A Minor Study Guitar Course focuses on learning and mastering the various aspects of minor scales, minor chords, and minor key techniques on the guitar.

A Minor Study Guitar Course focuses on learning and mastering the various aspects of minor scales, minor chords, and minor key techniques on the guitar. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate guitarist, understanding minor-related concepts is essential for playing across genres like rock, blues, jazz, classical, and metal. Here's an outline of what a comprehensive Minor Study Guitar Course could cover:

1. Introduction to Minor Scales

• Understanding the Minor Scale: Learn the structure of the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales. This includes the pattern of whole and half steps that form each scale and how they differ from the major scale.

• Fretboard Patterns: Learn the common fretboard patterns for minor scales. You will practice the scale shapes in different positions across the fretboard.

  • Example: A minor, E minor, D minor scale patterns.

Course Topics:

• Structure of the Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic Minor scales.

• Minor scale patterns across different positions.

• Exercises for memorizing and playing minor scales.

2. Minor Chords

• Chord Construction: Learn how to construct minor triads (three-note chords) by applying the minor scale formula (root, minor third, perfect fifth).

• Open and Barre Minor Chords: Learn the shapes and fingerings for minor chords in open positions (e.g., Am, Dm, Em) and as barre chords (e.g., Bm, Fm).

• Minor Seventh Chords: Learn to build and play minor 7th chords (e.g., Am7, Em7).

Course Topics:

• Open and barre minor chords.

• Minor seventh, minor sixth, and minor ninth chords.

• Common minor chord progressions.

3. Minor Key Progressions

• Understanding Minor Key Harmony: Learn how chords are formed in a minor key, focusing on the natural minor scale and its harmonic (raised 7th) and melodic minor variations.

• Chord Progressions in Minor Keys: Study common minor key progressions such as:

  • i - iv - v (e.g., Am - Dm - Em).

  • i - VI - III - VII (e.g., Am - F - C - G).

  • i - VII - VI - VII (e.g., Am - G - F - G).

Course Topics:

• Chord progressions in minor keys.

• Harmonic minor chord progressions.

• Modal interchange (borrowing chords from parallel modes).

4. Minor Pentatonic Scale

• Introduction to the Minor Pentatonic Scale: Learn how the minor pentatonic scale (a five-note scale) is derived from the natural minor scale and how it’s used in improvisation, especially in blues and rock.

• Practice Patterns: Learn the fretboard patterns for the minor pentatonic scale.

• Applications in Improvisation: Understand how to use the minor pentatonic scale for soloing and improvisation.

Course Topics:

• Minor pentatonic scale construction.

• Fretboard patterns for the minor pentatonic scale.

• Improvising with the minor pentatonic scale.

5. Minor Modes (Dorian, Phrygian, etc.)

• Learning Modal Scales: Study minor modes like Dorian, Phrygian, and Aeolian (natural minor). Learn how each mode is derived from the major scale and how to apply them in various musical contexts.

• Modal Chord Progressions: Learn common modal progressions, including those using the Dorian and Phrygian modes, to create unique sounds and colors in your playing.

Course Topics:

• Introduction to Dorian, Phrygian, and Aeolian modes.

• Modal harmony and chord progressions.

• Application of minor modes in improvisation and composition.

6. Applying Minor Key to Songwriting

• Writing in Minor Keys: Learn how to write songs in a minor key, focusing on chord progressions, melody writing, and phrasing that reflects the minor tonality.

• Creating Emotional Impact: Understand how to create tension and resolution within a minor key, using common techniques like tension-building with minor dominant (V) chords and resolving to the tonic.

Course Topics:

• Techniques for songwriting in minor keys.

• Using minor chords and scales in composition.

• Creating melodic and harmonic tension in minor keys.

7. Advanced Minor Techniques

• Minor Arpeggios: Learn how to play arpeggios over minor chords and how to incorporate them into solos and improvisation.

• Minor Scale Modal Interchange: Experiment with borrowing chords and scales from parallel major and minor modes.

• Using Minor in Different Genres: Explore how minor scales and chords are used in genres like jazz, blues, rock, metal, and classical music. Study artists and songs that are known for their use of minor keys.

Course Topics:

• Minor arpeggios and fingerpicking techniques.

• Modal interchange in advanced guitar playing.

• Minor key applications across different musical genres.

8. Guitar Techniques for Minor Scales

• Bending: Practice bending notes within the minor scale, especially in the pentatonic scale, to create expressive solos.

• Slides: Incorporate slides into your solos, particularly when moving between minor scale notes.

• Hammer-ons and Pull-offs: Use hammer-ons and pull-offs to create smooth, fluid lines in your minor scale solos.

Course Topics:

• Techniques like bending, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs in minor scale solos.

• Combining minor scale techniques with improvisation.

• Developing fluid and expressive minor key solos.

Example Course Structure

• Week 1-2: Introduction to the Natural Minor Scale & Minor Chords

  • Learn the formula and practice common minor chords (Am, Dm, Em).

  • Play the natural minor scale in various positions.

• Week 3-4: Minor Pentatonic and Improvisation Basics

  • Learn the minor pentatonic scale and its application in improvisation.

  • Practice improvising over backing tracks.

• Week 5-6: Minor Seventh and Extended Chords

  • Learn minor seventh, minor ninth, and other extended minor chords.

  • Practice using these chords in progressions.

• Week 7-8: Modal Minor Scales and Progressions

  • Study the Dorian and Phrygian modes.

  • Apply modal scales to create different minor sounds.

• Week 9-10: Songwriting and Composition in Minor Keys

  • Compose simple songs and melodies in a minor key.

  • Experiment with common minor progressions (i - iv - v, i - VI - III - VII).

• Week 11-12: Advanced Techniques & Soloing in Minor Keys

  • Learn advanced techniques like bending, slides, and arpeggios.

  • Create and perform advanced solos in minor keys.

Materials & Resources for a Minor Study Guitar Course

• Books: "Minor Scales and Chords for Guitar" or "The Guitarist's Guide to Minor Keys".

• Videos/Tutorials: Use online video lessons from platforms like YouTube, Guitar Tricks, or TrueFire.

• Backing Tracks: Play along with minor key backing tracks in various styles (rock, jazz, blues).

• Metronome: Practice playing minor scales and solos with a metronome to improve timing and precision.

Conclusion

A Minor Study Guitar Course can dramatically enhance your understanding of the minor key, expanding your musical vocabulary and giving you the tools to create expressive, emotional, and technically advanced music. By mastering minor scales, chords, progressions, and techniques, you'll be able to bring depth and complexity to your playing in any musical genre.