Part 1: Laying the Foundations (Weeks 1-5)

Week 1: The Basics – Holding the Guitar & First Chord

• How to hold the guitar, proper posture, and tuning
• Introduction toG major chord
• Basics of rhythm: simpledown-strumming
• Finger placement and tips for clear chords
• Practice: Strumming along with a metronome
• Goal: Play a clean G chord with steady rhythm

Week 2: Intro to C Major & Switching Chords

• Introduction to theC major chord
• Practice switching betweenG and C chords
• Introduction to4-beat down-up strumming
• Exercise: Simple 2-chord progressions (G → C)
• Goal: Smooth transitions between G and C

Week 3: D Major & Strumming Patterns

• Introduction to theD major chord
• Learnbasic down-up strumming patterns with emphasis
• PracticeG → C → D chord progression
• Exercise: Practice changing chords in time with the group
• Goal: Play a 3-chord progression confidently

Week 4: Adding Em & Building Strumming Fluency

• Introduction toEm chord
• Practice switching between all four chords:G, C, D, and Em
• Introduction tobasic bass-strum patterns
• Exercise: Practice chord changes to a click track
• Goal: Switch chords smoothly within a simple strum pattern

Week 5: Putting It All Together

• Review all four chords and transitions
• Focus on rhythm andstrumming techniques: shuffle, palm-muting
• Introduction tobasic song structure: verse, chorus
• Exercise: Play through short progressions using all four chords
• Goal: Build confidence with chord progressions and rhythm to prepare for learning full songs

Part 2: Mastering Country Songs (Weeks 6-10)

Week 6: “Wagon Wheel” & “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

• Introduction toWagon Wheel (Darius Rucker)
• Learn theG-C-Em-D progression
• Practice strumming patterns and chord transitions
• Song #2: Begin working onTake Me Home, Country Roads
• Goal: Play through the verse and chorus of both songs

Week 7: “Ring of Fire” & “Friends in Low Places”

• Introduction toRing of Fire (Johnny Cash)
• Focus onstrumming dynamics and steady rhythm
• Song #4: StartFriends in Low Places (Garth Brooks)
• Goal: Play complete sections with fluency and consistent tempo

Week 8: “Folsom Prison Blues” & “Tennessee Whiskey”

• Learn theboom-chicka strumming pattern forFolsom Prison Blues
• Focus on playingbass notes + strums for a country feel
• Song #6: Learn the smooth, slower strumming style forTennessee Whiskey
• Goal: Play through both songs with good rhythm and clear chords

Week 9: “Fishin’ in the Dark” & “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”

• Song #7: Learn the intro and verse ofFishin’ in the Dark (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
• Song #8: Begin working onJambalaya (On the Bayou)
• Goal: Play both songs through as a group, practicing tempo and consistency

Week 10: Final Class & Performance

• Final review of all 10 songs
• Group practice focusing on rhythm, dynamics, and stage presence
• In-Class Performance: Students perform their favorite selections from the 10 songs as a group

Goal: Celebrate progress and build confidence for future playing