Acoustic Guitar Mastery
From Beginner to Virtuoso
FOUNDATIONS: Understanding the Instrument
🔹 Guitar Anatomy and Setup
➔ Parts of the guitar: Headstock, Tuners, Neck, Fretboard, Body, Bridge, etc.
➔ Guitar sizes and body styles (Dreadnought, Auditorium, Parlor…)
➔ Wood types and tonal impact
➔ String types & gauges
➔ Acoustic bracing patterns
➔ Guitar hardware basics
➔ Intonation, truss rod, action setup
➔ Using straps, humidifiers, and accessories
FOUNDATIONS: Understanding the Instrument
🔹 Maintenance & Tuning
● Cleaning and polishing
● String changing
● Standard tuning (EADGBE)
● Alternate tunings: Drop D, DADGAD, Open G
● Using tuners (apps, pitch pipes, electronic)
FOUNDATIONS: Understanding the Instrument
🔹 Ergonomics & Technique Prep
● Posture (sitting & standing)
● Hand positioning
● Avoiding tension and injury
● Finger strength & dexterity drills
CORE PLAYING SKILLS
🔹 Basic Chords & Rhythm
● Open chords (G, C, D, Em, Am, E, A, Dm)
● Chord diagrams and reading chord charts
● Smooth transitions between chords
● Seventh chords, add9, suspended (sus2, sus4)
● Using slash chords and inversions
CORE PLAYING SKILLS
🔹 Strumming Techniques
● Downstrokes, upstrokes
● Basic to advanced strumming patterns (4/4, 3/4, 6/8)
● Timing, rhythm, syncopation
● Accents, dynamics, palm muting
● Percussive strumming and chucking
CORE PLAYING SKILLS
🔹 Barre Chords
● F major, B minor
● E-shape and A-shape barre chords
● Major, minor, 7th variations
● Smooth transitions and key changes
FINGERSTYLE & PICKING
🔹 Fingerpicking Basics
● Arpeggios and finger independence
● Alternating thumb pattern
● Coordination exercises
● Combining strumming with fingerpicking
FINGERSTYLE & PICKING
🔹 Travis Picking
● Basic to complex Travis patterns
● Syncopation and melody integration
● Adapting songs to Travis picking
FINGERSTYLE & PICKING
🔹 Advanced Fingerstyle
● Harmonics, percussive elements
● Creating bassline + melody together
● Mastering DADGAD, Open G, Celtic style
● Influences: Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins
MUSIC THEORY & FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE
🔹 Fretboard Mastery
● Notes on each string
● Sharps, flats, chromatic scale
● Finding & memorizing note locations
MUSIC THEORY & FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE
🔹 Scales & Keys
● Major, minor, pentatonic, blues scales
● Natural, harmonic, melodic minors
● Modes: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, etc.
● Relative major/minor
● Scale positions
MUSIC THEORY & FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE
🔹 Chord & Harmony Theory
● Intervals (major, minor, perfect)
● Chord construction and qualities
● Roman numeral analysis
● Cadences and voice leading
MUSIC THEORY & FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE
🔹 Rhythm & Time
● Time signatures (2/4, 3/4, 6/8…)
● Note values and rests
● Groove and timing exercises
SOLOING & MELODIC PLAYING
🔹 Tab and Sheet Reading
● How to read TABs and standard notation
● Combining them for full understanding
SOLOING & MELODIC PLAYING
🔹 Melody & Improvisation
● Playing simple melodies
● Creating solos over chord progressions
● Targeting chord tones
● Phrasing and motif development
SOLOING & MELODIC PLAYING
🔹 Lead Guitar Techniques
● String bending, vibrato
● Hammer-ons, pull-offs
● Slides, legato phrasing
● Pentatonic licks
● Call and response in solos
EXPLORING GENRES
🔹 Blues Guitar
● Blues scales, tone, and phrasing
● 12-bar blues structure
● Blues licks and solos
EXPLORING GENRES
🔹 Country Guitar
● Chicken pickin’, pedal steel bends
● Country rhythm patterns
EXPLORING GENRES
🔹 Folk Guitar
● Fingerpicking styles
● Folk progressions
● Traditional folk songs
EXPLORING GENRES
🔹 Other Styles
● Pop, rock, jazz, classical, contemporary fingerstyle
● Genre-based improvisation
COMPOSITION & SONGWRITING
Lyric & Melody Writing
● Developing themes, imagery, metaphors
● Rhyme schemes and storytelling
COMPOSITION & SONGWRITING
🔹 Structure & Arrangement
● Verse, chorus, bridge, intros/outros
● Song forms and dynamics
COMPOSITION & SONGWRITING
🔹 Chord Progressions
● Creating original progressions
● Analyzing songs
● Writing in alternate tunings (Drop D, DADGAD, Open
G)
RECORDING & PERFORMANCE
🔹 Recording Techniques
● Using mics, DAWs, and multi-tracking
● Mixing and mastering basics
● Overdubbing and audio editing
RECORDING & PERFORMANCE
🔹 Performance Skills
● Stage presence and confidence
● Using effects pedals
● Working with live sound systems
● Performing solo or in a band
● Overcoming stage fright
RECORDING & PERFORMANCE
🔹 Collaboration
● Sharing and collaborating online
● Remote recording
● Getting feedback and building a network
CONTINUED LEARNING
● Online lessons: JustinGuitar, TrueFire, etc.
● Books, tutorials, and live concerts
● Joining guitar communities
● Developing a personal style
● Keeping a lifelong learner mindset
