Guitar 9: Advanced Studies

In this chapter, you will focus on some advanced guitar techniques: playing chords within melodies, playing in 5th position, and improvising on the pentatonic scale.

Before attempting Amazing Grace, make sure you watch this video about playing chords and melodies together.

1. Amazing Grace

2. Old Hundredth

Before going on, watch this video about playing in 5th Position.

3. G Major Scale in 5th Position

This G Major scale may look and sound familiar to you. Please use the fingerings provided to learn it in 5th Position.

4. La Dona e Mobile

from Rigoletto, by Guiseppe Verdi

Watch this video about how to play the pentatonic scale and move it to different keys.

5. Pentatonic Scale

6. Straight No Chaser

This melody is difficult, and it’s fast.

  1. If there’s a note you don’t know, check your fingering chart.
  2. Listen to the recording of the melody so you can hear the swing eighth notes.
  3. Try playing it first with the slower chords. Then, challenge yourself to keep up with the fast chords!

Congratulations! You've completed Chapter 9 of the Guitar Class! If you've played and mastered every song in this chapter, I guess it's time to add more chapters.