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. 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.

To help you navigate the studies below, all text in italics are not links. All of the normal font text in white or gray should be links.

The Fret Board

The fret board: 10 short videos explaining how to master the fretboard.

Chords

Guitar Chords level 1

Three basic chords in each of the seven essential keys

1. The Essential Chords: There are seven keys that do not require barre chords. Barre chords will be discussed in level 3. With these seven keys and a capo you can play in any key.

2. This excerpt, chapter two, from my book, utilizes various rhythms using the seven essential keys: See chapter 2 Rhythms and Chords.

🎸3. A review of the seven essential keys. It is only one page. Print this page out and study it daily until they are memorized. There are three things to memorize: First, memorize the chords, second, memorize the keys (what three chords are in each key?), and third, the root notes of each key (the diamond shaped notes).

Guitar Chords level 2

Enrichment

In level two we take the seven keys we learned in level one and enrich the chords by adding the intervals of the diatonic major scale to create the add 2, add 9, sus 4, 6, and major 7. This is known as enrichment, embellishment, or adding color.

1. G
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. E
6. Em
7. Am

Guitar Chords level 3

Chord construction

1. Chord construction: understanding how chords are constructed.
2. The seven chords in the key of C also know as the Nashville System using basic open chords. 

Variations of the key of E

3. Voicings in the key of E: 7ths creates the blues sound. The key of E is guitar friendly.

Guitar Chords level 4

Introduction to barre chords

1. Barre chords: basic barre chords with the roots on the 6 string (E shape from the caged system) and the 5 string (A shape).

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

Guitar Chords level 5

Barre chords in the key of C

The harmonized scales with extended harmony also.

1. Root note on the 6th string
2. Root note on the 5th string
3. Root note on the 4th string

🎸4. The Nashville system in all 12 keys using basic barre chords and 7ths.

5. Barre chords with root 6 string all 12 keys

6. Chords strings 1-4.

Mixing the chords up in common chord progressions:

5. The I, IV, V chord progression using barre chords in the key of C
6. The I, ii, V chord progression using barre chords in the key of C

7. CCM (contemporary christian music) style in the key of E.

Guitar Chords level 6

A methodical system for learning movable barre chords in every key using the A, C, and E shapes from the caged system

1. Major barre chords
2. Minor barre chords
3. Dominant 7 barre chords
4. Minor 7 barre chords
5. Major 7 Barre chords

Guitar Chords level 7

Chords and intervals

These chords do not use the 5 and 6 string. Be sure to memorize the intervals that construct each chord. I can’t overstate how important it is to know the intervals in each and every chord.

1. Major chords using the first set of four strings: the fifth and sixth strings are not used in this study.
2. Minor chords using the first set of four strings.
3. Dominant seventh chords using the first set of four strings.
4. Minor seventh chords using the first set of four strings.
5. Major seventh chords using the first set of four strings.
6. The I, IV, V chord progression in the key of G, C, and D.

Guitar Chords level 8

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. C

2. G

3. D

4. A

5. E

6. B

7. F#

8. C#

9. Ab

10. Eb

11. Bb

12. F

Triads

Sixteen ways to make each major, minor, or dominant seventh triad.13. Major
14. Minor
15. Dominant seventh

Guitar Chords level 9

More harmonized scales

Another system for learning harmonized scales using all voicings (inversions) of the triads.
1. Introduction to triads
2. Triads using the 1st set of strings in the key of C
3. Chord progressions using the 1st set of triads in the key of C
4. Triads using the 2nd set of strings in the key of C
5. Chord progressions using the 2nd set of triads in the key of C
6. Triads using the 3rd set of strings in the key of C
7. Chord progressions using the 3rd set of strings in the key of C
8. Triads using the 4th set of strings in the key of C
9. Chord progressions using the 4th set of strings in the key of C
10. Review of C triads
11. Review of Dm triads
12. Review of Em triads
13. Review of F triads
14. Review of G triads
15. Review of Am triads
16. Review of Bdim triads
17. Augmented triads (raising the 5th interval a semi-tone to get the #5)
18. Major 6 triads (raising the 5th interval a whole tone to get the 6)
19. Dominant 7 triads (raising the 5th interval 1 1/2 tones to get the b7)
20. Major 7 triads (raising the 5th interval 2 whole tones to get the 7)
21. Major 7 triads (lowering the 1st interval a semi-tone to get a 7)
22. Dominant 7 triads (lowering the 1st interval a whole tone to get a b7)
23. Major 6 triads (lowering the 1st interval 1 1/2 tones to get the 6)
24. Combining voicing of the C Major 7 triads
25. Combining voicings of the Dominant 7 triads
26. Combining voicings of the Major 6 triads

27. The guitar friendly key of E: variations on the harmonized scale.

Guitar Chords level 10

Diminished chords
1. How to use the diminished 7 chord

Guitar Chords level 11

Essential guitar chords for jazz
lesson 1
lesson 2
lesson 3
lesson 4
lesson 5

Guitar Chords level 12

Chord comping blues and jazz in the key of G
1. Chords that function as G7
2. Chords that function as C7
3. Chords that function as D7
4. 12 bar blues in G using essential dominant 7 and dominant 9 chords

5. Rhythm changes

Guitar Chords level 13

Embellishing inversions

If you raise the 5th interval of a triad chromatically other chords are created. Bringing the 5 up one semitone creates an 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. 

