Teaching

Lessons

The articles and lessons contained here are based on my years searching for solutions to various issues I have had with my technique as a classical guitarist, searching for my improvisational voice and in the process of learning to play a wide variety of styles. However most have been in the service of teaching, trying to find the right way to explain a concept, or for specific technical issues or just to inspire my students. Each lesson is structured and has an aim and a short intro on how to practise it.
The lessons have been tested in my various classes and I know they work so hopefully they will help with what ever it is you are trying to achieve!




Pick Co-ordination Ex. 1

Aim: Practise coordinating the Left and Right hands.
Level: Beginners to Intermediate.

This foundation exercise is a great warm up for both hands. Guitar playing on a basic level is nothing more than good co-ordination of left and right hands. Follow the stroke directions closely; start slow and slow increase the tempo over time. This exercise covers alternate and sweep picking.The video shows the best way to practise this, no amplification; concentrate on good clean notes. There are two views available: left and right hands.

Picking Co-ordination Ex. 1 from Rhayn Jooste on Vimeo.


This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Knockin On Heavens Door

Aim: Practise common right hand strumming patterns utilizing simple chords.
Level: Beginners to Intermediate.

The exercise builds upon itself, so master each section before moving on. Strive for clarity in the rhythms. Practise coordinating your hands with a main foot beat. Once you have the basic units, put your understanding to the test and play the sequence. Ask yourself: Are there any breaks in the rhythm? Does it groove? Recording your efforts will be the best and ultimate judge. Mics are merciless with the truth. See notes for further hints.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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D A E Chord Changes

Aim: Practise common progressions utilizing 3 simple open string chords.
Level: Beginners.

This exercise builds upon 3 famous songs that use the D A E chord change, it gets progressively more complicated and with quicker left hand changes required; so master each section before moving on. Wild thing is about playing in time and has some right hand control of the chords - they need muting after each chord. Back in Black is all about tight strums and controlled cut offs. So right hand karate chop after each chord. Strive for clarity in the rhythms. Desire requires quick changes and fast strums; work on the co-ordination slowly. Once mastered at a slow pace, its easy to speed up incrementally.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues Target Sheet in A Minor

Aim: Practise Target tones within G shape Pentatonic.
Level: Intermediate.

This exercise introduces the CAGED system and the target tones for a minor blues. The aim is to practise the target notes as the blues progression unfolds, the best way to achieve this is to pick each root note and play that with a backing track. So Pick chord I and then just concentrate on that note until its under your fingers. Then do the next two. Once you have all three notes put them together. The final outcome should be the ability to think & play through the blues.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues "L" shape - 1

Aim: Learn Blues Progression shapes.
Level: Beginners

This lesson introduces the blues progression fret board shapes. The aim is to able to blues progression in any key. The "L" shape is easily memorized and relies on the I, IV and V chords always remaining in a constant formation. The only requirement is the ability to play barre chords and knowing the note names across the E and A strings.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues "L" shape - 2

Aim: Learn Blues Progression shapes.
Level: Beginners

This lesson introduces the blues progression fret board shapes. The aim is to able to blues progression in any key. The "L" shape is easily memorized and relies on the I, IV and V chords always remaining in a constant formation. The only requirement is the ability to play barre chords and knowing the note names across the E and A strings.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues Riffs - Basic

Aim: Learn basic blues vocabulary.
Level: Beginners to Intermediate.

This exercise introduces the basic universal blues riffs. The aim is to practise the riffs in open and closed positions. Once secure under fingers begin to transpose into each chord of the progression. Rhythms are open to interpretation, what you are trying to achieve is getting the sound of the notes over each stop of the blues progression.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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CAGED System - Handout

Aim: Learn the CAGED system chords in C major
Level: Beginners to Intermediate.

This handout introduces the CAGED system across the fret board, along with the start chord shapes in all 12 keys. The key is to start with the lowest note of each key and work out the chord shape that it belongs to. Once thats acquired it is a case of fitting the other chords after it. This hand out belongs to a lesson that I did for CGRocks.com; just follow the link for the full explanation.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues Target Sheet in A Major

Aim: Practise Target tones within G shape Pentatonic.
Level: Intermediate.

This exercise builds upon the CAGED system lesson in the beginners section above. The aim is to practise the target notes as the blues progression unfolds, the best way to achieve this is to pick each root note and play that with a backing track. So Pick chord I and then just concentrate on that note until its under your fingers. Then do the next two. Once you have all three notes put them together. The final outcome should be the ability to think & play through the blues.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
Click here to open in another window


Blues Target Sheet in C Major

Aim: Practise Target tones within G shape Pentatonic.
Level: Intermediate.

This exercise builds upon the CAGED system lesson in the beginners section above. The aim is to practise the target notes as the blues progression unfolds, the best way to achieve this is to pick each root note and play that with a backing track. So Pick chord I and then just concentrate on that note until its under your fingers. Then do the next two. Once you have all three notes put them together. The final outcome should be the ability to think & play through the blues.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues Target Sheet in E Minor

Aim: Practise Target tones within G shape Pentatonic.
Level: Intermediate.

This exercise builds upon the CAGED system lesson in the beginners section above. The aim is to practise the target notes as the blues progression unfolds, the best way to achieve this is to pick each root note and play that with a backing track. So Pick chord I and then just concentrate on that note until its under your fingers. Then do the next two. Once you have all three notes put them together. The final outcome should be the ability to think & play through the blues.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Blues Licks - Basic

Aim: Learn basic blues vocabulary.
Level: Beginners to Intermediate.

