G uitar
E xercises
M elodies
S cales

Pearl Level

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This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Open string, unfretted, chords
• One fingered chords
• Notes played in the fret range between the first (Ⅰ) and fourth (Ⅳ) frets

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1. Exercise 1

   An introduction to the top three open strings. The student should focus upon right hand technique.

                         V      VII                 XII
   e′╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
   b ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   g ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

2. Blues Progression: Very Basic 12-bar

   An introduction to the bottom three open strings. The student should focus upon right hand technique.

                         V      VII                 XII
     ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   d ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   A ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   E ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

3. Simple Chords with Complicated Names

   An introduction to open string, unfretted, chords. The student should focus upon right hand technique.

                         V      VII                 XII
   e′╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
   b ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   g ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   d ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   A ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   E ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

4. So What Chord

   An introduction to a particular five note chord voicing used in jazz harmony. The student should focus upon right hand technique.

                         V      VII                 XII
     ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
   b ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   g ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   d ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   A ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   E ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---



5. Doo-Wop Progression: Very Basic 8-bar

   An introduction to the fretted note a. The student should focus upon left finger technique.

                         V      VII                 XII
     ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
   b ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   g ╟───┼──a┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   d ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

6. Front Door Progression: Very Basic


7. Backdoor Progression: Very Basic
8. Pentatonic Scale 1×8^va in G major.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=80.
9. Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

                         V      VII                 XII
   e′╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
   b ╟─c′┼───┼─d′┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   g ╟───┼──a┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

10. Diatonic Scale 1×8^va in G major.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=80.


11. Royal Road Progression: Very Basic


12. Jingle Bells Chorus


13. Good Morning to All (Happy Birthday to You)
14. Bye, baby Bunting

                          V      VII                 XII
      ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
      ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    d ╟───┼──e┼──f┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╟───┼───┼──c┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
    

    ---

15. Hopscotch Progression: Very Basic  8-bar

                          V      VII                 XII
      ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
      ╟─c′┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    g ╟───┼──a┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╟───┼───┼──f┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    A ╟───┼───┼──c┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
    

    ---

16. Diatonic Scale 1×8^va in C major.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=80.
17. C Major/G Triad Chord


18. Pentatonic Scale 1×8^va in D major
19. Pachelbel Progression


20. Blues Progression: 12-bar in fifths

                          V      VII                 XII
      ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
      ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╟───┼──a┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    d ╟───┼──e┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    A ╟───┼──B┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    E ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
    

    ---



21. G Major over B Chord
22. Em7 Chord


23. South Detroit Progression: Very Basic


24. Amazing Grace


¿ Deriving the Dameron Turnaround


¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in A minor harmonic
¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in A minor melodic


¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in E minor harmonic
¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in E minor melodic


¿ Dorian mode 1×8^va in D
¿ Melody of Drunken Sailor


¿ Excerpt from a Little Night Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
¿ Dance by Hans Neusidler
¿ Yankee Doodle
¿ Melodic Interval Exercise
¿ Aura Lee
¿ Down in the Valley
¿ On Top of Old Smokey
¿ We Three Kings of Orient Are
¿ Plaisir D'Amour
¿ When the Saints Go Marching In
¿ Au Clair de la Lune
¿ Frere Jacques
¿ Cotton Mill Girls
¿ Shalom, Chaverim
¿ Delia
¿ Red River Valley
¿ Ode to Joy

Opal Level

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This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Two fingered chords
• Notes played in the fret range up to the fifth (Ⅴ) fret

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1. Chromatic Scale 1×8^va on D.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=100.


2. Tremolando Diatonic Scale, 1×8^ve, in C major. Played with eighth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=56.
3. Happy Birthday to You
4. Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont


5. Pentatonic Scale 1×8^va in D major
6. Old MacDonald Had a Farm

                         V      VII                 XII
     ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   d ╟───┼──e┼───┼─f♯┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
   A ╟───┼──B┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
     ╙───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
   

   ---

7. C Major Chord
8. C3-G3
9. ¿ Simple Broken Triads


10. G⁷/B Chord
11. G^7sus4/D Chord
12. Textured Countryside of Opal Stones
13. Bransle de Poitou
14. Diatonic scale 1×8^va in D major
15. A⁷ Chord
16. Vsi so venci vejli
17. This Little Light of Mine



18. Blues Progression: 12-bar with three-note fifths
19. Blues Progression: 12-bar in fifths and sixths


20. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in F major. MM=100. 4/4 meter.
21. Royal Road Progression: with two-note fifths
22. O Canada