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

2.Coloring triads

Guitar Chords level 14

Chord Infrastructure

Guitar Chords level 15

Jazz chords played with economy. Throwing out notes not needed.

Guitar Chords level 16

Micky Baker Chords: three pages out of the Micky Baker Jazz Guitar Book. Every great guitarist from the baby boomer generation studied this book.

1. page 2

2. page 3

3. page 4

Guitar Chords level 17

Quartal harmony

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Associating Chords, Scales, and Arpeggios

Roots on the 6th string
1. Introduction
2. The major chord, scale, and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
3. The minor chord, scales, and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
4. The dominant 7 chord, scale, and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
5. The major 7 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
6. The minor 7 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
7. The major 6 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
8. The minor 6 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
9. The augmented chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
10. The diminished 7 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
11. The half diminished chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
12. The dominant 9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
13. The dominant 7#9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
14. The dominant 7b9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
15. The dominant 13 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 6th string
16. The sus 4, sus 2, and add 9 chords with the root on the 6th string

Roots on the 5th string
17. The major chord, scale, and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
18. The minor chord, scale, and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
19. The dominant 7 chord, scale, and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
20. The major 7 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
21. The minor 7chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
22. The major 6 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
23. The minor 6 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
24. The augmented chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
25. The diminished 7 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
26. The half diminished chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
27. The dominant 9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
28. The dominant 7#9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
29. The dominant 7b9 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
30. The dominant 13 chord and arpeggio with the root on the 5th string
31. The sus 4, sus 2, and add 9 chords with the root on the 6th string

32. Modes, scales, and chords: key of C, it is essential to understand how these elements relate to each other.

33. The Andalusian Cadence: chords and scales.

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Scales

1. 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.

2. Minor blues and major pentatonic scales in every key

3. Minor blues scale in the key of G, pattern 1 and fragments

4. Diatonic modes (scales) in all every key

5. Diatonic major and minor scales: the Johnny Smith approach

Riffs

1. Blues riffs 1-30: the tabs. the videos are below.
The accompanying videos

2. Ornaments: vibrato, bends, slides, hammer ons, and pull offs are the tools of the guitar trade that bring our playing to life. Learn to play ornaments using the first fingering of the Am blues and minor pentatonic scale

3. Blues and rock riffs in the key of Em

4. Blues and rock riffs in the key of Am

5. Blues Tools in the key of G

6. chords and riffs in the key of G 1st position

7. How to Improvise: riffs and variations of the blues scales.

8. Blues riffs from my first book in 1994, Dr. Briantine’s Guitar Method.

🎸9. Minor and major blues scale exercises.

Intervals

Nothing you learn in music will be more important than understanding intervals.

Understanding intervals is absolutely essential for mastering the guitar. This study will help you understand intervals and the art of improvisation.

Intervals: the key to success.

Chords and interval maps in all twelve keys.

Double Stops

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

Harmonized scales and double stops in the key of E.

Harmonized scales and double stops in the key of C.

Harmonized scales and double stops in the key of A.

Blues intros

Two bar blues intros or kickoffs in the key of G and A

Jimi Hendrix Style

The Vibe of Jimi Hendrix:
Chords and riffs in the style of Jimi classics such as Little Wing and The Wind Cries Mary.

Charlie Christian Style

The Vibe of Charlie Christian:
Charlie played with Benny Goodman in the 1930’s. Charlie and Django Reinhardt are considered by most to be the most influential jazz guitarists of all time. Herb Ellis said, “Every guitarist is influenced by Charlie whether they know it or not”.

Open Tunings

1. Open G Tuning For Guitar
What does Robert Johnson, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, The Black Crowes, The Moody Blues,  and most of the acoustic blues players from the Mississippi delta have in common? Open G Tuning

2. Drop D tuning

Cycle of 5ths

1. Cycle of 5ths part 1
2. Cycle of 5ths part 2
3. Back cycling

Bass

Bass guitar lessons

Dobro and Lap Steel

Dobro and steel guitar lesson

Puerto Rican Cuatro

Puerto Rican cuatro

Mandolin

Mandolin

High school jazz band

2024 All State Jazz Ensemble Audition Etudes

guitar etude 1

guitar etude 2

TORQUE

Last Night

Last Night, by The Mar-Keys, is a 12 bar blues like a million other songs. I use it as a tool for learning chords, improvisation, and keeping rhythm. I can’t over emphasize the importance of playing along with tracks to develop rhythm. 

variations on Last Night

Be sure to use the video below.

 

 Phone 281.386.6982
Business hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

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