Intermediate Guitar Class Syllabus

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Intermediate Guitar Class Syllabus

Course Duration: 26 Weeks
Class Frequency: 2 classes per week (1 hour each)

Introduction to Intermediate Techniques & Review

  • Focus: Review basic chords, scales, and techniques. Introduce more advanced concepts.
  • Topics:
    • Review of basic major and minor scales
    • Chord inversions and voicings
    • Fingerstyle basics
    • Introduction to alternate picking
    • Common time signature patterns

Assignments:

  • Practice alternate picking exercises
  • Review major and minor scales across the fretboard

Barre Chords & Chord Progressions

  • Focus: Mastering barre chords and extended chord forms.
  • Topics:
    • Understanding barre chords: major, minor, and 7th chords
    • Chord progressions in various keys
    • Techniques for smooth transitions between barre chords
    • Common progressions: I-IV-V, ii-V-I (in various keys)

Assignments:

  • Practice barre chord progressions
  • Analyze common chord progressions in songs

Pentatonic Scales & Improvisation

  • Focus: Introduction to soloing and improvising using pentatonic scales.
  • Topics:
    • The 5 positions of the pentatonic scale
    • Application of the pentatonic scale in various keys
    • Basic improvisation techniques using the pentatonic scale
    • Bending, vibrato, and slides for expression

Assignments:

  • Improvise using pentatonic scales over backing tracks
  • Practice bending and vibrato techniques

Understanding Modes & Modal Soloing

  • Focus: Introduction to modes and their application in soloing.
  • Topics:
    • The 7 modes of the major scale: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
    • Understanding the mood and flavor of each mode
    • Modal soloing over backing tracks
    • Modal chord progressions

Assignments:

  • Practice modal scales in different keys
  • Soloing over modal backing tracks

Rhythm Guitar – Strumming & Syncopation

  • Focus: Developing strong rhythm playing and mastering strumming patterns.
  • Topics:
    • Advanced strumming patterns and syncopation
    • Time signatures beyond 4/4: 3/4, 6/8, 5/4
    • Emphasizing off-beats and ghost notes
    • Playing in different styles (rock, pop, blues, funk)

Assignments:

  • Practice complex strumming patterns and rhythm exercises
  • Play along with songs that feature syncopated rhythms

Arpeggios & Fingerpicking

  • Focus: Mastering arpeggios and fingerpicking techniques.
  • Topics:
    • Open and closed position arpeggios
    • Arpeggios in major, minor, and dominant 7th chords
    • Introduction to fingerpicking techniques (Travis picking, etc.)
    • Incorporating arpeggios into soloing

Assignments:

  • Practice arpeggio exercises
  • Work on fingerpicking patterns with basic chords

Advanced Chord Voicings & Extensions

  • Focus: Expanding chord vocabulary.
  • Topics:
    • Chord extensions: 9ths, 11ths, 13ths
    • Sus2, sus4, add9 chords
    • Chord substitution and borrowing chords from parallel keys
    • How to add color to chord progressions

Assignments:

  • Learn and practice extended chord voicings
  • Practice substituting chords in popular songs

Blues Guitar – Advanced Techniques

  • Focus: Deepening blues playing with techniques and phrasing.
  • Topics:
    • The 12-bar blues progression and its variations
    • Blues scale and its application in solos
    • String bending, slides, and vibrato for blues phrasing
    • Call and response phrasing in blues solos

Assignments:

  • Practice improvising with the blues scale
  • Learn and play a classic blues solo

Transcribing & Ear Training

  • Focus: Developing ear training and transcribing songs.
  • Topics:
    • Recognizing intervals, chords, and progressions by ear
    • Introduction to transcribing songs and solos by ear
    • Practical exercises for developing relative pitch
    • Transcribing simple melodies and rhythms

Assignments:

  • Transcribe a short melody or solo
  • Practice ear training exercises using online tools

Advanced Soloing Concepts

  • Focus: Developing advanced soloing skills.
  • Topics:
    • Incorporating chromaticism and passing tones into solos
    • Using arpeggios and chord tones for solo construction
    • Advanced phrasing techniques: sweeps, tapping, and legato
    • Soloing over complex chord progressions

Assignments:

  • Practice advanced soloing over backing tracks
  • Focus on soloing using arpeggios and chord tones

Guitar Techniques in Different Styles

  • Focus: Exploring guitar techniques in various musical genres.
  • Topics:
    • Rock, jazz, classical, metal, funk, and acoustic guitar styles
    • Specific techniques in each genre: shredding, jazz comping, classical fingerstyle
    • The importance of tone and dynamics in each style
    • Analysis of iconic guitarists and their signature techniques

Assignments:

  • Learn a short piece from a different genre
  • Analyze a song's guitar techniques (choose a favorite or iconic song)

Putting It All Together – Performance Preparation

  • Focus: Review and performance preparation.
  • Topics:
    • Combining all techniques learned into a cohesive performance
    • Working on stage presence, improvisation, and communication with other musicians
    • Group play (if applicable)
    • Preparing for a final performance or recording

Assignments:

  • Prepare and perform a piece demonstrating what you’ve learned
  • Participate in a mock performance or class recital

Final Project (Optional):

  • Performance/Recital: Perform a solo or group piece, incorporating all skills learned.
  • Recording: Record a piece of music demonstrating the mastery of different techniques.