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There are often questions from people new to the site about which lessons beginners should tackle. If you still have a question, please ask—nothing wrong with questions! There was a conversation and we thought it might be helpful to list some of the beginner-level lessons. If there’s one we haven’t listed, please add it.
Thanks to JoLa, Billy, Richard G., 6-Stringer Pete, Bret (bwade913), John (sunburst), and to anyone else who contributes a lesson or a thought in the future.
There’s the Beginner Guitar Course for starters.
Basic 12 Bar Blues Rhythm (Easy) – BLG005 (I was looking for this, but JoLa found it, thank you JoLa!)
Simple Lead Played in the Major Pentatonic Scale (Key of E) – LEG022 (thanks Richard)
Simple Lead Played in the Major Pentatonic Scale (Key of E) – LEG022
From the Blog, a Simple (Very Basic) Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson (thanks again, JoLa!)
Bret passed this one along, Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson in the key of E – LEG011 (thank you, Bret)
Please feel free to add anything that seems easy to you. And if you’re playing one of these and it’s not easy, don’t be surprised—everyone comes at this stuff differently.
My observation, I love some “easy,” “simple” melodies. Played with feeling, there’s nothing better (there’s different but not “better”).
Don D.
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This is great, Don!
I’m glad you mentioned the Beginner’s Guitar Course. While we are at it, I would also mention Blues Lead Guitar Course which Brian often mentions in the lessons. The Blues Lead Course covers all the pentatonic scale patterns and provides a nice library of licks to practice. Those courses can be found on the Weekly Lessons Page all the way down under Search Lessons box or under My Account/My Courses.
Another great resource for both beginners and advanced players are the Microlessons! They’re short and simple and I think they are fantastic!
🎸JoLa
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I went back to look at beginner lessons on pentatonics and licks. A point that may be confusing is that all the pentatonic lessons ate in the key of A which you can figure out by looking at his hand or going to the note page but I don’t think he mentions it.
The licks lessons are all in C, I think but assumes everyone knows that. It states what pattern he is using but a beginner could easily get mixed up.
As a suggestion when given licks using major and minor together it might be helpful for a beginner to be told WHICH patters are major and minor. I knew for example the 5 and 7 fret notes were in the first pattern minor pentatonic and the 2&4 frets were first position major. And it would take an experience person to figure when playing up the neck what pattern was used, and if it were major or minor.
Usually he stress WHY it’s happening.
I only mentioned it because I was trying to get a beginner to purchase the course and showed her stuff and I need to explain it.
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MicroLesson: 048 – Easy 2 Chord Blues Composition Played Solo Guitar is a great choice, thank you John! I never heard that one. I’m working on it tonight. Have a great weekend!
MicroLesson: 048 – Easy 2 Chord Blues Composition Played Solo Guitar
Don D.
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Learning guitar doesn’t come easy for me. MicroLesson 48 is my ‘go to’ when I get frustrated and want to remind myself that I can actually play some blues.
I have two other suggestions that IMO are only slightly more difficult than ML48
MicroLesson 28 – Country Blues Guitar Lesson
MicroLesson 54 – Easy Call & Response Blues
MicroLesson: 054 – Easy Call and Response style Blues Guitar Lesson
Mark
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Nice! Thanks Mark, these will serve this rank beginner well as I noodle around and get these 70 yr old “clubs” that are my fingers actively loosening up and getting something down aside from a few shuffles that proved tough 2 weeks ago. they’re a breeze now – and so it goes…
Thanks much. Looking forward to really digging in when I’m not down in my woodshop or on a stream fishing… Man, this is SO enjoyable!!!
Jeremy.
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Welcome and thank you for your comments and lesson contributions, Mark!
Having a go-to song is what it’s about, something you can really play and feel good about. As everyone finds out, it’s about putting in the time (and learning the right things, Brian provides lots of those).
When I came back to the guitar about six years ago, I had a feeling I should get to know a few things really well rather than learn a little bit of everything. I’m still trying to stay focused on that, for example, I want to play LEG005 fluently, I am still trying to get to know it (and a few other things down there in E) so well I can pick them up in any part of any bar (but in the process of learning, there are always some fragments that you can’t use right away).
Don D.
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I’d like to keep these coming, so if anyone else has any suggestions, keep adding to this list. I have one that I don’t think is too difficult (and I’m really bad) — it’s EP282. Give it some time, pay attention to the timing, and it isn’t too difficult.
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Thank you Mark! It’s great to hear about things like that. That really increases the value of the information.
I’ve never tried LEG025, but I’m, going to tonight!
Don D.
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Welcome and thank you, old man! (That’s a great name, surprised it wasn’t already taken.)
Don D.
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Hello,
Beginner here…… I didn’t want to start a thread…. I have been enjoying Brian’s lessons for a year. As the tabs really help me with memorizing the pieces was there ever one for Good Bye Blue Sky , COV006?
All the Best!!
Martin-
Hi Martin,
There’s nothing wrong with starting a new thread. Not many people may see your post here.
