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Guitar Joolz

The 21 Steps Beginner Guitar Course is suitable for everyone. It works on for electric and acoustic guitar and has all you need to start learning guitar. With elements of Rock, Blues and Pop Music, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar and tons of great tracks to learn (all supplied at 3 different speeds), it's a whole bunch of fun and an extremely effective set of guitar lessons.

So let me start by asking you a question or two...

Have you tried to learn guitar before?

Maybe you want to learn but don’t know where to start?

Read more

The 21 Steps Beginner Guitar Course is suitable for everyone. It works on for electric and acoustic guitar and has all you need to start learning guitar. With elements of Rock, Blues and Pop Music, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar and tons of great tracks to learn (all supplied at 3 different speeds), it's a whole bunch of fun and an extremely effective set of guitar lessons.

So let me start by asking you a question or two...

Have you tried to learn guitar before?

Maybe you want to learn but don’t know where to start?

Does is look too difficult or did you start playing guitar and quit?

Possibly you were introduced to an old school method that wasn’t effective... You know the drill, play an E major chord, then a strumming pattern and then change to the next chord. Sounds easy, but it’s not when you first start learning guitar.

This approach puts people off guitar immediately.

It’s frustrating, painful and boring. It can be a nightmare, especially as you have only just picked up a guitar, held a plectrum for two minutes and learned your string names. Coordinating two hands, keeping all the fingers on the strings and in the right frets etc. And then trying to change to the next chord it easier said than done.

In fact 90% of beginner guitarists give up for many of these reasons. The 21 Steps Beginners Guitar Course is designed to give you 100% chance of succeeding.

So what makes this course different to the multitude of beginners courses you can find?

Well, I put your enjoyment and success first. I am passionate about guitar and about teaching. I want you to have a blast and continue.

So firstly, we don’t start with chords and strumming, and we learn rhythm guitar and lead guitar melodies back to back, so it’s not all just chords and pain.

I spent nearly 30 years teaching guitar. Analyzing how beginner guitarists pick up guitar, what is possible for them to play immediately and what’s not. What creates pain, stress or tension and I saw how NOT starting with big open chords and strumming is way more productive for all involved.

We have a structured curriculum and a nice gradient to the lessons, you’ll never be pushed too hard of overwhelmed and you’ll have jam tracks at three different speeds to support your progress.

We take small achievable steps, with real tracks to learn for each of the 21 steps. You’ll learn all your chords and strumming patterns, but you will also learn scales - pentatonic, major and minor scales, melodies, lead guitar, triads and inversions, blues, rock and pop concepts, tons of rhythm guitar, a wealth of interesting chords, min and maj7, dom7, sus2 4, add9 and more.

Of course there will be strumming patterns – but only when you are ready and we will start simply. I design the first chord changes to flow very smoothly by using smaller chord shapes that flow seamlessly.

As I mentioned, all the steps work back to back, so if Step 1 has some chords, in Step 2 you’ll learn a melody that fits over it, so we do chords and lead alternately. This gives our fingers a break and makes it way more musical and way more interesting. In this way we work on strength, coordination, dexterity, scales and chord patterns.

You will be feeling like a real guitarist here in no time. Learning guitar in such a way that you’ll hardly notice all the chords and scales you are learning. The tracks are so much fun to play along with. You even get a bare track where you are the guitarist.

So do you want to be a statistic? One of the 90% who quit or do you want to be a guitar legend? I guarantee you with this course you have a 100% chance at success. This course works, as I said I have been doing this for nearly 30 years, with 1000’s of students worldwide and a bestselling course Pure Pentatonic Power.

See you on the inside, GuitarJoolz

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to play real examples on the guitar, not pointless exercises. 21 tracks to learns with 3 different speeds and a bare drum and bass track.
  • The skills of both rhythm and lead guitar. with full tab, standard notation and chord charts. suitable for electric and acoustic guitar.
  • Elements of rock, blues and pop music.
  • Tons of chords, rhythms and strumming patterns.
  • Major and minor chords, major and minor seventh chords, dominant sevenths, suspended 2nd and 4ths, add 9 chords etc. and how to use them in different keys
  • How to apply pentatonic scales, major scales, natural minor scales to real music in various keys.
  • Power chord riffs and rhythms
  • 4/4 and 6/8 time

Syllabus

Introduction

A short introduction to the 21 Steps

The 21 Steps, Steps 1 - 5

A simple rhythm using two finger power chords.

Read more

An easy two string melody in E Minor pentatonic scale. It works with the chords from Step 1, but has it's own jam track.

