Welcome to Justin's Intermediate Guitar Method :) Sorry it's taken so long, but I've been trying out many different recipes trying to get the flavours just right! And I think now I have got a really solid, fun and progressive series together for you!

The idea here is that you complete the five "Foundation" stages which will give you all the basic techniques and skills you need to start work on the Style Modules, where you will put all those skills into practice! The reason being that I guess everybody wants to start working on different things at this level, not everyone wants to do jazz or thrash metal! So this way, you get the skill set and then apply it to styles you like.

Many of the lesson here are things that are already around the site but I know many of you struggle with getting the order right (and I would have too!!) the the big deal here is giving you some structure to the huge amount of things there are to learn on on our beautiful instruments!

There will also be some "Essential Development Modules" (not on DVD, they will be free!) that you can check out at any time, during the Foundation, or during the Style Modules - up to you - they are kinda independent of other stuff, but no less important.

Once you have finished five or more of the Style Modules you should be ready for more advanced material, fully getting into The CAGED System, Modes, 5 Position Playing, Playing Changes... the is so much to do.... :) It will be a while before I get onto that, I'm going to have a busy (but fun) 2011 making all the Style Modules!

You should have completed:
• Justin's Beginner Guitar Method (or be able to do the things listed in consolidation)
• PR-007 • Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD (or be confident at 8th note strumming)

Highly Recommended while doing (or before) this series:
• Practical Music Theory (or have a good understanding of basic music theory).

Introducing the Justin's Intermediate Guitar Method

Intermediate Foundation 1

In this first stage of the Foundation we are looking at many of the concepts that we will be exploring through the other stages as we continue, Barre chords, 16th note rhythms, The Major Scale, Notes on the fingerboard - all sorts of interesting stuff. You should find these Intermediate Foundation stages take a little longer than the beginner ones did. There is more to do and many of the things will take longer to explore properly. Take your time and do it well - there is no hurry here! Hope you enjoy it!

IM-111 • E Shape Barre Chord Grip (Maj and Min)
IM-112 • One Minute Changes
IM-113 • Major Scale Pattern 1
IM-114 • Technique: Minimum Movement Exercise
IM-115 • Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 1
IM-116 • Finding Notes On The Neck Using Octaves
IM-117 • Songs for Foundation 1
IM-118 • JUSTIN Method Training Exercises
IM-119 • Foundation 1 Practice Schedule + Goals

DVD Only Lessons - 32 minutes (lesson notes are found on the DVD as pdf files!)
IM-DVD-1A • Know Where The Notes Are: Fun and fast ways to learn the notes on the neck.
IM-DVD-1B • Major Scale Jam: Jammin in G Maj with Justin, and learn the chords in the Key of G.
IM-DVD-1C • Jam Session Secrets: How to have a great jam with your mates.



Intermediate Foundation 2

This stage we are looking to consolidate the E Shape Barre by learning a couple of extended shapes, looking at basic Improvisation techniques for the Major Scale. We're also looking at playing scales with a metronome, how to and why. We continue looking at 16th note rhythms with a look at accenting notes and get stuck into some basic note reading in the open position. Then there are some songs and transcribing and ear training to do. As before, lots to do, so go get stuck in!

IM-121 • E Shape Barre Chord Grip (7 and Min7)
IM-122 • One Minute Changes
IM-123 • Major Scale Pattern 1 - Basic Improvisation
IM-124 • Technique: Playing Scales With A Metronome
IM-125 • Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 2
IM-126 • Open Position Note Reading
IM-127 • Songs for IF-2
IM-128 • JUSTIN Method Training Exercises
IM-129 • Foundation 2 Practice Schedule + Goals

DVD Only - 36 minutes (lesson notes are found on the DVD as pdf files!)
IM-DVD-2A • Exploring Dynamics: Improve your improvisations with touch.
IM-DVD-2B • Reading Bach: Bach's Bouree in E Min: a great classical song for beginners!
IM-DVD-2C • The Concept Of Keys: how understanding keys helps you out!

Intermediate Foundation 3

The main goal in Foundation 3 is to get the A Shape Barre chord sorted out. But as well we are developing the major Scale a bit with a couple of great ways to break out of the box. We're looking at some more technique work with string muting and in the routines you will keep developing skills and techniques we've looked at already!

IM-131 • A Shape Major Barre Chord Grip
IM-132 • One Minute Changes
IM-133 • Major Scale Pattern 1 - One Finger
IM-134 • Technique: String Muting Techniques
IM-135 • Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 3
IM-136 • Building Melodic Patterns
IM-137 • Songs for IF-3
IM-138 • JUSTIN Method Training Exercises
IM-139 • Foundation 3 Practice Schedule + Goals

DVD Only - 31 minutes (lesson notes are found on the DVD as pdf files!)
IM-DVD-3A • Unlock The Key: Know the chords in every key in an instant!
IM-DVD-3B • The Three Chord Trick: Now that is a whole lotta useful.
IM-DVD-3C • One Chord Jammin: Keepin it simple teaches you a lot more then you think!

Intermediate Foundation 4

Now we're going to finish off looking at the A Shape Grips we need and check out some cool blues tricks, the blues scale and making up cool blues bass lines (that you can use in many styles and for lead playing too!). We're also going to be looking at some more technique builders and adding percussion to your rhythm playing! Lot to do again in this module!

