Learn to Play the Guitar

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
1301 Students

Master basic guitar skills and become the musician you've always wanted to be.

Learn to play guitar, and become the musician you've always wanted to be! In these fun and informative lessons, you'll build basic guitar skills step-by-step with the help of hands-on exercises, audio and video recordings, and detailed illustrations.

First, you'll get to know all the parts of your guitar, from frets to strings, and learn how to tune your instrument. After that, you'll explore the fundamentals of music notation and find out how to produce clear, beautiful notes and chords. You'll also discover how to control your rhythm, tempo, and volume, and how to express yourself artistically. The classical guitar skills you'll master in this course will allow you to play any style of music, from hard rock to country-and-western.

And that's not all! Good guitar players know that the secret to making beautiful music is to practice, practice, practiceâ€”so that's what you'll do. You'll make rapid progress as you follow a carefully planned practice schedule that reinforces each new skill you learn.

Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate student, this course will take your musical talent to the next level. By the time you're finished, you'll be well on your way to becoming a skilled guitar player.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

In your first lesson, we'll talk about the fundamentals for making music with a guitar. You'll get to know your instrument, realize the benefits of the proper playing position, explore methods for tuning, and discover how to achieve the correct right-hand position. You'll also learn a few playing techniques for producing clear, beautiful notes. This is the first step toward becoming a guitar player. By the end of the lesson, you'll be sitting comfortably and playing notes on your guitar!

Want your guitar to sound as beautiful as it looks? In this lesson, you'll learn basic techniques for creating beautiful-sounding notes when you play. We'll be talking about basic music notation and rhythmic note values—and I'll teach you how to interpret these rhythmic note values so you can play your music in rhythm. By the end of this lesson, you'll be reading and playing guitar music!

In this lesson, you'll learn how to identify bass and treble string notes on the music staff, and I'll teach you the concept of arpeggios for finger picking the bass and treble strings. We'll explore how to play simple music studies in rhythm, and we'll discuss how to recognize new music notations and rhythmic values. Of course, you'll have multiple opportunities to apply these new understandings throughout this lesson, and you'll continue to develop your overall proficiency.

You've got the right hand down. Now it's time to learn about your left hand. In this lesson, I'll teach you how to establish the correct left-hand position and the details that go into pressing your left-hand fingers against the strings. You'll also learn to identify the E1 string notes on the music staff and you'll begin playing simple exercises that include open strings. I'll also introduce you to stretching exercises that will enhance the range of motion in your fingers. And we'll discuss a few new music notations and terms!

In this lesson, you'll discover new notes on your B2 string, and you'll explore the details that go into creating harmony between the B2 and E1 string notes. I'll show you how to combine your newfound notes together with open strings to play more complex music, allowing you to improve your skill level. You'll also learn about the musical term legato, the facing repeat sign for music with multiple endings. And you'll discover a new time signature, the concept of the pick-up note.

Today, we'll begin by focusing on the G3 string. You'll learn notes on the G3 string, be able to identify their location on the music staff, and then practice creating harmony between all three treble string notes to play more beautiful music. You'll learn about rests and their corresponding symbols, find out about music in two voices, and discover techniques that will allow you to gain more control over the way your music sounds.

We're going to discuss accidentals (sharps and flats) in music today. You'll learn to identify their symbols and apply them to play more interesting and beautiful music. You'll also learn about sixteenth notes and the associated rest symbol, and I'll give you an exercise so you can apply this rhythmic value. We'll conclude the lesson by examining a scale and discussing why scales are important to your development as a guitarist.

This is where things begin to get exciting! In this lesson, we'll examine techniques for playing two notes together. You'll discover a new time signature and various ways of playing this rhythm in music. You'll learn how to use guide and pivot fingers to create smooth chord transitions. And you'll continue to build on your skills by learning new music and right-hand exercises.

We're going to discuss open string equivalents today, and you'll learn to identify their location on the music staff and on the fret board. We'll also take a look at a few new notes, and you'll discover other possible ways of playing two notes together to further understand the value of playing with correct right-hand fingering. We'll examine how to read other repeat markings and signs that direct you through the music. And finally, we'll conclude with a technical exercise to help build coordination and develop stretch range in your fingers!

Today, you'll learn more about tempo and how it's used to create musical expression. You'll continue to build on your understanding of correct left- and right-hand fingering, we'll examine triplets, and you'll learn how to count and play this new rhythm in various time signatures. We're also going to discuss volume in this lesson, and you'll experience how to use volume to add expression to your music. And, of course, you'll continue to develop your overall coordination. See you on the inside!

