Pop Guitar (Acoustic) Improvisation Course (for adults & teens)
in conjunction with P.B.E.Syllabus™
Mode of coaching: one-on-one (individual)
Lesson duration: 45 minutes
Lessons frequency: 1 lesson per week
Prerequisite: Zero music background
Students with little to zero music background can enroll to P.B.E.S™ Level 1. Students with reasonable guitar playing background can enroll directly to P.B.E.S™ Level 2.
Click here ► for self assessment to determine your current P.B.E.S™ Level
Please note as well that the entire course can also be fully customized upon request (without following the P.B.E.Syllabus™)
Course description:
In any random group of people, there is usually one person who can play the guitar. The acoustic guitar is a great versatile instrument; it is portable and requires no additional accessories. Ideal for group singing and yet intimate enough to play for just one person. Enroll in our Pop Guitar course to learn various improvisation techniques from strumming to plucking, and play your favorite pop songs.
Click here ► for course charges
Upon enrolling into the Pop Guitar Improvisation course, you will receive the following, exclusive to PBE students only:
- P.B.E.S™ Student Edition Textbook (for your current P.B.E.S™ Level)
- P.B.E.S™ Song Excerpts Black Booklet
- Login ID and Password for P.B.E.I.S™ Online Student Portal
- Whatsapp Newsfeed
- Admission to PBE Club where you can enjoy the free usage of the practice studios, discounts on musical instruments & invitations to social events including jam nights / recitals etc.
Syllabus content for Pop Guitar Improvisation Level 1
(in conjunction with P.B.E.Syllabus™)
Subject 1:1 | Guitar Fretboard
Subject 1:2 | Methods of tunning
Subject 1:3 | Posture and position for holding the guitar
Subject 1:4 | Playing techniques for single strings
Subject 1:5 | Reading guitar symbols (tablatures)
Subject 1:6 | Primary chords for Pop music
Subject 1:7 | Basic rhythm foundation
Subject 1:8 | Open-Position chords
Subject 1:9 | Basic plucking
Subject 1:10 | Basic strumming
Subject 1:11 | Easy play and sing co-ordination
Subject 1:12 | Proper fingering techniques
Objectives for P.B.E.S™ Level 1:
The Pop Guitar PBES™ Level 1 is suitable for complete beginners who want to start learning the guitar the fun and expressive way, without compromising proper techniques and necessary music fundamentals. You will learn to form easy primary chords and playing your choice of pop songs using basic plucking and strumming patterns.
Prerequisite for P.B.E.S™ Level 1:
- Total zero music / guitar playing background required
Duration for P.B.E.S™ Level 1:
- Between 2-4 months (depending on individual's progress)
Syllabus content for Pop Guitar improvisation Level 2
(in conjunction with P.B.E.Syllabus™)
Subject 2:1 | Play and sing co-ordination II
Subject 2:2 | Playing with modes
Subject 2:3 | Plucking patterns I
Subject 2:4 | Strumming patterns I
Subject 2:5 | Barre chords
Subject 2:6 | Open-Position scales
Subject 2:7 | Rhythmic skills I
Subject 2:8 | Fingering exercises
Subject 2:9 | 'Moving' chords
Subject 2:10 | Major and minor 7th chords
Subject 2:11 | Dominant 7th chords
Subject 2:12 | Key modulations
Subject 2:13 | Pentatonic scale
Subject 2:14 | Caged method
Objectives for P.B.E.S™ Level 2:
The intermediate level explores the different major and minor triads (open-position chords and barre chords) around the fret board using the CAGED system. Students will learn the various methods of improvising your own choice of pop songs using strumming, plucking and finger picking patterns in 8th beat pop ballad and up-tempo rhythms.
Prerequisite for P.B.E.S™ Level 2:
- Able to strum primary chords without muting of strings
- Completion of P.B.E.S™ Pop Guitar improvisation Level 1 is not compulsory
Duration for P.B.E.S™ Level 2:
- Between 5-9 months (depending on individual's progress)
Syllabus content for Pop Guitar improvisation Level 3
(in conjunction with P.B.E.Syllabus™)
Subject 3:1 | Alternating bass for chords
Subject 3:2 | Rhythmic skills II
Subject 3:3 | Plucking patterns II
Subject 3:4 | Strumming patterns II
Subject 3:5 | Suspended chords
Subject 3:6 | Dim7 and Aug7 chords
Subject 3:7 | Arpeggio patterns
Subject 3:8 | 'Voicing'
Subject 3:9 | Hammer-on
Subject 3:10 | Pull-off
Subject 3:11 | Bending of string
Subject 3:12 | Strum and choke techniques
Objectives for P.B.E.S™ Level 3:
Play your choice of pop songs comfortably, while demonstrating advanced arpeggio patterns and more difficult plucking and strumming techniques. Level 3 covers complex chords including sus4, dim7th and aug7th chords as well as pull-offs, string bending and strum choke applications in 16th beat rhythms.
