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.
Offered By
How to Play Guitar SpecializationBerklee College of MusicAbout this Course
52,877 recent views
Learner Career Outcomes
14%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 2 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Intermediate Level
Learners should complete "Guitar for Beginners" before enrolling in this course.
Approx. 15 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
What you will learn
Play scales in a moveable open position
Identify and play major, minor, diminished, and augmented arpeggios
Add rhythmic timing to arpeggios and strumming to enhance your playing
Skills you will gain
TablatureMusic notationGuitar scalesGuitar chordsGuitar
Learner Career Outcomes
14%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 2 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Intermediate Level
Learners should complete "Guitar for Beginners" before enrolling in this course.
Approx. 15 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish
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 Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions!
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.
1 hour to complete
1 video (Total 2 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
4 readings
Connect with Your Classmates10m
Course Resources10m
Earn A Certificate10m
Join the Discussion!10m
1 practice exercise
What Are Your Goals?30m
3 hours to complete
Scales
In this lesson, we'll be 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.
3 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 24 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
7 videos
The b3 Pentatonic Scale3m
The b7 Pentatonic Scale3m
The Major Scale and Improvising On One String3m
The Pentatonic Scale on One String3m
Playing a Scale in a Moveable Open Position5m
Putting It All Together3m
4 readings
Practicing the b3 and the b7 Pentatonic Scales30m
Practicing On One String20m
Join Your Study Group10m
Practicing Scales30m
2 practice exercises
Scales30m
Self Assessment: Practicing Scales30m
4 hours to complete
Arpeggios
This lesson, 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.
4 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 19 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes
6 videos
Major Arpeggios3m
Minor Arpeggios3m
Diminished Arpeggios2m
Augmented Arpeggios4m
Putting It All Together3m
7 readings
Practicing Major Arpeggios30m
Practicing Minor Arpeggios30m
Practicing Diminished Arpeggios30m
Practicing Augmented Arpeggios10m
Putting It All Together30m
Join Your Study Group10m
Practicing Arpeggios30m
2 practice exercises
Arpeggios30m
Self Assessment: Practicing Arpeggios30m
4 hours to complete
Chords and Progressions
In this lesson, we'll begin practicing chords and popular chord progressions. We'll also begin practicing these progressions with both open and barre chords.
4 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 28 min), 6 readings, 2 quizzes
6 videos
I IV V and I V I V3m
I VI II V and I VI IV V4m
I V VI IV3m
The 12 Bar Blues6m
Putting It All Together8m
6 readings
Practicing the I IV V and I V IV Progressions30m
Practicing the I VI II V and I VI IV V Progressions30m
Practicing the I V VI IV Progression30m
Practicing the 12 Bar Blues30m
Join Your Study Group10m
Practicing Chords and Progressions30m
2 practice exercises
Chords and Progressions30m
Self Assessment: Practicing Chords and Progressions30m
2 hours to complete
Rhythm
2 hours to complete
7 videos (Total 24 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
7 videos
Rhythm and (Blues) Scales4m
Arpeggios with Rhythm3m
Strumming Patterns with Chords7m
Arpeggios and Chords3m
Putting It All Together2m
Review25s
1 reading
Join Your Study Group10m
1 practice exercise
Rhythm30m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM GUITAR SCALES AND CHORD PROGRESSIONS
by ADMay 18, 2020
Teaches major and pentatonic scales, arpeggios, chord progression and 12 bar blues. Essential knowledge for beginners. Lectures are nice and easy to follow. Overall a great course for beginners.
by MRAug 16, 2020
Excellent, very helpful, the instructor was fantastic, I learned a lot. Would appreciate more examples of putting it all together. I enjoyed the process, even with my busy schedule.
by ICJan 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)
by AGJun 27, 2020
A good course for a guitarist who knows its basics. The professor taught really well. The course content was also apt and carefully constructed. Overall a good course.
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, 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.
