We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Thomas V. Dekker

This is the complete series of lessons of my Lead Guitar Program. With this lesson alone you guitar playing will already be transformed from playing boring chords and simple rhythms, to playing in the wholeness of the neck of your instrument and soloing over backing tracks.

The truth is that, nobody starts playing guitar thinking that just playing the basic chords and rhythms is all they want to learn. Everybody wants to be a lead guitarist. And this is what I am offering you: to become a Lead Guitar Player.

Read more

This is the complete series of lessons of my Lead Guitar Program. With this lesson alone you guitar playing will already be transformed from playing boring chords and simple rhythms, to playing in the wholeness of the neck of your instrument and soloing over backing tracks.

The truth is that, nobody starts playing guitar thinking that just playing the basic chords and rhythms is all they want to learn. Everybody wants to be a lead guitarist. And this is what I am offering you: to become a Lead Guitar Player.

On this level I will teach you the introduction of the basic tools I use every time I am on stage, in studio, or even when I am just playing with my friends and having fun with my family.

This course will simply transform the way you play guitar. The lessons I teach you here, will be present every time you play guitar.

Here are the things you'll learn:

  • Find all the notes using only two string;

  • Power Chords all over the guitar;

  • Alternate Picking Technique;

  • Understand how Major and Minor Keys work;

  • Solo and Improvising - intro level.

  • Learn how to use Triads as part of your lead lines

  • Get your chops sharpened and get better playing guitar

  • Play with more feeling and express yourself

  • Bring your music vocabulary to the next level

  • Understand how music works

All lessons have a handout and support material like TABs and backing tracks.

Enrol today and get your guitar playing to a whole new level.

See you inside.

Thomas V. Dekker

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objective

You will learn all the tool you need to have to play like a lead guitar player.

Syllabus

Notes, Octaves and PowerChords
Introduction
Notes E String
Notes A String
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides exercises to develop alternate picking technique, which is essential for playing fast and clean lead guitar lines
Explores major and minor keys, which are fundamental for understanding harmony and creating compelling solos and improvisations
Starts with finding notes on the fretboard using only two strings, which is a great way for beginners to learn the layout of the guitar
Covers power chords all over the guitar, which are a staple in many genres and a good starting point for learning chord voicings
Includes handouts, tabs, and backing tracks, which are valuable resources for practicing and improving guitar skills
Teaches how to use triads as part of lead lines, which can add color and sophistication to solos and improvisations

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Solid foundation for lead guitar

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation for transitioning into lead guitar playing. Reviewers frequently praise the clear and concise instruction provided by Thomas Dekker, who makes complex concepts like major and minor keys approachable. The course covers essential techniques including alternate picking and finding notes across the fretboard. Students found the included handouts, TABs, and backing tracks extremely useful for practice. While many highlight its effectiveness as a great starting point for soloing and improvisation, especially for absolute beginners, a few felt the pace was too slow or the content lacked depth for those with prior knowledge. Overall, it's widely seen as a highly effective introduction to lead guitar.
Primarily suited for beginners learning lead guitar basics.
"Good introductory course to lead guitar."
"It might be fine for absolute beginners with no prior experience."
"Fantastic course for absolute beginners to lead guitar."
"Highly recommended for newbies."
"Best suited for someone just starting to learn soloing."
Includes helpful TABs, handouts, and backing tracks.
"Practice materials provided are very useful."
"The inclusion of handouts, TABs, and backing tracks for practice is a massive plus..."
"The exercises are well chosen and the backing tracks are very useful."
"The handouts and TABs are excellent."
"The support materials are top-notch."
Instructor explains concepts in a clear, easy-to-follow way.
"His instruction is clear, concise, and incredibly easy to follow, making complex concepts approachable..."
"Excellent course, very clear and well structured."
"I finally understand how major and minor keys work... The explanations are simple yet profound."
"The instructor is knowledgeable and explains things well."
"Everything is explained very well, simple and direct."
Provides a strong base for aspiring lead guitarists.
"...building a solid foundation for anyone looking to delve into lead guitar."
"This course gave me the tools to start improvising over backing tracks."
"It gives you a great starting point."
"Cleared up so many questions I had about how scales, keys, and soloing connect."
"Great foundation for lead guitar playing."
Some exercises felt repetitive to a few reviewers.
"Some exercises feel a bit repetitive."
"Exercises are helpful, though some could be more varied."
"The exercises were a bit repetitive at times."
May be too basic or slow-paced for non-beginners.
"I was hoping for a bit more challenge or perhaps more examples of applying the techniques..."
"Found this course too basic and slow-paced. I have some prior knowledge..."
"...dwelled too long on simple concepts for my level."
"It's a decent starting point but maybe not for everyone."

