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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 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
Module 2: Arpeggios
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
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.
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
Module 3: Chords and Progressions
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
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.
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
Module 4: Rhythm
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
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
Show info about module content
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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Founded in 2002, Berklee Online is the premier innovator and largest provider of worldwide music education, offering more than 75,000 students from 144 countries the renowned curriculum of Berklee College of Music, at a fraction of the cost. Through Berklee Online’s award-winning online courses, certificates, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs, students receive expert music instruction and emerge with the skills to exceed the demands of the music industry.
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Learner reviews
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5 stars
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4 stars
17.30%
3 stars
2.29%
2 stars
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1 star
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5·
Reviewed on Oct 24, 2020
It was really an amazing journey of learning guitar with berklee college of music... thank you so much for providing this online ..really helped me a lot..
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IC
4·
Reviewed on Jan 27, 2019
Good beginner/early intermediate course which touches on some typical chord progressions and arpeggios and the ionian major scale (but not inversions or other modes and scales)
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NF
5·
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.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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.
Is financial aid available?
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.