To Got it — here’s an 8-week group guitar course for learning 12 essential open chords.
It’s designed for beginners, with each week introducing a few new chords, plus practice in changing between them, rhythm skills, and song application.
🎸 8-Week Guitar Course: 12 Essential Open Chords
Format: Group class – 1–2 sessions per week
Duration: 8 weeks
Goal: Learn and apply the 12 most useful open chords in rhythm and song playing.
The 12 Chords
- Major: C, A, G, E, D
- Minor: Am, Dm, Em
- Dominant 7ths: A7, D7, E7
- Extra: G7 (for easy blues/jazz flavor)
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1 – First Chords & Strumming
- Learn Em and E shapes (easy to grip, great sound).
- Basic downstroke strumming.
- Song: “Horse With No Name”–style 2-chord groove.
- Practice changing E ↔ Em.
Week 2 – Adding A Major & A Minor
- Learn A and Am.
- Strumming pattern: down-down-up-up-down-up.
- Song: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (G–D–Am–G–D–C with easy substitutions).
- Chord change exercises: E ↔ A, Am ↔ C.
Week 3 – Introducing D Major & D Minor
- Learn D and Dm.
- Focus: finger accuracy & avoiding muted strings.
- Song: “Love Me Do” style D–G changes (simplified).
- Practice: D ↔ A, D ↔ G.
Week 4 – The Big G
- Learn G chord (two versions: beginner and full).
- Combine with C and D for folk & pop progressions.
- Song: “Leaving on a Jet Plane” style progression.
- Mid-course review of 8 chords so far.
Week 5 – 7th Chords for Color
- Learn E7 and A7.
- Explain how 7ths create blues/jazz feel.
- Song: simple 12-bar blues in A using A7–D7–E7 (introduce D7 here).
- Practice chord transitions with 7ths.
Week 6 – More 7th Flavor
- Review A7, D7, E7.
- Learn G7 (adds color to C progressions).
- Song: blues & folk tune combining G7 and C.
- Strumming variations: shuffle feel, muted strums.
Week 7 – Combining All 12
- Recap all chords: C, A, G, E, D, Am, Dm, Em, A7, D7, E7, G7.
- Song medley: play short sections from multiple well-known tunes using only these chords.
- Focus: faster chord changes & clean sound.
Week 8 – Performance & Next Steps
- Group rehearsal of chosen songs.
- Student mini-performances (solo or small group).
- Introduce simple fingerpicking pattern.
- Course wrap-up & advice on moving to barre chords and more complex rhythms.
Teaching Materials
- Chord diagrams for all 12 chords (large print for group display).
- Weekly chord-change drills.
- Song sheets in easy keys using only learned chords.
- Practice log sheets for students.
If you like, I can make you a full 8-week teacher’s handbook with:
- Large printable chord diagrams
- Weekly exercises & practice drills
- 2–3 song sheets per week using that week’s chords
- Strumming pattern diagrams
- End-of-course review sheet
