The following is the general syllabus I use with my university guitar students and my private students. Click this link to learn more and purchase The Guitar Lesson Companion Method Books. Feel free to contact me if you would like to request teacher discounts for your studio.
YEAR ONE
First Quarter Objectives:
- Reading Concepts, Pages 9-35 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Notes on the 1st String, Whole, Half, Dotted Half and Quarter Notes, Rests, ¾ Time, Notes on the 2nd String, Combination Studies, Notes on the 3rd String, Beamed Eighth Notes, Single Eighth Notes, Combination Studies
- Chord/Scale Concepts, Pages 97-120 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Memorize Em, A7, E7, D7, D, A, G, E, Am, C, Dm, G7, F, C7, B7 and perform the Chord Changing Exercises, Blues in "A", Tablature, Blues Shuffle, Blues Solo with Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern, Major Scale Pattern, Chord Jams and Solos, Using Minor Pentatonic and Major Scale Patterns to Solo Over Chord Progressions
- Reading Concepts, Pages 36-57 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Notes on the 4th String, Ties, Sharps and Flats, Ties, Dotted quarter notes, Notes on the 5th String, Eighth Note Rests, Combination Studies
- Chord/Scale Concepts, Pages 121-127 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Chromatic Scale Theory, "E" String Root Power Chords, "A" String Root Power Chords, Combination Jam Studies, "E" String Root Barre Chords, "A" String Root Barre Chords, Combination Jam Studies, "E" Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns, "C" Major Scale Patterns
- Reading Concepts, Pages 58-67 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Notes on the 6th String, Eighth Note Triplets, Combination Studies
- Chord/Scale Concepts, Pages 128-149 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume One: Dominant 7th Chord Shapes, Blues Scale Pattern, Major 7th and Minor 7th Chord Shapes, Major 2-5-1 Chord Progressions, Major Scale Construction, Diminished and Minor 7 b5 Chord Shapes, Chord Construction, Dominant 7 b9 and Dominant 9 chord shapes, Minor 2-5-1 chord progressions, The CAGED System for Chords, "D" String Root Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th chord shapes, "G" String Root Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th Chord Shapes, "B" String Root ("C" Shape) Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th Chord Shapes
YEAR TWO
First Quarter Objectives:
- Music Theory Concepts, Pages 6-41 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: The Chromatic Scale, Major Scale Construction, Circle of Fourths, Circle of Fifths, Triads, Inversions, Seventh Chords, Extended and Altered Chords, Intervals, Ascending Melodic Interval Worksheets, Triad Worksheets, Harmonizing the Major Scales, Chord Progressions, The Blues
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 91-106 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of C, F, Bb and G; using chord tones and modes
- Chord Concepts, Page 151 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Big Band Chord Voicings
- Music Theory Concepts, Pages 42-43 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: The Natural Minor Scale and Harmonizing the Natural Minor Scale
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 107-126 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of D, Eb, A, Ab; using chord tones and modes
- Jazz Standards in The New Real Book: “Tune Up” and “Satin Doll,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “All of Me,” “Like Someone in Love,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Long Ago and Far Away,” “Polkadots and Moonbeams”
Third Quarter Objectives:
- Music Theory Concepts, Pages 44-56 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Modes of the Major Scale
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 107-126 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of E, Db, B, Gb; using chord tones and modes
- Jazz Standards in The New Real Book: “My Romance,” “Anthropology,” “All the Things You Are,” “In Walked Bud,” “There Will Never Be Another You,” “West Coast Blues”
YEAR THREE
First Quarter Objectives:
- Music Theory Concepts, Pages 57-88 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: The Melodic Minor Scale and its Modes, The Harmonic Minor Scale and its Modes, The Diminished Scale, The Dominant Diminished Scale, The Whole Tone Scale
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 91-106 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of C, F, Bb and G in the Next Position; C Major in All 5 Places
- Chord Concepts, Page 150 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Major Triads in All Inversions, in all Keys, in All Positions
- Jazz Standards in The New Real Book: Student Choice
- Music Theory Concepts, Pages 89-90 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Application of Scales and Theory (Tritone Substitution and Soloing Options over the V7 alt. Chord)
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 107-126 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of D, Eb, A, Ab in the Next Position; D Major in all 5 Places
- Chord Concepts, Page 150 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Minor Triads in All Inversions, in all Keys, in All Positions (Extra: All Augmented and Diminished Triads in all Inversion, Keys and Positions)
- Jazz Standards in The New Real Book: Student Choice
- Improvisation Concepts, Pages 127-148 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progressions in the keys of E, Db, B, Gb in the Next Position; E Major in all 5 Places
- Chord Concepts, Page 152-160 in The Guitar Lesson Companion, Volume Two: Altered Chord Construction and Resolutions, Chord Shapes for Walking Bass Line Comping, Chord Inversions on all String Sets, Quartal Harmony
- Jazz Standards in The New Real Book: Student Choice