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.
Offered By
Berklee College of MusicAbout this Course
927,864 recent views
Learner Career Outcomes
33%
started a new career after completing these courses
50%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
50%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 22 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Catalan, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Russian, English
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
TablatureMusic notationGuitar scalesGuitar chordsGuitar
Learner Career Outcomes
33%
started a new career after completing these courses
50%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
50%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 22 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Catalan, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Russian, English
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1 hour to complete
Welcome to Introduction to Guitar
Welcome to Guitar for Beginners! Before you begin the course, we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your Berklee massive online course.
1 hour to complete
5 readings
5 readings
Meet Your Teaching Assistants10m
Connect with Your Classmates10m
Getting to Know You10m
Course Resources10m
Earn A Course Certificate10m
1 practice exercise
What Are Your Goals?30m
4 hours to complete
Acoustic / Electric Guitar and the Basics
In this first lesson, we will take things slow. We will focus on how to choose the right guitar for you and what accessories are essential for any guitar player. We'll also learn the parts of the guitar and get you comfortable with your instrument.
4 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 33 min), 4 readings, 4 quizzes
7 videos
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
4 readings
Parts of the Guitar (Acoustic)5m
Guide to Chord Block Diagrams and Fretboard Maps10m
A Minor and E Major Chord Block Diagrams10m
Comparing Major and Minor Chords1h
4 practice exercises
Essential Accessories15m
Identifying the Parts of the Guitar30m
Chord Block Diagrams and Fretboard Maps25m
Lesson Reflection30m
4 hours to complete
Getting Started: Fundamental Guitar Skills
In this lesson, you will learn how to tune and you will start playing your instrument from the ground up! Be patient and remember: focus on being accurate and play in consistent time with your metronome. These things are far more important than playing with speed.
4 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 52 min), 5 readings, 4 quizzes
7 videos
Tuning Your Guitar with a Tuner8m
Tuning Your Guitar by Matching10m
Tuning Your Guitar with Harmonics4m
Picking Technique10m
Finger Picking8m
Strumming the Guitar6m
5 readings
Online Guitar Tuner from Berklee Online10m
Guide to Picking15m
Guide to Fingerpicking15m
Guide to Strumming15m
Exercise: Picking and Strumming10m
4 practice exercises
String Names and Numbers30m
Tuning Your Guitar20m
Finger Picking10m
Lesson Reflection30m
3 hours to complete
The Twelve Half Steps and Basic Notation
While you don’t need to be an expert on music theory to play guitar, it is important to know the basic building blocks of music. With this understanding, music will no longer be shrouded in mystery or complexity. This lesson presents fundamental musical ideas in a fun, non-intimidating way.
3 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 29 min), 2 readings, 5 quizzes
4 videos
Notes on the Fretboard8m
Rhythm Basics5m
Music Notation and Tablature6m
2 readings
The Note Wheel10m
Exercise: Playing Notes10m
5 practice exercises
Twelve Frets and Twelve Half Steps30m
Notes on the Fretboard30m
Rhythm Basics30m
Music Notation and Tablature30m
Lesson Reflection30m
3 hours to complete
Scales: Construction and Fingerings
In this lesson, you will dig into scales. Don’t be intimidated. Some of you may have heard of, or practiced, scales. It might have been during piano lessons. Most likely it wasn’t very exciting for you. Hopefully you'll find the approach to scales in lesson 4 much easier and even fun.
3 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 45 min), 2 readings, 4 quizzes
6 videos
The Chromatic Scale on a Single String7m
The Chromatic Scale in First Position8m
The Chromatic Scale in Other Positions9m
Major Scales9m
More on Major Scales6m
2 readings
Major Scale Pattern10m
Exercise: Playing Scales10m
4 practice exercises
Position Playing30m
The Chromatic Scale30m
The Major Scale30m
Lesson Reflection30m
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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.
What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
