What to Learn on Guitar in Order (Complete Roadmap)

Here's the update to my guitar learning roadmap!
Channels mentioned for backing tracks:
Now You Shred: / @nowyoushred
Elevated Jam Tracks: / @elevatedjamtracks
Follow me on Instagram: / kevinnickens
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.
Cheap-ish acoustic I like: amzn.to/44IxFmK
Very cheap acoustic guitar (not great but better than nothing): amzn.to/44teYUg
Best acoustic guitar for anyone (I use this guitar in all the videos): amzn.to/3JYzLXB
Best electric guitar for beginners: amzn.to/3rAYYkk
I LOVE this electric guitar: amzn.to/3pHY1qb
Electric guitar with humbuckers (I love this too): amzn.to/44Fpat7
Here's the best tuner in the world: amzn.to/3XOizdb
This tuner is not as good but its fine and cheaper: amzn.to/46LUjwj
The strings I like for electric: amzn.to/3Oc3L4G
The strings I like for acoustic: amzn.to/3JZ4mV7
Decent guitar cable: amzn.to/3NPytiN
Really nice guitar cable: amzn.to/46PnChh
Comfortable guitar strap: amzn.to/3pGpt7L
The picks I like for acoustic: amzn.to/3PRCExa
The picks I like for electric: amzn.to/3Ochusn
The picks I recommend for beginners: amzn.to/44l80AC
Awesome amp for beginners: amzn.to/3OoUXJ7
Cheapest amp that's not terrible: amzn.to/43sMOHR
The capo I use: amzn.to/3rsWjcA
String changer tool: amzn.to/44M3meC
Sunglasses I wear at night: amzn.to/46RrNJu
Wall Hook: amzn.to/3rpm0uB
Guitar Stand: amzn.to/3OgngcD
Strap Locks I use: amzn.to/3XQpxOy
Hearing Protection I like: amzn.to/44HKayO or amzn.to/3DeXteh
The headphones I like: amzn.to/46O529k
The microphone I use: amzn.to/3rm53RE
The audio recorder I use: amzn.to/44oVhgt
The audio interface I use: amzn.to/46JjCzb
A smaller (cheaper) version of that audio interface: amzn.to/3JXRr5G
Decent XLR cables: amzn.to/44qRAXp
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My main lens: amzn.to/3XUfKY7
My second lens: amzn.to/44q8428
The lights I use: amzn.to/3Dcn4EX
Thanks for watching!

[@LittleFlame1403]

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 :')

[@lluvv.swastika]

Thank you 💕

[@developer_anirban]

thanks brother ❤

[@skandhaprasath2767]

My..god..thanks a lot! 😮

[@daniel6406]

thank

[@sorinciobanu4561]

I have found this solution. I have searched for a paid course and i stick with it because many paid courses have all stoff what a beginner need it. Many paid courses are made by teachers and they know very well what we need. Then i would searching on youtube for specific technics, etc. We all know the problem on youtube. Too much stoff and you will end up only to searching forever.

[@Holy_Frets]

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

[@kevinnickens]

Next video is going to be "How to Read Minds In Order"

[@Holy_Frets]

@@kevinnickens 😂

[@richardaldridge2971]

I’m saying!! I swear everytime I have an issue and then he just uploads something and it helps me. Never fails.

[@dreamhiking1032]

😂😂

[@nomadexplorer6682]

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.

[@Arbuckle_A]

I've been looking for information like this for years! Thank you.

[@danasonic6557]

A MASSIVE THANK YOU FOR THIS FILM!!

[@dracoquintas9141]

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.

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks!

[@entertoby6698]

Wrote down all the levels. This is exactly what I needed, thank you for making this video!!!

[@shinobikinja934]

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

[@diegor.1905]

Had been looking to create a trackable route on paper but this Video does just that, really appreciate how you broke it down

[@user-pi9dc8qr1j]

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

[@kevinnickens]

I did miss that one, it’s a critical part of the process

[@Name-bo4ox]

Very important one!

