Guitar Fundamentals: Chords, Strumming, and Picking
In this 6 week course, students will learn how to play 6 basic guitar chords, basic music theory, strumming, and picking
Gabriela Besel
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(113)
What's included
6 live meetings
3 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. I encourage students to practice their guitar at a minimum of 5 minutes per day. Playing the guitar is a cumulative skill and it's best to play a little bit every day, instead of cramming before class.Class Experience
In this 6-week live course, students will learn: - 6 guitar chords as well as how to read chord charts. - The anatomy of a guitar - How to tune the guitar properly ****** Students will be expected to tune their guitars outside of class. Tuning a guitar via zoom is very time-consuming. The app "GuitarTuna" is perfect for tuning, as well as guitar tuners that clip on to the guitar. Although, students will learn the mechanics of tuning the guitar, as well as a very simple trick to tune the guitar thereafter. - How to read tabs - Intro to fingerpicking - Intro to strumming My class will be mostly lecture, and not as conversational as my other classes. Although, I always make room for students to ask questions. I'll use zooms breakout rooms to have time with smaller groups to hear them play, as well as answer questions. ***Note: Playing guitar can be challenging and it might take some students longer than others to get their guitar to sound perfect. It requires hand muscles to get stronger, which can only be achieved with practice. My class will not be used to replace practice time, rather it'll be used to introduce new content each week. Students for this class are required to have a guitar that fits their hand (if a guitar is too big, it might discourage your learner), with all 6 strings. Each week I will post our lecture to the classroom so they can continue to practice during the week. I strongly encourage parents/students to print out these pages if possible and keep them together in a folder. Students are not required to have a background in music theory or guitar to join the class. If your child already knows a few guitar chords, this class might serve as extra practice and reinforcement for their learning. ****Left-handed students**** I strongly encourage you to make sure that your strings are switched. There are plenty of youtube videos that show you how to do this. I promise that it's far more straight forward than it looks :) At first, it seems manageable to play the chords upside down, but over time it can cause learner fatigue because you're adding a process to your learning. Just my lil' two cents.
Other Details
Supply List
- Learner will need a guitar that fits their hands properly. - Guitar with all 6 strings - If your child is left-handed, the strings will need to be flipped
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2020
4.8
113reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles
Hi there! My name is Gabriela and I teach Songwriting, guitar, and Spanish.
My availability is wide open so I'm excited for you to book a class!
I wrote my first song at the age of 11, titled "Love", haha! I still sing it from time to time. Writing songs has been a way to document my life, emotions, experiences, and dreams. The power they hold is incredible and I hope to share it with others who are interested in exploring something new (or even if they've been too shy to start songwriting on their own!).
Teaching English as a second language started in 2016 while I was visiting family in Argentina. The course was called "Fun English" and we learned through playing games, making art, cooking, singing, and gardening. Upon returning to California I began teaching at a Spanish immersion preschool (2016-2019), where my professional focus was Spanish, Art, and Music. This preschool also offered an afterschool program for elementary school children in which I was very involved (I'm particularly proud of the songs we wrote and short films we made).
Pre COVID-19 I was teaching through my own in-person workshops, once again in Argentina (similar to "Fun English", but now called "Mundos Compartidos").
Since the pandemic I've been fortunate to make Outschool my main classroom. I love it!
When I'm not teaching I am fully immersed in my craft as a singer-songwriter. As well as seeking other business opportunities such as selling songwriting journals on Etsy.
You can view my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Melancholysociety
With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I find that I value - above all - the emotional comfort of each student (in a situation where their physical safety and health are already taken care of). This is because I believe learning is maximized when each person is comfortable, engaged, and in harmony with their self-expression. I value establishing trust in a student/teacher relationship, as well as hearing my student's learning needs, so I can assist them in a way that is best for THEM.
I teach my subjects in a way that requires active participation and collaboration with activities such as games, conversations, and hands-on activities.
Students hold the power to creating the learning experience that suits them best, and it's my job to guide them through realizing that power.
I can't wait to go on this journey with you!Reviews
Live Group Class
$62
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
30 min
Completed by 64 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
2-5 learners per class