This exercise introduces the basic universal blues Licks. The aim is to practise the licks/ideas until secure under fingers. Then begin to transpose into each chord of the progression. Once secure crowbar the ideas into your solos. Be methodical as this increases ability to freely utilize the licks in an improvisation context. The Rhythms are open to interpretation, what you are trying to achieve is getting the sound of the notes over each stop of the blues progression.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Guitar Boogie

Aim: Learn Blues progression with a great riff
Level: Intermediate.

This lesson is for a steel string acoustic or Electric guitar and is an introduction to the 12 bar blues progression and tracking chord changes. The key is E major and all the chords are dominants, i.e. flat 7ths added. The riff tracks each chord individually; in other words it is transposed into each new chord and by extension its key. So get a handle on the notes but also identify the flat seventh for each chord. This lesson also introduces the E min pentatonic scale and welcomes you to solo over the changes with your own ideas. Try and target the root note of each chord as it changes. This will allow you to develop the ability to think and track the chords as they progress.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Fields of Gold

Aim: Chord Changes with basic R.H. Percussion
Level: Intermediate.

This lesson is for a steel string acoustic guitar and is an introduction to jazzing up a guitar part with percussion. The right hand has two jobs here: First to strum or pluck the chords and secondly to hit the strings creating a sharp snapping sound. This is achieved by karate chopping, with the bottom of the hand, across 6 strings just behind the fret board. The sound comes from the strings hitting the frets. The exercises build to form the verse chord progression. The full arrangement has the sound imitating the snare rim shot on beats 2 & 4 in Sting's original track and can be found [here] Practise each part(strumming, percussion) separately until they are comfortable and then combine. The idea is to integrate the chord strums and rim shot into one part and make it groove.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Applying Licks - Target & Evolution

Aim: Learn to apply blues vocabulary.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This lesson introduces the basic concept to applying blues Licks. The aim is to practise the licks/ideas in situ, so only chord I ideas in the chord I slot. Then begin to transpose into each chord of the progression. Once secure crowbar the ideas into your solos. Be methodical as this increases ability to freely utilize the licks in an improvisation context. The Rhythms are open to interpretation, what you are trying to achieve is getting the sound of the notes over each stop of the blues progression in a more refined and shaped solo. Again you are ultimately trying to think & play.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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G Shape Arpeggios

Aim: Learn to play in one position.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This lesson introduces the concept of playing progressions in one positions with arpeggios. The chords have been extended to 7ths and organized into cycle progressions. The most basic being a ii - V7 - I progression. The second level is the rest of the cycle which will help playing in most jazz standards and popular songs as these generally follow these cycles. Strive for 8th notes as you play through the arpeggio and switch at the end of the bar not the end of the fretboard.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Minor Swing - Students

Aim: Learn to play and solo over Minor Swing.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This lesson introduces the concept of playing across progressions in one position. It utilizes the song, Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt. It is a guitar duo arrangement. The melody has been harmonized on this sheet for a student guitarist who is still learning the fret board. Learn the chord shapes first and be able to play these up and down the board. Once that becomes boring or is learned, switch to the scales. Play these up and down to gain fluency. There are some basic Reinhardt licks given to add getting started with soloing, again crowbar these into your solo and learn them across the fret board. Notice that the first set of ideas for each chord is the same, just transposed. This is exactly what you should be doing with your licks.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Minor Swing - Teachers

Aim: Learn to play and solo over Minor Swing.
Level: Advanced

This lesson introduces a second guitar part, and the main melody/head for Django Reinhardt's Minor Swing. It is aimed at more advanced guitarists or teachers. Start with learning the chord shapes across the fret board as this will enable you to "comp" in a basic fashion. The scales here are more exotic sound and are to be utilized over each chord specifically. This set of lessons will help lesson from getting boring for both parties. Or it gives you something extra to aim for once the student part is under the fingers
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Hotel California - The Eagles

Aim: Learn to play and solo over chord changes.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This lesson introduces playing the changes as well how to get a reggae feel with strumming and percussion on the guitar. The chords are mostly barred and will require some lefth hand stamina to keep on the fret board. The strums are off beat so practise the percussion hits first and then added the down and the down up strokes. The scales given here to improvise with begin with the obvious pentatonic and then branch out into more exotic sound notes via the natural minor and then harmonic minor scales. There is only one note different between the two minor scales, however it does make a difference. The H.M scale is great for nailing that F#7. The solo from the left channel has been tabbed, there is another 2 more playing at the same time. So get the record and play along, this is great musicianship practise. All in all this lesson has a lot of various meat and potato guitar skills to work on, such as playing a melody in time and rhythm guitar before getting to any soloing.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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Sampa Samba Solo

Aim: Learn to target chord changes with modes.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced.

This exercise is taken from Rockschool's 2006 Grade 8 Piece - Sampa Samba. The ability to assign the correct scale or mode to a chord thereby highlighting its altered state is a must at this level of improvisation. The chord changes are jazz based and require more than a basic understanding of the major scale and its modes. The harmonic minor, whole tone and bebop scales are used to flavour the chords. Learning to solo is a daunting task that requires you stand on the shoulders of giants, in this lesson I have used some ideas from Joe Diorio's Hotline Series Book, as well as my own. They have been shaped to fit what I hear over the changes. The songs main genre, samba, needs to be at the fore front of any rhythms used. The first chorus is just arpeggios that outline the changes with extensions. The second chorus is a solo that tracks the changes with various ideas, scales or fragments. See notes for further hints at chord scale relationships.
This pdf is available free to download, I just ask that you credit me for my work.
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