[@meowd8902]

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

[@trfisher78]

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~

[@blackcitadel37]

That from a guy old as Earth itself is inspiring.

[@projectprobe4460]

This is great , got me all excited again , love playing hurt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@therockbox4979]

Can't thank you enough for this roadmap! I started teaching myself a couple of months ago, and very recently came to a point where I needed some guidance on how to continue, and in what order to learn things. Keep up the great work and content buddy!! Have a good day

[@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.

[@joshfueled]

thanks for the video, it gives me more self confidence to learn in my isolated, cramped and dark environment with no outside guidance what so ever your shirt is awesome

[@drk_ey3s699]

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

[@DanicaYu-xj3rz]

please continue this, i am learning guitar started this month

[@thequakevids6827]

going from bass too guitar and already being at level 5 is the affirmation I needed, thank you

[@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 KZbin 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

[@harshivnaik]

Appreciate this so much! Big Thanks!

[@koffiefilter]

Thanks bro, appreciate that you took the time ❤

[@kumodits]

Very much appreciated for this. Thanks a lot.

[@RoyRope]

Legend

[@tamaraalden1695]

real one, appreciate it 🙏🙏🙏

[@sampetrie9177]

Super helpful video, love it!

[@JeeliBeeli]

This vid is perfect and perfect timing. Its so overwhelming to know what you should be doing next. Using this as my guide now

[@kevinnickens]

So glad to hear that!

[@Amia1301]

So thankful for this video you're awesome

[@rayframe6370]

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

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks so much! Great work progressing so quickly!

[@mohammadsharififard1686]

After finishing level 3 on the previous roadmap a few months back, I got lost in the wild world of tones and favorite songs, but now I'm back to continue the real journey! Thanks for the update!

[@ritesharyal2815]

Liked the way you summarised everything in one video so that I can visualise myself the scale of 1-10. Looking like more-more to learn.

[@joeplayer8980]

Thanks for this video. Watched a bunch of your videos before, but only bought my first guitar not even 24 hours ago (an Epiphone SG Custom). Getting my Amp delivered in a few days, but started practicing with your "Your First 7 Days of Learning Guitar Should Look like THIS" video already - never too early to learn how to move my fingers. An unplugged electric guitar is actually helping me a lot - even though I'm accidentally touching adjacent strings it doesn't bother me nearly as much as when I tried learning acoustic guitar a couple of years ago, where it would constantly sound just really wrong. I'm sure I'll improve if I keep trying to press just the string I want to press. Looking forward to learning with your videos.

[@mr.frigid]

Thanks for the emphasis on going the distance...Happy Strumming y'all

[@iamzumie]

Thanks Kevin. This helpend me feeling mess anxious about being overwhelmed with everything i should learn. Im at level 3.

[@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 :)

[@PmoneySkates]

I’m in the right place you listed everything I wanna practice step by step in the beginning as a beginner

[@moneirkhoury9270]

Greta job! I wish I had some direction when I first started.

[@gergemall]

New subscriber ❤🎸. OMG you nailed it Kevin . 68 year old guitarist since 9 years old. I’m definitely moving out of intermediate guitar prison. I learned to play by ear . Replaying the record over and over. Now the technology is another learning curve which is life changing. Jazz chords keep calling out to me. I’m blessed to have hands that work really well. Thank you Kevin . It’s infinite like computers.. infinite. Bless you

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the videos!

[@vintagesoul73911]

This is a huge help.

[@Wozniak_15]

Man I've been researching on this topic for a week now. Cudnt find a good exact one. Thanks !!!! With so much info on KZbin you just get lost and can't improve ttat way

[@fakharuddinbhatti8982]

Thank you for this Brother..I am learning guitar and I was like hel confused what and where to Start...Your video is perfect roadmap ❤❤❤❤

[@calebmcgrady9336]

Been playing for about 20 years and Ive been stuck on level 5 (maybe 5.5). Time to up my game, this was super helpful!

[@Robert-pt2jz]

My learning has been back asswords from this. I am a huge nerd that likes to know the why/hoe of everything, so i delved into intervals, building scales, diatonic harmony and functions before i could ever even play my first song. Still so much i have to learn though, but right now im just catching up learning songs, i agree with you at step 5, dont be afraid to learn any song, if its more difficult and you stick with it, it will improve your playing. In working on the 3rd movement of La Catedral, and the first couple sections have these pretty brutal chords with pinky hammerons that ive never done, but i can feel the practice improving my general fretting speed and strength. Practicing songs above your skill level can help you grow. Lots of classical music, some metallica and RHCP have some really good songs to help you grow, but pick anything you like.

[@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 ❤🎸

[@bearzenn]

I was literally thinking about this exact thing this morning, was thinking about what direction I go with the guitar.

[@jacobpage8028]

Im still around level 2, and now i'm terrified. If i don't get actual guitar lessons, i would die trying to find ALL this stuff. At least i know i need to find it now, so thanks.

[@b20will83]

youtube dude! I’m on step 4 ish, and he gave me some good things to go back and focus on as i’m kinda stuck right now. Just look up one topic, and find someone who explains it in a way you can understand. Then practice!

[@Kevinschart]

He's giving you all the specific steps but really hes saying 5 things. Learn the major scale and how to make other scales out of it. Learn your arpeggios and intervals. Learn your triads. Learn your 7th chords and barre chords. Learn how to improv. Learn CAGED. He's given you everything you need to learn now you just need to practice everyday for 18 to 24 months.

[@robbaldwin2402]

Only 10 steps away from mastering guitar, but forever steps away from papa respecting me. Sigh. * riffs away *

[@user-jz7qs6is6l]

Stuck in school for like 5 more hours. I wanna go cry in the shower

[@heyitsFluxxy]

*sad Stairway to Heaven plays*

[@Caboose-mg1vi]

Maybe you should try, after I picked up guitar was the first time my dad ever said he was proud of me

[@debir4111]

My dad passed away when I was 23 and still a screw up. I have his guitar and now that I’m the age he was I am trying to learn on it. I wish he was here to know that.

[@davidsnyder4362]

I recently listened to your video, 0 to 6 levels, before I came across this 1 to 10 levels video. They were both very enlightening, but the 1 to 10 has more detail. I've been hacking around on a guitar for 50 yrs or so, off and on mostly self-taught. I will use your 1 to 10 to fill in the gaps in my playing. Thank you, this is a big help. Now I have a syllabus to learn by. Thank you again.

[@kevinnickens]

Glad that the roadmap videos are helping!

[@kinsartanimation6618]

Thank you so much iv been play for one year and now have a gole... find the z not or the & note

[@AndreKrell]

Great video, mate. Thaks for sharing (and for the jokes). I've started learning about 3 years ago and given I should have another 40 year ahead of me I might get to level 6 😛

[@Assassin_939]

20 minutes ago? This is Perfect thank you man

[@shalaq]

I am a total beginner with some knowledge of harmony and the CAGED system works well for me. I always use it as a warmup and use it to learn the root notes on the guitar.

[@cjrenner9311]

Awesome roadmap, thanks a lot! Maybe include fingerpicking somewhere. In know it's kinda style specific, but it's also a great topic to learn.

[@danielsad7388]

Thank you! You should try making a theory course based on this video😘

[@ArthurGenius]

thank you

[@nickmendens76]

This actually made things clearer. The caged system is not for the lower levels like myself.

[@GearShifter925]

Thanks A LOTS... for this video....!!!!! 🙏🏻 Actually i was very confused 🙄 🤯 🥴 😩 in learning what/How/Why to learn about Guitar. I choosed KZbin as a medium.. where i could learn to play Guitar from Great Music teachers/ Great Guitarists. ( Like you 😊 ) After watching your this video...I found myself to be on 3 LEVEL only...and i laughed out at myself i was trying to learn CAGED SYSTEM, TRIADS etc. 🤣🤭😄 Which is above so high my LEVEL...!!!!! With the help of your step by step LEVELS... Now i felt clear about what's to go for NEXT... next hurdle. And by the way... Here I'm your NEW SUBSCRIBER... NEW STUDENT... From INDIA ( northeast ). 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@randomhockeyguy9149]

