Goodies

I have been providing online lessons since 2011. I have produced an enormous amount of digital material (pdf files, web pages, and videos) that I provide for my students instruction. I also use traditional books that have stood the test of time. There are many options for connecting online for free. Some of those options are Zoom, Skype, Messenger (Facebook), and FaceTime. The main difference between online and in person lessons is the preparation. But, most of the preparation is on the teachers end. I would be glad to guide you through the process. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Brian Turner

Phone: 281.386.6982 Email: brian@guitarlessonsbybrian.com

Learning to play a musical instrument is like taking a very long trip. When taking a trip we make plans. We spread out a map and chart out a path that helps us reach our destination. Learning a musical instrument is also like any craft. To do a job well, the craftsman needs the correct tools. This website gives you a map and the tools to reach your destination and hone your craft as a musician.

With this website, you’ll learn the essentials such as scales, chords, and arpeggios. But more than that, you’ll learn how they relate to one another and how they are used to make music. The worksheets on this site are a culmination of Brian Turner’s studies that have resulted from over 30 years of teaching thousands of private guitar students. You’ll learn not only how to play scales, chords, and arpeggios but you’ll learn the theory behind constructing them. For example, after studying the lessons, you’ll understand what the m7b5 in Cm7b5 means. You’ll be able to construct the arpeggio and chord because you’ll understand music theory. What you won’t find is thousands of chords such as you see in chord encyclopedias. Music is a language. To think we can learn a language by simply looking through an encyclopedia in a foreign language is absurd. Scales, chords, and arpeggios like words in any language must be understood in proper context. Also, you won’t find countless scales that you will not use. Instead, you will find the essential scales that you need to be the musician you desire to be.

How To Play Guitar: The book in PDFs and videos

The fret board

Guitar Chords Level 1: Three basic chords in seven keys
The seven guitar friendly keys and how to use a capo:

Guitar Chords Level 2: Enrich the 7 guitar friendly keys creating add 9, sus4, 6, and Maj7 chords:

Chord enrichment in the key of G

Chord enrichment in the key of C

Chord enrichment in the key of D

Chord enrichment in the key of A

Chord enrichment in the key of E

Chord enrichment in the key of Em

Chord enrichment in the key of Am

Guitar Chords Level 3:
The seven chords in the key of C also know as the Nashville System.

Guitar Chords Level 4:
Barre chords: roots on the 6 string E shape from the caged system.

Movable chords using strings 1-4
After becoming acquainted with basic open chords, we are ready to learn movable chords. Movable chords contain no open notes. Therefore, you can play them anywhere on the neck. Every movable chord can be any chord in the family. For example, If you learn F Major on the fist fret, the same fingering on the second fret is F# Major, the 3rd fret is G Major and so on.

Major chords using the first set of four strings: the fifth and sixth strings are not used in this study.
Minor chords using the first set of four strings.
Dominant seventh chords using the first set of four strings.
Minor seventh chords using the first set of four strings.
Major seventh chords using the first set of four strings:

A methodical system for learning movable barre chords in every key
Major barre chords
Minor barre chords
Dominant 7 barre chords
Minor 7 barre chords
Major 7 Barre chords

Barre chords in the key of C
Guitar Lesson 1: Barre chords in the key of C with the root note on the 6th string
Guitar Lesson 2: Barre chords in the key of C with the root note on the 5th string
Guitar Lesson 3: Barre chords in the key of C with the root note on the 4th string
Guitar Lesson 4: The I, IV, V chord progression using barre chords in the key of C
Guitar Lesson 5: The I, ii, V chord progression using barre chords in the key of C

Harmonized scales

Harmonized scales are triads constructed by stacking the intervals of the scale in thirds. Below we have all 12 keys using set 1 (1,2, and 3 strings) and set 2 (2,3, and 4 strings).

1 Harmonized scales in the key of C

2 Harmonized scales G

3 Harmonized scales D

4 Harmonized scales A

5 Harmonized scales E

6 Harmonized scales B

7 Harmonized scales F#

8 Harmonized scales C#

9 Harmonized scales Ab

10 Harmonized scales Eb

11 Harmonized scales Bb

12 Harmonized scales F

Triads and inversions: major, minor, diminished, augmented, and suspended 4

Guitar friendly keys:

E the guitar friendly key (chords)

Harmonize scales in the key of E (double stops in the key of E only, tab only)

Harmonized scales, triads, and extended chords in the key of C. (tab only)

Harmonized scales in A

Double stops: 3rds and 6ths in every key.

Inversions or voicings of triads
There are five voicings of triads: major, minor, augmented, diminished, and suspended 4.

Triads: 16 ways to make each major, minor, or dominant seventh chord.
The three pdfs below are 12 pages each.

Major triads:
Minor triads
Dominant seventh triads

Essential guitar chords for jazz
Guitar Lesson 1: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 1
Guitar Lesson 2: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 2
Guitar Lesson 3: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 3
Guitar Lesson 4: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 4
Guitar Lesson 5: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 5 (You need the Sibelius Scorch plug in for this link. Use the pdf below if you do not have it.)
Guitar Lesson 5: Essential guitar chords for Jazz part 5 (pdf)

Diminished chords
Guitar Lesson 6: How to use the diminished 7 chord

Chord comping blues and jazz in the key of G
Guitar Lesson 7: Chords that function as G7
Guitar Lesson 8: Chords that function as C7
Guitar Lesson 9 Chords that function as D7
Guitar Lesson 10: 12 bar blues in G using essential dominant 7 and dominant 9 chords

The Nashville chord system
Fourteen fundamental chords in all twelve keys.

If you raise the 5th interval of a triad chromatically other chords are created. Bringing the 5 up one semitone creates a augmented chord. Bring it up another semitone and you have the 6 chord. Bring it up again, and you have Dominant 7. Once more and you have a Major 7 chord.

If you lower the root note of a triad chromatically other chords are created. Bringing the root down one semitone creates a Major 7 chord. Bring it down another semitone and you have the dominant 7 chord. Bring it down again, and you have the 6 chord. Check it out:

Coloring chords:
Coloring chords can be achieved by raising the 5 or lowering the root.

All About Chords:
A variety of chord studies I use to teach students chords. They help you to put chords in context so you understand how they relate to each other.

The I IV V and I vi IV V chord progression using barre chords

Rhythm changes:
The I vi ii V is used in jazz more than any other chord progression.

Arpeggios:
There are five types of 7 chords: Major 7, Dominant 7, Minor 7, Diminished 7, and Half Diminished 7.

Chord Infrastructure

Voicings (chords) G7, C7, and D7 or the I, IV, V chord progression used for 12 bar blues in G

Scales

NEW! Blues scales:
Six shapes (also known as patterns, or fingerings) in the key of Em. These shapes will enable you to play the blues scale any where on the neck of the guitar.

NEW! Blues riffs in E

Videos of the blues scale in the key of Em. All five boxes are explained. Horizontal and vertical fragments are also illustrated.

Blues and rock riffs in the key of Em