New Home Forums Course Ideas & Outlines Changing Between Chords – Course Decision!

31 replies, 8 voices Last updated by  Jonathan 5 years, 7 months ago
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 32 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #79916

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    To get me started on building my own guitar school, it’s a good idea for me to start small with a beginners course! One thing that new guitarist struggle with is changing between chords, it’s a topic I’m teaching daily, and it’s a topic where advice is slightly more generalized rather than actual tools that people can use. So I thought I’d create a course similar to that. The tentative title so far is:

    Improve Open Chord Changes in x Days! – From Chord Criminal to Chord Champion

    Here is my Why Questions:

    1) Where have you previously struggled? What transformation have you gone through to get to where you are? What is the connection between you and the people you’re serving? What was the path or process that unfolded? Write it in point form.

    • Took so long to get used to changing between chords
    • Was unable to get from A-B fast enough for me to learn a song!
    • Got very frustrated with no steps available to help actually improve on chord changes “just told to keep practicing” and it got nowhere.

    2) How would you describe the personality of the people you love or feel inspired to serve? What are these people like to be around when they are at their best and at their lowest. (yes, this is generalized)
    Determined, they want to improve their skills on their instrument, but aren’t really sure what direction to go in. At their best they’re eager to learn, and excited to discover new ways of figuring things out, at their worst they become frustrated and unconfident and don’t feel they’ll ever progress past the stage they’re currently having!

    3) What is the problem you are solving for them? Perhaps it’s a problem you once had 😉
    The problem is that new players aren’t sure how to change between chords, and there is so little out there teaching them how to actually do it, apart from “practicing” over and over again.

    4) How do they feel about their current challenge? (overwhelmed, fearful, frustrated, angry, curious)
    Frustrated and disheartened, that they can just change between chords, when it looks so damn easy.

    5) What is the core desire they want? What are they searching for?
    An answer to how to change between chords!

    6) What is motivating them to change RIGHT NOW?

    To get to the stage where they can strum along to their favourite chords with less stress and anxiety about it.

    7) What would draw them to you to be their guide? What about you or your story will resonate deeply with them?

    The fact that i’ve been in that situation – where I’ve struggled to change between the chords, that they have spent hours learning how to do so – but no matter what they did they couldn’t do it…and now they can! Because they had an actual guide, someone who could step them through the process. No stone is left unturned it’s specific and detailed.

    8) What motivates the people you’re here to serve (freedom, money, fun, love, service?)
    Fun – to be able to play those darn chords, to achieve what they want to do, and be free to play along with their favourite chords.

    9) What will their objections be when they find you that could stop them from following through and committing. Write down their reasons or excuses for not taking the journey with you.

    • They know they’ve got to go slowly, but it’s still not working
    • Not good enough yet…
    • It’ll take to long for them to learn the changes
    • They’ve tried many ways but it’s still not working for them!

    10) How can you address those objections or fears in an authentic, powerful way (cut through the shit).

    • It’s not just about going slowly…there is far more detail it’s grossly simplified – and I plan to break that open.
    • No such thing as not good enough, if you can play an open chord, you can improve
    • 14 days. You’ll be able to change between two chords…!
    • You’ve not had the right steps, there are steps you can follow to actually help you achieve this!
    #79964

    Bradley Morris
    Mountain Guide
    @bradleytmorris

    OH oh oh oh… this is me!!!!!!

    I need this course.

    Stoked ot be a guinea pig and speed up my guitar playing!

    #80042

    Monika
    Adventurer
    @Monika

    So well written, Jonathan.  Way to go.

    #80066

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    OH oh oh oh… this is me!!!!!! I need this course. Stoked ot be a guinea pig and speed up my guitar playing!

    Hope that short snippet yesterday helped 😉

    So well written, Jonathan. Way to go.

