BEGINNERS

Beginner - Level 1

Summary

• Just started playing
• Knows little to nothing on the guitar
• Needs reminders on finger placements, holding a pick, hand positioning, parts of the guitar, string numbering etc.

Theory

• Knows little to nothing about music theory

Chords & Rhythm

• Knows little to nothing about chords or rhythm

Melody & Riffs

• Knows little to nothing about notation or TAB

Beginner - Level 2

Theory

• Has a basic understanding of music theory
• musical alphabet
• tones & semitones
• note spacing eg. E & F and B & C are a 1 fret move
• basic music symbols
• whole note
• half note
• quarter note
• treble cleff
• music staff
• repeat signs
• Knows the string names (EADGBE)

Chords & Rhythm

• Can play basic chords although needs visual reminders (A, C, D, E, G Major)
• Getting a grasp of basic 8th note rhythm but can’t change chords quick enough to make a song distinguishable while using simple chords

Melody & Riffs

• NOTATION: Understands how to read a music staff and simple notation but cannot play it fluently
• TAB: Understands how to read simple TAB

Beginner - Level 3

Theory

• Memorised all the string and note names within the 1st three frets

E||-F-|---|-G-|---
B||-C-|---|-D-|---
G||---|-A-|---|---
D||---|-E-|-F-|---
A||---|-B-|-C-|---
E||-F-|---|-G-|---

• Be able to work out (not memorise) any note on any string up to and beyond the 12th fret

Chords & Rhythm

• Memorised all open chords and can play them with out visual aids or prompting (A, C, D, E & G).
• Starting to change chords quick enough to make a simple chord pattern song recognisable
• Can make the "E Shaped Bar Chord" (F Major) but not have to have it sounding clearly.

Melody & Riffs

• NOTATION: Can play a simple notation song fluently so that others can recognize the tune
• TAB: Can play a simple riff with no effects (hammering, sliding, bending, etc.)