Home > Guitar Theory LessonsGuitar Theory Lessons
Boring, but
necessary!
I'm glad you've shown interest in guitar theory lessons because that proves you understand how important this knowledge is, not only to your playing but your actual understanding of music.
Understanding music can get deep and
complex, but in reality it's only as deep and complex as you want it to
be. You don't have to take short-cuts, but at
the same time you don't have to overload your head with unnecessary
clutter.
All you need is your guitar, and your brain.
In these lessons you'll learn how music works on your guitar, and how you can use your knowledge to create your own music with
an open mind. Most guitarists don't want to bother with this stuff, so my advice? Get ahead of the game! You won't be able to imagine not knowing this stuff once you learn it...just don't get too big headed, OK? :)
Make your way through the guitar theory lessons below to learn guitar
theory in a more practical way, working at your own pace. I'm sure the
results will be most rewarding!
Guitar Fretboard Lessons
First thing's first, make sure you know how the fretboard works! Could
you say where all the positions for "F#" are on your guitar? This
lesson includes clear and concise fretboard diagrams and a simple but
ingenious way to learn the fretboard. All this is designed to help you
learn guitar theory with more confidence.
See also: Learning Fret Intervals
The Major Scale
Learning chord theory is impossible without knowing the major scale.
It's the basis of western music, and the scale which chords and
harmonies are constructed from and symbolized against. This lesson
gives you all the details and provides you with clear diagrams of the
major scale in "out-of-the-box" positions. An essential primer for
chord theory.
Guitar Chord Theory
How to construct chords, from basic major and minor to more advanced
modified chords. Take your knowledge of the major scale (above) and use
it to discover a wealth of chord voicings on your fretboard, not just
the same old ones you're used to. Easy-to-follow, nothing overwhelming
here but very rewarding guitar theory lessons.
Part 1 - Major & Minor Triads
Part 2 - Augmented & Diminished Triads
Part 3 - 7th Chords
Part 4 - Extended Chords
Part 5 - Chord Voicings (part i)
Part 6 - Advanced Chord Voicings (part ii)
Understanding Guitar Modes
Modes are just flavours of the natural major and
minor scales. These lessons introduce you to the 7 modes and their main
functions. In part 2 we look at how knowing your modes and intervals
will instantly open up the whole fretboard for your soloing. It's a
case of choosing your "flavour" for the chord being played and aligning
the scale pattern. If modes and their weird tribal names ever confused
you, this is the place to clear things up.
Part 1 - Introduction to the 7
Modes
Part 2 - How the
Modes Work Together
Building Chord Progressions Use
your knowledge of the modes and discover the "formula" for becoming a
songwriting factory. A 4 part lesson that looks at the chord scale and
how you can use it to create original melodies. Plus, how to change key
and not sound like a complete idiot! If you want to be able to write
great songs by the bucket load, this is the essential crash course...
Part 1 - Intro to the
Chord Scale Part 2 - Creating Simple Progressions Part 3 - Minor
Key Progressions and Gateway Chords Part 4 - Changing Key Without Messing up!
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