Music Theory for Everyday Guitarists with Leah Kruszewski

About Music Theory for Everyday Guitarists With Leah Kruszewski

Sooner or later, most guitarists become curious about how their instrument works. Initially, the guitar can seem like a jumble of strings, frets, and rote memorization. As we progress, patterns start to emerge in chord shapes, scale patterns, and chord progressions. Those patterns don’t explain themselves, but even the most fundamental music theory knowledge can illuminate their logic and help you use them effectively. Getting to know the language of music transforms the way you see the guitar and opens up new avenues for your playing.

This twelve-session course will walk you through the essentials of music theory as it applies to the guitar. You’ll learn to find the notes without a fretboard chart and how to form chords and finger scales independently of charts and tablature. You’ll learn how chords function in a key, how the keys relate to each other, and how to transpose music from one key to another. We’ll focus on knowledge that applies to every guitarist, regardless of genre. Towards the end of the course, I’ll introduce information that pertains to certain styles, so that you can pursue the avenues most relevant to your interests after the course.

Each class will present one building block of essential music theory. We’ll explore the concept both with guitar in hand and using our minds and musical logic alone. You’ll end each class with a few assignments (some guitar-in-hand, some written) to reinforce and practice applying your new knowledge.


How It Works

Students can connect to the online platform using a tablet or computer with reliable internet. To actively participate online students also need a webcam with microphone. This live online class is capped at 20 students. The class is covered by the Lessonface Guarantee

$179.00

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When

The class will meet for 12 live online sessions on the following schedule:

Sundays at 12:30 pm EDT | 9:30 am PDT | 6:30 pm CEST

 May 17th - The Musical Alphabet: Throw away your fretboard charts
May 31st - The Major Scale: Familiar Ground
June 14th - The Chromatic Scale and Intervals: Information Overload
June 28th - Chords: Throw away your chord diagrams
July 12th - Intervals and the Major Scale 
July 19th - Chords and the Major Scale
July 26th - The Minor Scale: More sounds and colors on the guitar 
August 2nd - Constructing The Circle of Fifths
August 9th - Using Circle of Fifths
August 16th - Fancy Chords: Extensions, Inversions, and Who Needs What
August 23rd - Fun with Scales: Pentatonic, Blues, Modes, and Who Needs What
August 30th - How to Use this Info and Where to Go From Here

Enrolled students receive lifetime access to the video recordings of the classes.


Signed up already? Click here.

What’s Needed

Materials
You need a guitar (any kind), paper, and pencil for this course.

Prior music theory knowledge: not required, but welcome
You don’t need any prior knowledge of music theory or the notes of the guitar.
If you’ve already gleaned some theory knowledge from your playing and lesson experience, it won’t hurt. This course will fill in the gaps, reinforce and expand on what you already know, and help you become more adept at applying that knowledge to the guitar.

Basic playing experience: recommended
We will explore many concepts with the guitar in hand, so basic guitar skills will be a big help. It doesn’t matter what style of music you play, or whether you play the guitar with a pick or with your fingers. The course won’t demand fancy techniques or speed, but you will want to use logical fingerings for scales and chords. Brand new guitarists are welcome, though I’d strongly recommend taking regular private lessons simultaneously to learn proper technique.

No music notation involved!

You’ll learn the musical alphabet and note names (A, B, C, etc.) on day one, and we’ll use them constantly throughout the course. However, we won’t learn or use written music notation (that is, notes written on the staff). We’ll ignore it completely in the course, as most guitar styles don’t require it.
That said, if you already know music notation, you can apply and use that knowledge in all written exercises. In addition to writing out the note names for all the written exercises, transcribe everything to staff paper. All you’ll need in addition is plenty of staff paper.


About Leah Kruszewski

Flamenco and classical guitarist Leah Kruszewski loves introducing young beginners to their first songs, helping adult students rediscover their inner musician, and guiding classical and flamenco players in advanced, specialized study. Leah accompanies flamenco singers and dancers in Seville, Spain and travels regularly to the USA for festivals and performances.


Students Say

Leah has a very kind and genuine demeanor and made our first lesson effortless. I'm excited to keep working together and learn a thing or two about the classical guitar!

— Jacob L., Private Student on Lessonface

Another really helpful lesson. Leah has given me useful exercises to improve left hand finger movements/control as well as helping with tempo for a piece I'm trying to play.

— Phillip C., Private Student on Lessonface

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