I've been playing infrequently for 10 years (more time spent in the earlier years), self taught through a lot of KZbin, RockSmith, Youcisian and other apps. I still feel I'm an advanced beginner. The biggest gaps in my playing seem to be a good set of practice routines to build up chord changing speed, whether from open to open chord, or from barre chord to open to a CAGED shape chord, etc...and memorizing the fretboard. There are tons of fretboard memorization videos out there (I still need to watch yours), and I feel I am fairly decent at knowing what notes are at what fret...when I'm sitting still looking at the fretboard. The actual memorization to know that going from the 6th string 5 fret to the 4th string 3rd fret while in the middle of playing...not there.

[@alextrainor2552]

Learn to play easy songs by ear was the first thing i did and thats the only thing ive done so far in the last 18 years

[@Assassin_939]

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

[@kevinnickens]

Haha cool

[@halo-guitar]

Thanks, very nice map! I think I've already learned a good portion of every level, but this helps a lot to fill the gaps. I suppose the order of what you learn depends a lot on what you want to play. Example: I've learned arpeggios quite early as this is a pretty fundamental concept in the world of classical guitar. But of course, you can always go deeper and deeper on every level/topic.

[@phanindravadali6283]

Amazing video. I just started two weeks ago and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about practice routines for each level or a general progression of the routines themselves as I get through them?

[@joysabol6167]

“The last day you will ever be happy with your guitar playing was yesterday.” Love it.

[@user-ph6id5xu7u]

I honestly think scales are components of music expression so being clear about our goal in long-term help i guess since we are aware what we wann learn and stuff

[@nadiaaraujo209]

Nice! I'm on level 3 with just 1 month of learning 🎉 (and 6 months of ukulele play around) This is a nice roadmap. Good work!

[@kevinnickens]

Congrats! Thanks!

[@williamtyson9829]

Clearly from what I have learned so far, impressing women & earning the respect of my father are not guaranteed on this journey- but playing music is!

[@ensoniq2k]

This is all true. I'd like to add rythm as a key component to learning. A lot of people learn scales and cane even shred them fast up and down, but they never really learned to groove. Even if you only know one pentatonic shape you can already play awesome solos if you can "feel the music" and do interesting progressions. You don't even have to be fast, this works even if you still have to think about the finger positons.

[@archerpence]

Heyoooo! Thanks!

[@m1ni166]

thank yo

[@seanhallahan14]

Thank you SO MUCH!! I suck.

[@slimshady3116]

Thank you, in a month, it will be one year since i started, I'm actually happy for what I did right now, but I'm really getting frustrated cause i wanna know what I'm doing, I just need to KNOW what I'm playing and how things connect together, also i wanna stop abusing pentatonic scales and improvise in a more "complex" way. THANK YOU

[@daltonlouzada627]

Nice job! Very important levels I think should be added: Know your gear (Guitar maintenance, mods, different types of guitar, Les Paul, Strato, Telecaster, pedals, amps, multi effects programming, recording guitar and the most important.. play in a band. Playing with other people is an entirely different experience that involves much more complexity than playing alone with backing tracks.

[@kevinnickens]

Good point! I totally agree with all of that. Making a note for the next update!

[@LysergicWolf]

Great video as always. Just a quick question, do you have an interest with the grateful dead if so will you ever do a video covering their music etc jerry garcia mannerisms or anything like that thanks

[@gothicunicorn1747]

Kevin, I just want to thank you. I have been watching your videos off and on for a while. And I have finally decided to take this passion up. I have recently been diagnosed with autism where I stim alot and after picking up a guitar I realized that I don't stim while I am focused on finger placement and strumming patterns. Between this video and the ones of your teaching your father, you have inspired me. I want to learn the right way. Not just playing tablature. So, thank you. You have given me a sense of peace that you'll probably never understand. 🙏

[@ahmadaayan4175]

God bless 🙏🏿

[@JaRew]

I’m always happy when I see your videos. Idk why KZbin does send them to me more often… what’s up KZbin!?

