Here is a lesson from Steve Krenz with Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar.  It is a lesson from his monthly video Newsletter on how to get more out of simple chord progressions.

He starts the lesson by taking a look at a very simple open chord progression of D Major, G Major and A Major.  If you have been playing guitar for a little while now, chances are you have played this chord progressions many times in the basic open position.  How about trying something different with basic chords today?

For starters, we could take the same open D Major chord but instead of playing all of the strings in this chord, try playing just the top 3 notes.  For the next chord in the progression, the G Major, you would do the same thing by starting with a G Major Barre Chord shape but only playing the top 3 notes, same with the A Major.  Steve will demonstrate this in the video lesson below.

Another variation, on the same chord progression, would be to sort of arpeggiate the notes of each chord. This is just a fancy word for playing the notes of the chord one at a time as opposed to strumming the notes all at once.

Instead of playing the top notes of the chords in this chord progression, you could reverse it and play the bottom portion of the chords and rock it out with some power chords.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as chord variations are concerned. There is much more you can do and Steve will demonstrate this in the video lesson below.  Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jfbOy0JPo

A really big thanks to Steve Krenz and the folks over at Legacy Learning Systems for providing this free video lesson.  If you haven’t already taken a look at Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar, then I highly recommend you consider doing so today!

Winner of the 2008 Acoustic Guitar Magazine Players’ Choice Awards, two Telly Awards and an AEGIS Award for Excellence in Education, Learn & Master Guitar is widely recognized as the best home instruction course for learning guitar available anywhere. It consists of 20 professionally produced DVDs, 5 Jam-Along CDs, a 100+ page lesson book, and a free online student support site.  It is the only instructional package you’ll ever need on your journey toward mastery of the guitar. All you provide is the practice!  I personally own this course and feel it is one of the best home study courses for learning how to play guitar on the market today and it is entirely taught by Steve Krenz, the gentleman in the video above.

Check out my review of Gibsons Learn and Master Guitar here for more information.

If you have any questions about the course before ordering, I will do my best to answer any questions that you may have.  You can drop me an email by using this contact form.  This course is extremely affordable when you consider how much private lessons cost.  It will also save you a ton of time as you won’t have to scour the Internet searching for beginner lessons. Everything you need to know in order to become the guitar player of your dreams is in this course.

Follow this link for my review

or…

Follow this link to reach the Learn and Master Website now

The following is a video excerpt from the popular home study course Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar with Steve Krenz, sold through Legacy Learning Systems.  This is an advanced jazz guitar lesson, a full chapter from the course called “Jazzing up your Chord Progressions”.  Speaking of the course, if you are not familiar with it as of yet, follow this link to read my review on Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar.  I am a proud owner of this course and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to play guitar from the comfort of their own home.

Back to this lesson….

In this lesson, Steve discusses a few different ways to make your basic chord progressions more jazzy.

For instance, he talks about how you can add what is referred to as “color tones” to your basic  chords to make a more complex jazz chord.  For instance, the C major chord is a pretty basic chord comprised of the notes C, E and G (1,3 and 5 positions of the C Major Scale).  When you play it, it doesn’t sound very jazzy does it?   Go ahead and add the B note (7th position of the C Major Scale) to this chord, giving you a Cmaj7 chord and now you are beginning to have that Jazz feel.

Of course when you start adding these colors to your basic chords, things are going to become a bit more challenging, so if you haven’t been playing for very long, you may find this a little difficult.

He discusses a couple of other techniques in this video like Adding the ii-V Progression and How to Dress up the Dominant Seventh Chord.

I don’t want to spoil all of the fun so watch the free video lesson below to learn more…

Below is a video lesson from the popular home study course from Legacy Learning Systems called “Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar”. In the following video lesson, Steve Krenz demonstrates how to play two basic beginner guitar chords : the C Major and G7 chords.

Steve first demonstrates how to play each chord and then talks about a common problem that all beginners run into when first learning chords and how you can overcome this problem.

After learning how to play each of these chords, Steve will demonstrate three exercises that will give you a bit of practice  playing and switching between these chords.

Also included in this video clip is a Guitar Tips section.  In this section Steve will talk about some of the recommended guitar tools and accessories that you will need at the very beginning of your guitar playing journey.  These include items like a metronome, guitar tuner, guitar case and more.  He also talks about the importance of having your guitar professionally adjusted for the best possible playing experience.

He then goes on to explain the importance of caring for your guitar. Things like drastic temperature changes can damage your guitar.

Learn more by watching the video clip below!

If you enjoyed the above video clip from Steve Krenz, then you will certainly love the rest of this course. This really is one of the best courses on learning how to play guitar. How do I know this? Because I personally own a copy and you can read my personal review of Learn and Master Guitar here.

