Beginner's Guide to Acoustic Guitar with David Butler

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4.6/5 from 16 reviews

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1. Submit Your Video - Record and upload directly through our platform. No technical skills required.
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Record and upload directly through our platform. No technical skills required.

2. Get Expert Feedback - Receive personal video responses from David Butler with tips to improve!
2. Get Expert Feedback

Receive personal video responses from David Butler with tips to improve!

3. Learn from Community - Browse exchanges from other students to learn from their questions.
3. Learn from Community

Browse exchanges from other students to learn from their questions.

Course Structure Beginner's Guide to Acoustic Guitar with David Butler

Each lesson builds on the last, taking you from zero to hero!

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Start your acoustic guitar journey from the very beginning. Over 100 lessons take you step-by-step from your first chords, to strumming and fingerpicking techniques to get you playing the music you love quickly and confidently.

15 sections within this school

Guitar Basics

This section will show you the "anatomy" of the guitar you'll need to understand and know so you can fully understand the language your teacher will use in the lessons.

13 lessons

Section 1

LEARN YOUR FIRST THREE CHORDS: Start by learning three basic chords and how to change between them smoothly.

11 lessons

Section 2

LEARN YOUR FIRST SONG: This section introduces rhythm and strumming patterns and your first song.

10 lessons

Section 3

THE MAJOR SCALE & MELODIES: This section focuses on single-note playing and introduces basic scales and the fretboard. You'll play some familiar tunes and develop pick control.

8 lessons

Section 4

PICK CONTROL & RHYTHM: This section covers dynamics, tone quality, and adds new rhythm (strumming) patterns including alternating bass. You'll use these skills in three new songs.

17 lessons

Section 5

PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Delve further into chords including minor chords. You'll learn more rhythm patterns, and put it all to good use in four new tunes.

13 lessons

Section 6

FOLK & COUNTRY: This section will teach you all you need to know to play iconic tunes like 500 Miles and I Walk the Line.

8 lessons

Section 7

BLUES AND THE ROOTS OF ROCK: Learn about the blues and boogie forms and guitar techniques like bending notes, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs.

8 lessons

Section 8

BUILD YOUR REPERTOIRE: Learn professional versions of songs like Brown Eyed Girl, Surfer Girl and Sugar Mountain. You'll also learn how to use a capo and all about barre chords.

11 lessons

Section 9

INTRODUCTION TO FINGERSTYLE GUITAR: Learn Travis picking and other right-hand techniques employed in finger-style tunes.

19 lessons

Section 10

CHORDS: A collection of all chord lessons from the course.

22 lessons

Introduction

7 lessons

Learning Tips

1 lessons

Music Theory

This Music Theory video series will provide a beginner's look at the structure and components of all music, but most importantly, how you will apply that to learning guitar.

14 lessons

Bonus Lessons

7 lessons

About Beginner's Guide to Acoustic Guitar with David Butler

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If you join the course, you’ll get unlimited access to hundreds of step-by-step guitar lessons, taught and recorded by an accomplished guitarist who teaches as masterfully as he plays. Each important concept is patiently explained, broken down into manageable steps, then played and often put into context of a song you’ll recognize and enjoy learning. You will also have the option to submit videos to your online teacher for personal feedback through our invaluable Video Exchange Learning® experience that you can’t get anywhere else. We’re here to help new players get the best instruction and have the most productive environment for learning to play acoustic guitar. You can become the player you always dreamed you could be by learning at the ArtistWorks "Beginner’s Guide to Acoustic Guitar".

About David Butler

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David Butler is the Chairman and Cofounder of ArtistWorks, and a lifelong acoustic guitarist. He grew up listening to and playing the guitar-centric music of the 60’s, surrounded by the many music influences of his hometown Memphis Tennessee. David shares his lifetime of acoustic guitar knowledge and skill in the new online Beginner’s Guide to Acoustic Guitar. His goal is to provide comprehensive, step by step, deep instruction that fills in gaps that often cause first time players to get frustrated. Normally behind the camera at ArtistWorks, he now steps to the other side to teach all the adult beginners who wish to play and enjoy the acoustic guitar.

What students are saying!

4.6
16 reviews
May 26, 2023
Great Course for Learning the Guitar

This is a well thought out and structured course. Each lesson builds on the last technique, so that you do not get frustrated trying to learn chords and picking by doing too much a...

W
Waynet2
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January 28, 2024
So much better than you tube

David is obviously and experienced teacher. And the platform is so much better than just watching videos online. You can slow the lesson video down and it sounds the same and the v...

L
Lance D.
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November 7, 2023
Lesson 1-2

I tried to upload the video but received a message the file was too large at 500, so I've re-recorded and submitted it but it's in Lesson 2 . I need to work on the technology a bit...

A
Austin B.
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July 16, 2023
Na

Na

B
Bob M.
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June 13, 2023
Beginners

Well built and easy to follow format that had me playing guitar in what felt like instantly.

P
Patrick M.
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February 10, 2024
So far so good

I think the classes are working. I did submit a video a while back but have not received any feedback. Hope everything is okay

A
Andrew H.
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October 18, 2023
Very detailed.

Very detailed.

M
Monciella E.
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September 26, 2024
Beginners Guide to Acoustic Guitar

A nice course in many respects. If only new lessons could be added from time to time... This would be a big plus!

M
Mark P.
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March 24, 2025
Beginners

Love the slow pace of lessons. Just what I need

M
Mary M.
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March 7, 2025
Beginner Guide to Acoustic Guitar

Beginner Guide to Acoustic Guitar

T
Tony P.
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4.6 (16)

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