What to Learn on Guitar in Order (Complete Roadmap)

Here's the update to my guitar learning roadmap!

Channels mentioned for backing tracks:

Here's some Amazon links to help you out. These are affiliate links so I earn a small commission, but you can still trust my recommendation because I can link any gear I want, I choose to link this stuff. I'm not sponsored by any of the manufacturers listed below.

Thanks for watching!

[LittleFlame]

Written chekclist :

Level 1
- Learn Parts of the guitar
- How to hold a guitar
- How to hold a pick
- How to down/up strum
- How to fret notes
- How to pick a single note
- Learn what is a note and how many are there
- Learn what intervals are and what are steps/half-steps
- How to tune your guitar

Level 2
- Learn what a chord is
- Learn 7 chords (E Major, E Minor, A Major, A Minor, G Major, C Major, D Major) = open chords
- Learn the basics of rythm, how to count music and different note values and learn how to apply these concepts to strumming
- Learn songs, recommended songs are :
-- For what it's worth - Buffalo Springfield
-- Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
-- Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
-- Iron Man - Black Sabbath
-- Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

Level 3
- Learn what a scale is
- Learn what a key is
- Learn the minor pentatonic scale
- Learn alternate picking
- Learn all the notes on the low E string
- Learn songs, recommended songs are :
-- Hurt - Johnny Cash
-- Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
-- Running down a dream - Tom Petty
-- House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
-- Highway to Hell - AC/DC

Level 4
- Learn the 2nd position pentatonic scale (major pentatonic)
- Learn bar chords (major and minor, 5th and 6th string roots)
- Learn what triards are
- Learn all the notes on the A string
- Learn how to identify what key is a song in
- Start to improvise some guitar solos (playing over songs or backing tracks)
- Learn songs, recommended songs are :
-- Sultan of Swing - Dire Straits
-- Layla - Derek and the Dominos
-- Wish you were here - Pink Floyd
-- Whole lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

Level 5
- Learn all 5 positions of the pentatonic scale (3 more to learn as minor and major are covered earlier)
- Learn Major/Minor diatonic scale
- Learn what is a parallel vs relative major/minor scale
- Learn the construction of major scale and the construction of the pentatonic scale
- Learn hammer-on, pull-offs, bends, vibrato, natural harmonics, pinch harmonics
- No more songs recommendations, learn what you desire and learn specific skills according to the songs

Level 6
- Learn how to harmonize the major scale
- Learn the NAshville number system
- Learn functional harmony
- Learn to identify chord changes
- Learn common chord progressions
- Understand compound time signature

Level 7
- Add 7th to triads
- Learn to play 7th chords (major 7th, minor 7th, dominant 7th, with roots on E and A strings)

Level 8
- Learn 7 diatonic modes
- Learn all scale intervals
- Learn to play solos and melodies by ear

Level 9
- Learn the CAGED system
- Learn Arpeggios (related to the previous CAGED system)
- Learn how to use chord tones in solos and melodies
- Add 7th to arpeggios
- Learn how to ear different harmonic parts to songs (how other instruments work in a song relative to the guitar)

Level 10
- Understand chord progressions beyond the 7th (9ths, 11ths, 13ths)
- Learn the harmonic Minor scale (with it's modes and arpeggios)
- Learn the melodic Minor scale (with it's modes and arpeggios)
- Specialize :)

Edit : Level 2 : corrected G Minor for C Major cause I apparently have no English listening comprehension :')

[Holy_Frets]

Exactly what I needed I'm convinced this guy knows all my thoughts

[trfisher]

Level 10: "It's a work in progress – every time you pick the thing up there's a potential of finding something totally new" ~Keith Richards~

[dracoquintas]

I've been following your original roadmap for the past couple of weeks (Which I'm super grateful for) and I was about to get ready for the next level, so this video arrived at the perfect moment.
Thank you so much for these guides, they're truly amazing, incredibly useful, entertaining and concise.

[bpilley]

Great video, thanks so much! Here are the notes I took for my personal journey...

