Intermediate Music Theory for Guitarists

Music Theory for Guitarists Looking to Advance Past Their Knowledge of the Basics

Created byDave Kirby

Last updated 1/2022

English

What you'll learn

An Introduction to the Modes of the Major Scale
An Introduction to the Melodic Minor Scale
An Introduction to the Harmonic Minor Scale
Understand how to build and Invert Four Note Chords
Understand how to build and use Diatonic Triads

Course content

6 sections • 11 lectures • 59m total length

Introduction Video1:40
Welcome to the course! If you need any assistance, contact me at davekirbyguitar@gmail.com and I'm happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have throughout the course.

For those of you who don't know how to read guitar tab, here's a video that can help with that:
https://youtu.be/pvv87o1GV_Y

Modes of the Major Scale Lesson8:45
This lesson will teach you about what the modes of the major scale are, as well as how you can play them on your guitar. Be sure to download the PDF that accompanies this lesson so you can follow along!
Modes of the Major Scale Exercises4:41
The exercises in this video will help your fingers to catch up with your theoretical understanding of the modes of the major scale. All of the exercises in this video promote proper left hand technique and will greatly improve your playing. Don't forget to download the PDF file with all of the exercises notated inside to follow along with the video!

Melodic Minor Scale Lesson6:03
Learn the difference between the major scale and the melodic minor scale, and how to play the melodic minor scale on your guitar. Don't forget to download the accompanying PDF file so you can follow along with the lesson!
Melodic Minor Scale Exercises3:52
These exercises will help you to get the melodic minor scale under your fingers in a way that encourages proper technique and sets you up for future success. The ability to play fast lines rests on a foundation of good technique. Download the PDF file that goes with this lesson so you can work on these exercises away from the video!

Harmonic Minor Scale Lesson2:49
This video will explain the difference between the harmonic minor scale and the melodic minor scale, and it will also give you a voicing to use to play this scale on your guitar. Download the PDF that accompanies this lesson so you can follow along with the video!
Harmonic Minor Scale Exercises2:46
The exercises in this video are intended to help you get the harmonic minor scale under your fingers with proper left hand technique in mind. Download the PDF file so that you can work on these exercises over a long period of time after watching the video.

Four Note Chords Lesson5:20
This lesson talks about four note chord qualities, and how to play them across your guitar. Download the PDF file to follow along with the video on your guitar from home!
Four Note Chords Exercises6:17
The exercises in this video cover drop 2 and drop 3 chord voicings and inversions. Be sure to download the PDF file that goes along with this video so that you can work on these exercises away from the video!

Diatonic Triads Lesson8:44
Learn how to build diatonic triads off of the major scale, as well as chord functions for the major scale and the natural minor scale. Remember as always to download the PDF file so that you can refer to it during the video.
Diatonic Triads Exercises8:35
Learning the diatonic chords built from the major scale provides us with two new chord qualities. Learn to play and invert these two new chords, and learn a cool arpeggio exercise that arpeggiates all the diatonic chords in a sequence. Download the PDF file so that you can work on this exercise away from the video.

Requirements

You will need a guitar, and an understanding of some basic music theory concepts. If you're completely new to music theory, check out my course "Beginner Music Theory for Guitarists" as a prerequisite.

Description

If you are a guitarist who already has an understanding of some of the basic concepts of music theory and you're looking for a way to really get into the weeds, then this course is for you. If you're totally new to music theory then you may want to consider checking out my "Beginner Music Theory Course for Guitarists" before getting started on this course.

This course consists of five separate lessons:
-The Modes of the Major Scale
-The Melodic Minor Scale
-The Harmonic Minor Scale
-Four Note Chords
-Diatonic Triads

Each lesson has a video that explains the lesson and a downloadable PDF file that helps you to follow along with what is being taught. Additionally, each lesson is accompanied by another video that provides exercises pertaining to each lesson that will help you not only understand the lesson in theory, but will also give you concrete approaches to getting the information under your fingers and into your ears. Each exercise video also has its own PDF file so that you can work on the exercises long after the video is over.

This course isn't like other courses. These lessons are for guitarists who are looking to improve their playing by putting the work in. The exercises shown in this course can provide you with enough material to direct your practice for a long time before you're ready to move on to the next thing.

Who this course is for:

Intermediate guitarists with some playing experience and general knowledge of chords.

Intermediate Music Theory for Guitarists

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

The Modes of the Major Scale2 lectures • 13min

The Melodic Minor Scale2 lectures • 10min

The Harmonic Minor Scale2 lectures • 6min

Four Note Chords2 lectures • 12min

Diatonic Triads2 lectures • 17min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: