Advanced Rock Guitar
The Advanced Rock book is divided into three sections – Scales, Solos and Songs. The first two sections, Scales and Solos, have a combined objective of teaching and applying the fundamentals of soloing. The scale section introduces relevant scales in rock soloing, including major, minor, minor pentatonic and blues scales. Within the context of these scales, picking exercises, soloing practice and licks are also introduced. The Solo section is comprised of established solos and melodies, all performed in the context of duets or trios, so that there is a relevant and fun application.
The Song section presents songs with a variety of skill level. The most rewarding (and technically demanding) for my students are the Classic Rock Fingerstyle songs. Widely considered the "greatest" acoustic rock songs of all time, they are huge trophies for any guitarist, let alone a high school student. But more than for their notoriety, most of these songs are excellent studies in advanced technique. For example, Over the Hills and Far Away, (as well as the Eruption solo and Pink Panther) makes a great study on hammer-on and pull off's. Roundabout is a perfect study of harmonics. Other acoustic-based rock songs, such as Daughters, Drive and Give a Little a Little Bit serve to introduce students to non-standard chords and/or playing chords out of first position. Finally, the Rock book also contains much easier songs that are intended to be review/transition songs for my second-year students at the beginning of the school year.
As a note to the guitar educator, it is not necessary to go through this book systematically from beginning to end. Much like the third and fourth-year curriculum in the Advanced Classical Book, my intention was to create second-year rock material that was a natural extension of the first-year curriculum, but not necessarily that all the material had to be used. In my program, the classic rock fingerstyle songs have worked really well. However, due mostly to a lack of time, the soloing material is sometimes postponed until the third year, or not used at all. Feel free to pick and choose whatever material works for your program.
Advanced Guitar For the Classroom – Rock Guitar
Below, you can download a single pdf of the complete Advanced Rock Guitar Book or download individual material.
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The Complete advanced ROCK Guitar Book
Restrictions of Use
Below is a pdf of the entire Advanced Rock Guitar Book. You have permission to print out and distribute this curriculum to your students as hard copies only. Please do not distribute or post this curriculum in digital form. Additionally, when distributing this curriculum to your students, you are strictly forbidden from receiving compensation in any form or context. Bottom line, do not sell this curriculum! Thank you. *8/2020 Update: Due to the distance-learning, virtual environments most of us are still teaching and learning in, the first restriction above, which requests that you "do not re-post this book or any other material on this website", will be temporarily released until we all can return back to schools. By downloading this curriculum, you understand and agree to the above terms.
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Individual Songs and Material from the Advanced Rock Book
Note: Some of the songs and exercises may not include tabs. If you prefer a tab version, contact me and I'll upload one.
Scales & Licksmajor scale & exercises
Minor scale & Exercises
minor pentatonic scale & Licks
Classic Rock Licks
BLUES SCALE AND INTROS
Developing Soloing TechniqueMelodies & Solos to Develop Picking Technique
Tango to evora
*GERUDO VALLEY (FROM OCARINA OF TIME)
stairway to heaven (2 Versions)
Below are two versions of Jimmy Page's guitar solo. The electric version is a literal transcription. The acoustic version is an adaptation of the electric and is only an excerpt. Since my students use classical guitar, it is not possible to make the string bends that you can with the electric version. Instead, I incorporate slides. Also, it is not possible (or practical) to play notes on the 20th fret, since most classical guitars don't have that fret! Thus, that part of the solo is left out. Still, it's a good solo to tackle, even on an acoustic, especially when learning minor pentatonic scales.
After learning the solos, it is highly recommended that students play it in the context of a duet, where one student plays the Am – Am7/G – F chord progression while the other plays the solo. For ease in the learning curve of this solo, I made three versions: Slow, Medium and Normal.
Hammer-On's & Pull-Off's
Harmonics
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Classic Rock FingerStyle SongsOther Acoustic Rock Songs |
Beginning Piano for the Classroom
When developing this curriculum for my high school piano students, it was with the awareness that most of my students did not have a piano or keyboard at home, and therefore, their only practice time was during class. Considering that, as well as the fact that classes meets only twice or three times per week, the pace of piano class is slow. For classroom piano educators with a similar situation, the book below should last a full school year. For students who are able to learn at a faster pace, either because they are able to get additional practice at home, or perhaps they entered into the beginning class with some prior music experience, if they complete the beginning book before the end of the school year, I created supplemental, intermediate-level repertoire, also below. This repertoire also works well with my second-year students.