                          V      VII                 XII
      ╓───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬
      ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
      ╟───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    d ╟───┼──e┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    A ╟─B♭┼─B♮┼──c┼─c♯┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼───┼
    E ╙──F┴───┴──G┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴
    

    ---



23. Diatonic Scale 2×8^va in G major.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=100.


24. G Major Chord
25. G Major over B Chord
26. G suspended fourth over D Chord
27. Country Dance
28. Mwana wa Nnyabo
29. We Wish You a Merry Christmas


30. Übungen auf der E saite Nr.1(First Exercise on the E string) by J.K. Mertz
31. Übungen auf der E saite Nr.2(Second Exercise on the E string) by J.K. Mertz
32. Libro 1 Leccion 46


33. Csus4/F Inverted Chord


34. Am⁷ Chord


35. Amazing Grace


36. ¿ Wiegenlied. Op. 49, No. 4, by Johannes Brahms (Brahms' Lullaby)


37. ¿ Land of the Silver Birch
38. ¿ Hold On


39. ¿ Dorian mode 1×8^va in A
40. ¿ Melody of Scarborough Fair


41. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in B minor harmonic
42. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in B minor melodic
43. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in D minor harmonic
44. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in D minor melodic
45. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in E minor harmonic
46. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in E minor melodic
47. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in D major
48. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in F major
49. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in G major
50. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in B minor harmonic
51. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in B minor melodic
52. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in D minor harmonic
53. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in D minor melodic
54. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in E minor harmonic
55. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in E minor melodic
56. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in G major
57. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in A minor harmonic
58. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in A minor melodic
59. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in E minor harmonic
60. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 1×8^va in E minor melodic


61. ¿ Tom Dooley

Turquoise Level

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This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Three fingered chords
• Notes played in the fret range up to the sixth (Ⅵ) fret

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1. Chromatic Scale 1×8^va on A.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=120.


2. E Major Chord. Open position.
3. A Major Chord. Open position.
4. Blues Progression


5. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in C major
6. G7 Chord. Open position.
7. Csus4 Chord
8. C/E Major Chord
9. C Major Chord. Open position.
10. ¿ Gigue by Jan Antonín Losy


11. A minor Chord. Open position.
12. Übungen auf der E saite Nr.3(Third Exercise on the E string) by J.K. Mertz


13. ¿ Blues scale 1×8^va in D major
14. D Major Chord. Open position.
15. Slap Strum Exercise
16. Midnight Special


17. ¿ Blues scale 1×8^va in F major
18. F Major Triad Chord
19. F Major/A Inverted Triad Chord
20. Fmaj7 Chord
21. Royal Road Progression of Triads
22. I's The B'y


23. D minor Chord


24. Diatonic Scale 1×8^va in G major. Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=120.


25. G Major Chord
26. G Major over B Chord
27. D7 Chord


28. Ejercicio by José Ferrer Esteve de Fujadas
29. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night) by Franz Xaver Gruber


30. Let Your Light Shine on Me


31. Em7 Chord
32. Fmaj7A Inverted Chord
33. Royal Road Progression: Rhythm Strums


34. Amem. Solo.
35. Amazing Grace

Peridot Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Four fingered chords
• Notes played in the fret range up to the seventh (Ⅶ) fret

---

1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8^va on A


2. D Major/F♯ Chord


3. F^add9 Chord


4. Slur Scale 1×8^va in G major pentatonic.Played with eighth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=56.
5. G Major Chord
6. G suspended fourth Chord
7. C Major/G Chord


8. Blues Scale 1×8^va in A^♭ minor.Played with eighth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=69.


9. ¿ Blues scale 1×8^va in C major
10. ¿ Minuet by Robert de Viseé
11. ¿ Prelude in C Major by George Frideric Handel


12. ¿ Blues scale 1×8^va in D minor
13. ¿ Españoleta by Gaspar Sanz


14. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in D major
15. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in B^♭ major
16. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in E major


17. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in B minor harmonic
18. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in B minor melodic
19. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in C^♯ minor harmonic
20. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8^va in C^♯ minor melodic
21. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in G minor harmonic
22. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in G minor melodic
23. ¿ My Grandfather's Clock (fingerstyle)

Garnet Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Partial barre chords
• Notes played in the fret range up to the eighth (Ⅷ) fret

