This course looks at the why behind music. We will build a ground up understanding of the theory behind why certain things sound good. If you've already learned a number of things but want to look "under the hood" of music, this class is for you. If you're new to the instrument this class will lay a solid foundation for everything you will do.
We first examine the main building block of music, the major scale. We analyze what makes it a major scale and how you can figure out the notes in any major or minor scale. We then look at how you can play these scales across the guitar neck. From there we study triad chords and how to play them. Along the way I will show you how to work on these things and how to apply them to your music.
It may not seem like a lot but there is a wealth of information here that will lay a strong framework for everything you do on guitar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Instructor
samuraiguitarist brings his work to the world on YouTube, with an eclectic style that mixes rock, country, and jazz influences that bring new life to familiar favorites. A background rooted in songwriting and a driving passion for music help his work truly shine, making samuraiguitarist a musician you’ll definitely want to get familiar with.
Sammy G's musical journey began at age 13, after he saw rockers Blink-182 perform their hit “All the Small Things” on the MTV Video Music Awards. samuraiguitarist notes, “I asked my parents if I could take up guitar the next day. They were slightly reluctant at first […] but I eventually persuaded them.” The young musician began taking guitar lessons, eager to learn as much as he could, and by age 16 was playing in his own band around his hometown of Winnipeg.
samuraiguitarist’s passion took him to Toronto and Humber College, where he continued to study music. While his initial interests were in classic rockers like Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, and Aerosmith, music school expanded his tastes. The guitarist began listening to jazz, citing Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny as some favorites. But something clicked when samuraiguitarist began listening to country music, which he felt, “sounded like classic rock and roll with a slight twist.” He began to focus on songwriting, with a plan to focus on writing mainstream country songs.
samuraiguitarist’s songwriting goals brought him to Nashville multiple times, with the creator constantly writing songs and hunting for inspiration. “I’d walk through the world with ‘songwriter glasses’ on,” says samuraiguitarist, “always looking for little phrases or ideas that could inspire a song.” That observational ability would be an asset as he began creating YouTube videos. Now, he walks the world with “video glasses,” looking for anything that might inspire his next work.
The guitarist was inspired to share his music on YouTube after he saw a friend’s band have success on the platform. At first, he gauged interest by sharing short 15 second music clips to Instagram, and after gaining a small following decided to make the jump to longer format videos on YouTube. samuraiguitarist blend his musical influences of rock, country, and jazz for original, unique covers. Even more impressive is the fact that he arranges the covers for multiple instruments, and plays all the parts, and edits them together for a seamless display of musical prowess.
Ultimately, samuraiguitarist’s glad he was able to find his passion early on. “If you have a clear idea of who you are and what you want to do, the only thing separating you from that goal is time and effort,” says the guitarist. Thankfully, he’s putting that time and effort into producing even more killer videos.