Commercial Guitar Syllabus

Instructor Information
Name: Wagner Trindade
Office phone: (310) 233-4401
E-mail address: trindaws@lahc.edu
Office hours:
Office location:

Course Description: Guitar lessons are 30 minutes and are structured according to the
student's level. The student will be given a set of goals to achieve throughout the semester.
Both student and teacher will have a written record of weekly assignments. The lesson will
cover scales, arpeggios, chord-scale relationships, repertoire, ear training, sight-reading,
technique, chord voicing, tone and time feel. A portion of the lesson may be used for working
on school combo or ensemble music. The students should schedule a minimum of two hours of
practice per day- four hours if they intend to play professionally.

Required Materials:
1. Your guitar must be in good condition. The bridge and the truss rod should be set for
optimum intonation, resonance and the guitar should be relatively easy to play.
2. You must have a metronome, tuner and several cables.
3. You must have a flash drive. The lessons may be recorded.
4. You will need a folder and notebook dedicated for the lessons.
5. The following books are required for private lessons:

• Reading Studies for the Guitar, Berklee Press,

• Melodic Rhythms for the Guitar, Berklee Press,
• Modern Reading Text in 4/4, Louis Bellson,
• The Real Book.

Lessons: You will have a thirty minute lesson once a week. Be on time. Ten minutes will be
spent reading, ten minutes on technical studies - scales, chords, etc. And ten minutes for
repertoire study. You will be given weekly assignments. Part of your grade is determined by
your preparation for each lesson and you will receive a grade for each lesson. Each unexcused
absence will result in lowering your final grade by half a letter. Three unexcused absences will
result in a F for the semester. If you know you have a conflict with your lesson, you should first
try to switch with another student. You must notify the instructor 24 hours before the lesson if
you are going to miss. Acceptable reasons for excused absences are the following: death in
the family, school function which conflicts with the lesson time and illness.

• Books used in the lesson:

• Berklee Press, Reading for Guitar
• Berklee Press, Melodic Rhythms
• Adam Levy, Jazz Guitar Sight Reading
• Louis Bellson, Modern Reading Text in 4/4
• Mark White, Advanced Reading Etudes for Guitar
• Mark Levine, The Jazz Theory Book
Learning Objectives:
1. The student will have memorized 6 to 12 tunes.
2. As a member of a Music Ensemble, the student will gain a greater understanding and
awareness of their contributing role to an ensemble.

1st semester
I. Technical Studies:
1. All Major, 16ths @ 60bpm.
2. Chromatic scale, 16ths @ 60bpm.
3. Drop 3 voicing for Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th and Half Diminished
chords using E and A strings as the root.
4. Triads: Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented close voicings across the neck.

II. Etudes: Melodic and rhythm studies at a moderate tempo with a metronome.

III. Repertoire: The student will learn the jazz blues form and 4 tunes from the Standard Jazz
Repertoire list.
1. The Student will play the melody with good time and phrasing. The student will play chord
voicing with clarity and a good feel.
2. The student will play arpeggios and scales through the tune.
3. The student will improvise using arpeggios, scales and motifs.
4. The student will memorize the tune.
5. The student will write out the melody and chords from memory.

IV. Transcription: Student will complete one transcription of a blues solo by a noted jazz artist.
The following are the requirements for the transcription: (on the first semester, student may play
a written solo given by the instructor and:)
1. The instructor must approve the solo.
2. The solo must be at least one minute long.
3. The solo must be memorized and played with all correct dynamics and articulations along
with the recording.
4. The solo must be written out with the chord changes and analyzed.
5. Select phrases to be learned in 12 keys.

V. Ear Training: The student will be expected to identify Major, Minor and Diminished Triads.

2nd semester
I. Technical Studies:
1. All Major scales - 2 octaves from any degree 16th @ 60bpm. Dorian, Mixolydian, Pentatonic
and Chromatic scales16th @ 80bpm.
2. Melodic Minor - 2 octaves from E string 16ths @ 60bpm.
3. 1/2 step whole step 16ths @ 60bpm.
4. Whole step 1/2 step 16ths @ 60bpm.
5. Dominant Bebop 16ths @ 60bpm.
6. Drop 2 voicings for Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th and Half Diminished chords using the
D string as the bottom voice.
II. Etudes:
1. ii V I progression using Dorian Ascending on ii and the Bebop Dominant descending on V.
The student will play this pattern in 12 keys along with a rhythm track.
2. ii V7 I progressing using drop 2 voicing through 12 keys along with a rhythm track.
3. Melodic and rhythm studies played with a metronome.

III. Repertoire: Student will learn 4 tunes from the Jazz Studies Standard Repertoire list
following the process described for the 1st semester. In addition, the student will play drop 2
chord voicing using good voice leading.

IV. Transcription: The student will complete a blues solo following the methods described for
the first semester.

V. Ear Training: Student will be able to identify all 7th chords.

3rd semester
I. Technical Studies: All the above plus:
1. Dominant Bebop scales 16ths @60bpm.
2. Major, Dorian, Mixolydian Melodic Minor and Diminished in 3rds, 16ths @ 80bpm
3. Major Diatonic Arpeggios 8ths @ 60bpm.
4. Continued study of drop 2 and drop 3 chord voicings and voice leading.
5. Both whole tone scales 16ths @ 60bpm.
6. Triads: Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented up and down the neck starting from any
inversion on string sets: 321, 432.