Level 1

What are the parts of the guitar?
How to hold the guitar
How to hold a pick
Down and up strums
How to fret notes
How pick single notes
What is a note and how many notes are there?
What are intervals (half and whole steps)?
How to tune the guitar

Level 2

What is a chord?
First seven open chords
E major
E minor
A major
A minor
G major
C major
D major
Basics of rhythm (counting music and different note values)
Applying rhythm to strumming
Song suggestions:
For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show)
Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple)
Iron Man (Black Sabbath)
Seven Nation Army (White Stripes)

Level 3

What is a scale?
What is a key?
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Alternate picking
Memorize all the notes on the low E string
Song recommendations:
Hurt (Johnny Cash)
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty)
House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC)

Level 4

Major Pentatonic Scale
Barre chords (major and minor with 5th and 6th string roots)
What are triads?
Memorize all notes on the A string
Ear training - identify what key a song is in
Start improvising by playing over backing tracks
Good channels on YouTube for backing tracks:
Now You Shred
Elevated Jam Tracks
Song recommendations
Sultans of Swing (Dire Straits)
Layla (Derek and the Dominos)
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin)

Level 5

All five positions of the Pentatonic Scale
Major and Minor Diatonic Scales
What is a Parallel vs Relative Major Scale
Construction of the Major Scale
Construction of the Pentatonic Scale
Hammer Ons, Pull Offs, Bends, Vibrato, Natural Harmonics, Pinch Harmonics
Start learning whatever songs you want to learn

Level 6

How to harmonize the Major Scale (Chord Scale)
Nashville Number System
What is Functional Harmony?
Ear training - identify chord changes
Learn common chord progressions
Understand compound time signatures

Level 7

Expand on triads by adding 7th notes
Major, Minor, and Dominant 7th chords with 5th and 6th string roots

Level 8

Learn all 7 Diatonic Modes
Learn all the scale intervals
Use knowledge of scale intervals to play solos and melodies by ear

Level 9

CAGED System
Arpeggios related to the CAGED System
How to use Chord Tones
Modify arpeggios by adding the 7th notes
Hear different harmonic parts of a song

Level 10

Chord extensions beyond the 7th (9th, 11th, and 13th)
Harmonic Minor Scale and its modes and arpeggios
Melodic Minor Scale and its modes and arpeggios
How the Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic Minor Scales serve different purposes
Specialize and progress into different guitar styles/genres

[nomadexplorer]

Thanks for diving into the structured pathway to learn the art and craft of playing the guitar in this short video. Mastering 7 steps will bring good recognition.

[meowd]

I am very happy you made a updated roadmap, for this quality you being below 1m subscribers is crazy.

[pidcqrj]

You missed Level 1-50: waste inordinate amounts of time watching endless 'perfect' Youtube videos titled something like...'learn this and you will master the guitar in 5 seconds'.

[HotraOfficial]

I've never seen a guitar expert teaching guitar with a beginner mindset like this guy. He's relatable asf lmao god bless you Kev ❤🎸

[rayframe]

Great list! I'd been playing guitar self-taught for about 5 years before I discovered your channel and Justinguitar, in just three months I feel like I've gone from Level 3 to halfway into 5 thanks to these lists and concepts being laid out in a logical order! Keep doing what you do, you've been an inspiration

[seththomas]

Love your presentation and concise thoughts and roadmap. Let's get started shall we???

[Assassin_]

I was trying figure out what to do yesterday immaculate timing bro

[DanicaYu-xjrz]

please continue this, i am learning guitar started this month

[hopper]

I just found your lesson videos! I am a complete beginner, and was so lost. I will try to follow your video lesson’s. I am so excited to learn how to play the guitar.
Thanks for making these 🙏

[peterkaputsos]

Thank you. Great video that outlines a framework and progression for learning.

[shinobikinja]

Dude thank you for this. I’ve been practicing on and off for like a year. Mainly because I find myself overwhelmed with information which takes me down a rabbit hole and I end up lost, so I learn songs. I’ve been watching this video everyday because it actually makes sense. Thank you bro

[raheelshayaan]

I've been experiencing the level 5 dunning kruger effect so badly for the last couple of months. thanks for providing this and assuring me there's somewhere i can go from here :)

[drk_eys]

Exactly what i needed...i was so lost on what to do..thanks brother

[PaulStamps]

I'm at level 4 - 5 right now and I'm in that position where I do really feel like I suck so you got it right haha. I guess there's a reason why I'm watching this video.

[LisaSmith-jpnt]

you should make a detailed video for each of these levels I BEGGG. the way you explain things is perfect