NAfME Council for Guitar Education: Best Practices for Guitar

NAfME Council for Guitar Education

Best Practices for Guitar

The NAfME Council for Guitar Education members are collaborating and presenting instructional videos for Guitar Best Practices for each year of study. They comprise a set of technical skills, music experiences, and music theory knowledge that guitar students should know through their scholastic career. Refer to this resource for more information.

This video series begins with Year 1 Best Practices. Bookmark this page to return to for new videos.

“Correct Posture and Left-Hand Position” presented by Michael Klein, Council Member-At-Large Representative

Michael Klein demonstrates how to perform using correct sitting posture and appropriate left-hand position. Watch now.

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Watch more presentations:

“Identifying Chord Diagrams” presented by Kevin Vigil, Council Chair

Dr. Kevin Vigil discusses identifying chord diagrams and playing major, minor, and dominant seventh chords in first position in the keys of C Major, G Major, D Major, D minor, A Major, A minor, E Major, and E minor. Watch now.

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“Performance Dynamics” presented by Kevin Vigil, Council Chair

Kevin Vigil demonstrates how to perform various dynamics on the guitar while maintaining a good tone. Watch now.

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“Aural Skills: Learning by Ear” presented by Jared Tanner, Council Northwest Division Representative

Jared Tanner demonstrates how he teaches students to aurally identify chord changes, learn songs by ear, and identify form by ear. Watch now.

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“Play Power Chords with Roots on Strings 6 (E) and 5 (A)” presented by Christopher Perez, Council Past Chair

In this 15-minute video, Christopher Perez demonstrates how he teaches power chords with roots on strings 6 and 5. Watch now.

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“Note Reading on Six Strings in First Position” presented by Darin Au, Council Western Division Representative, with Michael Klein, Council Member-At-Large Representative

In this six-minute video, Darin Au and Michael Klein demonstrate how they teach note reading on all six strings in first position up to the A on the first string. Watch now.

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“Improvise Using Blues/Pentatonic Scale” presented by Darin Au, Council Western Division Representative, with Louis Syrovy

Darin Au and Louis Syrovy demonstrate how to improvise a melodic line to simple chord progression like the blues using pentatonic or blues scale. Watch now.

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“Strum Basic Rhythms” presented by Dr. Robert Pethel, Council Southern Division Representative

Dr. Robert Pethel demonstrates proper strum technique using whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes, including simply syncopation. Watch now.

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NAfME makes this resource available as a service to the profession. If you would like to obtain a course completion certificate for professional development hours, please view this resource in the NAfME Academy, which is a benefit of membership in NAfME.