II. Etudes:
1. ii V i using Melodic Minor system played through 12 keys with rhythm track. 2. ii V i using
drop 2 and drop 3 chord voicing played through 12 keys with rhythm track.
3. Continued study of reading and jazz etudes.
4. Walking bass line studies.
5. The student will learn one chord melody.

III. Repertoire: Student will learn 4 tunes from the Jazz Studies Standard Repertoire list. The
student will begin study on rhythm changes.

IV. Transcription: The student will complete one transcription of a rhythm changes solo.

V. Ear Trainings: Student will be expected to identify Major 9th, Minor 9th, Dominant 9th and
Half Diminished 9th. They must also be able to identify ii V I and Minor ii V i cadences, blues
and rhythm changes form.

4th semester
I. Technical Studies: All the above plus:
1. Harmonic minor scale - 2 octaves and arpeggios 16ths @ 60bpm.
2. Dorian, Bebop, Diminished and Melodic Minor 16ths @ 80bpm.
3. Triads: Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented starting from any inversion on
string sets: 543, 654.
4. Diatonic Arpeggios for Melodic Minor from E string and A string 8ths @ 60bpm.
II: Etudes: The student will complete 3 etudes or transcriptions.

III. Repertoire: The student will learn 5 tunes from the Jazz Studies
Standard Repertoire list.

IV. Transcriptions: The student will complete a transcription of a Wes Montgomery, Pat
Martino or George Benson solo.

V. Ear training: The student will be expected to identify the following scales: Bebop,
Lydian Flat 7, the Altered scale and both Diminished scales.

5th semester
I: Technical Studies: All of the above plus:
1. Harmonic minor- 2 octaves 16ths @ 60bpm.
2. Dorian, Bebop, Diminished, Melodic Minor and ii V7 patterns 16ths @ 100bpm.
3. Major and Dorian scale in 4ths. 16ths @ 60bpm.
4. Melodic Minor - Harmonized scales string sets: 321,234,345,456

II. Etudes: The student will complete 3 etudes or transcriptions.

III. Repertoire: The student will learn 5 tunes from the Jazz Studies
Standard Repertoire list.

IV. Transcriptions: The student will complete a transcription of a solo on a jazz

standard from the 1950's - 1960's.

V. Ear Training: The student will be expected to identify Dominant 7th chords with
natural extensions and altered dominant chords.

6th semester
I. Technical Studies: All the above plus:
1. Harmonic Minor, Major, Dorian, Mixolydian, Melodic Minor and Diminished in 3rds. 16ths @
80bpm, Japanese Pentatonic.
2. Dorian, Bebop, Diminished, Melodic Minor and ii V7 pattern 16ths @ 110bpm.
3. Major and Melodic Minor scales in 5ths, 16ths @ 60bpm.
4. Triads: Harmonic Minor: Harmonized.

II. Etudes: The student will complete 3 etudes or transcriptions of moderate difficulty.

III. Repertoire: The student will learn 5 tunes from the Jazz Studies
Standard Repertoire list.

IV. Transcriptions: The student will complete a transcription of a solo on a jazz

standard from the 1950's - 1960's.

V. Ear Training: The student will be expected to identify modulations.

7th semester
I. Technical Studies: All the above plus:
1. Major and Melodic Minor scales in 6ths 16ths @ 60bpm.
2. 2. ii V7 i patterns 16ths @ 80 - 100bpm.
3. All scales 16ths @ 110bpm.
4. All scales in 3rds, 4ths and 5ths 16ths @ 60bpm.

II. Etudes: The student will complete 3 etudes or transcriptions of appropriate difficulty.

III. Repertoire: The student and instructor will begin planning the student's senior recital. A
portion of the material must be chosen from the Jazz Studies Standard Repertoire list. The
student will learn a chord melody for a standard tune to be played as a solo piece.

IV. Transcriptions: The student will learn 2 solos, a guitar solo and a horn solo on the same
tune. The student will write a comparative analysis of the solos.

V. Ear Training: The student will be expected to identify the changes to a standard. This would
include identifying common chord progressions and substitutions.

8th semester
I. Technical Studies: All the above plus:
1. Major and Melodic Minor scales in 7ths 16ths @ 60bpm.
2. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales 16ths @ 110bpm.
3. Major, Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor Triads and 7th chords, 16ths @ 80bpm.

II. Etudes: Students should complete 3 etudes or transcriptions of appropriate difficulty.

III. Repertoire: The student will continue to prepare for their senior recital.

IV. Transcriptions: The student will learn a solo of substantial difficultly from a modern
guitarist and write an analysis of the solo.

V. Ear Training: The student will be expected to identify more complicated chord
progressions typical of Herbie Hancock or Wayne Shorter.

