How to Earn Black Belt Guitar Status
Steps Along the Path to the Top
We award 8 belt levels here, and by examining this page you can see if your guitar mastery goals align with ours.
We don't care whether you are self-taught on the guitar, classically trained, play in a band or just play for fun.
If you practice, and progress, you should be recognized for it.
The lessons and tools on this site are free, and you can also check out our partners' books,
DVD's, Online Instruction and other cool tools available to you here. ===>>>
... and when you join our forums, we answer any and all questions you might have.
As soon as you pass off the requirements for each level (use the honor system),
download and print the certificate, type your name in the center field of the document,
print in rich color and sign it along with someone else who recognizes your progress,
and proudly display your certificate where everyone can see it and honor your achievement!
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White Belt: Level 1
The color white signifies purity. A white belt student begins with a clean slate, unfettered by bad habits and
open to all the possibilities. Our system is designed to help you master these basics as soon as possible, and
set a proper foundation for the rest of your musical career.
Studies We Recommend:
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100 Songs for Kids (Easy Guitar with Notes & Tab) For guitar and voice. Format: guitar tablature single. With easy guitar notation, guitar tablature, chord names, lyrics and guitar chord diagrams.
See more info... |
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What You Must Master:
In our system, the white belt is foundation level one, where you will learn basic skills to play more than 1000
popular songs on the guitar. You'll be surprised to learn how easy and fun guitar can be! This level is for all
beginners of all styles.
Body:
- 5-Point Guitar EADGBE tuning
- Comfortable posture
- Comfortable hand positions
- Guitar anatomy and care
- Guitarist anatomy and care
Mind:
- 21 most popular open chords
- Cool and simple rhythm patterns
- EADGBE note fretboard locations
- Perfect interval ear training
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 songs you can perform
- Performance skills
- Goal setting
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for success
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Yellow Belt: Level 2
Yellow represents the sun beginning to rise in the sky. This level is designed to reinforce what you already know,
show you more guitar-friendly ways of playing thousands of popular songs, and utilize the entire neck of the guitar
to your advantage.
Studies We Recommend:
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What You Must Master:
In our system, the yellow belt is foundation level two, where you will more easy ways to play more than 1000
popular songs on the guitar. You'll be surprised at your own confidence! This level is for all beginners of all
styles.
Body:
- Groove, Groove, Groove!
- Finger Picking Arpeggios
- Advanced Strumming Styles
- Advanced Strumming Rhythms
Mind:
- Remaining popular open chords
- Major and minor scale patterns
- 3rd and 6th intervals ear training
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 more songs you can perform
- Performance skills
- Goal and course correction
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for success
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Orange Belt: Level 3
Orange represents the color of the sun in the afternoon sky. This level is designed to show you ways to
make your playing more colorful and unique, by exploring different voicing possibilities and hacking away
some of the non-essentials. You can apply this to any of the songs you already know, while still adding songs
to your repertoire.
Studies We Recommend:
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What You Must Master:
In our system, the orange belt is foundation level three, where you'll refine your sound by removing
redundant notes and unwanted noise from your playing. You'll learn to use your hands in new ways to make
your strings obey your will. You'll learn to see the guitar neck in ways that will open it up to you.
Body:
- Flat picking techniques
- Bass-style finger picking
- Left hand muting
- Right hand muting
Mind:
- Moveable barre chords
- Power and suspended chords
- CAGED Fretboard Patterns
- Guitar Friendly Pentatonic Scales
- Reading and writing tablature
- 2nd & 7th intervals ear training
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 more songs you can perform
- Vitalize your songs with new voicings
- Critical listening skills
- Goal and course correction
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for success
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Green Belt: Level 4
Green signifies the color of growing living things. By this time, you have command of chordal accompaniment,
various voicings, fretboard knowledge, and melody based on major and minor and pentatonic scalar principles.
Now you're ready to learn the blues like never before. The blues have a very simple structure, and they are
very guitar-friendly, but with your foundation, your blues playing will be infused with with tremendous energy
and vitality.
Studies We Recommend:
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What You Must Master:
In our system, the green belt is the first departure from the foundation levels, where you'll learn to apply what
you have learned to improvising. We use the blues as the framework for this because 12-bar blues structure is simple,
enjoyable, and allows us to focus on improvisation, and expression, rather than structure. We'll learn some of the
most expressive techniques in guitar, that are equally effective with electric and acoustic guitars.
Body:
- Left hand slide
- Hand hammer-on and pull-off
- String bending techniques
- Vibrato techniques
Mind:
- 6th and 9th chords
- 12-bar blues patterns
- Major and minor blues scales
- Mixolydian scale mode
- Lydian scale mode
- Tritone interval
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 more songs you can perform
- Add emotional expression to your songs
- Make any song sound bluesy
- Goal and course correction
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for success
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Blue Belt: Level 5
Blue represents the color of the sky, toward which we are reaching. A blue belt player is fully able to play rock,
pop and of course blues music with great strength and personality. Now the focus turns toward the underpinnings of all
Western music, how chord progressions work, or how to stream chords together that produce direction and movement beyond
simple circular movements we have learn so far.
