Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Way of the Guitar's greatest strength?
A: The six-week training cycles are one of the site's greatest assets. They include Scale & Interval Patterns, Triads, 7th Chord Arpeggios, 7th Chord Inversions, Pentatonics & Hexatonics, Modes, and more, in all 36 Major, Melodic Minor, & Harmonic Minor keys. A watershed moment in guitar-based musicianship!
Q: I can't read standard notation... Is this site for me?
A: All courses consist of dozens of detailed video demonstrations with supporting TAB & fretboard diagrams, but you'll need to read standard notation to make best use of the training cycle PDFs (which are not entirely in TAB).
Q: I'm a beginner... Is this site for me?
A: If you know basic open position major & minor chords, you're ready to begin WOTG.
Q: I'm pretty advanced... I went to music school, and I'm a working professional. Will this stuff be too easy for me?
A: The early videos in each course will serve as a thorough review and offer a fresh perspective on the fundamentals, while the later chapters present more advanced concepts.
The six-week training cycles at the end of each course are incredibly powerful; perfect for professionals looking to maintain a professional-level technique & harmonic vocabulary with great efficiency & independent of style.
Q: It seems like Dan Cosley is a classical & jazz guitarist. I don't play those styles. Would this site be useful for me?
A: Way of the Guitar is dedicated to mastering the basic building blocks of music. The core curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of harmony, ear-training, & improvisation, which are shared by all styles & genres.
Q: How long does it take to finish the courses?
A: Students typically take 6 - 12 months to digest the video content. The courses culminate with a highly-organized six-week training system for on-going practice.
There is a lifetime (or two!) of study contained within the training cycle PDFs. The training schedule is extremely rigorous; an ambitious ideal that lends structure and continuity to our learning.
However, musicians are not machines. Most of us stumble along "The Way". The training cycles are always here, directing us towards the path out of chaos and overwhelm, and towards musical fluency.
Q: Would you advise an optimal order to study the courses?
A: The six core courses can be successfully approached in various ways: individually, in a sequence, or concurrently.
Though each course functions as a "stand-alone" study track, the original conception for the site was as a "meta-course" in the following sequence:
Scale & Interval Patterns
Triads
Pentatonics & Hexatonics
7th Chord Arpeggios
7th Chord Inversions
Modes
This is the ideal pedagogical sequence, but members have shown creativity in their use of the site. Many students have completed one or several courses out of sequence, or have studied multiple courses simultaneously.
Q: This seems like a lot of information. How can I stay motivated?
A: WOTG's certification process was created to build motivation and to assess student achievement, leading to a greater sense of accomplishment. Perfect for goal-oriented practicers, or for those who desire feedback and personalized guidance. Learn more here.
Q: Can I download the course videos and PDFs?
A: You are welcome to download the extensive PDF content for printing and offline practice. An internet connection is required to view the videos, however, which are not downloadable.
Q: What's included in the courses? How does this work?
A: Text explanations, scores with standard notation & TAB, fretboard diagrams, multi-tempo video demonstrations, practice audio & PDF's, guided-improvisation videos, and public discussion forums are all included for a well-rounded and interactive learning experience.
The video player includes a speed control for convenient practicing, checking fingering solutions, etc. (Click on the gear icon.)
Discussions are always open; Dan will personally reply and clarify any point in question.
Q: Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
A: Yes! We are confident that you'll find no resource on the internet for fretboard harmony study as comprehensive & organized as Way of the Guitar.
If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, simply let us know within 7 days of your purchase, and we will issue a complete refund. Your purchase is absolutely risk-free!