Learning acoustic guitar is an extremely broad topic. One that would no doubt fill many books. The following guide focuses on some of the most important aspects of playing guitar providing you with an excellent starting point. This guide was written for the right handed, absolute beginner using a steel string guitar. My apologies to all of you left handed guitarists in advance.

ABOUT THE STEEL STRING GUITAR

The steel string guitar is a masterpiece of musical instrument engineering. Before the steel string, the acoustic guitar was very limited. The guitars of old were very quiet when played, so much so, that a guitarist was not able to play along with other musicians as the sound produced was simply too low. In order to overcome this shortcoming, the steel string guitar was born. The steel string produced a louder sound, but also caused too much stress on the instrument because of the added weight. The body construction therefore needed to be altered to accommodate the heavier strings. These changes not only made the guitar stronger, but they also increased the life of the guitar.

GUITAR STYLES – WHAT STYLE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Guitars are available in a variety of different styles and sizes and it really depends on what is most comfortable and enjoyable for you. Popular guitar styles include the Dreadnought, Nex, Artist, Classic and Jumbo. Each guitar has its own unique look, feel and sound. The larger styles like the Jumbo and Dreadnought produce more bass and are more difficult to hold and play. The smaller models like the Nex and Artist favor the midranges and treble and are much easier to hold and play. The Classic guitar is a whole different animal. It can only be played using nylon strings and produces a sound that is noticeably different than steel string guitars. So if you aren’t sure what guitar style is right for you, then head over to your nearest music center and give them all a test drive.

Need a reliable, high quality and  affordable acoustic guitar? Click here for our list of the top best selling acoustic guitars!

HOW TO HOLD THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Holding your acoustic guitar is not an exact science.  Everyone has different body types, finger lengths and there are a variety of different sizes and shapes of guitars.  There are many points to keep in mind and it really comes down to how comfortable you are when holding and playing your guitar.

I posted an excellent video on this topic not too long ago that demonstrates and explains how to hold your guitar in detail.

Follow this link to view this video on how to hold your acoustic guitar.

HAND, FINGER AND THUMB POSITIONING

How to position your hands, fingers and thumbs may seem obvious to some, but there is a right and wrong way to do this.  It would be very difficult for you to visualize how to position your hands when playing guitar if I were to explain it here.  A video would do a much better job, so I included a link below to an excellent video.

Guitar Lesson – Hands, Fingers & Thumb Positioning

LEARN HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR

Make certain that you spend time learning how to tune a guitar. Purchase a guitar tuner at any local music store and practice tuning your guitar with the guitar tuner. Or if you do not own a guitar tuner, there are plenty of lessons and tools online that will guide you.  I have posted several videos on this topic that I recommend you watch:

How to keep your electric or acoustic guitar in tune

Get Your Guitar In Tune

LEARN HOW TO CHANGE YOUR STRINGS

Learn how to change your strings and change them often. I know the idea of changing your strings on your own is intimidating, but it really isn’t that difficult and eventually it will become second nature. I put together a post not too long ago that includes video instructions on how to change strings on both an acoustic and electric guitar.

Click here to reach that post on changing your guitar strings.

GUITAR MUSIC THEORY

Guitar music theory is where all of your scales, chords, progressions, notes and more come into play. It is such a huge topic and would fill many books all on its own. Music theory is extremely important to your growth as a musician and should not be overlooked. Many beginners frown upon guitar theory and completely ignore it. They would much rather take the short route and learn tablature and start playing their favorite songs. There is nothing wrong with learning tablature and playing your favorite songs, but don’t make that your only form of study.

There are a plethora of free sites online that teach guitar music theory, but not all are created equal. One of the best sites I have found on this topic is: TheoryLessons.Com. I highly recommend you start there. The owner of that site starts at the very beginning and covers all the major bases. Your guitar is like a challenging puzzle and guitar music theory is a key that will open up many new doors for you.

SHOULD YOU HIRE A GUITAR TEACHER OR LEARN ON YOUR OWN?

Learning on your own

With the right home study course, teaching yourself how to play is quite possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. Teaching yourself how to play will save you a ton of money in the long run and allow you to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective as hiring a a good teacher. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

Here are our picks for the best Home Study Courses For Guitar:

Learn & Master Guitar – Our #1 Pick!

Jamorama Acoustic Guitar

Next Level Guitar

Hiring an Instructor

First and foremost, this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons, on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.

Finding a good teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone.

One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad playing habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them.

The choice is yours. Only you can determine which options is best for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.