Studies We Recommend:
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Swing And Big Band Guitar (Four-To-The-Bar Comping In The Style Of Freddie Green) Written by Charlton Johnson. For guitar. Includes instructional book and examples CD. With standard guitar notation (no tablature), chord names, guitar chord diagrams.
See more info... |
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What You Must Master:
In our system, blue belt is the beginning of the study of theory, but it doesn't seem like study, because it is
so satisfying to learn why some progressions work better than others, and how to use chord progressions in your own
playing to take your listeners in any direction you want. We focus primarily on the ear's ability to hear the movement
of chords, and the ability to transpose chords progressions to any key. This is the ultimate skill for playing by ear
without reading music.
Body:
- Piano Picking Techniques
- Sweep Picking Techniques
- String Skipping Techniques
Mind:
- Harmonic Chord Progressions
- Nashville Numbering System
- Harmonic Chord Substitutions
- Melody Within Chords
- Transposing Songs to Any Key
- Major and minor chord Inversions
- Compound Intervals
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 more songs you can perform
- Transpose your songs to fit singing
- Goal and course correction
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for success
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Red Belt: Level 6
Red is the color of blood, the essential force in life. Now is the time to dive deep and understand what really
gives life to music. By now, you already know how to play really well, but the missing element is solid practical
and usable understanding of what makes some songs really great, and others not so hot. We'll direct you to the
best resources available to give you this understanding.
Studies We Recommend:
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What You Must Master:
In our system, red belt is the level where we cement our knowledge of how music really works in our minds.
To do this, you make a personal commitment to study the theory, and apply it to the music you love to hear and
play. You also make a personal commitment to learn to read standard music notation, which you will need to
continue to progress. Don't worry, your fretwork will continue to improve by also studying advanced lead guitar
techniques and modes with some of the best experts on those subjects in the world.
Body:
- Double-Stop and Chicken Pickin'
- Rasqueado and Flamenco Techniques
Mind:
- Circle of 5ths
- Reading Musical Scores
- Reading Standard Notation
- Music Theory
- Major Scale Modes
Spirit:
- 8 - 12 more songs you can perform
- Transpose your songs to fit singing
- Goal and course correction
- Journal keeping
- Practicing for Success
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Brown Belt: Level 7
Brown is the color of the earth. All your work until now has made you proficient at rhythm guitar, lead
guitar, music theory, and reading music. You've learned dozens of tunes, and have begun to define yourself
as a player. Now that you are firmly rooted and with both feet on the ground, you are ready to make the final
preparations for black belt.
Studies We Recommend:
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Screaming FingersSynchronize Both Hands, Build Finger Strength, Increase Flexibility, Build Agility and Dexterity, Develop Speed Bursts, Eliminate Wasted Motion, Develop Impeccable Timing, Develop Precision
See more info... |
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Lead Licks Over 200 Licks in All Styles Hal Leonard Guitar Method. Arranged by Greg Koch. Guitar Method. Book & CD Package.
See more info... |
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Harmonics (Guitar In The Style Of Lenny Breau, Ted Greene, And Ralph Towner) Written by Jamie Findlay. For guitar. Includes instructional book and examples CD.
See more info... |
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What You Must Master:
In our system, brown belt is the level where we learn ways to make music using means other than just a fretting
hand and a picking hand. You already have the theory, now we explore these great techniques that are unique to guitar.
In conjunction with these new techniques, you will develop bursts of speed using traditional picking as well.
You're fingers and mind will find a new overdrive gear that will allow you to hear in fast motion, and play in
fast motion, and still hit the notes cleanly. You will also learn to use natural harmonics in your playing.
Body:
- No-Slop Speed Work
- Tapping Techniques
- Slide Guitar Techniques
- Natural Harmonics
- False Harmonics
- Slap and Percussive Techniques
Mind:
- Musical Structures
- Variations on a Theme
- Song Writing
- Copyrighting Your Songs
Spirit:
- Variations on Cover Tunes
- Songwriting and Composition
- Emphasis on Original Tunes
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Black Belt: Giving Back
Black represents the combination of all colors. You have mastered all the basics,
You have learned how to learn. You have learned to find confidence when challenges seem daunting. You
have learned to find motivation when things seem boring. You have learned to find time to practice
and play when things are hectic. You have learned to organize your time. You have learned how to
listen critically, and how to hear. You have learned how to solve problems. You have found your own musical
voice.
Now, it's time to give back what you have learned to others. It's the only way to keep moving onward and
upward from here. Only by giving back, can you find the motivation to keep climbing upward when the air gets really thin, and
the crowds even thinner.
Studies We Recommend:
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Teaching Guitar ProfitablyYou can't teach guitar well if you can't make a living at it. This publication explains step by step the secrets behind one of the most successful Canadian guitar schools. If you are serious about teaching for a living, this book will help you avoid costly mistakes and help your business succeed.
See more info... |
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How You'll Give Back:
Body:
- Hard work habits
- Good health
- Make the commitment
Mind:
- Publishing articles
- Composing
Spirit:
- Performing
- Recording
- Teaching
Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro
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