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 Lead Guitar Course - All The Lessons (#1-7) with these activities:
Review Basic Music Theory
Reinforce your understanding of music theory concepts like scales, chords, and keys, which are essential for improvisation and soloing.
Browse courses on Music Theory
Show steps
  • Review the circle of fifths and key signatures.
  • Practice identifying major and minor chords.
  • Study the construction of major and minor scales.
Read 'Guitar Aerobics'
Supplement your practice with structured exercises from a guitar technique book to improve dexterity and speed.
Show steps
  • Select exercises that target specific weaknesses.
  • Practice each exercise consistently for a week.
  • Track your progress and adjust your practice routine.
Alternate Picking Exercises
Improve your alternate picking technique through consistent practice, focusing on accuracy and speed.
Show steps
  • Practice alternate picking on a single string.
  • Incorporate alternate picking into scale patterns.
  • Gradually increase the tempo with a metronome.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Guitar Tablature
Transcribe a guitar solo or song into tablature to improve your understanding of note placement and rhythm.
Show steps
  • Choose a song or solo to transcribe.
  • Listen carefully and identify the notes and rhythms.
  • Write out the tablature using a guitar tab editor.
Explore Legato Technique Tutorials
Refine your legato playing by studying online tutorials and applying the techniques to your playing.
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on hammer-ons and pull-offs.
  • Practice legato phrases in different keys.
  • Incorporate legato into your solos.
Compose a Short Solo
Apply the concepts learned in the course by composing a short guitar solo over a backing track.
Show steps
  • Choose a backing track in a major or minor key.
  • Experiment with different scales and arpeggios.
  • Record and refine your solo.
Study 'The Advancing Guitarist'
Deepen your understanding of advanced guitar concepts by studying a comprehensive guitar method book.
Show steps
  • Read through the book and highlight key concepts.
  • Practice the exercises and apply the concepts to your playing.
  • Discuss the concepts with other guitarists.