PRACTICE

Whoever coined the phrase: “Practice Makes Perfect”, knew what they were talking about. Practice as many days out of the week as you can for at least twenty to thirty minutes, more if possible. The more often you play the faster you will learn. Be careful not to overdo it though and take breaks of course. Your brain can only absorb so much information before it needs a break and your hands and the rest of your body need time to recuperate as well. When you practice guitar do not rush through any of your exercises. Twenty minutes of quality focused practice is much more effective than an hour of sloppy practice.

Be sure to visit our section on acoustic guitar practice for more great tips on how to practice your guitar.

EASY GUITAR SONGS

As I explained earlier in this guide, there is nothing wrong with learning how to play your favorite songs.  In fact, it is an excellent and fun way to familiarize yourself with the guitar as long as your are not making this your only form of practice.

That being said, I put together a post that includes 20 easy guitar songs that you can start playing right away. This post includes free video lesson as well as links to chords, lyrics and tablature.

Follow this link to view this post on easy guitar songs for the beginner.

Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar With Instructor Steve Krenz

This review of Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar is a bit lengthy, but I want to make certain I provide you with as much information as possible before you buy this course.

I am an intermediate guitarist and have been playing guitar for roughly three years now. I learned how to play from home study courses and the Internet because I was never able to afford private lessons or music school.

I heard about Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar and thought I would give it a try.

After going through the entire course, I have absolutely nothing bad to say. It is that good.

Well on to the review and congrats on making it to this page. You have found a real person who actually OWNS this product and who is also a guitarist. So rest assured, this review will be an honest one.

First Thoughts – What’s In The Box?

When I first received this DVD course, before I even removed the plastic wrapping, I knew it was going to be a quality product. Just the site of that beautiful package with the Gibson name in big white letters was enough to make me feel like a kid on Christmas Morning!

I quickly opened up the package and was blown away by what was inside.

Included in the box are (See Image on Left) :

• 20 professionally produced DVDs (This includes bonus workshops for each session) filmed in HD with over 40 hours of instruction.
• 5 Jam along CD’s
• 100+ page lesson book.

And the lesson book isn’t some cheap booklet that was printed on someone’s home computer and stapled together. Its a beautiful, professionally made, high quality book that highlights what is covered on the DVD’s. Very convenient and helpful!

But there is more included in this package that isn’t inside the box.

There is a special Website link that you will learn about once you begin watching the course.

There you can:

• Download another lesson book that accompanies the Bonus Workshops.
• Visit the Student Support Forum and Community Site where you can build a student profile, post recordings of your songs, track your progress, and get feedback from Steve and other students. Steve Krenz, the author of Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar, is online regularly, answering questions and offering encouragement, as are other students.
• Download the original lesson book that comes with the course
• Download Chord Charts

Some Key Benefits of this Course

Professionally Produced DVD’s

The DVD’s in this course are professionally produced, filmed in HD format. I was very impressed with the superb quality of the picture and sound.

Even For Experienced Guitarists

Been playing for a while? Think this course isn’t for you? You may need to think again.

I have been playing guitar for several years now so I thought I would skip the first DVD on “Starting off Right” as I felt I already knew most of this material. It covers the parts of the guitar, names of the strings, etc. I am very happy that I decided to watch the first DVD because I learned something new.

I have been holding the guitar pick the wrong way all this time! That is just one example. There is much more in this course for experienced guitarists.

This Course Assumes You Know Nothing

What I immediately found appealing, after watching just the first DVD, is how Steve starts at the very beginning. He assumes you know nothing about how to play guitar. Some courses either skip over the basic fundamentals or quickly skim through them. Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar doesn’t do this.

Steve Krenz – Awesome Teacher and Great Musician

What I also love is Steve’s teaching style. You can tell he has been doing this for a while. He teaches at a very slow and easy to follow pace making guitar learning easier for the absolute beginner.

Not only is Steve a great teacher, but he is also a very talented musician, and believe me, that is a difficult combination to find. You can find the most talented and knowledgeable guitarist in the world who is a terrible teacher. In order to be a good teacher you have to love teaching and that is clearly evident after watching Steve teach.

Steve is a trained musician with a degree in music and has a ton of professional playing experience. His experience is varied and includes everything from playing guitar with a symphony orchestra to performing with Grammy-winning artists. Steve has done it all, so rest assured you are getting top notch instruction with Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar.

Further down on this page are a few sample videos from the course where you can watch Steve play guitar.

Exercises & Assignments

Within each of the 20 sessions there are exercises that reinforce what was covered on the DVD’s. These exercises are very enjoyable and really help burn these key concepts into your brain. Also included in the sessions are assignments which I find extremely helpful as they tell you exactly what you need to know and practice.

