This course is part of the How to Play Guitar Specialization

4.8
stars
49 ratings

Rick Peckham

11,634 already enrolled

Offered By

How to Play Guitar SpecializationBerklee

About this Course

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Many beginning guitarists have learned the basics of open and movable chord shapes, but want to further expand this chord knowledge. In this course you’ll learn how to construct and play triads and basic 7th chords. You’ll start by creating major and minor triad inversions, and move on to power chords, drop-2 voicings, and learn how to substitute common chords to create a richer harmonic experience for listeners. Throughout the course, you will focus on the notes that chords are made up of, rather than the shape of individual chords. With this knowledge, you will be able to create inversions and different chord voicings up and down, and across the entire fretboard of the guitar, thus unlocking new ways of playing the guitar.

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 3 of 4 in the

How to Play Guitar Specialization

Intermediate Level

At least some familiarity with the guitar.

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Look at a lead sheet and play chord voicings
Construct triads, 7th chords, and inversions
Play and know the voicings of various chord qualities such as a major triad, minor triad, dominant 7, and gospel chords
Play triads over bass notes

Skills you will gain

playing guitar
Music
Music notation
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.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 3 of 4 in the

How to Play Guitar Specialization

Intermediate Level

At least some familiarity with the guitar.

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.93/5 (15 Ratings)

Rick Peckham

Offered by

Berklee

Established in 1945, Berklee is at the forefront of contemporary music education, bringing its award-winning curriculum to more than 3.5 million students around the world. Currently comprising Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee NYC, Berklee Summer Programs, and more, Berklee is shaping the key players of tomorrow’s music industry. With innovative programs in performance, production, business, theater, dance, and more, students come away from their Berklee experience with a professional portfolio, practical job skills, and a strong sense of community.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Welcome to Guitar Chord Voicings: Playing Up The Neck!

2 hours to complete

7 readings

2 hours to complete

Triad Inversions

In this lesson, we'll learn how to rearrange the notes in a triad to create inversions. Inversions can be difficult to conceptualize on the guitar since the same pitch can be found on different frets and different strings. We'll work to make this concept as easy as possible by inverting triads from the high strings to low and from the lower range of the neck up to the higher frets. The more you know about chords on the guitar, the larger the number of options for you to use!

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 16 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Lesson 1 Overview1mTechnique Tips4mTriad Inversions Up the Fretboard6mMinor Triad Inversions Up the Fretboard Part 12mMinor Triad Inversions Up the Fretboard Part 244sTriad Inversions Across the Fretboard1m

4 readings

Major Triad Inversions Up the Fretboard10mTriad Inversions Across the Freboard10mJoin Your Study Group10mSubmitting Your Projects10m

2 practice exercises

Triad Inversions30mSELF-ASSESSMENT: Major/Minor Triad Inversions30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Barre and Power Chords

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 5 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Seventh Chords: Drop-2

There are several ways to learn new voicing shapes on the guitar. Drop-2 is a term used at Berklee to describe a configuration of chord tones, pleasing to the ear, and, more importantly to guitarists, relatively easy to execute on the fretboard. It's the best way to play seventh chords on four consecutive strings. This lesson is going to give you plenty of practice in creating new voicing shapes on the fretboard and will help you develop the ability to play various seventh chords in all keys.

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 7 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Chord Substitutions, Diatonic Chords, and Gospel Chords

4 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 14 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.8

17 reviews

5 stars
83.67%
4 stars
12.24%
3 stars
2.04%
2 stars
2.04%

TOP REVIEWS FROM GUITAR CHORD VOICINGS: PLAYING UP THE NECK

by TBJun 16, 2020

A fine opportunity to slow down and pay attention to important details in guitar technique. Great material, excellently presented.

by NCDec 28, 2020

I love the minimalist approach to this course. Just focus on the music and the lesson. Great instructor. Very clear and straightforward. I loved the course thanks!

by JBNov 9, 2021

Great practice for learning some new chord shapes!

by SGMar 21, 2021

Some nice stuff there, described differently than I've heard before. Thanks very much :)

View all reviews

About the How to Play Guitar Specialization

Have you always wanted to play the guitar, but never knew where to start? Whether you’re just picking up the guitar for the first time or you just want to brush up on your skills, the Guitar Techniques specialization created by Berklee College of Music will help you practice the techniques you need to bring your playing to the next level. Throughout this 16-week specialization, you’ll lay a firm foundation by learning and practicing major, minor, and pentatonic scales as well as triads and chords. You’ll also practice improvising, writing melodies and licks, and playing through lead sheets. By the end of this specialization, you’ll have learned the skills and confidence to perform your favorite songs in front of an audience.

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.

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Guitar Chord Voicings: Playing Up The Neck

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain