHORT COURSE
Guitar Technique Fundamentals
i COURSE OVERVIEW
i YOU’LL LEARN TO
- Identify notes and navigate the guitar fretboard with confidence.
- Play a variety of basic chord shapes and transition between them smoothly.
- Perform common chord progressions used in popular music.
- Apply strumming patterns to accompany songs with rhythm guitar.
- Play simple lead lines using introductory solo guitar techniques.
- Experiment with basic improvisation over familiar chord progressions.
- Develop a personal practice routine to continue building technique and musicality.
- Perform simple songs independently or in a group setting.
- Recognize the role of both rhythm and lead guitar in different musical styles.
i LESSON GUIDE
This week, we will begin learning basic guitar fundamentals. Start by tuning the instrument using a tuner, a piano, or by matching the strings to each other. Then, focus on proper sitting technique for comfort and posture. Learn fretting-hand basics with the video "Basics of the Fretting Hand," followed by picking-hand skills through "Pick Grip" and "Picking Technique." Finally, practice finger placement and smooth chord transitions using the videos "Open Position Chords," "Finger Placement and Chord Transitions," and "Chord Transition Exercises."
- Tune a guitar accurately using a tuner, a piano, or by tuning the strings to each other.
- Demonstrate correct sitting posture while holding and playing the guitar.
- Apply proper fretting-hand technique to produce clean and accurate notes.
- Hold and use a guitar pick correctly with effective picking-hand technique.
- Place fingers accurately on the fretboard and transition smoothly between open position chords.
This week, we will focus on developing core rhythm guitar skills. Start by learning chord progressions to understand how chords connect within a song. Next, explore the basics of strumming technique to build consistent rhythm and feel. Then, begin working on the barre technique, which is essential for playing movable chords. Finally, apply this skill by learning barre chords with roots on the 6th string, helping you expand your chord vocabulary across the fretboard.
- Play common chord progressions smoothly and in time.
- Demonstrate the basics of strumming technique with consistent rhythm and dynamics.
- Apply proper barre technique to press down multiple strings with one finger.
- Play barre chords with roots on the 6th string accurately across different frets.
This week we are learning what a scale is, how the major scale is built, and how to play it across the entire guitar neck using the CAGED system. This unit breaks down the five major scale patterns based on the C, A, G, E, and D chord shapes, helping you connect the fretboard and build a strong foundation in music theory and improvisation.
- Define what a musical scale is and explain the structure of the major scale
- Identify and apply the whole-step/half-step formula of the major scale
- Understand the basics of the CAGED system and its five chord shapes
- Play the major scale across the fretboard using the five CAGED patterns
- Connect the scale patterns to navigate the guitar neck fluidly in any key
- Use the major scale for soloing, improvisation, and musical application
In this week we will learn to explore the essential 1–4–5 chord progression through arpeggios, using five different fretboard patterns. This course focuses on both learning and applying arpeggios for the I, IV, and V chords, while developing rhythmic picking techniques for solid rhythm guitar playing. Ideal for building musical phrasing, fretboard knowledge, and timing.
- Identify and understand the I–IV–V chord progression
- Play 1–4–5 arpeggios using five different fretboard patterns
- Apply arpeggios in various keys and positions across the neck
- Use rhythmic picking techniques to play arpeggios smoothly and in time
- Incorporate arpeggios into rhythm guitar playing for accompaniment and style
- Improve coordination, timing, and musical phrasing through targeted practice
i INSTRUCTOR
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