[@kevinnickens]

C’mon KZbin!

[@Guitar_Channel1024]

nice vid

[@user-ok5xe1ub8b]

Lol, Ive rewatched level 5 an infinite amount of times. Still not convinced im not the worst guitarist of all time😅 This is spot on!

[@nato_potato3505]

This was released just in time as i just started last week!

[@pegasus9536]

this roadmap saved my life.

[@rockyrankin11]

Crazy not mentioning anything about diminished and augmented scales. I find that’s where you really start to understand the notes in between

[@tomm5023]

I’m all over all levels 🎉

[@heatherwolfinger5709]

Hey you should make a roadmap for intermediate and advanced players. That would be super helpful.

[@crisrobiou]

YOU THE GOAT!!!!

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks!

[@jnewbrickbuilds9792]

I’ve been playing for a year. I can play these solos, the final countdown, crazy train ( the legato at the end isn’t the best), master of puppets both solos, Viking Kong, Johnny B Goode, hotel California, winds of change, and parts of many others. What do I need to learn now?

[@grave8590]

Now all I need is a guitar!

[@AllegraValentineChannel]

I see... got a long way to go~

[@haroldbaker555]

Feels good I'm in level 9 or 10 (I still suck)

[@kaboomsihal1164]

my dude I was happy with my guitar playing when I didn't have one yet, I was happy when I plugged it in for the first time, I was happy when I learned my first chord. And guess what, I still have a mental tail wagging every time I play a little riff or find a particularly satisfying chord progression. If you are playing for fun and you're not happy then why play? Having goals is not the same as being unhappy.

[@mabblers]

A life time of learning.

[@moosesandmeese969]

Great video, really glad you made this. Small note: You have Dunning Kruger effect and imposter syndrome mixed up. Imposter syndrome is when you think you're shit at what you're doing when when you're actually pretty good, while Dunning Kruger is the opposite when you think you're great but you're actually shit.

[@robp775]

You're absolutely right, but I think he was referring to the "there's a lot more to this than what I first thought..." realization point on the curve. The point where you first consciously realize how much more there is to learn.

[@dinckelman]

I kind of wish I had these resources when I started playing, years ago, because I've developed both bad technique, and bad habits, and now it's incredibly difficult to unlearn. The internet is flooded with tutorials, that go from "here's how a guitar looks", immediately to "here's how you play scales at 300bpm", with nothing in between

[@Kevinschart]

Hey guys. This is a solid lesson plan and you can do all this without a teacher. If you follow these steps and practice daily you'll be able to play the guitar fairly well in less than 2 years. You will have all the physical parts on playing under control. Just be sure to make time to play for fun after practice, play along with your favorite albums, and learn some melodies etc.

[@frugal9065]

Bar chords are one of the first things I learned 😅 this video really made me feel like i have gaps in my learning as I’ve been playing almost 4 years now. I barely know the notes past the a string and i suck at lead stuff lol

[@nik9470]

My learn path: - Level 1: Learn basics like you said - Level 2: Learn open chords and all transitions between them - Level 3: Learn songs based on level 2 as much as you want + 2-3 basic strumming pattern. (also if you want add metronome, but its better to develop it in your brain by itself. Or counting loudly 1/2/3/4... ) - Level 4: learn barre, while learning new song with F chord - Level 5: learn songs with a lot of barre and power chords, learn different strumming pattern, mix them - Level 6: learn fingerstyle (could be added previously) by doing also your prefered songs. Learn tabs/notations - Level 7: Learn all the techniques like hammer ons, pull offs etc. If you practiced good enought and consistent always by hard-trying - here is the point at 6 months +/- somebody will do it faster, somebody slower, but 1 year should be 100% reachable. Nothing will be perfect, but here is time to keep practicing everything you have learned. Nail it for (unlimited time). Here comes endless amount of levels, theory (if you want) and so on. a lot of different ways and styles. I.e. you liked fingerstyle or you liked more strumming, power chords, rock and so on. What I really don't and cant understand is the part with all that scales practice almost from beginning. If you want to learn exactly specific songs - why do you need that? If you want to play in first place. So many times I read posts on different forums like "I learn 3 years and I cant play anything". Do you want that? Do it only if you want to start giging with others or improvising. To repeat your lovely songs - its not needed. But for giging and improvising - you already should have at least level 5. So there is really NO need to do that before. I also have at least 3 friends who gave up. I asked them, what did they do? - "yeah, i saw YT video, people said I have to practice scales and I did that...". Its so harmful for beginners without teacher/music school. Really

