Student Contents
Reading, writing, and ear training in first position.
Unit 1 / Rhythm First
Before the note reading gets heavy, get comfortable counting subdivisions and keeping the picking hand moving.
Decode attacks, sustains, releases, and rests inside eighth-note subdivision. You will count, track left to right, and practice the main rhythm symbols.
Use downstrokes on the numbers and upstrokes on the ands. Your hand keeps time while you play the strings, mute the strings, or play the air.
Unit 2 / First Position
Keep your hand in one spot while you connect the staff, the fretboard, and the sound of each melody.
Start with the low E, A, and D string notes. Read notes below the staff, find them on the fretboard, and use them in short melodies.
Move into the notes inside the treble clef staff. These notes show up often in melodies and chordal parts, so connect the staff to the fretboard quickly.
Add the high E string. The locations match the low E string two octaves higher, with a pinky stretch for high A.
Put the low, middle, and high notes together across two and a half octaves. Use the right finger for each fret and keep the reading process steady.
Unit 3 / Chord Melody
Use first-position reading to combine melody, bass notes, and chord tones into a solo guitar part.
Turn a lead sheet into a solo guitar part. Start with the melody, add bass notes, add chord tones, then add motion and texture.
The earlier version of the guitar course is still available if you need those materials.
Old Course