What kind of lessons should I record?

[Xir0n]

Well... I've been giving guitar lessons for a little over a year now and all of my students seem to love the way I teach over all of the other teachers they've had and I was thinking maybe I should start a site that gives guitar lessons?

But I want to have everything on it in order of where to start because it seems like all of these expensive guitar lesson sites just kinda suck at giving the full story behind everything. I don't know what order to put the lessons up in though since none of my students have really caught up to me enough for me to start teaching the hard stuff.

Any ideas?

[Vish]

i dont have any ideas, but that sounds like a good idea. i really want to take some formal guitar lessons instead of just writing music that sounds cool... i really want to be a student of the guitar instead of just another wannabe guitarist.

[CFH]

Well... I've been giving guitar lessons for a little over a year now and all of my students seem to love the way I teach over all of the other teachers they've had and I was thinking maybe I should start a site that gives guitar lessons?

But I want to have everything on it in order of where to start because it seems like all of these expensive guitar lesson sites just kinda suck at giving the full story behind everything. I don't know what order to put the lessons up in though since none of my students have really caught up to me enough for me to start teaching the hard stuff.

Any ideas?

Even though I don't see the term "music theory" anywhere in your post, I assume that's what you're getting at.

With that, you may want to begin by covering the notes A-G#, where they are on each string and then octaves.

Then touch upon scales by first covering the "major scale," and go into great detail of it via its modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.

From there, you may want to emphasize which ones are major (Ionian, Lydian & Mixolydian), minor (Dorian, Phrygian & Aeolian) and diminished (Locrian) and why they are.

Then maybe you can cover the minor and major pentatonic scales.

Then the two versions of the diminshed scale.

Then the harmonic and melodic minor scales, and how raising or lowering any mode of the "major scale" can drastically alter the sound of a scale/mode, and open up a ton of ideas for riffs, leads and even songs in the process.

Then maybe "off-shoot"/exotic scales, such as Neopolitan, Hirajoshi, Hungarian and a billion others.

I hope that this will help you.

[Mark Carras]

I would say start with the most simple things. Also keep in mind that young students want to be able to play SOMETHING right away.

So I would find a classic song that makes a good example for the simple lesson. Maybe even a part of a Ramones song or something. Just give them something "cool" to play. ABove everything start out with the most simple thing you can. Otherwise people will get frustrated and go back to playing Guitar Hero.

[Xir0n]

It's more the music theory behind the music.

I'm really good at taking a song and explaining why it sounds cool, which really isn't something offered by any guitar site.

I dunno. I know how to do the basic stuff it's the order of more advanced stuff like multi-finger tapping, sweep arpeggios and the like, I don't know what's harder than what.

[CFH]

I would say start with the most simple things.

Notes and their location on each string is a logical and simple starting point.

Also keep in mind that young students want to be able to play SOMETHING right away.

Yes, but many can be persuaded to believe that it's much cooler to come up with their own stuff, which can be aided by understanding what they're playing via location of notes, scale patterns, etc...

So I would find a classic song that makes a good example for the simple lesson.

This is a pretty good idea. Perhaps Mozart's 25th?


It's more the music theory behind the music.

I'm really good at taking a song and explaining why it sounds cool, which really isn't something offered by any guitar site.

I dunno. I know how to do the basic stuff it's the order of more advanced stuff like multi-finger tapping, sweep arpeggios and the like, I don't know what's harder than what.

You may want to use Arch Enemy, Pantera, Trivium, Nightwish, and early Megadeth songs as examples.

[Xir0n]

... I think you guys are missing my point...

I don't know what's harder Multi-finger tapping, sweep arpeggios, economy picking, key evolutions and what not. I want to put all of the lessons in order and I'm trying to think of what other advanced techniques I need to incorporate. I know all of the songs and such and the order of all of the basic stuff, but I'm not sure exactly what techniques require their own lesson and such.

[Vertigo]

I think I see what you're saying - you want to put more advanced techniques in a good order so you progress as you go along?

But also, if you don't want to start at the beginning and make a full site with full lessons, starting with the basics that have been suggested, then maybe you should just name your site "sweeparpeggiosforguitarsnobs.com" and charge $50 just to join.

However, covering basics, scales etc is a good idea... having a site that you can learn everything at - starting with basics, and moving up to advanced and then maybe videos of you showing people how to play the cool or harder parts of popular songs would be cool too.

Since I got my new guitar I've been going to tab sites and also just sitting in front of the computer with itunes on shuffle and trying to figure out how to play random stuff on my own when it comes up.

[Xir0n]

Yeah. That is what I want. I have the order for all of the basic stuff which I do plan on having, too.

[CFH]

... I think you guys are missing my point...

I don't know what's harder Multi-finger tapping, sweep arpeggios, economy picking, key evolutions and what not. I want to put all of the lessons in order and I'm trying to think of what other advanced techniques I need to incorporate. I know all of the songs and such and the order of all of the basic stuff, but I'm not sure exactly what techniques require their own lesson and such.

Sweep arpeggios are easily the hardest out of the three techniques you listed.

Multi-finger tapping is next in line.

Economy picking is actually pretty damn easy.

As for "key evolutions," are you simply talking about key changes/modulations? If so, that's not a very hard concept to get across, and it can basically be taught within any lesson about scales and their modes.