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UdemyGuitarPaid courseBeginner level

Acoustic Guitar Basics (Udemy.com)

The first steps to learning how to play guitar

Created by: Francis Long

Last updated April 2016

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What you will learn

  • Learn Basic strumming patterns
  • You will learn all the basic chords that will allow you to play hundreds of songs
  • How to hold the guitar & how to tune the instrument

How it compares

Against the other 183 rated Udemy courses in Guitar on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.3 out of 5higher than 6% of them
  • Reviews768#25 of 184 by number of reviews
  • Length1.8 hoursshorter than 79% of them
  • Last updatedApril 2016earlier than 89% of them

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Course Description

This Free course will get you playing the acoustic guitar in no time.

I will show you:

  • how to hold the guitar
  • exactly where to place your fingers to play the basic guitar chords
  • how to read chord diagrams
  • how to play chords of G, D, C, Em, Am, Cadd9
  • basic strumming patterns
  • how to tune the guitar
  • how to use a capo

You will learn all the basics needed to get you started, along with strumming patterns that will have you playing songs in a very short period of time. During the videos any chords that are being used will appear onscreen and there are video inlays to give you a closer look at what my left-hand fingers are doing. A visual representation of the strumming patterns will also be shown onscreen where necessary.

The strumming patterns and chord diagrams are included as supplemental materials so they can be downloaded and studied separately from the videos.

The course should take approx. 5 weeks to complete if you are an absolute beginner with no previous experience. Also if you've always wanted to play guitar or tried to learn guitar before but found changing chords or strumming was difficult then this is the course for you.

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Instructor Details

Francis Long

             I have been involved in the music business for many years. At the age  of eight I joined the Artane Boys Band, where I received a great introduction into the world of music, learning how to play the  clarinet, oboe and the bell lyre. When I left this marching band (which is compulsory at age 16) I discovered the guitar and began the next phase of my musical journey playing rock, pop and blues in various bands in Dublin. Looking for a further challenge I decided to study classical guitar in which I have earned both an Associated Board ABRSM diploma and a Licentiate LTCL diploma. Along the way I worked in different music shops, where I got the opportunity to try other instruments and ended up also learning banjo, mandolin and bodhran. I taught guitar, banjo, mandolin and music technology at Waltons New School Of Music in Dublin 2003-2017 and have also given lessons at several Dublin-area primary  schools through Waltons In-School Music Programme. I am currently teaching guitar in Waterford.

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Reviews

4.3

768 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Braylon Inman on 11/29/2025

Pretty good having a clear understanding on what instructor is saying. Very, very clear on how to place your hands very clear and decisive on what you gotta do. I like how slow he goes and repeats the situations that you gotta do for you understand it instead of having to rewind it over and over.

By Carlos on 9/14/2021

Professor bom, explica bem, mas simplifica demais as músicas. Por exemplo colocar capotrasto pra tocar stand by me

By Matthew Osborne on 3/22/2018

nice relaxed course style, easy to follow instructions. advice on just dry run practice with the cords has helped

By Mollie Dishal on 2/2/2017

This is an absolutely wonderful course! The instructor works so clearly and methodically through each step. The pace is perfect for beginners or like myself, 64 year olds who are returning to their love of guitar. I immediately signed up for the next course as I can clearly see the comprehensive concise approach of this excellent instruction.

By Victor Scott on 12/10/2016

If you have never played the guitar before, this course provides a simple and straightforward approach to starting. The course lays out the basics, provides a couple of song examples to play, and gives some helpful tips for practicing. It is a good course for beginners. I don't fit that category, but I wanted to get some ideas for teaching.

By Malcolm M West on 9/6/2016

For the first time ever, I am looking forward to learning chords. The lesson to details are great and though I am still struggling with chords I am looking forward to mastering chords , thanks to the instructor.

By James Bartorillo on 7/1/2016

a more deeper look into the camera to have the student feel more believable that the teacher can teach the guitar almost llike your doing a television commercial short and sweet get right to the playing of the instrument thats what people want you can always repeat these first few steps over and over again with more lessons.

By Chris Gooden on 5/7/2016

At the beginning I thought that it was a tad too slow. But now I really appreciate the careful steady approach. It starts from the ground up, and omits nothing. It's impossible to make a mistake. It builds a good solid foundation. Excellent.

By Lis on 11/10/2015

I had never played a guitar before and found this course to be easy to follow and very informative. It really helps you to get started and to start playing the basics of tunes very quickly. I highly recommend you start with this program if you are a complete novice.

By Edmond Saint-Jean on 5/9/2015

I had a great time taking this class. The pacing was excellent and the fingering was not difficult difficult to master. The instructor was very very knowledgeable and a master teacher. I will recommend this course to my friends and students.

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Overall Score : 86 / 100