Learning Guitar Cheatsheet

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When I got here, I was overwhelmed and welcomed what I perceived as a much simplified, but better, way to learn guitar. So, I’m all in now.

Yet, I think back to before I started here and the confusion I had. There are so many books, instructors, videos, friends! All telling you to learn this, learn that. One guy says learn pentatonic first, one says learn open chords, one says learn barre chords, one says you must learn scales, intervals, modes to be intermediate! Geezus!

So, is there some sort of cheatsheet/handy diagram here, or elsewhere, or would someone like to lay out what is needed as you learn guitar? A simple guide? Something that you can refer to so you don’t neglect an area.

I’m not talking about something detailed like Learning Objectives, Learning Outcomes, or referencing Bloom’s Taxonomy. Just something simple that lists skillsets desired per level. Books, etc. seem to have their own ideas and it’s hard to decipher ‘one list’ that would be sufficient.

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Follow Justin’s learning path
the grade system is the guide

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Yeah, I was hoping there was something I could print out and put on my wall, like a poster.

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This maybe The Holistic Practice Routine | JustinGuitar.com
Although I think it’s too difficult for beginners to do all 6 areas. I would start on technique, repertoire and time.

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You can print out the Lesson Map and hang it up as a poster. Perhaps with a world map as a background to illustrate that it’s a never-ending journey. You start in Grade 1 as a starting point with the basics you’ll always need; in Grades 2 and 3, you try out many different things. You become a musician and decide what kind of music you want to make and where the journey will take you next.

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Im sorry but there’s no short cut ^^

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For many of us it’s all about songs. Put up a short list of the first 3 songs you want to learn all the way through. Keep them simple and underneath each song track the things you need to learn for each song.

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https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/3-types-of-songs-you-should-practice-pc-001

Which Songs Should You Practice On Guitar?

I recommend that all guitar players work on three types of songs at any one time. Here are they:

:camping: Campfire
:bullseye: Developers
:raising_hands: Dreamers

Hi Frank,
Maybe this would be fun for you to work out and hang on the wall… and this will change a lot for most of us true time and so be dynamic… and write in each corner that it is “fun to learn” :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:

Greetings,Rogier

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what you can do is keep a learning log
some sort of diary where you keep track of your progress

first you set your goals = short / medium and long term
and then you keep track down how to reach these goals

After a year ( or even 6 months ) you can read your log and realise the progress you ve made

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But that won’t be a poster, it’ll be more like a pinboard for pinning songs.
I like the idea, and with a little creativity, it can be developed further

And now someone comes along and says, “Play your songs and learn what you need to do that” :smiley: what a bizarre idea

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Sorry @Freewheelin, there is nothing simple about learning to play guitar. No one page guide to success. No magic formula. Follow Justin’s course, and use whatever tools you find useful, and practice, practice, practice.

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I like this idea! Might make myself a simple post it note thing… like a scrum board!

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I actually think a road map with learning outcomes would be very helpful… it’s been on my mind before… let me brain storm it a bit - but I imagine many people would find it very helpful! Appreciate the reminder :slight_smile:

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@Freewheelin

I have used Justin’s syllibus for this. When I start a new grade, I read the plan, then start the lessons. The modules have some titles that need a bit more clarification in some cases, but these can usually get your mind thinking of what is coming.

My learning style is to look at the big picture (read thru the lesson plans) then focus on the fine details one by one. I do not usually need a written big-picture thing, so haven’t thought about it. I suppose you could write a flow of the lesson plans.
If I were to do that, I think I’d make some note about how the module or lesson is used on my big poster. I have been asking why/how since I was a little kid and this seems a necessary part of the process.

Basically, I think you have the info in the way the grade, then module syllibus is posted on the web site, you’d just need to turn it into your poster and embellish as you need. kinda like learning a song it seems!!

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@Freewheelin

Consider browsing the recordings of the Live Clubs;

What Is YOUR Path?

https://www.justinguitar.com/live-events/193

Set And Conquer Your Guitar Goals

https://www.justinguitar.com/live-events/68

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Thanks Justin, and everyone! I found this one. It’s fairly general so it doesn’t differ when you should learn, say a pentatonic scale vs. something else. It would be awesome if we had Justin’s version. So, anything you do is totally freakin’ awesome.

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Hi Lieven, just started these videos. Good stuff! Thank you. :slight_smile:

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I think I know what you mean… I’m always trying to develop something like this for myself, too. I definitely started out not knowing anything about what was possible/what I wanted to learn on the guitar, and having some kind of overall map of possibilities and directions would have been great. (It’s easy for more experienced guitarists to not realize or forget just how opaque everything can feel for a beginner!)

Practice journalling is great, but I can get stuck on “how” to do that, too.

I like the guide you linked to, because it’s nice and vague (maybe too vague, but it does lay out a nice birds’-eye view).

There are 2 challenges to trying to develop a generic roadmap, though:

  1. Guitar is not a concrete series of steps, where you can check a box and never revisit that area. I think music is a process of constantly refining and circling back and adding nuance to things you already “know.”
  2. Everyone’s journey is different – what they want to learn, where they want to go, etc.

But actually this is a long-winded way of saying that I think a broad, general map would be a helpful thing to add to the website, and I second the suggestion :slight_smile:

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Thanks! Even though we are speaking of this, I remind myself, and want to state it here, trust the process. Justin has a well thought out and thorough program in Grades 1-3 for beginners. If you follow it, you’ll be a well-versed guitar player who is moving into the intermediate stage.

I asked AI questions about Justin’s course, like, “why does he teach this in this module?” and it will give you an answer like, “Justin teaches that because in the next module, you will be doing X and that skill will help you to learn X”. So, most impressed with the thought that has gone into the course. By all rights, we should be paying for these courses. :slight_smile: I’ve been buying his books, etc. I am definitely a fanboy and will stay the course, cheatsheet or not.

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By all rights, we should be paying for these courses. :slight_smile: I’ve been buying his books, etc. I am definitely a fanboy and will stay the course, cheatsheet or not.

I’m 100% in agreement with this. When I got back to playing after a couple of year break, I bought 6 of his songbooks and the family has gotten me a T-shirt for a birthday gift. While I haven’t personally put in the effort to really get my money’s worth from the songbooks, they’re really well done (as you’d expect) and I’m happy to be supporting the site.

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