Guitar
$10,200
Complete certificate tuition
(Plus Registration Fee $175)
The Guitar Master Certificate Program is Berkleemusic’s most extensive guitar-focused program. With 8 courses presented over two years, you’ll fully immerse yourself in the structural fundamentals of chords and scales, and learn the major elements of three popular guitar styles: Blues, Rock, and Jazz. Once you have this wide breadth of guitar knowledge under your fingers, you’ll choose three electives to take your playing in any number of directions.
The Guitar Master Certificate begins with the basics: scale and chord study. In Guitar Scales 101 you’ll develop your technique by learning the pentatonic, blues, major, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales and their modes in most keys. You’ll apply these scales to performance-based weekly musical examples, and open up a world of possibilities within the guitar's fretboard by learning how to play these scales at different positions along the neck. In Guitar Chords 101 you’ll study Berklee’s world-renowned approach to the construction of chords, a method that focuses less on the shape, and more on the individual notes that make up the chord. You’ll gain the ability to visualize chord structures anywhere on the neck of the guitar, and learn to construct and play triads and 7th chords - the basic foundations guitarists use to write or perform in any number of different styles.
After you’ve internalized this extensive scale and chord vocabulary, you’ll move onto learning the intricacies of three of the most popular guitar styles: Blues, Rock, and Jazz. You’ll begin your style study by learning the techniques and licks of classic blues players, such as T-Bone Walker, Lightning Hopkins, B.B. King, and Magic Sam in the Blues Guitar course. You’ll build a foundation in form, control, and harmony, and learn to add more depth and feel to any other style of music. You’ll build on the blues background in Classic Rock Guitar, where you’ll study the styles of the classic rock giants, including Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Duane Allman, and David Gilmour. You’ll analyze these player’s signature works, and learn methods of improvisation, phrasing, and sound conception that are essential to the classic rock guitar technique. Rounding out the required courses in the program is the Jazz Guitar 101 course, which teaches you the basics behind the jazz language: chord/scale usage, building melodic tension, and improvisation techniques. Through the use of transcriptions and slowed-down examples, you'll study the styles of some of the most influential jazz guitarists over the past 50 years (including Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, John Scofield, Mike Stern, and Pat Martino), and learn to infuse these techniques into your playing as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
As with all master certificate programs, once you’ve completed the required coursework, you can personalize and direct your guitar studies in anyway you wish. Suggested electives for this program include Rhythm and Groove Guitar, Rock Guitar Soloing, Getting Your Guitar Sound, Basic Improvisation, and Guitar Chords 201.
By the end of this program you’ll have an incredible skill set that will provide you with a greater feel for your instrument, and the ability to add more dynamics and personality to your playing.
Substitutions may be requested for electives. Please contact our Continuing Education Registrar at registrar@berkleemusic.com or call (617) 747-2146 to see if your request suits the overall academic requirements for your chosen program.
Required Courses
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Guitar Scales 101
Larry Baione (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Organize the guitar fretboard, develop your technique, and learn to confidently navigate the instrument by gaining a firm understanding of the pentatonic, blues, major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales and their modes.
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Guitar Chords 101
Rick Peckham (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Add more dynamics and expression to your playing and gain a greater feel for your instrument by learning Berklee's approach to the construction of chords and chord voicings.
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Blues Guitar
Michael Williams (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn the techniques and licks of classic blues stylists, such as T-Bone Walker, Lightning Hopkins, B.B. King, and Magic Sam. Gain a foundation in form, control, feel, and harmony that will help to bring a blues sound to your playing or add more depth to any other style of music.
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Jazz Guitar 101
Bruce Saunders (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Study the styles of some of the most influential jazz guitarists, and learn the basics behind the jazz language: chord/scale usage, building melodic tension, and improvisation techniques.
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Classic Rock Guitar
Joe Musella (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Elevate your playing by learning the styles and techniques of the architects of classic rock guitar: Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, Gilmour, and Page.
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+ 3 Elective Courses ↓
Recommended Electives
Please contact our Continuing Education Registrar to request elective substitutions.
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Getting Your Guitar Sound
Dan Bowden (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn to use your ears, hands, and the tools of the trade to play jazz, rock, blues, country and other genres, with a hi-quality, authentic and persuasive guitar tone.
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Rhythm and Groove Guitar
Bruce Bartlett (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn the rhythmic techniques and chord tools that are the foundation of groove-based music. Expand your chord knowledge and learn to construct original rhythm guitar grooves that you can apply to a wide variety of music styles.
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Jazz Guitar 201: Advanced Jazz Guitar Improvisation
Bruce Saunders (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Develop your jazz guitar performance skills by learning advanced techniques to improvise over chord changes, both in traditional “standards” and complex modern harmony.
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Funk/Rock and R&B Guitar Soloing
Thaddeus Hogarth (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn the appropriate scales, the best use of effects, and the rhythmic and melodic timing to create an authentic funk-based solo and sound.
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Rock Guitar Soloing
Robin Stone (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn to play a great rock guitar solo! Rock Guitar Soloing is designed to help guitarists who may have learned the technical aspects of playing, but lack the theoretical application of the musical elements that make up a strong solo that moves the listener.
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Basic Improvisation
Jim Odgren, Matt Marvuglio, Edward Tomassi (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn a step-by-step approach to improvisation that applies to all styles and any instrument. Develop your solos by studying the riffs and licks of legendary players, and learn to incorporate the inflexions, feel, and nuances of the masters into your own playing!
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Guitar Chords 201: Chord Melody and Inversions
Rick Peckham (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Master Berklee’s approach to playing guitar chords. Improve your style, intonation, technique, time feel, and tone in this in-depth course. Explore open triads, seventh chord structures, open triadic shapes, and inversions in a variety of musical styles.
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