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Learning to Play Guitar: Chords, Scales, and Solos

Go from zero to guitar hero, in this hands-on introduction to one of the most beautiful-and versatile-musical instruments out there.
Guidebook
 
 
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Nice Guitar Review for Intermediate Players I've been playing guitar and writing songs on and off since I was a teenager. I'm currently almost 66 years old. I am mostly self-taught, so there are a lot of holes in my knowledge, particularly in music theory and various guitar techniques. My goal is to improve and also be a more well-rounded guitarist and musician. I subscribe to The Great Courses Plus because I love learning stuff. The guitar offerings on this platform are a bit slim, but since I already subscribe I figured I'd watch their guitar courses before I pay for courses someplace else. I wanted to learn some music theory, so first I watched the Music Theory course. That course is oriented toward piano, classical music and sight reading. None of those things are in my goals, but the theory (and picturing it on a keyboard) was extremely helpful for understanding the basics. I got a lot out of that course; I just skipped all of the sight reading stuff and concentrated on the theory. THIS course "Learning To Play Guitar" touches on many of the concepts from the Music Theory course, so I feel like I'm finally beginning to internalize some of these concepts. I have to agree with other reviewers that the professor spends too much time talking about guitar music history. He is very personable, and his stories are cool and interesting. But the history/story takes as much as 8 to 10 minutes at the beginning of each 30 minute lesson. Truthfully, I fast forward (1.5 or 2.0 speed) through most of it. The actual guitar lessons are interesting and helpful. I appreciate the instruction on proper finger and hand positioning and the close-ups when he does certain techniques. If you find that his instruction is too slow, just change the video speed to something faster. I generally watch the lessons in 1.25x speed. I was a little disappointed to see him holding the guitar in classical position. That's not how I hold a guitar because I play electric and steel string acoustic. So I take some of his positioning advice with a grain of salt. I appreciate that many of the lessons are shown in guitar tabulature (TAB). However, the final song in some lessons is only shown in musical notation. I wish the lesson showed these songs in both notation and TAB. My goal isn't to read musical notation; it's to be able to play. And for that, I prefer TAB. As I write this, I'm up to Lesson 14. I've been taking notes in a Google Doc. I plan to finish this course and then move on to the other guitar course "Playing Guitar Like A Pro." I agree that the course has its weaknesses, but for a refresher course it's pretty good. I'm not sure whether it's the best course for total beginners, though. Unless a beginner is planning to play classical Spanish guitar, he/she might find this course confusing and frustrating.
Date published: 2026-09-17
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Learning to play guitar Start when you want, go at your own pace, repeat lessons as many times as you like, in the comfort of your own home or anyplace suitable at the time, being in control of your learning is what Great Courses is about. I am more than happy.
Date published: 2024-12-15
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Please demo the potential for improv, I would appreciate more information regarding how to improvise scales over the melody, or chords. This lesson and the last suggested that at the end, but there were accompany tracks for the presenter and it is unclear how and when we can improvise over the melody. Rather than just announcing that it is possible - I would love to learn more about that.
Date published: 2024-11-20
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Where are the women? So far I am enjoying learning in the class, but where are the female guitarists? I do not even see Sister Rosetta Tharpe, or Odetta, or Wanda Jackson? So far it appears that only men play guitar? Was the intention to only sell this class to men?
Date published: 2024-09-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Testing I enjoy this course. I am writing a test so I can see where all my reviews are located.
Date published: 2024-03-26
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Snorefest Over a third of each 'lesson' is just a talkfest about obscure guitar history and not about how to actually play the guitar. The whole course could be condensed into about an hour of actual lesson time.
Date published: 2024-03-05
Rated 1 out of 5 by from A total waste of time if you want to PLAY guitar I bought this course a couple of years ago and it was so confusing that I never got very far. Since then I’ve taken lessons and have learned to play at an advanced beginner or intermediate stage. I thought I’d go back and see if this course might be useful now. I’m five lessons in and don’t think I’ll waste anymore time. Too much time on obscure book references, too much time on music theory, too much time on reading music - which if you don’t already know you will be totally lost. All things considered, this is one of the weakest offerings The Great Courses has. YouTube videos will help you learn to play guitar more practically, and there are some much better apps and video courses that actually have you playing songs you know and love. If I hadn’t purchased this one so long ago I’d ask for my money back. A total waste of time.
Date published: 2024-01-02
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Mis-Leading Title - Un-Interestting Content After 2-1/2 hours of "instruction" on Learniing to Play Guitar, I conclude that this course is un-focused and mis-titled. What has been presented so far could easily be presented in a fun half hour by cutting out the ramdom music thoery and solo acts by the presenter, then concentrating on the Guitar. It's slow to the tune of "Boring" and too broadbased to do anyone any good for practical Guiatr playing. It's more a lecture around music and the guitar, but not learniing to play a guitar.
Date published: 2023-10-23
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Learning to Play Guitar: Chords, Scales, and Solos

Trailer

Guitar Basics: Play a Song in 60 Seconds

01: Guitar Basics: Play a Song in 60 Seconds

Discover how you can play a simple song on the guitar in just one minute. Then study the parts of the guitar, and how to hold the instrument. Play G and C major chords, and review the classic bass line from the song you learned. Finally, practice your song, combining your bass line with a four-note melody.

Tuning Up, Reading Music, and Dexterity

02: Tuning Up, Reading Music, and Dexterity

Consider important principles of musical learning, the essence of practice, and the importance of performance. Investigate how to tune your guitar, and learn a useful warmup. Observe how pitch and rhythm are notated (written), practice E and A minor chords, and work with a musical number using the chords you've learned so far.

Classical Guitar Position and Posture

03: Classical Guitar Position and Posture

Explore body posture with the instrument; then, practice your warmup using alternating fingers. Grasp how written music is divided into "measures" and "beats". Learn fuller versions of G and C major chords, see how they are written in the tablature form of notation, and add a melody to the song from the last lesson.

Learning How to Practice the Guitar

04: Learning How to Practice the Guitar

Look deeper into how to practice and master each element in the learning process. Explore "shifting"-moving the left hand position in guitar playing. Then grasp how the lower three strings are notated, and practice moving between chords on the instrument. Play a major scale, and use it in the song "Shifting Sands".

Playing Fingerstyle Guitar

05: Playing Fingerstyle Guitar

Learn about three legends of "fingerstyle" guitar--the technique of playing with the right-hand thumb and fingers. Practice the basics of right-hand fingerstyle technique, with alternating fingers. Study the notation of open strings; then extend your fingerstyle to "fingering" chords. Play a G major scale across three strings, and use your fingerstyle in a song.

Playing Rhythm Guitar

06: Playing Rhythm Guitar

Discover the leading lights of "rhythm guitar", a playing style where the guitarist provides the rhythmic foundation for a band. Review your fingerstyle technique, and play arpeggios (broken chords). Learn to play eighth-notes, and "¾" or waltz-like rhythms. Practice a two-octave scale, some melodic patterns or "licks", and put these elements together in today's song.

The Pentatonic Scale

07: The Pentatonic Scale

Look into the remarkable guitar-playing of Eric Johnson, and his use of the pentatonic (five-tone) scale. Learn a left-hand exercise for "walking" across the fretboard; then study half-step intervals on the guitar and how to read them. Investigate syncopated strumming patterns, the two-octave pentatonic scale, and how to use them in improvising.

The Blues Scale and Lateral Stretching

08: The Blues Scale and Lateral Stretching

Enter the world of the blues, and learn about some pioneering pre-war blues players. For left hand technique, practice a "lateral stretching" exercise for flexibility. Add the A7 chord, along with syncopated blues strumming patterns and the A blues scale. Last, play "Blues for Art", incorporating your new strumming patterns and the blues scale.

Planting for Control and Accuracy

09: Planting for Control and Accuracy

First, contemplate the principles of tonal beauty, as taught by the great Romero brothers. Study the technique of "planting", an aid for technical accuracy. Learn the D and A major chords, and how to read key signatures. Then play a new melody in D major, and accompany it in fingerstyle using your new chords.

Guitar Tremolo: Gaining Speed

10: Guitar Tremolo: Gaining Speed

Here, encounter two classical guitar titans, Agustín Barrios and Andrés Segovia, and grasp their contributions to the instrument. Study tremolo, which gives the illusion of a sustained note. Learn to read sixteenth-notes, add the E major chord, the major pentatonic scale, and use your tremolo and finger technique in the "Raindrop Etude".

Legato and Power Chords

11: Legato and Power Chords

Begin with legato technique (also called "hammer-ons" and "pull-offs"), a way of smoothly connecting guitar tones without plucking the string. Then add the two-note "power chord" to your repertoire, a key chord for rock music. Practice some patterns ("licks") using the minor pentatonic scale, and put all of these elements together in a rock song.

Travis Picking for Folk, Country, and Rock

12: Travis Picking for Folk, Country, and Rock

Trace the remarkable life of Merle Travis, who pioneered a distinctive and highly influential fingerpicking style. Refine your descending legato technique ("pull-offs"), a great exercise for strength and finger independence. Study the "Travis picking" style, practice some melodic licks using pull-offs, and try Travis picking in the blues tune "Dusty Blue".

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

13: Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hear classic road stories of some great guitar players, as they point to the collaborative roles of the guitar. Learn the B7, C7, and G7 chords ("dominant seventh" chords), and grasp their role in musical harmony. Play the scale of E major across all six strings; then use your legato technique, dominant sevenths, and E major scale in accompanying a singer.

Finger Independence and Chord Theory

14: Finger Independence and Chord Theory

Explore harmonic tension and resolution, and the dominant and tonic chords, through compelling examples in the music of Richard Wagner. Practice an important exercise for independent movement of the left hand fingers. Discover how three-note chords ("triads") can be constructed from the notes of the scale. Finally, play an original song using the material from this lesson.

Crosspicking and Bass Lines

15: Crosspicking and Bass Lines

Uncover the legend and innovations of Doc Watson, the great bluegrass player who was brought out of obscurity by a chance meeting. Study the challenges of playing with a pick while moving across the strings. Then taste "barre" chords, a useful technique you'll explore further, learn the C major scale, and try a tune inspired by Johnny Cash.

Piano-Style Guitar and Fingernail Care

16: Piano-Style Guitar and Fingernail Care

Investigate the musical effects created by the fingernails versus the fingertips, and grasp the basics of nail shaping and care for guitar playing. Then study chord "qualities" (major, minor, diminished), and look at common chord patterns and sequences. In today's song, practice "piano-style" guitar, playing melody and accompaniment simultaneously.

Syncopated Strumming and Movable Scales

17: Syncopated Strumming and Movable Scales

Begin with some memorable stories that illustrate the challenges of performance. Practice "chromatic octaves", for hand coordination and flexibility, and learn to read "dotted" eighth notes. Experiment with different ways to play common chords, study "movable" scales (that use the same fingering pattern), and use these elements in an original tune.

A New Pentatonic Scale and the Capo

18: A New Pentatonic Scale and the Capo

Explore the work of composer John Cage, as it points to the value of musical "silence"-the space between notes. Then learn to read musical "rests" (silences in the music). Study how to use the capo, a device used to shorten the guitar's string length. Continue your work with "movable" pentatonic and major scales, and revive your "Travis picking" skills for today's tune.

Barre Chords: Movable Chords

19: Barre Chords: Movable Chords

Delve into the original style of jazz guitarist Johnny Smith, and the story behind one of his greatest hits. Then go deeper into barre chords, one of the most challenging guitar techniques. Learn "movable" chord shapes, using the same fingering for multiple chords, and practice two-octave arpeggios (broken chords). End with a reggae-style song, structured in "A-A-B-A" form.

Flamenco Technique: Rasgueado

20: Flamenco Technique: Rasgueado

This lecture explores the flamenco style, highlighting the career and historic innovations of Paco de Lucia. Study the flamenco strumming technique of rasgueado. Learn to harmonize melody notes, practice movable A, Am and A7 chords, and expand your work with arpeggios. End with a flamenco-tinged song, using your new rasgueado, chords, and melodic technique.

Playing with Natural Harmonics

21: Playing with Natural Harmonics

Learn to play the beautiful, chiming guitar tones called harmonics. First, explore the lives of some great players who featured them. Then play harmonics on all six strings, and see how they're notated. Practice four-note diatonic seventh chords, and investigate modes, permutations of the major scale. Use your new chords and harmonics in the tune "Harmonic Landscapes".

