How to Play Guitar Specialization
An expertly designed guitar course series that takes you from zero to confident player with Berklee’s world-class guidance.
What will you learn in How to Play Guitar Specialization Course
- Master basic to intermediate guitar-playing techniques.
- Read tablature and chord symbols fluently.
- Understand music theory as applied to guitar.
- Develop rhythmic accuracy and improvisation skills.
- Build the ability to play songs confidently across genres.
Program Overview
Course 1: Guitar for Beginners
⏱️ 4 weeks
Topics: Guitar tuning, fretting, basic chords, strumming patterns.
Hands-on: Play simple chord progressions and accompany basic melodies.
Course 2: Chord Voicing and Harmony
⏱️ 4 weeks
Topics: Open chords, barre chords, harmonic function, voice leading.
Hands-on: Perform chord changes and create chord progressions in various keys.
Course 3: Scales and Improvisation
⏱️ 4 weeks
Topics: Major/minor scales, pentatonics, improvisation basics.
Hands-on: Practice scale runs and improvise over blues or pop progressions.
Course 4: Advanced Playing Techniques
⏱️ 4 weeks
Topics: Fingerstyle, hybrid picking, riffs, and articulation.
Hands-on: Learn to play complete songs and riffs using advanced techniques.
Get certificate
Job Outlook
Ideal for aspiring musicians, music educators, and hobbyists.
Helps build foundational skills needed for performance, teaching, or content creation.
Valuable in freelance gigs, online teaching, and live performance.
Guitar instructors earn $25–$75/hour; professional musicians vary greatly based on gigs.
- Taught by Berklee faculty.
- Structured progression through skill levels.
- Practical, performance-based learning.
- Requires own guitar and time commitment.
- No personal instructor feedback.
Specification: How to Play Guitar Specialization
|
FAQs
- No prior guitar experience required.
- Starts with tuning, fretting, and basic chords.
- Gradually progresses to intermediate techniques like fingerstyle and improvisation.
- Suitable for hobbyists, aspiring musicians, and educators.
- Hands-on practice helps build confidence quickly.
- Covers reading tablature and chord symbols.
- Explains scales, chords, and harmonic functions.
- Teaches rhythm, timing, and improvisation basics.
- Applies theory directly to playing songs.
- Enhances understanding of how music works on the guitar.
- Weekly exercises for chord changes, strumming, and riffs.
- Improvisation exercises using scales and chord progressions.
- Encourages playing complete songs across genres.
- Includes fingerstyle, hybrid picking, and articulation techniques.
- Builds both technical skill and musical expression.
- Prepares for performance, content creation, and music teaching.
- Skills applicable to freelance gigs and online instruction.
- Builds a portfolio for aspiring guitarists or educators.
- Supports long-term musical growth and creativity.
- Certificate adds credibility for professional opportunities.
- 4 courses: Beginners, Chord Voicing & Harmony, Scales & Improvisation, Advanced Techniques.
- Each course: ~4 weeks at moderate pace.
- Self-paced with lifetime access.
- Certificate awarded upon completion.
- Total duration: ~16 weeks.