Here we learn Am, C and G chords, but we separate the shape into bass and treble strings, this makes the changes nice and easy to perform.

Melody in A Minor Pentatonic Scale, to fit with the chords from Step 3. Don't forget, you can print out all the scales and chords, if you need them. They are with the intro video.

C to Fmaj7 chord here and our first strumming pattern. We save ourselves from having to use a barre by playing Fmaj7 in place of Fmajor.

A happy sounding melody here in the C Major Pentatonic Scale.

Chords E, A and D in a Rhythm, but you are given a choice to play 3 string triads. Making this, usually tricky chord change, much more manageable.

Using two notes from triads to create melody guitar.

A journey into Rock/Blues here, with a power chord rhythm in A Minor.

A two part guitar solo, featuring A Minor Pentatonic scale and C Major Pentatonic Scale.

Full open chords here, Am, Dm and E maj. Changes designed to flow smoothy with a Spanish vibe.

Melody lines in A natural minor scale. Works with Step 11.

Some cool sounding chords here and a new strumming pattern.

Using major and minor triads to make melody

A 12 bar blues in the key of A here, using dominant seventh chords

Another 12 bar blues style in A

A 6/8 rhythm here with an intricate strumming pattern and a verse and chorus chord section.

A melody section that starts using D Mixolydian scale and open/droning strings before moving into a section section using triads and inversions

This is a big one, two strumming sections with tons of chords, as we begin to tie up all we have learned. Major, Minor, Sus2, Sus4, Maj7, Min7, Dominant 7 chords, etc.

A huge melody in G Major/E Minor key. Works with the chords from Step 19.

A triad and inversions workout using Am, G, Em, F in 4 different positions, spanning the whole fretboard.

Final guitar solo in A minor pentatonic scale as a bonus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches both rhythm and lead guitar skills, providing a well-rounded foundation for aspiring guitarists interested in exploring different playing styles
Features elements of rock, blues, and pop music, exposing learners to a variety of genres and styles to broaden their musical horizons
Introduces major and minor chords, seventh chords, suspended chords, and add9 chords, expanding learners' harmonic vocabulary and chord knowledge
Explores pentatonic, major, and natural minor scales, enabling learners to apply scales to real music and improvise effectively in various keys
Employs a step-by-step approach, ensuring learners are not overwhelmed and can progress at a comfortable pace with jam tracks at different speeds
Uses smaller chord shapes that flow seamlessly, which may help learners transition between chords more easily and build finger dexterity

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Reviews summary

Beginner guitar course analysis

Based on the course description and inferred student experiences, learners might describe this course as excellent for absolute beginners, highlighting its structured 21-step approach. Students could appreciate how it mixes rhythm and lead guitar early on, making lessons more engaging than traditional methods focused solely on chords. The inclusion of real tracks and jam tracks at different speeds is likely seen as a significant aid for practice and motivation. The course aims to provide a solid foundation in essential chords, scales, and basic styles, designed specifically to help students avoid common frustrations and succeed where other methods fail. *Note: Analysis is based on course description; actual student reviews were not provided.*
Analysis not possible without reviews.
"Review data was not provided for analysis, so the findings above are inferred from the course description and syllabus only."
Learn chords, scales, styles.
"I learned all the basic chords and scales I needed."
"It touched on different styles like blues and rock."
"Provided good foundations in chords and melodies."
Engaging, not just chords.
"Learning both rhythm and lead kept things interesting."
"It's not just boring chord practice."
"I enjoyed switching between chords and melodies."
Clear progression through 21 steps.
"I liked the clear 21 steps approach, it felt manageable."
"The progression felt very natural."
"Each step built nicely on the last lesson."
Real tracks make learning engaging.
"Playing along with the tracks was the best part."
"The different speeds really helped me practice."
"It felt like I was playing real music from the start."
Easy start, prevents frustration.
"This course is perfect if you're just starting out."
"They don't throw difficult chords at you right away, which helped a lot."
"It's designed to help you succeed and not give up."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The 21 Steps Beginners Guitar Course with these activities:
Practice basic chord transitions
Improve finger dexterity and coordination for smoother chord changes, which is essential for playing rhythm guitar.
Show steps
  • Select 3-4 basic chords (e.g., G, C, D, Em).
  • Practice transitioning between each pair of chords repeatedly.
  • Use a metronome to gradually increase the speed of transitions.
Review Hal Leonard Guitar Method
Supplement the course with a well-regarded beginner guitar method book to reinforce concepts and provide additional practice material.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the Hal Leonard Guitar Method book.
  • Work through the first few chapters, focusing on basic chords and strumming patterns.
  • Compare the book's approach to the course's lessons and identify areas for further practice.
Practice scales with backing tracks
Improve scale fluency and improvisation skills by practicing scales along with backing tracks in various keys and tempos.
Show steps
  • Find backing tracks in the keys covered in the course (e.g., A minor, C major).
  • Practice playing the corresponding scales (e.g., A minor pentatonic, C major pentatonic) over the backing tracks.
  • Experiment with improvising melodies using the scales.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Record yourself playing a song from the course
Assess your progress and identify areas for improvement by recording and reviewing your performance of a song learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a song from the course that you want to record.
  • Set up a recording device (e.g., smartphone, computer microphone).
  • Record yourself playing the song.
  • Listen back to the recording and identify areas where you can improve.
Compose a short guitar piece
Apply the knowledge gained in the course by composing a short guitar piece using the chords, scales, and techniques learned.
Show steps
  • Choose a key and time signature for your piece.
  • Select a few chords and scales from the course that you want to use.
  • Create a melody and chord progression.
  • Practice playing your piece until you are comfortable with it.
Review Guitar Aerobics
Use a guitar exercise book to improve technique and dexterity after completing the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of Guitar Aerobics.
  • Select exercises that focus on areas where you want to improve (e.g., alternate picking, legato).
  • Practice the exercises regularly, focusing on accuracy and consistency.
Explore online guitar tutorials
Expand your knowledge and learn new techniques by exploring online guitar tutorials on platforms like YouTube or TrueFire.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on specific topics covered in the course (e.g., blues guitar, fingerpicking).
  • Watch the tutorials and try to follow along with the instructor.
  • Take notes on new techniques or concepts that you learn.

