Guitar For Beginners Syllabus printable pdf download

California State University, Northridge

Summer Academic Enrichment Program

Guitar for Beginners

“The guitar chose me.”

~ Charlie Byrd

Course Overview:

Each student will realize that they can be a guitar player. This course serves as an

introduction to the instrument and will provide students with an instant access to making

music on the guitar. Focus points will be strumming and rhythms, reading music,

improvising, and beginning songwriting.

Course Description:

Students will be led through an intensive one-month course to introduce them to the

guitar. The course will be split into several units that cover various aspects of

understanding the instrument and the music that can be created with it (see below for

more in-depth descriptions). Each day, students will be led through a routine of tuning

their guitars, warming-up, group instruction, and independent group practicing and

playing. Students will also learn basic maintenance of the instrument and how to change

strings, clean the guitar’s surface, clean strings, and maintain tuning. Throughout the

one-month course, students will keep a learners journal and manuscript notebook to

record and reflect upon their process of learning.

Course Goals and Objectives

1. Goal: Students will recognize and identify fundamental aspects of beginning

guitar

a. Objective: Students will be able to identify the parts of the guitar and

their uses

b. Objective: Students will be able to apply tuning techniques using the

relationships between the strings, note intervals, and chords.

2. Goal: Students will develop the finger dexterity and strumming abilities in order

to begin making music.

a. Objective: Students will perform exercises such as playing through scales,

chord charts, strumming patterns and rhythms and they will practice these

rhythms independently and in groups.

3. Goal: Students will be able to read basic music on the guitar

a. Objective: Students will play through simple solo songs and duets and

will do so while staying on the beat and in the time signature.

4. Goal: Students will be able to play popular songs using chord charts, lyrics, and

time signatures.

Guitar For Beginners Syllabus