Prerequisite for P.B.E.S™ Level 3:
- Completion of Pop Guitar Improvisation P.B.E.S™ Level 2
Duration for P.B.E.S™ Level 3:
- Between 5-9 months (depending on individual's progress)
Syllabus content for Pop Guitar Improvisation Level 4
(in conjunction with P.B.E.Syllabus™)
Subject 4:1 | Soloing over chord tones
Subject 4:2 | Rhythmic skills II
Subject 4:3 | Playing with syncopation
Subject 4:4 | Advanced Plucking patterns
Subject 4:5 | Advanced Strumming patterns
Subject 4:6 | Advanced arpeggio patterns
Subject 4:7 | Application of blues scales
Subject 4:8 | 12-bar blues progression
Subject 4:9 | Improvisation
Subject 4:10 | Aural training
Objectives for P.B.E.S™ Level 4:
As an advanced student, you will discover how to solo over chord progressions, and how to improvise in different pop genres using modes and scales The Pop Guitar PBES™ Level 4 also covers in-depth ear training, song composition and basic song transcribing techniques. You will also explore the blues scale and the various riffs used in modern music.
Prerequisite for P.B.E.S™ Level 4:
- Completion of Pop Guitar Improvisation P.B.E.S™ Level 3
Duration for P.B.E.S™ Level 4:
- Between 5-9 months (depending on individual's progress)
The option to change your instructor as and when necessary and should you need to do so:
We have lived up to our promise that we will never be offended should you make this decision. Never. As our primary business is providing services to the public, individuals that accept these services do have different chemistry.
It can be due to any reason that may not necessarily be negative, for example the differences in characteristics - whether animated or soft spoken, musical influences, language barriers or simply the matter of not being able to 'click' with another character. We know how tough it is for students to voice out their inner concerns, which is why sometimes we do repeatedly ask them and in the most causal manner to provide a sense of ease. Many may view this as an insult to the instructors or even to the school, so as team instructors, we might be more concerned than you are, if you do not allow us to substitute your instructor, should another work much better for you. There are no politics at our school, as our deep-rooted culture and belief act as reminders that it is impossible for anyone to be pleased in this world, through positive thinking. In retrospect, this really is one of the perks of joining a music school, because you are not bound by just one instructor (should things not work out).
We want you to play the songs you listen to. Not 'Mary had a little Lamb'.
It cannot be further stressed how important it is, to learn and play something that you would prefer. Aside from the daunting finger exercises, which we cannot deny are beneficial to every guitarist - ultimately you should be playing the songs of your choice.
This is your life, your music and your choice. Even as a complete beginner, we have a solution in place. Out of the billions of pop songs, we have carefully filtered out the easiest songs for learning purposes. And for the more modern popular songs, we have used excerpts from sections which are easy for beginners. While you, as a student, have the opportunity to learn the songs of your choice, it is also our responsibility to ensure that the song is suitable for learning.
As a team of instructors together, we can testify that no attitude issues are present.
It is a peculiar way to deliver a message to say that we are a friendly team of such, but the truth is that musicians on a more general scope, are infamously known for their eccentricity, sometimes even on an accidental and negative manner (though this is some-what controversial).
We are musicians and we know how our brains are wired and backed by numerous scientific studies and it is proven that we think differently. However so, we want to highlight that this is no excuse for musicians to behave with such attitude. We cannot deny still that on a certain level, we are displaying a certain preconception towards such 'musicians' as well. We can confidently say that over the past 15 years, we have grown, not just as a business but in the way that we think. There is always the saying that it is a different 'ball-game' when it comes to teaching and, in our opinion, that 'ball-game' is not just merely a casual term to use and so we have taken it to another level. We have trained within ourselves, the important of developing good people and team work skills. To an extent, we have studied it and implemented it at PBE and we believe that it is the key to success, in almost whatever you choose to do in life and not just in teaching music - for example, in order to understand our students, their goals and their life-styles. To a certain extent, we must also know when it does or does not matter, if the student practices at all. Our students are our direct customers and as service providers, we are accustomed to adapting our mode of delivery to suit our customer's needs.
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