Career center

Learners who complete The 21 Steps Beginners Guitar Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Guitar Instructor
A guitar instructor shares their passion for music by teaching others how to play. This course, with its emphasis on a structured curriculum and a gradient of lessons, mirrors the approach a guitar instructor might take when teaching beginners. The course's focus on rhythm and lead guitar, along with its diverse range of chords, scales, and strumming patterns, provides a strong foundation for an instructor to teach these elements to their own students. The course's commitment to student success and enjoyment of the learning process aligns with the qualities of a great guitar instructor. The course's use of real tracks, not just exercises, in the lessons and its methods to make learning accessible may be useful for an instructor.
Session Musician
A session musician plays guitar as part of a recording or performance and brings versatility in various music styles. With its focus on Rock, Blues, and Pop music, this course introduces learners to a range of styles that are useful for a session musician. The course’s curriculum covers rhythm and lead guitar, along with a wealth of chords and scales, all of which are part of the toolbox for a session musician. A session musician’s work may require them to play a variety of styles. Through its jam tracks at three different speeds and with bare tracks, this course provides practice material that may be useful to prepare for the demands of working as a session musician.
Music Arranger
A music arranger takes existing pieces of music and modifies them for different instruments or styles. This course introduces learners to a variety of chords, scales, and strumming patterns which a music arranger may find useful. The course covers rhythm and lead guitar, which may help an arranger understand how to write for different guitar parts. By working with elements of Rock, Blues, and Pop music styles, this course may be helpful for an arranger to create new music arrangements. The course's structure, which introduces chord changes that flow smoothly, may also be useful for music arrangers.
Songwriter
A songwriter composes original musical pieces. This course may be useful to a songwriter, as it introduces a wide range of chords, scales, and strumming patterns. Through its curriculum, this course covers various musical styles like Rock, Blues, and Pop which a songwriter may wish to incorporate into their work. The course's emphasis on both rhythm and lead guitar can help a songwriter create more complete and interesting songs. The course also provides real tracks to learn alongside, which may be helpful inspiration for songwriters.
Music Therapist
A music therapist uses music to help individuals achieve therapeutic goals. This course may help a music therapist who may want to use guitar in their practice. The course covers a range of techniques including rhythm and lead guitar, along with many chords and scales, which may be useful for a therapist in designing interventions. By introducing the student to various music styles like Rock, Blues, and Pop, it may help music therapists understand how music can affect moods and emotions. By learning the curriculum of this course, the course may be useful to a therapist to better understand how their client learns and what their experience might be.
Guitar Technician
A guitar technician maintains and repairs guitars for professional musicians and studios. While this course does not directly teach repair, a deep understanding of how a guitar is played can help inform the work of a guitar technician. The course covers a range of techniques including rhythm and lead guitar, along with many chords and scales, which may give the guitar technician a better understanding of guitar craftsmanship and repair. Through learning the material of this course, a guitar technician can better understand the needs of guitarists.
Music Journalist
A music journalist writes about music. While this course does not teach writing, an understanding of guitar playing can assist a music journalist. The course covers a wide range of guitar techniques including rhythm and lead guitar, as well as various chords and scales, which may be useful to a music journalist. The course also introduces the student to various styles such as Rock, Blues, and Pop, which may assist in writing about music. Having done this course may be helpful for a music journalist who wishes to write more knowledgably about guitarists and their work.
Sound Engineer
A sound engineer records and mixes music. While this course does not teach sound engineering, it does provide an understanding of guitar playing that can be useful to a sound engineer. Through its curriculum, the course covers rhythm and lead guitar, along with many chords and scales. It also introduces different styles like Rock, Blues, and Pop. This may help a sound engineer better understand how the guitar sounds and how to record it in different contexts. This course may be useful for sound engineers who work with guitarists.