Jam Tracks

Included with this course are 5 CD’s that contain over 100 Jam along tracks. Extremely helpful because you can practice even without the instructor and gain experience playing along with other musicians.

Watch Again and Again

This is one of the best benefits of this course. You can watch the material over and over and over again until the material sinks in. You can’t do that with private lessons.

What’s in the Course?

There is not enough room on this page to talk about all of the amazing content inside this course, but I will touch on some of the main sections.

The course is broken down by “Sessions” and there are 20 of them. Each session covers a specific key area designed to help you start playing guitar as quickly as possible, assuming you put in the recommended practice time.

Guitar Fundamentals

As I said at the beginning of this review, this course starts at the very beginning teaching the most basic fundamentals of guitar playing like the parts of the guitar, the names of the strings, right and left hand technique, how to tune your guitar, how to read chord charts and more.

Guitar Theory

Guitar theory, while something many beginners shy away from, is an extremely important aspect of guitar playing that will help you become a well rounded musician. Not all home study courses teach guitar theory, but Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar does and does it in a way that is easy to follow and enjoyable. Steve covers the basics of guitar theory in the beginning of the course and then slowly introduces more advanced concepts as the course progresses.

Chords

You will learn a great deal about chords in this course. Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar is one of the most comprehensive courses on chords that I have ever seen. Steve teaches you how to play your basic open chords, barre chords, power chords and advanced chords like augmented and alternated bass chords.

I really enjoyed the sections on barre chords. Steve provides some awesome tips that will have you playing barre chords much faster. I wish I had this information when I started playing!

Strumming & Rhythm Guitar

This is another area that I thought I didn’t need any help with, but once again, I was wrong. There is a secret to great strumming as Steve points out in the course. If you want to be a good rhythm guitarist, proper strumming techniques are essential and that is exactly what Steve will teach you.

You will learn very basic strumming techniques to advance strumming techniques that will really bring your guitar playing to another level.

Fingerstyle & Classical Guitar

This is one of my favorite styles of guitar, but one I always struggled with. I struggled because I wasn’t armed with the proper techniques and Steve shows you the keys to playing great fingerstyle and classical guitar.

Scales & Soloing

This course isn’t designed for rhythm guitarists only. If you have always dreamed of becoming a solo guitarist, then you can finally begin to realize that dream with this course. Steve covers pentatonic scales, which are a great foundation for great guitar solos. He then goes further into detail covering basic soloing concepts, qualities of a good solo and more.

Blues Guitar

Who doesn’t love the Blues? It is so appealing to beginners because it is one of the easier genres to learn but also one of the most beautiful sounding. You will learn all about the blues scale and how you can create awesome blues solos from it. You will also learn about blues chord progressions, triads and more.

Jazz Guitar

Jazz is one of the more complicated genres of music to master on guitar, one that I always loved but shied away from because I felt it was far too difficult to learn. Steve puts things in perspective and puts Jazz Guitar in reach for everyone. You will learn popular jazz chords, chord progressions and more.

Guitar Techniques

Hammer ons, pull offs, bends, sliding…. You will learn how to do all of these and more after taking this course. Steve will show you how to give your guitar playing extra style and pizzazz.

Sample Video Lessons From The Course

The Secret To Great Strumming

Here is a sample chapter from “The Secret To Great Strumming” Session

Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings

Here is a sample chapter from the “Reading Music & Notes on the 1st & 2nd Strings” Session

Jazz Guitar

Here is a sample chapter from the “Jazz” Session

Final Words

As I said earlier, there is far too much content in this course to mention in this review. You and I would literally be here all day. So why not just get your hands on this course right now and finally Learn & Master Guitar. You will be doing yourself a huge favor by investing in this course.

Trust me, I procrastinated for a very long time and I am so happy I decided to finally get my hands on this course and you will be too.

Learn & Master Guitar Starting Today!

Does the cost of this course scare you away? Well it shouldn’t…

Think about what you would pay for traditional private lessons. Private lessons can cost $30 or more per half hour session. That’s over $100 a month and over $1,000 a year!

When you compare the cost of private lessons to the cost of Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar, the choice is obvious. Besides, Legacy Learning Systems offers an affordable payment plan for those on a tight budget, so you have no excuses!

Get serious about learning the guitar today!

Home School Edition

For those of you who may be interested in teaching others how to play guitar, then you will want to get your hands on this version of the course.  It is the same exact course as the normal version only it includes a 68-Page Teacher’s Guide and a 2-DVD Teacher’s Resource to help with guided study.  This will work even if you have no musical skill and no previous experience. Click the banner below to purchase the Home School Edition or click here.

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