Grading: Students will be graded each lesson and these grades will count for 25% of the final
grade. There will be a a midterm and a jury.Each will include a transcription, a tune and scale
and chord demonstrations. The Transcriptions should be 1 to 3 minutes. The midterm will count
30% and the jury, which will be at the end of the semester, will count 45% towards your grade.
Jazz Standards Repertoire List

Ah-Leu-Cha Days of Wine and Roses I’m Getting Sentimental

Airegin Dearly Beloved over You
All Blues Dig I’m Old Fashioned
All God’s Chillun Dolphin Dance Impressions
All of Me Donna Lee In A Mellowtone
All of You Doxy In a Sentimental Mood
All the Things You Are Easy Living Indiana
Alone Together Eighty One Infant Eyes
Along Came Betty Embraceable You Inner Urge
Anthropology Epistrophy Invitation
Ask Me Now Equinox In Walked Bud
Au Privave E.S.P. In Your Own Sweet Way
Autumn in New York Evidence I Remember Clifford
Autumn Leaves Falling in Love with Love I Remember You
Bag’s Groove Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum I Should Care
Beatrice Footprints Isotope
Beautiful Love Four Israel
Bemsha Swing Freddie Freeloader It Could Happen to You
Bessie’s Blues Freedom Jazz Dance It Don’t Mean a Thing
Billie’s Bounce Georgia On My Mind I Thought about You
Black Narcissus Giant Steps It’s You or No
Black Nile Good Bait Onw
Black Orpheus Green Dolphin Street I Want to Talk about You
Blue Bossa Groovin’ High The Jitterbug Waltz
Blue in Green Hackensack Jordu
Blue Monk Half Nelson Joshus
Blues for Alice Have You Met Ms. Jones Joy Spring
The Blues Walk Here’s That Rainy Day Juju
Body and Soul Hi-Fly Just Friends
Bolivia Hot House Just One of those Things
But Beautiful How Deep is the Ocean Katrina Ballerina
But Not for Me How High the Moon Killer Joe
Bye Bye Blackbird Caravan How Insensitive Lady Bird
Ceora I Can’t Get Started Laura
Chelsea Bridge I Could Write a Book Lazy Bird
Cherokee I Didn’t Know What Time it Like Someone in Love
Cheryl Was Little Sunflower
Children of the Night It I Should Lose You Love for Sale
C Jam Clues If I Were a Bell Lover Come Back to Me
Come Rain or Come Shine If You Could See Me Now Loverman
Con Alma I Got it Bad and that ain’t Lush Life
Confirmation Good Mack the Knife
Countdown I Hear a Rhapsody Mahjong
Cousin Mary I Got Rhythm Maiden Voyage
Crisis I’ll Remember April Manteca
C.T.A. I Love You Milestones (new)
Daahound I Mean You Mr. Clean
Misterioso Ruby There is no Greater Love
Misty My Dear There Will Never Be Another
Moment’s Notice St. Thomas You
Monk’s Mood Salt Peanuts Things ain’t what they used
Mr. P.C. Sandu to Be
My Foolish Heart Scrapple from the Apple Think On Me
My Funny Valentine Search for Peace Tune-Up
My One and Only Love Secret Love Unit Sevel
My Romance Serenity Up Jumped Spring Upper
My Shining Hour Seven Steps to Heaven Manhattan Medical
Naima The Shadow of your Smile Group
Nardis Skylark Valse Hot
Nefertiti Smoke Gets in your Eyes Walkin’
Nica’s Dream Softly as in a Morning Wave
Night and Day Sunrise The Way you Look Tonight
Night Dreamer Solar You’re a Weaver of Dreams
The Night Has 1000 Eyes Someday my Prince will Well, you Needn’t
A Night in Tunisia Come What is this Thing Called
Now’s the Time Someone to Watch Over Me Love
Old Folks Some Other Blues What’s New?
Oleo Song For My Father When I Fall in Love
Once I Loved The Song is You When Lights are Low
One Note Samba Sonnymoon for Two When Sunny Gets Blue
On the Sunny Side of the Sophisticated Lady Whisper Not
Street Soul Eyes Wild Flower
Ornithology So What Windows
Our Delight Speak Low Witchcraft
Out of Nowhere Speak No Evil Witch Hunt
Over the Rainbow Spring is Here Stablemates Without a Song
Parisian Thoroughfare Stardust Woody ‘n You
Passion Dance Star Eyes Yardbird Suite
Peace Stella by Starlight Yes or No
Pensative Stompin’ at the Savoy You Don’t Know What Love
Pent-up House Straight No Chaser Is
Perdido Strollin’ You Know I Care
Polka Dots and Sugar You’re My Everything
Moonbeams Summertime You Say You Care
Prelude to a Kiss Take the “A” Train You Stepped Out of a
Recordame Tangerine Dream

Rhythm-a-Ning Tenor Madness
‘Round Midnight The Theme

Ten Easy (non-blues) Tunes to Memorize:

Blue Bossa Cantaloupe Island

Autumn Leaves Lady Bird
Take the A Train Solar
So What Tune Up
All of Me Black Orpheus

Eight Easy Blues Tunes to Memorize:

C Jam Blues
Now’s the Time
Blue Monk
Freddie Freeloader
Tenor Madness
All Blues
Billie’s Bounce