Beginners Guitar Course

One to one lessons with a private tutor helps point out good technique and importantly verbal positive feedback on progress.


YouTube videos don't interact with you and advise on your playing, YouTube videos cannot stop you when poor technique or approach is evident, private tutors can correct mistakes before they become deep routed in you approach.


This modular approach to the beginners course should keep the course engaging while allowing students to gradually build skills. 


As always drop me a line and we can have an informal chat about a tailored approach that suits your level and commitment. 

Beginners Modules

  • Objective: Learn to properly hold the guitar, tuning, and basic open chords (C, G, D, E, A).
  • Skills: Tuning, correct hand positioning, basic strumming.
  • Exercise: Practice switching between basic chords.
  • Song: “Horse with No Name” by America (uses only two chords).
  • Objective: Learn basic strumming patterns and keeping time.
  • Skills: Downstrokes, upstrokes, and basic rhythms.
  • Exercise: Strum along with a metronome or backing track.
  • Song: “Jambalaya” by Hank Williams (simple down-up strumming).
  • Objective: Introduction to fingerpicking and basic patterns.
  • Skills: Thumb for bass notes, index and middle fingers for melody.
  • Exercise: Practice the basic Travis picking pattern.
  • Song: “Blackbird” by The Beatles (simplified version).
  • Objective: Build fluency in chord transitions.
  • Skills: Smooth chord changes, basic progressions (I-IV-V).
  • Exercise: Play chord progressions along with a metronome.
  • Song: “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan.
  • Objective: Learn and practice basic barre chords (F, Bm, Em).
  • Skills: Strengthening fingers, proper hand posture.
  • Exercise: Practice moving between barre chords.
  • Song: “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd.
  • Objective: Learn to vary strumming volume and texture.
  • Skills: Strumming with dynamics and emphasis.
  • Exercise: Practice playing soft and loud sections within the same song.
  • Song: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.
  • Objective: Understand basic rhythm and syncopation.
  • Skills: Off-beat strumming and timing exercises.
  • Exercise: Play along with a backing track, focusing on rhythm.
  • Song: “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz (focus on syncopated strumming).
  • Objective: Introduce basic fingerpicking patterns with simple solos.
  • Skills: Fingerpicking patterns and learning simple lead lines.
  • Exercise: Simple melodies in open position.
  • Song: “Stairway to Heaven” (first section, simplified).
  • Objective: Learn the basics of a 12-bar blues progression.
  • Skills: Understanding blues structure and basic lead playing.
  • Exercise: Play along with a 12-bar blues backing track.
  • Song: “Sweet Home Chicago” (simplified version).
  • Objective: Learn how to combine strumming and fingerpicking.
  • Skills: Smooth transitions between strumming and fingerpicking.
  • Exercise: Combine both techniques in a simple song.
  • Song: “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas.
  • Objective: Learn basic chord extensions and 7th chords.
  • Skills: Incorporating 7th chords and extended chords into progressions.
  • Exercise: Play simple progressions using extended chords.
  • Song: “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King (using 7th chords).
  • Objective: Learn to play a set of easy songs with both strumming and fingerpicking.
  • Skills: Creating a repertoire of songs to play solo or with others.
  • Exercise: Review songs from previous modules and perform them.
  • Song: Choose from previously learned songs or introduce new simple ones.