As for the tabs for COV006, there are none due to copyrights issues. What may help you is maybe slowing down the video. You can do that by clicking on the Gear icon and change playback speed to 0.75, 0.5 or even 0.25
🎸JoLa
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JoLa,
Thanks! That’s what I figured..I totally slow down every lesson, it really helps… It’s my memory that’s the problem!! lol..It is really cool to have the tab printed to follow the various playbacks…. What once was totally Greek to me now makes a some sense…..
Cheers!!
Martin-
Ah, yeah, the memory, I get it 🙂 It’s probably a good idea to make notes. I use the web-based interactive tablature (Soundslice.com) to do that but that may be a bit too daunting for a beginner. You could just print out a blank tablature from the web and use the good old fashioned pencil to write down the notes. If it’s just for your own use, it doesn’t have to be perfect but it may help you memorize the song.
🎸JoLa
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Beginner myself, I will share 3 advices :
1) Record yourself
Not only to check your progress, but listening to what you have done 2 weeks ago, you may found it is better than what you think at first -and that’s good- or found out some issues you did not realize at first : rhythm, silence management, etc.
also, by recording, you are forced to play from start to end, without stopping, thus from 1 to 3 minutes long, and that is part of the learning path.
2) Do monthly challenge
this does not mean you need to publish (see point 3), but monthly challenge may set problems you are not able to resolve at first. it highlights your capabilities and limitation thus the direction where you need to improve. searching for a way to nail the challenge, you may discover lesson, technics you don’t think at initially.
Finally, listening to other member’s response challenge -the way they respond to the same problem as yours- opens your ears : playing guitar is a matter of finger, but playing music is a matter of ears.
3) showcase your playing.
we may need encouragements, advices, et. The community is kind, and this is a real booster.Where does the white go when snow melts?
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i will add
Creating a Melodic Guitar Solo Using Chord Voicings and Arpeggios (PART 2) – EP166
which contains a practice exercice on how to connect different Chord Shape out of CAGED.
Where does the white go when snow melts?
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Thank you, Don D. and those who posted this here for all of us beginners. This has been invaluable in finding Brian’s true beginner videos! Liz
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I’d like to see a lesson teaching the basics like fingering techniques, bending, double stops, muting, slides etc. And, a lesson on the TAB symbology that Brian specifically uses when he TABs out his lessons. At the very least a TAB key posted on the site. I seem to waste time repeatedly watching and listening to things trying the figure out the specifics of bends and slides. All the very basic fretboard stuff. I’ve learned that playing is strategic. You need to place all four fingers in correct positions from the start to be efficient, especially when bends and slides are present. In fact this stuff seems as important as learning the Major scale, or any of the theory. I’d rather learn this stuff correctly from the start rather then guessing and building bad habits. I’ve gone through all of Brian’s theory stuff and haven’t seen any specifics on those basic but essential techniques. I have noticed that other YouTube teachers have video about that stuff so I can’t be the only new player wanting this information taught.
Thanks
Dennis
Plymouth Ca -
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Hello, @Don D. and all,
Thank you for this helpful list of lessons for beginners.
My name is Cher P. and I am a new Active Melody member and a fairly new player – beginner or early intermediate?I appreciate Brian’s lessons and look forward to learning and practicing alongside you all.
All the best,
Cher-
Hello, Cher, it‘s great to meet you also here in this community. It‘s really a great place to learn some blues oriented playing. Brian‘s lessons are simply fantastic to get the fundamentals you need, if you trying to develop some creativity or trying to improvise. I would recommend you also to look up the micro lessons. The most of them are quite easy to learn. Look for the one‘s you have the most fun with. And as Don said, it would great to see you at the monthly challenges. Great to have you here.
Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be in spring 2025There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum a few weeks before.
I look forward to meet you.
Manfred-
Hello, Manfred!
Thank you for your reply to my note! It’s great to see you here in the Active Melody community and I sincerely appreciate your warm welcome.
Yes, I’m very inspired by Blues and love the sound and history. Yes, a goal is to eventually improvise. Thank you for your suggestions. I will check in to the micro lessons, too.
Take care and all the best to you, and for your playing,
Cher
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Welcome Cher! If you have any questions along the way, there are lots of people who have probably wanted to know the same thing on the Forum.
If you ever want to post a sample of your playing, please do. Each month, we have a loosely structured Challenge based on a topic. Feel free to interpret the parameters of that topic as you understand them (don’t worry about anything, easier said than done).
Don D.
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I would also mention Blues Lead Guitar Course which Brian often mentions in the lessons.
Is there a place/link for all the courses?
When I go to the main lessons page, there is a link for courses, but it only takes me to this page: https://www.activemelody.com/my-courses/
Which only contains Essential Theory, CAGED, and Lead Guitar. Now knowing there’s a Blues Lead course, I’m wondering if there’s other courses, I’m not aware of. -
Hey Travis,
The Blues Lead Guitar Course is now called just Lead Guitar Course and can be found under My Courses once you start it. Over the years, Brian has removed some of the older courses but has also been working on new ones and you will see them there once they are posted. So at this moment, there are only 3 courses available BUT – Brian also made a few mini series over the years, like for example:
a just completed 5-part CAGED System Shapes Mini Series
and
3 part Blues Phrasing Mini Series
🎸JoLa
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