🎸 Beginner Guitar Course — 8-Week Lesson Plan

Course Goals

By the end of the course, students will:

• Understand the parts of the guitar and how to tune it
• Play essential open chords (C, G, D, A, E, Am, Em, Dm)
• Read and play from tablature (tabs)
• Use basic strumming patterns
• Transition smoothly between chords
• Perform at least one full song with rhythm and melody

 

🗓 Week 1 – Getting Started with the Guitar

Objectives:

• Learn guitar anatomy and posture
• Understand tuning and basic maintenance
• Play first sounds on open strings

Content & Activities:

• Parts of the guitar (body, neck, frets, strings, tuning pegs)
• How to hold the guitar properly (sitting and standing)
• Tuning using a tuner or app
• String names (E-A-D-G-B-E) and numbering (1–6)
• Basic finger exercises (1-2-3-4 chromatic exercise on each string)
• Simple rhythm clapping exercise (quarter and eighth notes)

Homework:

• Practice tuning daily
• Play open strings cleanly and in rhythm

 

🗓 Week 2 – First Chords: Em, E, A, Am

Objectives:

• Learn and play first four chords
• Practice chord transitions
• Strum in steady rhythm

Content & Activities:

• How to form chords: Em, E, A, Am
• Strumming basics: downstrokes on each beat
• Exercise: alternate between Em and A, Am and E
• Introduction to simple 4/4 rhythm

Homework:

• Practice switching between Em → A and Am → E
• Strum slowly with consistent rhythm

Suggested Song: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Guns N’ Roses / Dylan – simplified)

 

🗓 Week 3 – Adding D and G Chords

Objectives:

• Expand chord vocabulary
• Improve chord transitions
• Strengthen strumming hand

Content & Activities:

• Learn D major and G major chords
• Exercise: G → D → Em transitions
• Strumming pattern: Down–Down–Up–Up–Down–Up
• Timing exercise using metronome (60–80 bpm)

Homework:

• Practice chord changes (G–D–Em–C)
• Apply the strumming pattern with muted strings

Suggested Song: “Horse with No Name” (America)

 

🗓 Week 4 – Reading Tablature & Playing Single-Note Melodies

Objectives:

• Understand guitar tablature
• Play simple riffs and melodies

Content & Activities:

• How tabs work (string and fret notation)
• Reading rhythms from tabs
• Practice: Smoke on the Water, Seven Nation Army, Ode to Joy (single string version)
• Combine melody and rhythm exercises

Homework:

• Practice simple melodies from tabs
• Keep strumming chord exercises daily

 

🗓 Week 5 – C and Dm Chords + Chord Progressions

Objectives:

• Add two more common chords
• Learn to create smooth transitions across multiple chords

Content & Activities:

• Learn C major and D minor
• Common progression practice: C–G–Am–F (use F simplified or skip)
• Review: Em, E, A, Am, D, G, C, Dm
• Strumming variations: dynamics (loud/soft), accenting beats 2 & 4

Homework:

• 10-minute daily chord switching
• Practice the full “chord circle” (C–G–Am–F–D–E–A–Em)

Suggested Song: “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King)

 

🗓 Week 6 – Rhythm & Strumming Mastery

Objectives:

• Develop right-hand rhythm control
• Practice common strumming patterns

Content & Activities:

• Strumming patterns:
  • Down–Down–Up–Up–Down–Up
  • Down–Down–Down–Up–Down
• Using a metronome and counting out loud
• Rhythm games (tap and strum on time)
• Chord progression: G–D–Em–C (common in pop songs)

Homework:

• Record your strumming at 70 bpm
• Practice G–D–Em–C progression smoothly

Suggested Song: “I’m Yours” (Jason Mraz – simplified)

 

🗓 Week 7 – Combining Everything: Play-Along Practice

Objectives:

• Combine chords, strumming, and rhythm
• Learn to play along with a song track

Content & Activities:

• Review all chords and strumming
• Play along with metronome, then backing track
• Learn one full song (student’s choice from list below):
  • Wonderwall – Oasis
  • Let It Be – The Beatles
  • Riptide – Vance Joy
  • Perfect – Ed Sheeran

Homework:

• Daily 20-min practice of chosen song
• Focus on smooth transitions

 

🗓 Week 8 – Performance & Next Steps

Objectives:

• Perform a full song
• Reflect on progress and set new goals

Content & Activities:

• Warm-up: finger and strumming drills
• Play full chosen song start to finish
• Peer or teacher feedback
• Discussion: next-level skills (barre chords, scales, fingerpicking)

Homework:

• Continue expanding song repertoire
• Begin learning barre chord shapes (F, Bm)

Suggested Song for Performance:
“Let It Be” – The Beatles (G, D, Em, C)

 

🎵 Materials & Tools Needed

• Acoustic or electric guitar
• Tuner or tuning app
• Pick (medium gauge)
• Capo (optional for transposing songs)
• Music stand or tablet with song sheets
• Metronome app
• Handout: chord charts and basic tab guide

 

💡 Teaching Tips

• Encourage students to record short clips to track progress
• Introduce one new chord or pattern per session maximum
• Use songs they love to boost motivation
• Celebrate small wins (clean sound, faster switches, steady rhythm)