---

1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8^va on B


2. Blues Scale 2×8^va in A minor.Played with triplet eighth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=69.


3. A♭ Major Chord
4. F Major Chord. First Position with two string barre.
5. F Major/A Inverted Chord
6. Csus4 Chord
7. G9sus4 Chord
8. G minor Chord
9. Stairway Chord
10. Hendrix Chord


11. ¿ Divertimento, op.40, no. 11 by Mauro Giuliani

Amethyst Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Full barre chords
• Notes played in the fret range up to the ninth (Ⅸ) fret

---

1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8^va on C


2. F Major Chord


3. Blues Scale 2×8^va in B♭ minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=69.


4. ¿ Souvenir du Quinze Août

Aquamarine Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Stretch chords (chord shapes wider than four frets)
• Notes played in the fret range up to the tenth (Ⅹ) fret

---

1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8^va on D


2. D Major/F♯ Chord
3. Etude, op.6, no. 1 by Fernando Sor


4. Blues Scale 2×8^va in B minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=76.


5. Introducting the Spy Chord

Emerald Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Notes played in the fret range up to the seventeenth (ⅩⅦ) fret

---

1. ¿ Chromatic scale 3×8^va on A


2. Blues Scale 2×8^va in C minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=84.


3. ¿ Scale in A m
4. Op.31, No. 20, by Fernando Sor
5. L20.1, Variation 1 of Sor's op.31, no. 20
6. L20.2, Variation 2 of Sor's op.31, no. 20

Topaz Level

---

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Notes played in the fret range up to the eighteenth (ⅩⅧ) fret

---

1. Chromatic Scale 3×8^va on A^♯.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=88.


2. ¿ Blues scale 2×8^va in D major ?
3. BWV 1007 Prelude


4. Blues Scale 2×8^va in D♭ minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=96.


5. Ej musiče, Croatian folk song, Žganec No.91


6. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in E major
7. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in B major
8. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in F major
9. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in B^♭ major
10. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in A^♭ major
11. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in C^♯ minor harmonic
12. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in C^♯ minor melodic
13. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in G^♯ minor harmonic
14. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in G^♯ minor melodic
15. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in D minor harmonic
16. ¿ Diatonic scale 2×8^va in D minor melodic
17. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in G minor harmonic
18. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in G minor melodic
19. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in F minor harmonic
20. ¿ Diatonic scale 3×8^va in F minor melodic


21. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in E major
22. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in B major
23. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in C^♯ minor harmonic
24. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in C^♯ minor melodic
25. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in G^♯ minor harmonic
26. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in G^♯ minor melodic
27. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in D minor harmonic
28. ¿ Diatonic scale, tremolo picking, 2×8^va in D minor melodic


29. ¿ Diatonic scale, compound triplets slurred, 1×8^va in C major
30. ¿ Diatonic scale, compound triplets slurred, 1×8^va in A major


31. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid thirds, 2×8^va in F major
32. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid thirds, 2×8^va in D minor harmonic
33. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid thirds, 2×8^va in D minor melodic


34. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid sixths, 2×8^va in F major
35. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid sixths, 2×8^va in D minor harmonic
36. ¿ Diatonic scale, in solid sixths, 2×8^va in D minor melodic

Sapphire Level

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This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:

• Notes played in the fret range up to the ninteenth (ⅩⅨ) fret

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1. Chromatic Scale 3×8^va on B.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=96.


2. Hirajoshi Scale 2×8^va in C♯ major.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=108.


3. Royal Road Progression: Heavy Metal Gallop Rhythm with 'Extended' Power Chords


4. Phrygian Dominant Scale 2×8^va on DPlayed with triplet eighth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=108.


5. Sonata, in D Major, by Mateo Albéniz


6. Blues Scale 2×8^va in D minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=108.

Ruby Level

1. Chromatic Scale 3×8^va on B.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=100.


2. Sonata, in E Major (K380), by Domenico Scarlatti


3. Blues Scale 2×8^va in E♭ minor.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=112.

Diamond Level

1. Chromatic Scale 3×8^va on B.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=104.


2. Blues Scale 3×8^va in A minor. MM=116. 4/4 meter.


3. Sonata Eroica, Op.150 by Mauro Giuliani

Pragmatic Topics

1. Mnemonic for Guitar String Names


2. How to tune a guitar with an electronic tuner


3. Posture

Theory

1. Pitch Notation
2. Cross Reference Chart for Pitch Notation: Natural Notes
3. Tempo


4. Time Line


5. Blank Music Sheets

Index

1. Songs
2. Lessons Introducing Chords
3. Scales

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External Links

Partial lists of cover songs, performed by solo guitar, using the progression: