A six-part video course taking you through chord theory, finger picking, chord theory and advanced strumming techniques and helping you become a competent player. Each of the six videos represents about 3 full lessons, so this is quite a marathon that will stimulate your creative juices for some time! The great advantage of videos is that you see and hear what is required, and you can always rewind if you need a reminder. The course content includes the following:

Lesson 1

· Basic strumming patterns in 4/4 and 3/4

· Extending the C major chord

· Starting finger-picking in 4/4 and 3/4: two picking patterns in ‘steady’ rhythm and syncopated

· Illustration songs: Dream (Everley Bros), Hey Jude (Beatles), Silent Night

Lesson 2

· Adding notes to basic chords

· Using the scale of C major

· The beginnings of “chord-melody” playing

Lesson 3

· Chord theory: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii for major keys – how to use this knowledge

· Chord progressions in C major

· Transposing a song into another key

· The chords of C major, G major and D major

Lesson 4

· Alternating thumb picking pattern: on the beat and off the beat

· Changing notes within this pattern

· Playing a tune above the alternating thumb

· Illustration song: Last Thing on my Mind (Tom Paxton), Streets of London (Ralph McTell).

Lesson 5

· How to hold down a bar chord

· Using bar chords: new chord shapes for common chords

· First position “shapes” up the fretboard

· I, IV and V chords in second position

· Playing in almost any key with the chord shapes you already know

Lesson 6

· The “chuck” rhythm

· Triplets

· Cherry Picking

· Illustration songs: In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry), Blowing in the Wind (Bob Dylan), Something “Irish”