Guitar Classes

Basics of Acoustic Fingerstyle

Peter Spencer

Four Wednesdays, January 25, February 1, 8, 22, 7:45-8:45 p.m., $80.

Are you a just-past-beginning guitarist, starting to get comfortable with your instrument? Take your guitar-playing to the next level and explore the world of fingerstyle guitar! In this class you'll learn right-hand techniques and patterns for fingerpicking guitar accompaniments and instrumentals, developing independence between thumb and fingers and a repertoire including Paul Simon's "The Boxer," Rev. Gary Davis's "Candyman," Mississippi John Hurt's "Richland Women Blues," and other tunes. Facility moving between first position chords (including the F chord) required.

Get Started with Guitar 1

Charlotte Thistle

Four Mondays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 7:45-8:45 p.m., $80.

Guitar novices welcome! This class will get you started playing some easy songs and introduce chord charts, guitar tablature, and some basic music theory and ear training. You’ll also learn strumming and fingerpicking patterns. All you need is yourself, your guitar, and a desire to make music.

Get Started with Guitar 2

Charlotte Thistle

Four Mondays, February 27, March 5, 12, 19, 7:45-8:45 p.m., $80.

In this class, we will further develop fingerpicking skills, look at more complex strumming patterns, and work on some two- and three-part arrangements using tablature and/or standard music notation. Music selections include Dylan, Jack Johnson, the Decemberists, and the Beatles. Please join us if you're ready to have fun and take your guitar playing to the next level! Students should be able to play a few basic chords and read music at an elementary level. Questions? Contact the instructor: agirlwithaguitar@netos.com.

Guitar for Lunch

John Calvin

Four Mondays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 12:00-1:00 p.m., $80.

No prior musical experience is necessary, but you must be ready to laugh! In this easy-going class, students will support each other as they explore the basic skills needed to play the guitar. By the end of this class students will be able to strum along with several familiar songs and play simple melodies. Clear notes of the material covered in the class will be supplied.

Dusty Strings Acoustic Guitar Orchestra

Barry Pollack

Eight Saturdays, March 10, 17 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, 4:00-5:30 p.m., $160.

An ongoing ensemble for intermediate and stronger players of all acoustic guitars and styles. Staff, tab, and mp3 practice tracks provided. Repertoire includes classical and jazz standards as well as Latin, Spanish, Asian, and American folk and popular music: Bach, Ellington, Cooke, Piazzolla, Miles Davis, the Beatles, and more. See ModernClassicsGuitar.com/orchestra.htm for more details.

Also, click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Guitar Orchestra.

Guitar for Lunch: Second Helping

John Calvin

Four Mondays, April 9, 19 ,23, 30, 12:00-1:00 p.m., $80.

This easy-going class is perfect for students who know basic guitar chords and are ready to find the music in them. Learn a bunch of dynamic and useful rhythm strumming techniques. Explore several popular songs and use them to understand common chord progressions. Get the low-down on guitar care. Clear notes of the material covered in the class will be supplied.

First-time Beginner Guitar

Barry Pollack

This guitar class is for people who have never played before! Learn the basics of how to play chords, keep time, strum, and fingerpick. Become comfortable hearing, recognizing, reading, and imitating rhythms, and discover how to apply them to your guitar playing. Students will have access to play-along MP3 samples of exercises, chord progressions and song melodies. The class will draw from many styles of popular music, including folk, rock, blues, and more.