Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions from Coursera

You’ve got the guitar basics down: You can strum your guitar and play a few of your favorite songs, but you’re ready to take the tunes to the next level. In Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions you’ll expand your knowledge of scales, chord fingerings, and common chord progressions. You’ll also learn important skills for soloing, creating melodies, and adding depth and dimension to your guitar playing.

This course is not only for the aspiring guitarist who has taken Berklee’s Guitar for Beginners, but also for guitarists who have let their six-string gather dust for too long, and want to brush up on techniques.

Each lesson covers the four basic aspects you’ll need to sharpen your guitar chops: scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm. Amanda’s practical approach to learning these important elements is fun and helps you to use what you’re learning and practicing in a real musical setting. You’ll improve your playing and creativity, whether it be as a singer-songwriter, a guitarist accompanying a singer, or a player in the band. By the end of this course, you’ll be more comfortable playing throughout the neck, and you’ll gain a better understanding of chord structure and how each chord relates to tonal centers or keys. You’ll also be able to solo and improvise by playing simple lead guitar lines based on the minor pentatonic scale. Whether your preference is for acoustic or electric, the curriculum is designed to turn you into a real guitarist.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions!

Welcome to Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Scales

In this lesson, we'll be learning and practicing the pentatonic scale. First we'll learn the b3 pentatonic scale, then the b7 pentatonic scale, and then we'll learn how to play the scale on one string. We'll also work on improvising using a single string. Finally, we'll practice playing scales in a moveable open position.

Arpeggios

This lesson, we'll be working with arpeggios, which means playing the notes in a chord one at a time. We'll be learning and practicing major, minor, diminished, and augmented arpeggiated chords.

Chords and Progressions

In this lesson, we'll begin practicing chords and popular chord progressions. We'll also begin practicing these progressions with both open and barre chords.

Rhythm

In this final lesson, we will focus on arpeggiated chords and playing them in different rhythms. We will also practice blues scales and finally, put all of these aspects together.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Amanda Monaco, who has 20 years of acclaimed experience in the music industry specializing in Berklee's method

Helps guitar players improve their playing and creativity in different musical settings like singer-songwriters, accompanying singers, or players in a band

Covers the essentials for guitar improvement in scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm

Reinforces skills for guitar playing with real-world music settings

Interactive course with videos, readings, and discussions

Builds a strong foundation for beginners

Reviews summary

Highly rated scales and chord progressions course

Learners say this well-received course engaging is effective at teaching the basics of guitar scales and chord progressions if you already have some foundational knowledge. Well-presented and easy-to-follow, the series of video instruction by Amanda Monaco is particularly praised by learners. While the course may not be suitable for complete beginners, many learners report that the course greatly increased their skill level.

The course takes 4 weeks to complete.

"This foundational course was so clear and well presented."

"The course is well presented with sufficient basic content for this level."

The video instruction is clear and effective.

"The lectures are nice and easy to follow."

"The instruction videos were clear to understand and setting week goals kept motivating to continue."

"Very well presented and organised."

Amanda Monaco is a highly-praised instructor.

"Excellent instructor and very practical, direct and effective lessons. I really enjoyed."

"Amanda Monaco is a wonderful teacher. Her teaching videos are exceptional and dealing scales and chord progressions in depth."

"I'm really pleased with the material and the way Amanda explains things, she is fun and the information comes in bite size videos."

The final assignment includes peer review, which may not be consistent.

"Fine course, clear in contents and with a fine last assignment. Peer review was not fine the first time, because was not serious, but second review was perfect."

"It would better if students ability levels were assessed and graded at the beginning of the course"

"where there's a disagreement of the final score, when asked by the student, the assessor should respond, justifying their assessment."

Prior guitar lessons or knowledge are helpful for this course.

"This course is probably good for someone who has just started."

"This course is not for you. But if you have even been playing for a year - this is again not for you."

"The course could've been more informative and covered more scales and chords."

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 Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions with these activities:

Review guitar basics

Show steps

Review the basics of guitar playing, including chords, scales, and techniques, to better prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Guitar Basics

Show steps

Tune your guitar and practice basic chords (e.g., C, G, D, Am, Em)
Practice strumming patterns and picking techniques
Review the major and minor scales

Read 'Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions for Dummies'

Show steps

Supplement your learning by reading this comprehensive guide to guitar scales and chord progressions, which provides clear explanations and practical exercises.

View Guitar For Dummies on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes on the key concepts
Practice the exercises provided in the book

Learn about power chords

Show steps

Expand your guitar playing skills by learning about power chords, which are commonly used in rock and heavy metal music.

Browse courses on Power Chords

Show steps

Watch online tutorials on how to play power chords
Practice playing power chords in different keys and positions

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Practice scales and arpeggios

Show steps

Improve your guitar playing technique by practicing scales and arpeggios, which are essential for building dexterity and musicality.

Browse courses on Scales

Show steps

Practice the major and minor scales in different positions
Practice arpeggios in different keys and inversions

Attend a guitar workshop

Show steps

Attend a guitar workshop led by an experienced guitarist to learn new techniques and expand your knowledge.

