4.8
stars
2,182 ratings

Thaddeus Hogarth

285,905 already enrolled

Offered By

Berklee College of Music

About this Course

55,660 recent views

Grasp the essentials needed to begin playing acoustic or electric guitar. You'll learn an easy approach to get you playing quickly, through a combination of exploring the instrument, performance technique, and basic music theory.
For students who have long thought about picking up the acoustic or electric guitar, this course will provide an easy-access foundation that will get you playing. When first learning guitar, it is important to have the material presented in stages, in an enjoyable way that allows you to grasp the basics of the instrument and music. The course begins simply with the parts of the guitar, the names of the strings, tuning, and technique—whether finger-style or pick. It then explores the basics of music theory with such topics as scales, triads, power chords, and fingering and shapes.

At the end of this course, students will understand the structure, parts, and accessories of the instrument, in addition to an understanding of its basic maintenance. Electric guitar players will learn the operation of their instrument along with basic options for amplification, effect pedals, and sounds. Students will also learn to develop correct technique and apply theory concepts to their playing. They will have the foundational knowledge necessary to pursue most intermediate guitar courses.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Identify string names and numbers and read music notation, tablature, chord block diagrams, and fretboard maps
Practice picking, finger picking, and strumming patterns
Play various chords including major and minor triads, open, barre, and pose chords
Read and play a lead sheet

Skills you will gain

Tablature
Music notation
Guitar scales
Guitar chords
Guitar

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (220 Ratings)

Thaddeus Hogarth

Offered by

Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(48,724 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to Introduction to Guitar

1 hour to complete

5 readings

4 hours to complete

Acoustic / Electric Guitar and the Basics

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 33 min), 5 readings, 4 quizzes

7 videos

Choosing Acoustic Or Electric Guitar3m

Choosing the Right Guitar: Right-Handed vs Left-Handed3m

Essential Accessories for Acoustic Guitar7m

Essential Accessories for Electric Guitar4m

Parts of the Guitar (Electric)6m

Chord Block Diagrams and Fretboard Maps2m

A Minor and E Major Chords5m

5 readings

Parts of the Guitar (Acoustic)5m

Guide to Chord Block Diagrams and Fretboard Maps10m

A Minor and E Major Chord Block Diagrams10m

Join Your Study Group10m

Comparing Major and Minor Chords1h

4 practice exercises

Essential Accessories15m

Identifying the Parts of the Guitar30m

Chord Block Diagrams and Fretboard Maps25m

Lesson Reflection30m

Week

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Getting Started: Fundamental Guitar Skills

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 52 min), 6 readings, 4 quizzes

7 videos

String Names and Numbers2m

Tuning Your Guitar with a Tuner8m

Tuning Your Guitar by Matching10m

Tuning Your Guitar with Harmonics4m

Picking Technique10m

Finger Picking8m

Strumming the Guitar6m

6 readings

Online Guitar Tuner from Berklee Online10m

Guide to Picking15m

Guide to Fingerpicking15m

Guide to Strumming15m

Join Your Study Group10m

Exercise: Picking and Strumming10m

4 practice exercises

String Names and Numbers30m

Tuning Your Guitar20m

Finger Picking10m

Lesson Reflection30m

Week

Week 3

4 hours to complete

The Twelve Half Steps and Basic Notation

4 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 29 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Scales: Construction and Fingerings

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 45 min), 3 readings, 4 quizzes

Reviews

4.8

632 reviews

5 stars
83.75%
4 stars
12.59%
3 stars
1.82%
2 stars
0.77%
1 star
1.04%

TOP REVIEWS FROM GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS

by DSJan 12, 2020

Grate beginner course. Gives you an understanding of basic music theory to help understand how to solo over scales as well as basic strumming and picking. Better than any YouTube video I have tried.

by RYJun 27, 2020

Too good,very much informative & extremely knowledgeable, practical course for beginners in Guitars.

Thanks to Berklee College of Music & Coursera for such a wonderful course.

by JVMay 30, 2020

It is very explicative and involving. Access to a community with other guitar learners helps you to overcome the difficulties. I would like to have closer contact with the professor.

by RFDec 26, 2015

This is a guitar class, done with class. Loved the teacher, Thaddius. After taking this class I got a job at a church playing guitar. This class increased my income by thousands a year.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Guitar for Beginners

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain