Lessons

Here are some prepared lesson plans in pdf. format for various subjects.

Many of these are incomplete without an explanation on my part so please print and bring them into your lesson for a better understanding.

How to Practice  Here you will find a chart that suggests what to practice when you sit down to do so. The goal can be changed as you go. Mine was Improvisation.

Single String Ideas

There are many ways to see music on the neck of a guitar. Here are  5 (penta) note patterns to get you started.
major pentatonic scales
pentatonic patterns
over lay of major and minor pentatonic scale patterns.

Information on the major scale and it's modes.
major scale
modes

minor scale- the 6th degree of a Major Scale scale also known as the Natural or Relative minor scale.

blues scale - same as a minor scale pattern but add a very important tension note called the b5 or flat 5.

melodic minor scale- Major Scale with a flat 3rd. Very cool and hip sound called "lydian dominant" if used off of the 5th degree of a Dominate 7 chord ( over E7 play B melodic minor).

harmonic minor scale- used in many minor chord progressions to outline the V7 chord going to I minor. The Natural Minor Scale with a Major 7th instead of a b7.

Chords
Construct harmony (two or more notes) from scales to create chords or triads (three notes). Create triads or chords by stacking every third note of a major scale starting with the root. Hence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.
building chords
triads
modes and chords

How to Use Scales/Soloing
Get the scale patterns under your fingers then look at the various chords to play the scales over.
using scales
more scale usage
Static Vamp

Rhythm Exercises- basic physical exercises to teach us how to subdivide a beat.
quarters
eighths
triplets
Sixteenths

Sight Reading
24 note study

Song Form
12 bar form
triplet progression

Key Centers
flat keys
sharp keys

Fingerpicking Exercise
ex. 1
ex. 2