Guitar Performance Techniques

Seize the savings! Get 40% off 3 months of Coursera Plus and full access to thousands of courses.

Guitar Performance Techniques

This course is part of How to Play Guitar Specialization

Instructor: Tim Miller

14,579 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

51 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

51 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Develop warm-up techniques to prepare for ensemble playing
Identify and play common chordal accompaniment
Demonstrate ensemble playing techniques while performing

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the How to Play Guitar Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Your favorite guitarist didn't become your favorite guitarist without the support of other musicians. The most important skill for a guitarist to learn is the exact same skill that was so important in kindergarten: playing well with others. Guitar Performance Techniques gives guitarists the essential and practical skills to play well with others in any ensemble situation. This course begins with daily warm-up techniques that help you prepare for rehearsals, jam sessions, and stage performances. From there, you'll explore chords, time accuracy, tone production, ear training, and the many aspects of jamming with other musicians. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to confidently interact with other musicians in a group setting and bring your A-game to any jam session you join.

Welcome to the course! 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 begin by learning how to warm up for a rehearsal or performance. Warming up effectively is essential to play your best, and you'll find that it will enhance all of your skills in an ensemble setting. It will help you to play more relaxed, get a better tone, improve your time, intonation, articulation, and allow you to focus on listening.

What's included

7 videos10 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

7 videos Total 18 minutes

Warming Up Your Mind and Visualizing 1 minute
Warming Up Your Body 2 minutes
Warming Up Your Picking Hand 3 minutes
Warming Up Your Fretting Hand 2 minutes
Synchronizing Your Picking and Fretting Hands 4 minutes
Warming Up In Tempo: Minor Triad Arpeggios 6 minutes
Warming Up In Tempo: Major, Augmented, and Diminished Arpeggios 2 minutes

10 readings Total 95 minutes

Welcome! 10 minutes
Connect with Your Classmates 5 minutes
Course Resources 10 minutes
Earn A Course Certificate 10 minutes
Warming Up Your Mind and Visualization 10 minutes
Warming Up Your Body 10 minutes
Warming Up Your Picking and Fretting Hands 10 minutes
Synchronization 10 minutes
Triad Arpeggio Exercises 10 minutes
Submitting Your Assignments 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Warming Up 30 minutes
SELF-ASSESSMENT: Triad Arpeggio Warm-ups 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Triad Arpeggio Warm-ups 10 minutes

This lesson focuses on the skills needed to develop “good ears.” Musicians who develop “good ears” are able to adapt to any musical situation, even when they do not know the song, key, or form. We will go over exercises to improve our ears and we will practice learning melodies and identifying chords by ear.

What's included

2 videos6 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videos Total 7 minutes

Transcribing Phrases By Ear 3 minutes
Transcribing Chords by Ear 3 minutes

6 readings Total 55 minutes

Singing What You Play and Playing What You Sing 10 minutes
Playing By Ear Exercises 10 minutes
Transcribing Phrases By Ear 10 minutes
Transcribing Chords by Ear 10 minutes
Recognizing Chord Types 10 minutes
Sign-up for the full experience! 5 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Developing Your Ears 30 minutes
SELF-ASSESSMENT: Transcribe a solo/melody 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Transcribe a solo/melody 10 minutes

This lesson will focus on key elements to develop your unique and personal sound on the guitar. We will discuss how the pick can be used to adjust four essential elements of your guitar sound: timbre, dynamics, note duration, and intonation. These four essential elements, when practiced with focus, will take you on the path to having a great touch and unique approach to sound and tone.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 14 minutes

Timbre 4 minutes
Dynamics 2 minutes
Note Duration 2 minutes
Playing in Tune 2 minutes
Vibrato 4 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Pick and Tone 10 minutes
Dynamics Activity 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Tone Production Essentials 30 minutes
SELF-ASSESSMENT: Composing with Timbre Changes 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Composing with Timbre Changes 10 minutes

In this lesson, we'll prepare for a performance. Being prepared for a rehearsal or gig can help to create a relaxed atmosphere and better overall performance experience. We will discuss developing a performance checklist as well the importance of knowing your gear. Finally, we'll highlight the importance of listening and blending on stage.

What's included

5 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 plugin

5 readings Total 47 minutes

Performance Checklist 10 minutes
Know Your Gear 10 minutes
Pre-Performance Warm-Up 10 minutes
Listening and Blending On Stage 10 minutes
Are you looking for more? 7 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Performance Preparation 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Record A Performance 60 minutes

1 plugin Total 15 minutes

Student Spotlight: Performing with an Ensemble 15 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(16 ratings)

Tim Miller

Berklee

1 Course 14,579 learners

Offered by

Berklee

Explore more from Music and Art

Status: Free Trial
Berklee
How to Play Guitar
Specialization
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Guitar for Beginners
Course
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Developing Your Musicianship
Course
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
74.50%
4 stars
15.68%
3 stars
3.92%
2 stars
1.96%
1 star
3.92%

Showing 3 of 51

Reviewed on Nov 23, 2020

Great to share the knowledge - I think I can become better in the ensemble / jamming situation now. Thanks!

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2021

Excellent course that definitely makes one work.

Reviewed on May 19, 2022

There is so much useful information and valuable musical insight. This is a gem to be available as it is.

View more reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

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.