.5 Credit
Prerequisite: Guitar 1 and/or teacher recommendation
Required Tools: Students will need a functional Acoustic Guitar, a 1.5" binder dedicated to the class, an electronic tuner, 2 extra sets of strings appropriate to their style of guitar, 6 or more picks, and a Capo.
Guitar 2 is intended for competent intermediate and advancing guitarists with a functional understanding of the material covered in Guitar 1. Students will move beyond the open position and delve into bar chord shapes, extended chords, building major and minor scales, relationships between chords and key, arpeggios, lead technique, improvising, and other areas of fretboard knowledge. This is not a performance based class, but students will be required to perform together once in the semesterly Fine Arts Festival.
Building on the fundamentals acquired in Guitar 1, this course continues to investigate understanding the diverse language of music and how it can be expressed with the instrument. Students will learn to build their vocabulary by unlocking the fretboard and delve into more advanced skills, styles, and techniques as well as music theory applied through a broad range of songs. In class, students will learn through interactive lessons, lecture, activities and playing songs together in a fun group environment. Students are also expected to use supplemental resources posted to google classroom and instructor’s website to continue learning and effectively practice what is taught in class.
This course is intended for competent intermediate and advancing guitarists with a functional understanding of the material covered in Guitar 1 and a desire to learn more. Enrollment is contingent upon either completing Guitar 1 this or demonstrating proficiency in the skills covered by interview with the instructor.
Guitar 2 prepares students for a more informed pursuit of their musical interests and to take other departmental classes such as Guitar 3, Studio Music Production. It also puts students on track to take IB Music or CoLAB if they aspire to do so. With increasingly complex material, the importance of engagement , focus during class and routine use of resources for effective out of class practice become even more imperative.
Units of Study
Leaving the Open Position with “Floating” Chord Shapes
Unlocking the Fretboard and Playing Melodically Beyond the 5th Fret.
Introduction to Major Scale Theory, Key Signatures, Intervals, and Building
The Circle of 5ths and Why It is Useful
Introduction to and Application of Basic “Closed” Barre Chord Shapes
Extended Harmony, Evolving Chord Shapes, and Arpeggios
Introduction to and Application of Major Pentatonic Scales
Relative Minor Scales, Natural Minor Scales, and Building Harmony in minor Keys
Introduction to and Application of Minor Pentatonic Scales
Expression and Additional Techniques
Introduction to Improvisation and Innovation
Critical Listening Development
Appreciation of the History and Evolution of the Guitar in Popular Music
Preparing for and Performing as an Ensemble (December/May Fine Arts Concert)
Life After Guitar 2