ready to give to your students
DADGAD is an interesting tuning and used across a wide range of styles. It is very popular in Celtic music but can be found in rock such as a lot of Led Zeppelin's music. DADGAD tuning creates a Dsus4 chord across the open strings and because sus4 is neither major or minor, this type of tuning is called a 'modal' tuning. The included instructions will help you explain the tuning to your student and help them change to DADGAD from Standard using their ears.
Sweep picking is a difficult technique to learn but once your student can play it properly, they will really enjoy applying it in their playing. This lesson plan will give you a handful of simple exercises the student can use to learn the technique properly. The exercises start with arpeggios across three strings, then work all the way to six string arpeggios. The included lesson instructions will give you ideas how to teach sweep picking effectively. If your student wants to be able to shred then sweep picking is a technique you must show them. They will love it!
These exercises will help your student develop their legato abilities and increase the strength in their fingers. The exercises are very similar to the three note and two note legato exercises and follow the same basic ideas. Once your student can play these exercises they will have no trouble applying legato in their own improvisation. The included lesson instructions will give you ideas on how to explain the exercises properly.
The 'Memphis Scale' is a way of improvising using the notes on two strings and positions that form sixths. The name 'Memphis Scale' is actually just a nickname because any scale can be used. Guitarists like Mark Knopfler use this idea a lot and if your student wants to achieve a similar sound, this lesson plan will be perfect. This lesson plan will teach your student how to improvise using the Memphis Scale and clearly shows how to improvise using the method.
The included lesson instructions will explain everything and help you teach it to your student in the easiest way possible. So even if you have never used the Memphis Scale before you can quickly understand it and teach it effectively.
The blues scale is a very interesting scale to use when improvising and easy to learn. Students wanting to learn blues will love it because it easily let's them achieve that blues sound. This lesson plan will explain the scale and provide clear diagrams for your student to memorize the finger positions on the neck. The included lesson instructions will guide you through how to teach the material effectively.
Teaching the Pentatonic scales is a great way to introduce improvisation to your student. They are easy to learn and are easy to apply and come up with some great sounds. This resources gives your student a handy reference sheet they can refer to when using either the Major or Minor Pentatonic Scales. A comprehensive guide on introducing these scales has already been created in INT-01 Introduction to the Pentatonic Scale so this resource does not include lesson instructions. Before you give this material to your student, make sure they feel comfortable with techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends and vibrato.
Locrian is the seventh of seven basic modes. Before looking at this content, make sure your student fully understands all the other modes. Locrian is often thought of as a 'theory only' mode because it doesn't often get used in practice. It has a very chaotic sound and can be hard to apply in music. It is sometimes used in metal as it can create a very dark and sinister sound.
This lesson plan follows on from EXE-06 Two Note Legato Exercises and covers three notes per string. These exercises are extremely useful in helping your student stretch their fingers out. They also help teach how to learn different scales quickly. It is common for guitarists to play three note legato phrases so this material will prepare them for that type of improvisation. The included lesson instructions will help you explain the exercises effectively.
These exercises will help your student improve their legato techniques as well as help stretch their fingers out. These exercises work the best when used along with a metronome. The included lesson instructions will guide you through each exercise and how to push your student to play them better.
The Aeolian mode is the sixth of seven basic modes. This is a good mode to teach as it uses the exact same notes as the Minor Scale which means once your student learns how to use Aeolian, they will also feel comfortable using the Minor Scale in their improvisation. Just like the other lesson plans on modes, the included lesson instructions will help you explain the mode properly to your student.