Show steps

Find a guitar workshop that aligns with your interests
Attend the workshop and participate actively

Write a song using the techniques you've learned

Show steps

Challenge yourself by writing a song that incorporates the guitar scales, chord progressions, and techniques you've learned in this course.

Browse courses on Songwriting

Show steps

Brainstorm ideas for a song and write the lyrics
Compose the music for your song, using the techniques you've learned
Record and mix your song

Mentor a beginner guitar player

Show steps

Deepen your understanding by mentoring a beginner guitar player and sharing the knowledge you've gained in this course.

Show steps

Find a beginner guitar player who is willing to learn from you
Develop a plan for mentoring your student
Regularly meet with your student and provide guidance and support

Start a band or join a music group

Show steps

Take your guitar playing to the next level by starting a band or joining a music group, where you can collaborate with other musicians and perform live.

Show steps

Find other musicians who share your musical interests
Practice together and develop a set of songs to perform
Book gigs and perform live

Career center

Learners who complete Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Producer

The Music Producer is the creative mastermind behind some of our favorite songs and albums. They work with artists to develop their sound, create musical arrangements, and oversee the recording and production process. This course can help Music Producers develop their musical knowledge and skills, which are essential for success in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are fundamental to music production. By taking this course, Music Producers can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to create high-quality recordings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Music Teacher

The Music Teacher is responsible for teaching students about music theory, history, and performance. They develop lesson plans, teach classes, and assess student progress. This course can help Music Teachers improve their knowledge of music theory and develop their teaching skills. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for music education. By taking this course, Music Teachers can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to be effective teachers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Teacher

Session Musician

The Session Musician is a professional musician who is hired to play on recordings or live performances. They are typically skilled in a variety of musical styles and can play a variety of instruments. This course can help Session Musicians improve their musical skills and knowledge. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for session work. By taking this course, Session Musicians can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to be successful in their field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Session Musician

Songwriter

The Songwriter is responsible for writing the lyrics and music for songs. They work with artists to develop their songs and create melodies, harmonies, and lyrics. This course can help Songwriters improve their musical knowledge and skills, which are essential for success in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for songwriting. By taking this course, Songwriters can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to write great songs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Music Arranger

The Music Arranger is responsible for creating musical arrangements for songs and compositions. They work with musicians to develop the instrumentation, harmonies, and rhythms for a piece of music. This course can help Music Arrangers improve their musical knowledge and skills, which are essential for success in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for music arranging. By taking this course, Music Arrangers can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to create great arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Arranger

Musician

The Musician is a general term that can refer to any person who plays a musical instrument. Musicians can work in a variety of settings, including orchestras, bands, and solo performances. This course can help Musicians improve their musical skills and knowledge, which are essential for success in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for musicianship. By taking this course, Musicians can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to be successful musicians.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musician

Music Therapist

The Music Therapist uses music to help people improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive health. They work with patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers. This course can help Music Therapists improve their musical knowledge and skills, which are essential for success in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, all of which are essential for music therapy. By taking this course, Music Therapists can gain a deeper understanding of music theory and develop the skills they need to be effective therapists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Audio Engineer

The Audio Engineer is responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering audio. They work in a variety of settings, including recording studios, live sound venues, and film and television production. This course may help Audio Engineers improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Audio Engineers with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as audio equipment, recording techniques, or mixing and mastering, which are essential for success in audio engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Music Journalist

The Music Journalist writes articles, reviews, and features about music for magazines, newspapers, and websites. They attend concerts, interview musicians, and review new releases. This course may help Music Journalists improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Music Journalists with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as journalism ethics, writing techniques, or music industry trends, which are essential for success in music journalism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Music Librarian

The Music Librarian is responsible for organizing, cataloging, and preserving music materials. They work in a variety of settings, including libraries, archives, and museums. This course may help Music Librarians improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Music Librarians with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as library science, cataloging techniques, or music preservation, which are essential for success in music librarianship.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Librarian

Music Promoter

The Music Promoter is responsible for promoting and marketing musicians and their music. They work with artists to develop marketing campaigns, book tours, and secure media coverage. This course may help Music Promoters improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Music Promoters with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as marketing, public relations, or event planning, which are essential for success in music promotion.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Promoter

Music Critic

The Music Critic writes reviews and critiques of music for magazines, newspapers, and websites. They attend concerts, interview musicians, and review new releases. This course may help Music Critics improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Music Critics with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as critical writing, music history, or music criticism, which are essential for success in music criticism.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Critic

Music Executive

The Music Executive is responsible for managing the business affairs of musicians and their music. They work with artists to negotiate contracts, manage finances, and develop career plans. This course may help Music Executives improve their musical knowledge and skills, which can be helpful in their field. The course covers topics such as scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, and rhythm, which can provide Music Executives with a deeper understanding of music theory. However, the course does not cover topics such as business management, contract law, or finance, which are essential for success in music executive.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Executive