Laid-Back Online Guitar Lessons Focused on Your Goals, From Beginner to Intermediate

Student and Tutor reviewed B flat pentatonic and B flat Dorian scales, including their positions and "color notes," for lead guitar playing. They practiced blending pentatonic and Dorian scales over a blues progression and explored various 7th chords and chord substitutions, specifically the F7#9. The session concluded with a discussion on blues rhythmic feel (12/8 time signature) and the importance of consistent picking for improvisation.

Student and Tutor worked on bass guitar string changing techniques, including discussing different string types and their properties. They practiced the process of removing and installing new strings, focusing on tension management and winding methods. The Tutor also introduced a book of bass exercises for future practice, covering technique, navigation, and time signatures.

The session focused on enhancing the Student's guitar chord vocabulary and jazz improvisation skills. They practiced identifying major triads across the fretboard, explored the application of the CAGED system, and discussed the role of 2-5-1 progressions and augmented chords in jazz and blues. The Tutor assigned practicing chord shapes, incorporating non-chromatic walk-ups, and studying Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple" to be discussed in a future session after the Student's trip.

Student and Tutor continued exploring guitar chord voicings and fretboard navigation using the Circle of Fifths. They then focused on learning the song "Redhouse," practicing its 1-4-5 blues progression, specific 7th chord shapes, bends, and pentatonic scales for improvisation. The Tutor provided a practice track for the Student to work on chords, soloing, and rhythm while traveling for the next two weeks.

The student and tutor reviewed bass guitar techniques including slides and hammer-ons, and explored music theory concepts such as time signatures and dynamic markings. The student practiced reading tablature and scales, with the tutor providing a G minor scale for improvisation practice. Follow-up will involve continued practice of these techniques and concepts, with the student also planning to explore new strings for their bass.

Student and Tutor reviewed the previous week's practice on guitar modes, the CAGE system, and strumming. The session primarily focused on analyzing and understanding complex jazz chords from a song, followed by an introduction to various blues rhythm techniques, including muting, double stops, walk-ups, and the use of seventh chords. They also practiced hammer-ons, pull-offs, and advanced hand stretches to integrate rhythm and lead playing. For follow-up, the Student will practice modes in parallel, blues progressions, walk-ups, turnarounds, and hammer-ons/pull-offs, with a plan for the Tutor to introduce songs for specific techniques and discuss bending notes in future sessions.