Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions
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Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions
This course is part of How to Play Guitar Specialization
Instructor: Amanda Monaco
52,231 already enrolled
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What you'll learn
Play scales in a moveable open position
Identify and play major, minor, diminished, and augmented arpeggios
Add rhythmic timing to arpeggios and strumming to enhance your playing
Details to know
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There are 4 modules in this course
You’ve got the guitar basics down: You can strum your guitar and play a few of your favorite songs, but you’re ready to take the tunes to the next level. In Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions you’ll expand your knowledge of scales, chord fingerings, and common chord progressions. You’ll also learn important skills for soloing, creating melodies, and adding depth and dimension to your guitar playing.
This course is not only for the aspiring guitarist who has taken Berklee’s Guitar for Beginners, but also for guitarists who have let their six-string gather dust for too long, and want to brush up on techniques. Each lesson covers the four basic aspects you’ll need to sharpen your guitar chops: scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm. Amanda’s practical approach to learning these important elements is fun and helps you to use what you’re learning and practicing in a real musical setting. You’ll improve your playing and creativity, whether it be as a singer-songwriter, a guitarist accompanying a singer, or a player in the band. By the end of this course, you’ll be more comfortable playing throughout the neck, and you’ll gain a better understanding of chord structure and how each chord relates to tonal centers or keys. You’ll also be able to solo and improvise by playing simple lead guitar lines based on the minor pentatonic scale. Whether your preference is for acoustic or electric, the curriculum is designed to turn you into a real guitarist.
Welcome to Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience. Then, we'll start by learning and practicing the pentatonic scale. First we'll learn the b3 pentatonic scale, then the b7 pentatonic scale, and then we'll learn how to play the scale on one string. We'll also work on improvising using a single string. Finally, we'll practice playing scales in a moveable open position.
What's included
8 videos6 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts
8 videos•Total 26 minutes
- What You Can Expect to Learn In This Course•2 minutes
- What You'll Learn in this Lesson•0 minutes
- The b3 Pentatonic Scale•4 minutes
- The b7 Pentatonic Scale•4 minutes
- The Major Scale and Improvising On One String•4 minutes
- The Pentatonic Scale on One String•3 minutes
- Playing a Scale in a Moveable Open Position•6 minutes
- Putting It All Together•4 minutes
6 readings•Total 105 minutes
- Course Resources•10 minutes
- Earn A Certificate•10 minutes
- Connect with Your Classmates•5 minutes
- Practicing the b3 and the b7 Pentatonic Scales•30 minutes
- Practicing On One String•20 minutes
- Practice Exercise #1: Practicing Scales•30 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Review: Pentatonic Scales•10 minutes
- Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
- Self-Assessment: Practice Exercise #1•10 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 15 minutes
- Meet and Greet•5 minutes
- Reflection: Practicing Scales•10 minutes
In this module, we'll be working with arpeggios, which means playing the notes in a chord one at a time. We'll be learning and practicing major, minor, diminished, and augmented arpeggiated chords.
What's included
6 videos7 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt
6 videos•Total 19 minutes
- What You'll Learn in this Lesson•1 minute
- Major Arpeggios•4 minutes
- Minor Arpeggios•4 minutes
- Diminished Arpeggios•3 minutes
- Augmented Arpeggios•4 minutes
- Putting It All Together•4 minutes
7 readings•Total 165 minutes
- Practicing Major Arpeggios•30 minutes
- Practicing Minor Arpeggios•30 minutes
- Practicing Diminished Arpeggios•30 minutes
- Practicing Augmented Arpeggios•10 minutes
- Putting It All Together•30 minutes
- Sign up for the full experience!•5 minutes
- Practice Exercise #2: Practicing Arpeggios•30 minutes
3 assignments•Total 55 minutes
- Review: Major and Minor Arpeggios•15 minutes
- Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
- Self-Assessment: Practice Exercise #2•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Reflection: Practicing Arpeggios•10 minutes
In this module, we'll begin practicing chords and popular chord progressions. We'll also begin practicing these progressions with both open and barre chords.
What's included
6 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt
6 videos•Total 28 minutes
- What You'll Learn in this Lesson•1 minute
- I IV V and I V IV•4 minutes
- I VI II V and I VI IV V•4 minutes
- I V VI IV•4 minutes
- The 12 Bar Blues•7 minutes
- Putting It All Together•9 minutes
5 readings•Total 150 minutes
- Practicing the I IV V and I V IV Progressions•30 minutes
- Practicing the I VI II V and I VI IV V Progressions•30 minutes
- Practicing the I V VI IV Progression•30 minutes
- Practicing the 12 Bar Blues•30 minutes
- Practice Exercise #3: Practicing Chords and Progressions•30 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Review: Chords and Progressions•10 minutes
- Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
- Self Assessment: Practice Exercise #3•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Reflection: Practicing Chords and Progressions•10 minutes
In this final module, we will focus on arpeggiated chords and playing them in different rhythms. We will also practice blues scales and finally, put all of these aspects together.
What's included
7 videos1 reading3 assignments1 peer review
7 videos•Total 24 minutes
- What You'll Learn in this Lesson•1 minute
- Rhythm and (Blues) Scales•5 minutes
- Arpeggios with Rhythm•4 minutes
- Strumming Patterns with Chords•7 minutes
- Arpeggios and Chords•4 minutes
- Putting It All Together•3 minutes
- Review•0 minutes
1 reading•Total 7 minutes
- Are you looking for more?•7 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
- Review: Rhythm and Scales•10 minutes
- Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
- Self-Assessment: Practice Exercise #4•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
- Practice Exercise #4: Practicing in Rhythm•60 minutes
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Reviewed on Aug 16, 2020
Excellent, very helpful, the instructor was fantastic, I learned a lot. Would appreciate more examples of putting it all together. I enjoyed the process, even with my busy schedule.
Reviewed on Mar 18, 2023
Loved this course. I've been a long-time guitar player looking for a way to improve my skills. This course was well-paced, and the lectures were very easy to follow.
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2020
Pretty good for novice guitar players, as well as some good practice tips and techniques for more advanced players. Really liked the instructor.
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
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