In today's lesson, you'll learn about dynamic markings so that you can further express your music. We'll examine the technique for playing three notes together, and you'll continue to build on your understanding of correct right-hand fingering. You'll also discover ways to minimize unwanted sounds that naturally occur when you're playing, and you'll practice a new exercise that will help to increase your skill level.

In your final lesson, I'll introduce you to dynamic tempo terms that will help you artistically express your music. You'll find out how accenting notes can define the melody and reveal other hidden voices in the music to add nuance and interest. You'll discover how to play four notes together, and we'll discuss techniques for strumming through the strings so you can finish a song with flare. I'll also leave you with a final song that incorporates many of the terms and techniques you've learned in this course so you can continue practicing and improving your skills!

Edward Burns

Edward Burns, a university graduate in classical guitar performance, has a gift for helping students discover their inner guitarist. A “born musician,” Edward has an extensive musical background as a professional performer, instructor, composer, a... Read more

Read Edward Burns's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

What people are saying about our courses

You've exceeded my expectations! I've really enjoyed this class. I didn't realize that so much could be offered online. The video demonstrations made it all possible.

Verified Student

I was energized by the course content and the easy going style and humor of Edward Burns. He brought the course to life and made the course a terrific experience. This is the best online course I ever took. If you ever offer a next level of guitar playing, count me in. Thank you.

Verified Student

I loved Mr. Burns writing style and presentation of this course. I was wondering how a guitar course would be effectively taught online and found that this format worked. I really enjoyed the notes of encouragement as well. I thought that there was a lot of material covered for an introductory course. I’ve had folk guitar training in the past as well as many years in singing groups, so I was very familiar with much the material beforehand but was looking for a course specifically in classical guitar…It was perfect for me…Thank you!

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Learn to Play the Guitar you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Our Values

Learn At Your Own Pace

We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.

We Won't Break The Bank

Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.

Industry-Led Courses

There's no better way to learn than from experts with years of experience in your field. That's why each of our 200+ industry-led courses are designed to give you a real-life perspective on your industry. With our expert mentors, you'll learn from people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who are passionate about sharing it with you.

Get The Personal Support You Deserve

At Vibe Learning, we're real people who are dedicated to providing you with personal support every step of the way. Our industry experts are not only professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about sharing their expertise with you. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.

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Photoshop CS5 Fundamentals

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
3778 Students

Learn how to use Adobe Photoshop CS5, the world's best graphics program, to edit and process photos and create original images.

Photoshop is the world's best-known photo-editing programâ€”the tool that artists, photographers, designers, and hobbyists all rely on for image creation and editing. In this course, you'll learn how to use Photoshop with skill and confidence, even if you're a beginner.

You'll get detailed, step-by-step instructions from an expert and columnist for Photoshop User magazine who's twice been nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame. You'll have no trouble following each stepâ€”even if you've never used a computer for graphics before. And you'll have lots of fun putting your new skills into action in this project-oriented course.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 has a host of impressive new features for photographers, and you'll get to know several of them in these lessons. You'll begin with an introduction to the Photoshop environment. Next, you'll learn how to create simple digital paintings and find out about the new brushes that let you alter a photo to achieve the look of an oil painting.

After that, you'll edit your own photos to get rid of dust and scratches, fix the color, and correct the image exposure. You'll also learn how to switch the backgrounds in images and how to remove wrinkles and blemishes from photos, just like professionals do in magazines.

By the time you finish this fun, hands-on course, you'll be well on your way to expressing yourself with the most exciting graphics program ever developed.

Your journey begins. Whether you’re an aspiring graphic artist or a weekend photographer, Photoshop can take you places you’ve never dreamed of. Even if you've never touched Photoshop before, you'll be able to open, edit, and save files before this lesson ends. You'll also find out how to download images, and you’ll learn simple commands that make an image “pop.”

Did you like playing with paints as a child? In this lesson, you'll discover how enjoyable it can be to paint in Photoshop—where you don't need to clean up after yourself, and there's no odor of turpentine. You’ll find out how Photoshop “thinks” about color and how you can use the brushes inside Photoshop to make a simple landscape. You’ll even blend colors on your image as if they were made of oil paints or watercolors. This is a fun lesson!