IM-141 • A Shape Min, Dom and Min7 Chord Grips
IM-142 • One Minute Changes
IM-143 • Using The Blues Hybrid Scale
IM-144 • Technique: Bending Strings
IM-145 • Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 4
IM-146 • 12 Bar Blues Bass Lines
IM-147 • Songs for IF-4
IM-148 • JUSTIN Method Training Exercises
IM-149 • Foundation 4 Practice Schedule + Goals

DVD Only - 32 minutes (lesson notes are found on the DVD as pdf files!)
IM-DVD-4A • To Escape, Follow The Chord: What to do when the key doesn't fit (using chord tones)
IM-DVD-4B • Bass Lines for Guitarists: Making up your own bass patterns.
IM-DVD-4C • Unison and Double Stop Bends: Bending to sound the same, or different!

Intermediate Foundation 5

Few more important skills to learn before you are set free on the Style Modules :) We're going to be learning to play triads all over the neck, the Major Pentatonic Scale and how to play and use hammer-on's and flick-off's. We're going to playing spreads, splangs and chips in rhythm guitar and learning how to play Picked Fingerstyle. Then the usual suspects, transcribing and JUSTIN Method exercises, more song and a solid practice routine :).

IM-151 • Triad Chord Grips
IM-152 • One Minute Changes
IM-153 • Major Pentatonic Scale
IM-154 • Technique: Legato Scale Playing
IM-155 • Intermediate Rhythm Guitar 5
IM-156 • Picked Fingerstyle
IM-157 • Songs for IF-5
IM-158 • JUSTIN Method Training Exercises
IM-159 • Foundation 5 Practice Schedule + Goals

DVD Only - 21 minutes (lesson notes are found on the DVD as pdf files!)
IM-DVD-5A • Double Stops: What they are and how to use them!
IM-DVD-5B • Pentatonic Melodic Patterns: Cool sounding lick tricks using melodic patterns!
IM-DVD-5C • Watching Mistakes: A simple and effective method to improve your practice.

Consolidation

Now before you get excited and move on - check with this list and make sure you have all the bits. If not - it's time for some revision!!

IM-160 • Intermediate Revision: Stuff you should know by now!!

Where to?

Next up for intermediate player is to put these new skills into action with Style Modules. In my humble opinion a "player" should be competent in at least 5 styles. These can be chosen to suit your own taste of course. It's going to take me a while to get all of these style series finished I'm afraid, but I'm be working on it!

You should also check out the "Essential Development" series (below) which are other very important skills and can be looked at at any time after the Foundation Stages and will help you in all the Style Modules.

If you are keen to develop your major scale playing, learning all 5 Major Scale positions, how to link them all together and make music out of them, you should check out my DVD, Master The Major Scale.

If you enjoyed the theory and understanding areas of the course so far, the follow on book from Practical Music Theory, called the Chord Construction Guide teaches you how to find all the important common chords in the CAGED System.

 

Essential Development Modules

These are modules you can look at at any time during or after the foundation stages or the style module work. Once I have the Style Modules underway I plan to come back and get these things re-made in a good order to make them easier to follow, but you should be able to make sense of them now too - so just jump right in!

Aural Training (ascending melodic interval ear training series!)

The CAGED System

Transcribing

The DIY Approach

Now those of you that don't want to be waiting around for me to get all these modules down, should go for a Do It Yourself approach and just learn the stuff you like!

If you do that - you are best using the Intermediate Practice Routine. Read all about it on that page - follow the concept and add in the things you need to work on. New things will go in the blank areas of the "knowledge" part of the routine - there are lessons on the other aspects of the routine on the site. Just check out the links...

 

Style Modules - Blues Lead Guitar

The Blues Lead Course is classed as Intermediate level and then takes you a whole lot further - it a very thorough course and covers pretty much all the tools scales and techniques you will need to be making up your own awesome blues solos! The only ingredient to add would be a heavy dose of transcribing!!

I would recommend that everyone do this module as many of the Blues techniques and licks form the foundation for many styles, it's loads of fun and you'll learn many skills that apply to other styles.

You can buy the course on DVD too, and it comes with a CD of great backing tracks to practice with!

Style Modules - Solo Blues Guitar

This is a DVD only option, there are up to 10 Solo Blues songs you can learn. Check out the 3 x DVD Solo Blues Box Set for the whole package or you can buy them individually or as downloads too!

Folk Fingerstyle Module

This was the first dedicated "Intermediate Module" I got finished and it's getting great reviews - 10 free lessons, 3 that you can only get on DVD. Check them all out here - Folk Fingerstyle Module.

 

NOTE ABOUT STYLE MODULES - where are they Justin? You lazy so and so....

These are taking a lot more time to make than I had hoped because there are so many other things going on too that I want or need to do... I guess to that I figured there is no immediate hurry, gotta give myself stuff to do for the next 10 years or so :) ha ha

There's a real good series on Funk Rhythm guitar already, in the Rhythm department...

Blues Rhythm should be finished very soon, next will most liekly be a transcribing module - other modules planned are: Jazz Rhythm, Jazz Lead, Reggae, Funk, Rock Rhythm, Rock Lead, Slide Guitar, Country basics and maybe some others as I think of them...