Guitar Music Theory

In this free guitar lesson you learn how harmonic minor scale patterns are used in improvisation. This includes a review of building the harmonic minor scale, using pentatonic lead patterns in harmonic minor, and outlining V7 chords with arpeggios. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how to use chord tone soloing to connect scales more closely to their related chords, and outline particular chord progressions. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how to use pentatonic lead patterns for playing major scales and modes. You learn how the pentatonic scale relates to the major scale. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn that when it comes to using the pentatonic scale, it's not necessary to utilize every position or every part of every pattern. Most guitar players, including some of the most famous ones, favor only a few particular sections of these different patterns that work well together. When viewed together, these sections are sometimes called “lead patterns”. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how the spaces between chords are filled with passing chords. This includes a discussion on chromatic passing chords, diminished chords and augmented chords. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you look at several related topics including: modulation, key changes, modal interchange, borrowed chords, and the circle of fifths. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn about dominant function and using dominant seventh chords. This includes instruction on secondary dominants, voice leading and harmonic minor chord progressions. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you take a look at the interval structure of the different modes of the major scale and how musicians would number chord progressions that are modal. This involves naming the tonic pitch in a mode “1” and then numbering its other pitches from there with consideration given to any change in interval structure like sharp and flat degrees. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

This free guitar lesson answers the question "What is the key of a song?" You learn about tonic pitches, relative major and minor, modes and key signatures. You see that the key of a song doesn't always reflect the true parent major scale and it's up to you to go beyond the basic details and sort out the other components at play. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

Australian guitarist and singer/songwriter Joe Robinson discusses his musical background, style and perspectives on music theory and guitar playing. Includes samples of his songs and recorded albums plus live playing and improvisations. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn about blues guitar theory including blues chords and blues progressions. You also hear examples of how blues guitarists mix major and minor pentatonic scale patterns and use Mixolydian mode. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how to add chord tones and extensions to chords including major and minor seventh chords. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how to play intervals such as thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, and sevenths. You get to hear what it sounds like to play harmonized guitar parts based on these intervals. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

Learn the music theory behind guitar modes and hear how they're used in popular music. Play modal scales including Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson you learn how to build triads and chords with the major scale, and how these chords are used to play chord progressions and play by numbers. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

This lesson teaches how guitar players learn major scale patterns on the fretboard and how these patterns are used to play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos, and bass lines. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

This free lesson focuses on how guitar players use the CAGED system to play various chord shapes, chord voicings, chord inversions, and arpeggio patterns. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

How to learn one of the most commonly used scales on guitar, the pentatonic scale. The five pentatonic scale patterns are used to play melodies, riffs, solos, and bass lines. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

Guitar players typically use the sixth and fifth strings to keep track of notes and keys while playing chords, scales, and progressions on the fretboard. For this reason, it’s important to memorize the notes along these strings, which is the focus of this podcast episode. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com.

In this free guitar lesson, you get an introduction to applying music theory to the guitar fretboard. You learn how knowledge of scales, chords, and progressions can help you understand music and become a better player. Taught by Desi Serna of http://GuitarMusicTheory.com and author of Fretboard Theory.