G uitar
E xercises
M elodies
S cales

Pearl Level

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:
  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 1×8va 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 1×8va 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 1×8va in C major.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=80.
  17. C Major/G Triad Chord

  18. Pentatonic Scale 1×8va 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

  25. ¿ Deriving the Dameron Turnaround

  26. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8va in A minor harmonic
  27. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8va in A minor melodic

  28. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8va in E minor harmonic
  29. ¿ Diatonic scale 1×8va in E minor melodic

  30. ¿ Dorian mode 1×8va in D
  31. ¿ Melody of Drunken Sailor

  32. ¿ Excerpt from a Little Night Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  33. ¿ Dance by Hans Neusidler
  34. ¿ Yankee Doodle
  35. ¿ Melodic Interval Exercise
  36. ¿ Aura Lee
  37. ¿ Down in the Valley
  38. ¿ On Top of Old Smokey
  39. ¿ We Three Kings of Orient Are
  40. ¿ Plaisir D'Amour
  41. ¿ When the Saints Go Marching In
  42. ¿ Au Clair de la Lune
  43. ¿ Frere Jacques
  44. ¿ Cotton Mill Girls
  45. ¿ Shalom, Chaverim
  46. ¿ Delia
  47. ¿ Red River Valley
  48. ¿ Ode to Joy

Opal Level

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:
  1. Chromatic Scale 1×8va on D.Played with quarter notes in 4/4 meter at MM=100.

  2. Tremolando Diatonic Scale, 1×8ve, 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 1×8va 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. G7sus4/D Chord
  12. Textured Countryside of Opal Stones
  13. Bransle de Poitou
  14. Diatonic scale 1×8va 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 1×8va 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 2×8va 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 1×8va in A
  40. ¿ Melody of Scarborough Fair

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

  61. ¿ Tom Dooley

Turquoise Level

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:
  1. Chromatic Scale 1×8va 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 1×8va 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 1×8va in D major
  14. D Major Chord. Open position.
  15. Slap Strum Exercise
  16. Midnight Special

  17. ¿ Blues scale 1×8va 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 1×8va 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.
  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:
  1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8va on A

  2. D Major/F♯ Chord

  3. Fadd9 Chord

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

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

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

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

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

Garnet Level

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:
  1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8va on B

  2. Blues Scale 2×8va 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:
  1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8va on C

  2. F Major Chord

  3. Blues Scale 2×8va 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:
  1. ¿ Chromatic scale 2×8va on D

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

  4. Blues Scale 2×8va 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:
  1. ¿ Chromatic scale 3×8va on A

  2. Blues Scale 2×8va 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:
  1. Chromatic Scale 3×8va on A♯.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=88.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sapphire Level

This level will introduce the guitar student to the following:
  1. Chromatic Scale 3×8va on B.Played with sixteenth notes in 4/4 meter at MM=96.

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

  5. Sonata, in D Major, by Mateo Albéniz

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

Ruby Level

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

Diamond Level

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

  2. Blues Scale 3×8va 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

External Links

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

Twelve Bar Blues I–I-I-I-IV–IV–I-I-V-VI-I-I
PachelbelI-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V
OptimisticI–V–vi–IV
South DetroitI-V-vi-IV-I-V-iii-IV
Doo-wopI–vi–IV-V
Major HopscotchIV–V–vi–I
Royal RoadIV△7–V7–iii7–vi
Backdooriv7-♭VII7-I
Minor HopscotchVI–VII–i–III
Pessimisticvi–IV–I–V
Unnamed others

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