[@daisies711]

I swear the album covers flashing on his guitar is for our attention spans lol

[@kevinnickens]

You’re exactly right

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Does anyone have any links for this kind of video for other instruments like Saxophone or drums or BASS, please? Thanks!

[@TopoIl12]

I just realized I've got it cover till level 8 and then the rest i have it mixed up,like i know the harmonic minor scale , diminished and half diminished chords and even some extended like the 9ths but I'm not familiar with the diatonic modes 😂😂😂

[@vipingaur6332]

Great! We'll appreciate a PDF roadmap, so that we can gauge ourselves everyday on it..

[@kevinnickens]

That's a great idea!

[@marktorres2724]

Thanks a lot for the video it’s helping me get an understanding what i should learn next 🫡 you a real one ☝️

[@bumfitmusic101]

Dylan actually wrote Wagon Wheel. Old Crow covered and popularized it. Rucker wrecked it.

[@bd1630]

There’s no written roadmap we could print out or copy to computer to edit as we progress?

[@kevinbuenoartbywave]

will you update your playlist?

[@philbrook6855]

Question about the CAGED system, I've read/watched how it can be extremely beneficial for a burgeoning guitarist (once they have a grasp of intervals, scales, and fretboard notes). You put it at level 10, can you speak to that? I'd imagine that it would be somewhere in the 3-6 range. Thanks Kevin! Love the updated version sir.

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks for the question Phil! I put the CAGED system in level 9 because I think that it’s something too many guitarists try to tackle too early. There are a lot of uses for the caged system, but I think the chief use of it is narrowing down the important notes from the diatonic modes. So as a prerequisite, you should learn the modes, before that is all 5 positions of the pentatonic scale, etc. Basically, I think the caged system only really starts to become super useful later down the roadmap.

[@philbrook6855]

@@kevinnickens Thanks for the clarification Nick, like you've said before... there's a lot of 'Information' floating out there in the ether like poop in a toilet =)

[@havenless3551]

In all honesty a lot of people rush to learn the CAGED system because it lets them play across the fretboard instead of just being able to play open chords. But the important part is understanding what triads and triad inversions are and how barre chords are built, then you should have absolutely no problem understanding what's being played when people are using the CAGED shapes. Memorizing shapes is fine as long as you can work backwards and figure out where the Root, the major 3rd, and the perfect 5th are, and everything else. The problem is when people memorize the shapes of the CAGED system and have zero understanding of what they're playing, they just memorize the finger positions and the order

[@kevinnickens]

@@havenless3551 very well said. I’ve been thinking about making a caged system video with emphasis on when you should learn it, ie definitely not right away

[@philbrook6855]

@@kevinnickens That's a video I'd definitely love to see, I come from a classical guitar background and our approach to playing diverges almost from the start vs contemporary guitar. With classical we learn notes, sight read and focus on techniques where as this is something I can use to comfortably play across the board to every genre. Can't wait!

[@Speyside]

I’ve definitely been looking for this type of “what should I learn next” guidance for a while. Interesting that none of the levels include “learn all the notes on the fretboard”-just mentions learning them on the E and A strings. Any particular reason for that? I would think somewhere between Level 8 and 10 at least that would become important.

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks for watching! I recommend learning the notes on the e string and a string first (in that order) because if you know those notes, you can locate scales and bar chords. The notes on the other strings are still useful, but mostly for music theory purposes, which is why they’re further down the roadmap