    Thanks Monika 🙂

    #80084

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    <p style=”text-align: center;”>Knowing Your “Who”</p>
    1) Where have you previously struggled? What transformation have you gone through to get to where you are? What is the connection between you and the people you’re serving? What was the path or process that unfolded? Write it in point form.

    • Took so long to get used to changing between chords
    • Was unable to get from A-B fast enough for me to learn a song!
    • Got very frustrated with no steps available to help actually improve on chord changes “just told to keep practicing” and it got nowhere.
    • To learn how to actually improve your skills, without it taking a LONG time

    2) How would you describe the personality of the people you love or feel inspired to serve? What are these people like to be around when they are at their best and at their lowest. (yes, this is generalized)

    Determined, they want to improve their skills on their instrument, but aren’t really sure what direction to go in. At their best they’re eager to learn, and excited to discover new ways of figuring things out, at their worst they become frustrated and unconfident and don’t feel they’ll ever progress past the stage they’re currently having!
    The typical living room guitarist, someone who wants to learn to play a few tunes and progress at their own pace, who has 5-15 minutes a day to progress but not much more time than that! They want the information to help them chill with their family and a guitar, and still feel they’ve progressed.

    3) What is the problem you are solving for them? Perhaps it’s a problem you once had 😉
    The problem is that new players aren’t sure how to change between chords, and there is so little out there teaching them how to actually do it, apart from “practicing” over and over again.
    Not only that, but all the lessons require you to sit down for hours, and hours on end, repeating the same process with a little to no improvement for a while.

    4) How do they feel about their current challenge? (overwhelmed, fearful, frustrated, angry, curious)
    Frustrated and disheartened, as they know what they need to do, but don’t have time to sit down and spend hours changing between the chords and practicing over and over again.

    5) What is the core desire they want? What are they searching for?
    To be able to pick up the guitar, and create their own music, with some simple chords.

    6) What is motivating them to change RIGHT NOW?
    To get to the stage where they can strum along to their favourite chords with less stress and anxiety about it. Their guitar has been sitting there for ages, and they’ve barely touched it. They want to change that!

    7) What would draw them to you to be their guide? What about you or your story will resonate deeply with them?
    The fact that i’ve been in that situation – where I’ve struggled to change between the chords, that they have spent hours learning how to do so – but no matter what they did they couldn’t do it…and now they can! Because they had an actual guide, someone who could step them through the process. No stone is left unturned it’s specific and detailed. I also have a busy family, and don’t have the hours and hours in the day to practice! Nowhere near as much as I used to.

    8) What motivates the people you’re here to serve (freedom, money, fun, love, service?)
    Fun – to be able to play those darn chords, to achieve what they want to do, and be free to play along with their favourite chords, and create their own music

    9) What will their objections be when they find you that could stop them from following through and committing. Write down their reasons or excuses for not taking the journey with you.

    • They know they’ve got to go slowly, but it’s still not working
    • Not good enough yet…
    • It’ll take to long for them to learn the changes
    • They’ve tried many ways but it’s still not working for them!

    10) How can you address those objections or fears in an authentic, powerful way (cut through the shit).

    • It’s not just about going slowly…there is far more detail it’s grossly simplified – and I plan to break that open.
    • No such thing as not good enough, if you can play an open chord, you can improve
    • 7/14 days. You’ll be able to change between two chords…!
    • You’ve not had the right steps, there are steps you can follow to actually help you achieve this!

     

    #80086

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    <p style=”text-align: center;”>Achieving Transformation</p>
    1) What is the final destination or transformation you are leading your customers to?
    To be able to play open chords, confidently and be able to spend more time playing along to their favourite songs, and learning their favourite tunes.
    2) What is your customer ACTUALLY paying for?
    To learn to change chords, so they can play along with their favourite songs with family, and friends and compose their own songs!
    3) What tools, techniques, exercises or processes do you KNOW you will need to include to take them from where they are, to the end transformation?

    • Chord Chunking (1 finger at a time)
    • Super Slow Motions
    • How to Play Open Chords
    • Learning to Change Between Common Chord Progressions

    4) Make a list of the tangible benefits they’ll receive from going through your eCourse. How will this course idea benefit or improve their lives (mention the subtle AND obvious shifts that will take place).

    • Start a daily habit of playing guitar!
    • Increase confidence in open chords, and changing between them
    • Be able to write their own music, with the chords they’ve learnt
    • Learn how to progress in a way that works around a busy lifestyle.

    5) Describe what their life will look like after going through your course. What has changed or improved?
    Write it as a short story about the student’s transformation OR as a testimonial they send you.

    Before I started this course, I understood how to play a chord, I could even strum along to myself, but when it came to changing between the two chords, I just kept banging my head against the wall, I never had enough time to sit down and play the guitar, I always had other things that I took my attention, children, my business and netflix sometimes. I couldn’t get myself to sit down and practice, but with this course I’ve worked out how to put my chords together. No matter what open chord it is, I know how to change between them, even if i’ve never seen them before, I know how I can progress through learning how to change between each chord. Since taking this course I’ve gone onto write my own songs, and have started getting my little kids into it. It’s great to finally have a course where I can just sit down for 10 minutes at the end of the day, and learn something! I always seem to find something in the course that helps me breakthrough my barriers on playing.

    #80089

    Ranger Boss Lady
    Mountain Guide
    @rangerbosslady

    Well gosh darn where do I sign up? I’m lovin’ yer enthusiasm Jonathan and the clarity is just shinin’ through. It’s really somethin’ to witness your journey as you’re movin’ along. Thank you for sharin’ — it’s an inspiration for everyone readin’ this. Can’t wait to see how it keeps evolvin…

    #80112

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    Well gosh darn where do I sign up? I’m lovin’ yer enthusiasm Jonathan and the clarity is just shinin’ through. It’s really somethin’ to witness your journey as you’re movin’ along. Thank you for sharin’ — it’s an inspiration for everyone readin’ this. Can’t wait to see how it keeps evolvin…

    Why thankyou Ranger Boss Lady – nice to see you in the community ! 🙂

     

    #80114

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    It’s All About The Vibes, Man
    1) If your course were a person, how would you describe its personality?
    This will be reflected in your content, copy, branding and every aspect of your eCourse.
    A person who has a passion for music, who gets excited about sharing their ideas for music, but is caught up in other aspects of life, possibly a parent with a family who has a guitar sitting there waiting to be played but doesn’t have time to spend hours a day playing and practice. They want to pick up the guitar and play and feel their progressing.
    They are a creative person who loves to have fun, and doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and wants nothing more than to strum along to their favourite tunes without making too much of an arse of themselves.

    2) What is it about your eCourse and the way you choose to deliver the content that makes it unique, interesting, engaging or entertaining to your audience so they recognize it as being made JUST for them.
    How will it be different and stand out in the sea of sameness?
    Quick and short lessons without hundreds of exercises, and given with an air of fun, and not taking things too seriously. They can show up, perhaps with their family and watch a short video do an exercise and feel they can progress!

    3) What can you do to put your own unique stamp of creativity on your eCourse?
    What artistic or creative mediums can you use to get your lessons across (brainstorm ideas, don’t worry about how *yet — this is big possibility stuff) i.e.: Take your on photos, draw your own graphics, green screen backgrounds, humour, poetry, storyline, etc…
    A video game, songs and videos with animated characters to occupy the younger children, whilst the parents can focus on learning.
    My own random humor not taking anything to seriously, short videos with a little bit of audio.

    #80117

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    Refine, Refine, Refine
    1) WHAT is the eCourse all about that you’re inspired to create? Describe it.
    My ecourse is about learning to change between open chords, easily and fluidly, using deep practice techniques, in a short space and time. A step by step process that makes it easy to learn in short bursts, with family and friends.

