Theory For Guitar

This page is devoted to music theory for the guitarist. Please don't click out! Theory is very important! However, there are many aspects of music theory that are not always totally necessary for the rock, pop, blues guitarist.

These lessons detail theory for a contemporary guitar player. They will seriously improve your playing and understanding. They deal with scale, arpeggio and chord construction. If you know nothing about this, start at the beginning. However, if you have a basic understanding, feel free to jump in where ever you want.

  1. guitar Theory Lesson 01
    Total beginner lesson. Learn the note names used in music. Learn the #(sharps) and b (flats), and which notes don't have a sharp and flat between them. Also learn the 'intervals' of a semi tone, (half step), and tone, (whole step).
  2. Guitar Theory Lesson 02
    This looks at the construction of the C, G, D and F major scales.
  3. Guitar Theory Lesson 03
    This lesson looks at the construction of the A, E, B and D natural minor scales. It also looks at 'relative' majors and minors.
  4. guitar Theory Lesson 04
    This lesson looks at the construction of the major and minor pentatonic scale. THE most used scales in lead guitar improvisation.
  5. Guitar Theory Lesson 05
    This lesson looks at the construction of the blues scale. in the keys C, G, D and F. Certain concepts of this scale are hard to digest at first. Don't worry too much about that, just learn to play it. All will become clear, in time.
  6. Guitar Theory Lesson 06
    This lesson looks at the construction of major and minor chords, and the difference between them. It also looks at the construction of 5th chords, (power chords).
  7. Guitar Theory Lesson 07
    This lesson looks at major 7th, minor 7th and dominant 7th chords and how they are constructed.
  8. Guitar Theory Lesson 08
    This lesson looks at harmonising the major scale, and how to build chords on every degree.
  9. Guitar Theory Lesson 09
    This lesson looks at harmonising the natural minor scale. And the roman numeral numbering system for chords.
  10. Guitar Theory Lesson 10
    This lesson looks at extending the chords in the harmonised scales to 7th chords. It also looks at the minor 7b5 chord.
  11. Guitar Theory Lesson 11
    This lesson looks at transposition. A very important ability as a guitarist.
"));