Zoom, Scrubby Zoom, Airbrush, Eraser, Smudge: Do you know what these tools and commands mean in Photoshop? You will! In this lesson, you'll find out how to navigate your image so that you can edit and paint more effectively—and give your eyes a rest, too. You'll also learn how to erase, blur, smudge, and finger paint. These techniques are fun, easy ways to make dramatic changes in your images, whether you’re altering photos or creating a work of art from scratch.

Have you seen ads or greeting cards where most of the image is in black and white but one part’s in color? Today you'll find out how to create that effect. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to transform images from color into black and white or even old-fashioned sepia. We'll also cover some tricks with the History Brush tool and history snapshots, so you can experiment while you're creating a hand-tinted image . . . and quickly undo whatever steps you don’t like.

If you wanted a friend to hand you an orange from a fruit bowl, you'd probably just point to the one you want or describe its location. Photoshop also needs directions if you want to lift something out of an image or point it out in some way. The Photoshop name for "pointing" is selections. In this lesson, you'll learn the critical skill of making selections. You'll see how easy it is to isolate portions of your image, so you can add a filter or change the colors. You'll also create vignettes, which are photos with an opaque center that falls off to a very soft edge. And if you don't like the selection you just made, you'll get help from the Refine Edge command.

Photoshop has some great selection tools, but until now, all of them have had trouble selecting exactly what you had in mind. You can see the flower, so why can't Photoshop? Today you'll learn to use the Lasso, Magic Wand, and Quick Selection tools as you practice putting two images together.

You can paint in Photoshop—even if the only thing you can do with paint in ”real life” is spill it! Photoshop lets you create fabulous brushes from images and customize them in many ways. You can modify the new bristle brushes to help you turn photos into art . . . or to create your own work of art just by using brushstrokes.

Gradients are fountains of color. One of the current trends in photography is to colorize areas of a photo with a gradient. You can spend hundreds of dollars buying gradient-colored stock photos—or just use what you learn in this lesson to create them yourself! Even portraits can be much more exciting with a gradient added to them.

Whether you want to add type to a scrapbooking layout, make large type for display, or learn a little bit about Photoshop's Layer Styles, you'll enjoy this lesson. You'll try your hand at making type that warps, wiggles, and follows a path. Then you'll see what you can do to text on your own.

Today you'll learn how to size your images for printing or for the Web. You'll find out how to scan an image so that it's large enough for your needs, but not too large, and how to crop images that have more than you really want to see.

In this lesson, we'll focus on the three R's of photo manipulation: restoring, retouching, and rearranging. You'll be amazed by what you can do—and you'll understand why the phrase "pictures can't lie" is no longer true! You'll also discover how to use the amazing Clone Stamp panel and the preview feature on the Clone Stamp brush cursor. Plus you’ll learn the difference between tire tracking and powder-puff stamping.

Are some of your images overexposed, underexposed, or tinged an ugly yellow? In this lesson, learn how to correct exposures and colors to make them more attractive and truer to life. Photoshop can't work miracles all the time, but if you have an image that's a bit too dark or a bit too light, you can fix it up so that it looks perfect.

Sherry London

Sherry London is a noted Photoshop and Illustrator expert, an artist, a writer, and a teacher. Her fiber art has been featured in magazines and exhibitions. Her published works include Photoshop CS2 Gone Wild, Photoshop Magic, Photoshop Effects Ma... Read more

Read Sherry London's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

What people are saying about our courses

I have been using numerous versions of PhotoShop for many years, since CS2, and several versions of PhotoShop Elements…I can honestly say, as a former teacher myself, that your approach to instructing PhotoShop is by far the most effective of any I have seen. Your ability to break each difficult technique into simple steps, with clear though intricate, easy to follow exercises, followed by assignments that give students enough guidance that they can experience success at each stage of discovery --while encouraging guided experimentation with each process -- is an example of true teaching mastery. It is obvious, as you note, that you have been teaching PhotoShop for a long time, with a passion for helping others share in your passion.

Verified Student

This was a well done course. I was very pleased with how much we covered. I had taken a Photoshop course in the past. It has been years and I wanted to refresh my skills...and I'm very glad I did. This course covered everything I learned in the past and significantly more.

Verified Student

I really enjoyed this course! As a primarily self-taught Adobe user working in the graphic design and marketing field, many of the tools and techniques taught will be huge time savers for me. Thank you for a great class. I look forward to taking more!

Verified Student

See More Reviews

The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Photoshop CS5 Fundamentals you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.