Career center

Learners who complete Lead Guitar Course - All The Lessons (#1-7) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Band Member
A band member collaborates with other musicians to create and perform music as part of an ensemble. This course provides a base for a band member whose role involves lead guitar. The course's focus on soloing, improvising, and understanding music theory are essential skills for a lead guitarist within a band. This course also focuses on technique, such as alternate picking, which may be useful in a live setting. The course provides the knowledge for a band member to contribute effectively and creatively to their band's sound.
Session Musician
A session musician is a versatile instrumentalist who performs on recordings or live performances for other artists. This course is a great fit for a session musician because the focus on lead guitar techniques, including soloing and improvising, directly translates to the demands of session work. A session musician must be able to quickly learn and execute various guitar parts, and the course's emphasis on practical application of scales, chords, and techniques would be invaluable for a quickly adaptable performance in studio or on stage. The course's introduction to how music works may also help deepen a session musician's understanding of musical structure, improving their ability to creatively contribute.
Guitar Instructor
A guitar instructor teaches guitar to students of varying skill levels. This course helps build a foundation in lead guitar techniques that a guitar instructor could pass on to their students. This course's focus on understanding how major and minor keys work, coupled with techniques for alternate picking, triads, and soloing, gives the prospective guitar instructor tools and knowledge that can be directly incorporated and taught by an instructor. Additionally, the course's methodical approach to teaching musical concepts may help a future instructor develop a more organized, clear teaching style.
Touring Musician
A touring musician performs live music in various locations, often as part of a band. This course may help a touring musician, especially one whose role in the band is lead guitar. The course's emphasis on practical skills like soloing, improvising and using techniques like bending and sliding, are essential for live performances. The course's focus on playing with feeling and developing a stronger musical vocabulary could help a touring musician create more engaging and memorable performances. This course is highly relevant for one who wishes to pursue music performance full-time.
Music Arranger
A music arranger adapts existing musical compositions for different instruments or ensembles. This course may be helpful to a music arranger, especially one who works with guitars. The course explores techniques like triad usage in lead lines and how to connect shapes across the neck, which could influence how a music arranger approaches guitar parts in arrangements. The course's emphasis on understanding how music works in major and minor keys may help a music arranger craft more harmonically interesting and effective arrangements.
Songwriter
A songwriter crafts original songs, often involving both lyrics and music. This course may be useful to a songwriter who plays lead guitar. The course's lessons on soloing, improvisation, and understanding musical keys will enhance a songwriter's ability to create more compelling and dynamic guitar parts within their songs. The course introduces how music works and how to bring musical vocabulary to the next level, which may also improve a songwriter's ability to craft more fully-realized compositions. Ultimately, this course may help build a more versatile songwriter.
Music Composer
A music composer creates original musical works for various purposes. This course may be useful to a music composer, particularly one who uses guitar in their compositional work. The course provides a deep understanding of the guitar, especially how to use triads as part of lead lines, and how major and minor keys work. Additionally, the course touches on improvisation, which can be an important tool in the composing process. The course may help the composer develop fresh and original musical ideas.
Musical Director
A musical director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or production. This course may help a musical director, particularly who who works with guitarists. The course's deep dive into how to develop lead guitar skills, such as soloing, bending, and sliding, as well as playing with feeling, allows a musical director to better direct guitarists. Additionally, understanding key types and how chords work will help a musical director create a cohesive musical vision for their production, whether it is for stage performance or studio recording.
Music Producer
A music producer oversees the recording and production of music, working with artists to achieve their desired sound. This course may help a music producer who works with guitarists. A music producer is often responsible for suggesting and directing guitar parts. The course includes instruction on playing techniques, soloing, and improvisation, as well as an understanding of major and minor keys, enabling a music producer to communicate more effectively with guitarists. The course may enhance the producer's ability to suggest creative guitar arrangements.
Guitar Technician
A guitar technician is responsible for maintaining and repairing guitars for musicians, often working closely with them to ensure their instruments are in optimal condition. This course may help a guitar technician who wishes to advise musicians on their playing. The course provides a deep understanding of various guitar techniques and playing styles, which could allow a guitar technician to better understand and address the needs of guitarists. Guitar technicians with this course experience may develop a more comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects of guitar playing.
Audio Engineer
An audio engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of recording, mixing, and mastering audio for various projects. This course may be helpful to an audio engineer who works with guitarists or guitars in audio production. The course provides a deep understanding of guitar playing, including techniques, and musical concepts, which may allow an audio engineer to better communicate with guitarists and make informed decisions during the recording process. An audio engineer with this knowledge may be more effective in capturing and enhancing the performance of a given guitarist.
Live Sound Engineer
A live sound engineer works with the technical aspects of audio for live music performances and is often responsible for the sound that the audience hears. This course may be useful to a live sound engineer who works with guitarists. The course provides an understanding of guitar playing, including the use of effects, and various techniques, which could help a live sound engineer better manage the sound for guitarists during live performances, and to react to their needs. This course is particularly helpful for a live sound engineer with limited guitar experience.
Music Journalist
A music journalist writes articles, reviews, or other content related to music for various publications. This course may be useful to a music journalist looking to deepen their knowledge of a specific instrument. While this role is not a performance role, the course offers detailed insight into how lead guitar works, including notes, octaves, and techniques like alternate picking. This would provide a more nuanced understanding and appreciation of guitar playing, allowing the journalist to offer more informed and insightful commentary.
Music Therapist
A music therapist uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. This might be useful to a music therapist as it may provide a more detailed understanding of advanced guitar playing. This knowledge may be used by a therapist to more deeply empathize with guitar playing patients, and perhaps better structure therapeutic sessions that involve learning guitar. This course is for those who wish to use music as a therapeutic tool, and may be supplemental to their work.
Entertainment Lawyer
An entertainment lawyer specializes in legal matters related to the entertainment industry. Though seemingly unrelated, this course might offer an entertainment lawyer a deeper understanding of what musicians do, especially guitar players. While the lawyer's work is not directly related to the practice of a musical instrument, the course could offer insights into the needs, creative process, and technical aspects of guitar playing. This context may empower an entertainment lawyer to more thoroughly understand the experience of their clients.

Reading list

We've selected one 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 Lead Guitar Course - All The Lessons (#1-7).
Provides a structured approach to improving guitar technique through daily exercises. It covers a wide range of techniques, including alternate picking, legato, and string skipping. It is particularly useful for developing finger strength, dexterity, and coordination. This book serves as a great reference for guitarists of all levels.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser