Theory for the Contemporary Guitarist

Learn music theory as it applies to the modern electric and acoustic guitar.

Introduction

• Theory for the contemporary guitarist

1. Standard Music Notation

• Notes on the staff
• Accidentals
• Enharmonic equivalents
• Measures
• Note values
• Time signatures
• Ties
• Dots
• Rest values

2. Major Scale

• The major scale
• Sharp scales
• Flat scales
• Keys and key signatures
• Cycle of 4ths and 5ths

3. Minor Scale and Keys

• Relative minor keys
• Natural minor scale
• Parallel minor keys

4. Intervals

• Intervals
• Major and perfect intervals
• Minor, diminished, and augmented intervals
• Simple intervals
• Interval inversion

5. Chord Theory

• Triads
• Major triads
• Minor triads
• Diminished triads
• Augmented triads
• Inverting triads
• Slash chord notation
• Diatonic triads in major keys
• Diatonic triads in minor keys
• 7th chords
• Major 7th chords
• Minor 7th chords
• Dominant 7th chords
• Minor 7b5 chords
• Inverting 7th chords
• Diatonic 7th chords in major keys
• Diatonic 7th chords in minor keys

6. Other Minor Scales

• Harmonic minor scale
• Harmonic minor diatonic triads and 7th chords
• Melodic minor scale
• Melodic minor diatonic triads and 7th chords

7. Modes of the Major Scale

• Modes of the major scale
• Ionian mode
• Dorian mode
• Phrygian mode
• Lydian mode
• Mixolydian mode
• Aeolian mode
• Locrian mode

8. The 12-Bar Blues

• The 12-bar blues progression
• Soloing over the blues: Mixolydian approach
• Soloing over the blues: Dorian approach

Conclusion

• Conclusion and credits