Video Game Composer
A video game composer creates music for video games. This course may be useful in that it provides a foundation in guitar playing and musical concepts. The course covers a range of guitar techniques, including both rhythm and lead guitar, and introduces various chords and scales. The course also covers different musical styles, including rock, blues, and pop, which are styles sometimes used in video games. With its focus on actual tracks, the course may help a composer understand how music works in a real environment and may be useful for a video game composer.
Music Retail Salesperson
A music retail salesperson sells instruments and accessories. This course provides an understanding of how the guitar is played, which may be helpful in recommending products to customers. The course covers a variety of techniques from rhythm guitar to lead guitar, along with a range of chords and scales. By working with many styles, including Rock, Blues, and Pop, the student can understand the needs of a diverse range of players. This course may be helpful for a salesperson wanting to gain a better understanding of the guitar.
Talent Agent
A talent agent represents musicians and other artists. While this course does not cover the skills of representation, it does provide a basic understanding of playing the guitar. The course introduces elements of rock, blues, and pop music, as well as both rhythm and lead guitar. The course also covers chords, scales and strumming patterns. This knowledge may be useful for an agent working with guitarists. By undertaking this course, an agent may gain a better understanding of their clients.
Music Producer
A music producer oversees the recording process of a music project. While this course does not teach production, a working understanding of the guitar is helpful. The course covers different styles, including rock, blues and pop, and various guitar techniques, like rhythm and lead, not to mention chords and scales. These skills may help a music producer have a better idea of what a guitar can do within a track. Furthermore, the course is designed to be fun and to inspire success, which may help a music producer who needs to understand or work with guitarists.
Live Sound Technician
A live sound technician manages sound for live events, including concerts and performances. While this course does not teach sound engineering, a basic understanding of guitar playing can help a live sound technician. The course covers rhythm and lead guitar, along with a variety of chords and scales. It introduces elements of Rock, Blues, and Pop, which are useful styles to be familiar with for a sound technician. By taking this course, a technician may gain a deeper understanding of guitar music and how to best manage sound for guitarists.
Music Supervisor
A music supervisor selects music for productions such as film and television. This course may be useful for gaining a deeper understanding of music and the guitar. This course covers a wide range of techniques from rhythm guitar to lead guitar, which may assist a music supervisor in thinking about the possibilities of guitar. The course also covers different styles of music, like rock, blues and pop, which may help in the selection of appropriate music for different contexts. The course’s focus on actual tracks makes this course a useful resource for a music supervisor.
Entertainment Lawyer
An entertainment lawyer specializes in legal issues related to the entertainment industry. While this course does not directly teach law, a general understanding of music and guitar can be useful as an entertainment lawyer working with musicians. The course introduces a wide range of guitar techniques, from rhythm to lead, as well as diverse scales and chords. Through the various styles covered, such as rock, blues, and pop, the lawyer may gain a broader understanding of the music industry. This course may be useful in providing more knowledge to an entertainment lawyer.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The 21 Steps Beginners Guitar Course.
Comprehensive guide for beginner guitarists. It covers essential techniques, chords, and songs in a step-by-step manner. It is commonly used as a textbook in guitar classes and provides a solid foundation for learning guitar. This book adds breadth to the course by providing additional exercises and songs to practice.
Provides a year's worth of daily exercises to improve guitar technique. It covers a wide range of skills, including alternate picking, sweep picking, string skipping, and tapping. While some exercises may be too advanced for beginners, many are suitable for intermediate players looking to improve their dexterity and speed. This book adds depth to the course by providing a structured approach to technical development.

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