Level 1

• Learning to use the pick
• 1st position notes / understanding tablature
• 1st position guitar chord shapes
• Rhythm guitar basic strum / fingerpick patterns
• Left and right hand skills development
• Tuning the guitar
• Building a song repertoire
• Supplemental materials (Etudes, Solo pieces, etc.)

Level 2

• Learning the seven major scale fingerings
• Reading in the upper positions
• Moveable chord forms
• The 5 Pentatonic scale patterns and connections
• Pentatonic scales with blues notes
• Harmonic techniques used in soloing
• Major, minor, diminished, augmented arpeggios
• Building the repertoire

Level 3

• Solo patterns for improvisation
• Understanding modes and their uses
• Triads: solo development
• How to recycle chords and melodic patterns
• Understanding the Harmonized scale
• Harmonic Analysis / Identifying tonal centers
• Using tri-tone and other chord substitutions
• Scales and their uses in musical expression: natural minor, jazz minor, harmonic minor, diminished, whole tone scale applications

Other Areas of Specialized Instruction Offered

• Theory and improv techniques for all C instruments
• Song Arranging for the performing artist
• Rehearsal techniques for group performances