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Berklee

Guitar for Beginners

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.

Status: Musical Composition
Status: Music
Course16 hours

Featured reviews

MG

5.0Reviewed Aug 8, 2017

Amazing course for a beginner and someone who want to pick it up after a long break. I would suggest this for people who has sufficient experience with the instrument. The tutor is really amazing.

MH

5.0Reviewed Apr 4, 2020

This course was a brilliant experience. My special thanks to Thadeus Hoggart for his patient and well organized course. Highly recommended for all those who are planning to start playing the Guitar.

NP

5.0Reviewed Sep 17, 2015

loved it, I took guitar lessons when I was a kid and hated it. this course made it fun! it took the mystery out of it so I can see the big picture and got me playing the guitar

JV

5.0Reviewed May 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.

AH

4.0Reviewed Apr 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.

RK

5.0Reviewed Oct 11, 2015

Dear Friends,I really enjoyed this course, specially the way "Thaddeus Hogarth" teach the course, It is unbelievably strong and master piece.Thanks a lot "Thaddeus Hogarth"God bless you

VH

5.0Reviewed May 26, 2020

Loved this course! Great way to learn the basics of guitar - you can learn scales, notes, chords and so on. Definitely would recommend for anyone who is just beginning to learn guitar.

RR

5.0Reviewed Jul 1, 2018

Great crouse! Simple consise manner of imparting information. Very supportive way of teaching and full of wonderful exercises ..right hand and left hand technique!! Wonderful!

SR

4.0Reviewed May 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.

AH

5.0Reviewed Nov 13, 2016

fantastic course although i am registered blind and have hearing impairment i am able to pick up a lot o useful information and i have to say i am making slow but steady steps.

RR

5.0Reviewed Jun 2, 2020

Great course! Excellent instructor! I liked the pace, the content, the exercises and the assignments. Allowed me to feel comfortable, yet to stretch a bit more to reach the objective.

RY

5.0Reviewed Jun 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.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 664

Suzana Trifković
1.0
Reviewed May 16, 2019
Mark Davis
1.0
Reviewed Apr 19, 2016
Sam Jones
1.0
Reviewed Mar 7, 2020
Manoj Kumar Gangadharan
5.0
Reviewed Aug 9, 2017
Ferenc Gergely Szilágyi
4.0
Reviewed Dec 3, 2015
Raymond Farris
5.0
Reviewed Dec 27, 2015
Oswaldo Aviles
1.0
Reviewed Jan 10, 2016
Gaia Banchelli
2.0
Reviewed Jul 11, 2020
Davide Cucciniello
5.0
Reviewed Oct 1, 2016
roma gluskin
4.0
Reviewed Dec 31, 2016
Jim Lane
1.0
Reviewed May 13, 2016
Ross Cornell
5.0
Reviewed May 30, 2020
Hayden Brown
5.0
Reviewed Jan 24, 2020
Shivansh Mathur
5.0
Reviewed Sep 12, 2020
MM
4.0
Reviewed Jan 13, 2016
Mohammed Hajee
5.0
Reviewed Apr 5, 2020
Rastin Kenarsari
5.0
Reviewed Oct 12, 2015
Ana Clara Robles
2.0
Reviewed Nov 24, 2020
Shaikh Masud Pervez
5.0
Reviewed Jan 15, 2019
Shrey Joshi
5.0
Reviewed Sep 15, 2019