Stevie "G" Guitar Course Outline The course is based on the tutor written by myself. While the course is geared for absolute beginners it could be of help to those who, maybe, used to play and have set aside the instrument for some time. As stated in the introduction to the tutor PRACTICE IS THE KEY to learning this, or indeed any, musical instrument.

Week One: Week Three:

‘1. C’ Major scale // Parts of the guitar, names and 5. Constant use of the above melodies, introduce numbers of the strings // Explain principle to be Marley (“Natural Mystic”, “One Drop”) // Start work on applied (pgs. 2 – 5) // Tuning the instrument (pgs. 6 –7). chords // Explain dotted and tied notes, rests and bars. Emphasise the scale (arpeggio at end). Generally deal with ‘reading music’ – chord charts.

2. Names of notes in the scale (pg. 9). Use pg. 8 in 6. Arrange medleys (without chords) // Introduce ‘F’ explanation. Do ‘turn around’ (if scale is being played Major scale – new note ‘Bb’ // Relate to key of ‘C’ with fluently). “Twinkle Twinkle” and “No Woman” // no sharps or flats // Explain ‘b’ and ‘#’ // Play all chords Introduce the stave // “All the notes”. in ‘C’.

Week Two: Week Four:

3. Expand on above // Introduce theory – notes, their 7. Work on ‘C’ medley, notes and chords, striving for appearance and their value // Treble clef, line and space fluency in changes within the songs and movement // Another melody e.g. “Linstead Market”, “Hear My Cry”. from one song to another. Melody in ‘F’ – “Liza”, “Moonshine”. 4. Elaborate on the ‘notes’ business // Name and identify, place notes on the instrument // All the time working in 8. Fluency for everything in ‘C’ including Marley // Start the first three frets on the guitar // Talk about chords. focusing on the key of ‘F’ // New chords ‘Bb’ and ‘Gm’. Stevie "G" Guitar Course Outline Continued...

Week Five: Week Six: Theory focus // Notes and chords // Time 9. Emphasis on proficiency in the above. All signatures (key signatures?) // Major scale principle, 11. melodies and chords must be comfortably played // intervals (tone, tone, semi-tone etc.) timing – Changes should be pretty smooth // Rhythms; ‘Ska’ tapping // Relate theory discussion to work done and ‘Mento’ introduced. Other melodies in ‘F’ – e.g. thus far. (Theory Book). “Flintstones”. Introduce ‘G’ Major scale. New note ‘F#’ Further theory work as above // Ability to identify 10. // Relate to key of ‘C’. symbols e.g. rests, signatures, ‘b’, ‘#’ and ‘natural’ // 1 At this point everything in ‘C’ should be mastered Explain accidentals // New melodies with chords 2. (maybe rhythms excepted) // ‘F’ should also be fully may be introduced // Practice all chords in both understood // Language of music to be used and keys // Point out the consistency in chords relative understood // First melody in ‘G’ – “Rookumbine” (?). to degree of the Major scale e.g. 1 Major, 2 minor etc.

The half way point having been reached the student(s) must be assessed as from here on in all the focus will be on moving up the fret board.

Week Eight: Week Seven: Working on the melodies learnt, but with no open 1 ‘G’ Major scale two octaves with no open strings 15. 3. strings // Alternate inversions for some chords (no and ‘C’ Major scale with shift – two octaves to open strings) // More serious work on rhythms // At facilitate the patterns involved with moving up the this point the “Instant Guitar” book by Patrick Byrne fret board. may be suggested // Chord construction paper to be

given. 1 In continuing the above the whole matter of 4. ‘working out’ Major scales will be explored e.g. from More songs in all keys to be worked on // the ‘G’ pattern play an ‘A’ Major scale // Similarly 16. Performance style approach to the instrument from from the ‘C’ play a ‘D’. here on // Styles and preferences to be developed. Weeks Nine through Twelve: Honing skills // Harmonies to some of the melodies learnt // Complete fluency in all areas // If possible ensemble work (if not performance with the teacher – where possible) // 6/8 (Quadrille), exercises from Sam Cooke’s guitarist and grade 3 work (Trinity College paper).