4.8
stars
2,170 ratings

Thaddeus Hogarth

281,978 already enrolled

Offered By

Berklee College of Music

About this Course

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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

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

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

Subtitles: French, Catalan, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Russian, English

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (214 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.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(48,393 ratings)

Week

Week 1

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

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), 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

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), 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

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.

4 hours to complete

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

Week

Week 4

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), 3 readings, 4 quizzes

Reviews

4.8

629 reviews

5 stars
83.67%
4 stars
12.64%
3 stars
1.83%
2 stars
0.78%
1 star
1.05%

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 SRMay 22, 2020

Really a good course for beginners. Helps you swim in the vastness of music and guides you gently towards the deep end. I'll advise every aspiring guitarist to do this course.

by AHApr 17, 2021

This is a very simple to understand course and Thaddeus H instruction style is easy to follow and practice. I really enjoyed learning a lot of new things about the Guitar in this course.

by SMSep 11, 2020

If you want to learn guitar no matter which guitar you want to learn acoustic or electric if you are a beginner then quickly join this course it will really help you to upgrade your skills in guitar.

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:
The course may not offer an audit option. 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. 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.

Guitar for Beginners