Jazz Harmony and Dorian Mode

22: Jazz Harmony and Dorian Mode

Take the measure of guitarist Charlie Christian and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, each of whom transformed jazz and their instruments. Grasp how to work for greater speed and accuracy when playing melodies. Learn "movable" chord shapes for major and minor seventh chords, practice the Dorian modal scale, and use them in a minor blues tune.

DADGAD Tuning and Lydian Mode

23: DADGAD Tuning and Lydian Mode

Take a look at the far-reaching influence of acoustic guitarist Michael Hedges, and his ingenious use of alternate tunings of the instrument. Continue with a two-part cross-picking exercise, for hand dexterity. Practice the Lydian modal scale. Then explore alternate tunings, focusing on Michael Hedges' "D-A-D-G-A-D" tuning, and use it in the song "Alpine Sunrise".

Taking the Guitar to the Next Level

24: Taking the Guitar to the Next Level

Trace the career of violinist Malcolm Watson, as it illustrates principles of success for musicians, and consider seven habits of highly effective guitar players. Then learn the technique of artificial harmonics. Add half diminished and full diminished chords to your repertoire, play the Mixolydian scale, and finish the course with a jazz and flamenco inspired song.

Overview Course No. 7776

These 24 engaging lessons offer a fun and customizable learning system, refined by Dr. McAllister over decades, which will teach you to play the guitar in a surprisingly short time.

Starting with the basics, and building one element on another, Dr. McAllister gives you a spectrum of core principles and musical material, building a solid base for playing the guitar and for further exploration in any style. Each lesson is a complete unit, where you'll work through five learning modules:

  • Technique: Learn all of the fundamental skills of guitar playing, from left hand fingering and shifting to right hand strumming, finger picking, and pick playing;
  • Musicianship and Note Reading: Learn how to read music, grasp the fundamentals of music theory, and develop the ability to play by ear;
  • Chords: Practice a wide range of basic chords – the musical foundation under a melody – and study chord theory;
  • Scales and Melodic Patterns: Learn all the essential scales for guitar, as well as melodic patterns or “licks”, tools that equip you to play lead guitar lines and melodies, and to improvise;
  • Putting it All Together: From the very first lesson, put together what you've learned in real guitar songs and tunes, covering a range of musical styles.

The program also takes you on an odyssey into the history of the guitar, its greatest players, and the styles they created and embodied, from guitar legends such as Andrés Segovia, Doc Watson, and Paco de Lucia to many pivotal but lesser known figures.

Learning to Play Guitar: Chords, Scales, and Solos offers you an engaging and highly effective way to master the fundamentals of this universal instrument. With these brilliantly designed lessons, the world of the guitar and the joy of playing it are yours.

About

Colin McAllister
Colin McAllister

Most importantly, good technique allows us to express our musicality without inhibition.

INSTITUTION
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Colin McAllister is the Music Program Director at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. He earned his master's and doctorate degrees in Musical Arts at the University of California, San Diego, where he studied guitar with Celin and Pepe Romero, interpretation with Bertram Turetzky, and conducting with Harvey Sollberger and Rand Steiger.

Dr. McAllister has taught the guitar and performed professionally as a guitarist for more than 25 years. He has made more than 1,000 appearances with organizations including the San Diego Opera, the San Diego Symphony, and the Colorado Symphony. Dr. McAllister is also a member of the jazz ensemble Hennessy 6. In 2016, he entered an artist partnership with Taylor Guitars.

Dr. McAllister has recorded on several record labels, including Albany Records, Tzadik Records, and Naxos. He also pursues research interests in 3rd and 4th century religious beliefs related to apocalypticism and early medieval commentary on the Book of Revelation.

Dr. McAllister lives in Manitou Springs, Colorado, with his wife Barbara and their children. In addition to his academic studies in music and the apocalypse, he has climbed more than 35 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, along with Mount Whitney in California and three high volcanoes in Mexico.

By This Professor

Playing Guitar like a Pro: Lead, Solo, and Group Performance
Learning to Play Guitar: Chords, Scales, and Solos

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