Spring Augusta Week (formerly Spring Dulcimer Week)
Novice/Beginning Acoustic Guitar
John Rossbach

We will cover the basics of getting started on the acoustic guitar. The first thing we’ll do is inspect your instrument to see that it is set up properly for ease of playing and good tuning.

We will explore making the basic chord shapes on the fingerboard, accenting bass string notes, basic strumming patterns, using a flatpick, and the importance of keeping steady timing on your guitar. Since this is a beginning/novice class, we will not really emphasize lead guitar.

We’ll learn about chord progressions common to basic forms of country, blues, bluegrass early rock & roll, and old time Appalachian music. Without even knowing how to read music, we’ll discuss some very basic “by ear” music theory that will use as a picker for the rest of your days. We’ll demonstrate the advantages of the thumb pick, the flat pick, and the bare hand.

For those of you who are already playing a bit, we’ll go over remedials--the unlearning of bad habits—and on to learning the different approaches behind backing singers, dancers, and instrumentalists.

PRE-CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

No prior experience necessary.

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES RECOMMENDED:

You must bring to class a steel string acoustic guitar, several flat picks, a notebook & pencil, along with a willing heart and an open mind. Warning: Classical nylon or gut stringed guitars aren’t good for this class. Electric guitars and amplifiers aren’t quite appropriate, either. Optional Items to Bring: strap, a tuner, capo, recording device.

Musically Yours,

John Rossbach

john@johnrossbach.com
johnrossbach.com