Richard Gilewitz’s Guitar Foundations is an innovative course of study as it serves multiple purposes for multiple levels of play. Gilewitz set out to create a modular course of study focused on building solid foundations for playing, practicing and performing acoustic guitar.

Video Introduction

Click below for a sample video from the course.

"I've identified what I consider to be the most crucial fundamentals for the beginning guitarist," says Gilewitz. "However, throughout my teaching career, I've also observed that many seasoned players have serious gaps in their own knowledge with respect to basic music theory, structured picking pattern 'languages' to aid in both memorizing and creating tunes, and most importantly, the effective use of a metronome to aid in timing issues."

About the Lesson Plan

Beginners will learn the fundamentals from the ground-up with a simple building block approach that unlocks the mystery of music theory, explains chord types, and the design of different keys. Intermediate players can select slabs of discussion about suspended and 9th chords, plus inversions, and how to build upon existing picking patterns to create new sounds utilizing triplets and 16th notes. Even advanced players will benefit from revisiting and perhaps even retooling their techniques. All levels will enjoy tackling a spruced up 12 bar blues with restoration of chord and scale shapes along with rhythm patterns.

About Your Instructor

Richard Gilewitz

Richard Gilewitz is widely respected as one of the most graceful fingerstyle guitarists on the contemporary scene. Gilewitz has collaborated and appeared in concert with the likes of John Renbourn, Mose Allison, John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg, The Little River Band, Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Rory Block and Jorma Kaukonen. Richard is also an excellent instructor with an innovative approach for communicating and demonstrating conceptual approaches for guitar-centric composition, improvisation and performance.

"Build up your know-how and guitar playing proficiency and become the architect of your own learning curve with Guitar Foundations."