    2) Out of all the options, WHY are you most excited to create this eCourse? Explain.
    There are so many “living room musicians” who wish they had more time to play, This first course, will open up the world of guitar to so many people, who thought they never had any time to learn.

    3) Describe WHO you are creating this eCourse for. Describe them.
    I am creating this course for the living room musicians, the busy family man (or women) who has had the urge to learn guitar, and maybe have a few ideas on what to do – but they can’t figure out how best to go about it. A creative, yet busy person who wants to take 5-15 minutes a day to start playing guitar!

    4) Describe the TRANSFORMATION or benefits they’ll receive by going through your eCourse.
    They’ll be able to strum along to any song they want to create, and also realise it is possible to learn to play an instrument when they have a limited amount of time. They will know how to change between a selection of open chords, and also the ability to know where to go next with their chord changes.

    5) Using your skills, tools and resources, HOW do you intend to facilitate the ultimate transformation? What’s the process you envision?
    I will facilitate their transformation with short videos, that show them step by step how to change between chords, as well as checklists and activities (such as games) that can cement their learning.

    6) If your eCourse was a person, how would you describe its PERSONALITY or VIBES?
    She is a fun, yet time conscious individual, and knows how valuable a person’s time is. She focus’ on helping a student achieve a goal quickly, but in an entertaining way, gentle guidance with strong ideas! Taking that little extra time, out of her day to make every minute of practice count, no filler all killer!

     

    Interestingly enough how I made my eCourse female, originally the course was non-gender…but interestingly, when I just wrote it out, it became a She…how fascinating! I love this process! 🙂

    #80139

    Blair Francis
    Mountain Guide
    @BlairFrancis

    I really do love the “Chord Criminal to Chord Champion” tagline!!  It’s fun and provocative 🙂

    #80141

    Bradley Morris
    Mountain Guide
    @bradleytmorris

    I am so excited about the direction you’re taking this course AND for the birth of “TheBusyGuitarist.com”

    This is all so brilliant!!!!!

    #80146

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    I am so excited about the direction you’re taking this course AND for the birth of “TheBusyGuitarist.com” This is all so brilliant!!!!!

    Thanks Brad 🙂 I’m really excited as well! 🙂

    I really do love the “Chord Criminal to Chord Champion” tagline!! It’s fun and provocative 🙂

    It’s exactly the direction I wanted to go in, a little tongue and cheek 🙂

     

    #80155

    Jonathan
    Adventurer
    @jonathan@jstewartmusic.com

    So I think I’ve got my Course Outline done:

    • Intro – An intro to the course, which just goes through the need to knows, open chords, and minimum movement.
      • Be A Lazy Guitarist
      • Open Chords
    • The Practice Triangle – Here we have a brief overview of the practice triangle, step by step through each area.
      • Using The Practice Triangle: How to use the Practice Triangle when changing chords.
    • Splitting It Up – Switching between chords begins here
      • Single Finger – Starting to transitions with 1 finger
      • Double Finger – Transitioning between chords using two fingers
      • Multi Finger –  Moving 3 or more fingers at a time
    • Pivot Or Transitionals: Making chord changes easier
      • Pivot PointsSome chords have the same notes, you can use these to pivot between them!
      • Transitional PointsFor chords without common notes, we work out how to transition between the two!
    • Putting it To UseNow we know how to transition between 2 chords, lets start bringing it together with three or more chords
      • Pop: I – V – vi – iv
      • Rock: I – IV – V

     

    I’m just trying to figure out, whether I’ve gone to overcomplicated straight away, it’s difficult to get a balance between step by step and too much info…

     

    #80164

    Bradley Morris
    Mountain Guide
    @bradleytmorris

    This looks pretty awesome man. Are each of the lessons a single lesson OR are they modules with lessons in them.

    Now, map out how long each lesson would be, so you get an idea of how you want them to flow.

    Great work!!

    And my question is, what cords will you teach? How many cords will I learn?

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 32 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.