Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title MUSC 1431: Beginning Guitar Class

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy.

Course Description

Basic knowledge of guitar technique including: tuning the guitar, chords and chord strumming (open chords), performing songs, fret board logic (how the fret board is laid out), exercises, scales, and melodic improvisation, music notation reading (music literacy), barre chords, guitar maintenance. No previous music knowledge necessary.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

February, 2026

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. The six open strings
  2. Tuning the guitar
  3. Note Reading
    1. All notes on the guitar fret board (Fret board layout)
    2. Reading of tablature
    3. Note reading (standard notation) in first position - all six strings
  4. Scales
  5. The Chromatic, Pentatonic, and Blues scales
  6. All Major and minor scales
  7. Scales “around the circle,” clockwise and counter-clockwise
  8. Chords
  9. Open chords and bar-chords, fingering and strumming
  10. All sixth and fifth string root bar-chords (Major and minor)
  11. Changing chords
  12. Barre Chords (moveable fingerings)
  13. 7th Chords (Major, minor, and Dominant)
  14. Basic Music Theory
  15. Strumming Technique
  16. Basic pulse, rhythm strumming
  17. 4 to the bar and 2 to the bar
  18. Syncopated strumming patterns in Blues, Reggae, Country rock, and Rock and Roll
  19. Melodic technique (exercises and scales)
  20. Learning and performing songs
  21. Internet sites to help with song learning and performing
  22. Online tablature
  23. Word and Chord notation
  24. Learning songs with Youtube
  25. Basic chord progressions
  26. I – IV - V progressions
  27. II – V – I progressions
  28. Ascending Perfect 4th and 5th progressions
  29. Improvisation
  30. Improvising Melodies with the Major, Blues, and Pentatonic Scales
  31. Introduction to the blues (rhythm, harmony, progression, melody)
  32. Basic Guitar Maintenance
  33. Changing strings
  34. Cleaning and oiling the fret board
  35. Polishing the guitar

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
  2. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
  3. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy.

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
  2. Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
  3. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None