Guitar Playing Skills

About this course

The course develops core guitar skills through demonstrations, guided practice, rhythm exercises and individual playing. Beginners work with chord diagrams, tablature, open and barre chords, strumming patterns, scales and fingerpicking, applying these techniques to selected songs. Improvers extend their work into lead-guitar tablature, altered and CAGED chords, more varied strumming, and plectrum techniques such as bends, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs. Learners practise notation and tunes individually, with opportunities for group practice, peer collaboration and individual feedback. Weekly exercises and song assignments lead towards a final performance.

What you'll learn

• Read basic notation, guitar tablature and chord diagrams.
• Play open, barre, extended and altered chords.
• Apply varied strumming, fingerpicking and plectrum techniques.
• Use rhythm, melody and harmony concepts in guitar playing.
• Perform songs using the techniques covered on the course.

Is this course right for you?

The course includes a beginner route for learners with no previous experience, while improvers are expected to have fundamental chord and strumming knowledge. Participation includes individual practice, group activities, weekly assignments and a final performance.

• Content is divided between beginner and improver levels.
• Improvers should already know fundamental chords and strumming.
• Assessment includes weekly exercises, song assignments and a final performance.

Before you go

• Participants need to bring their own guitar.