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Professional Certificate

Guitar Skills

Learn the fundamentals of chords and scales in this Guitar Skills certificate program, then choose electives that let you explore improvisation, tone, technology, and musical expression. Strengthen your technique, experiment with style and form, and build a solid foundation as you develop your own unique voice as a guitarist.

Level
Professional
Modality
Online
Courses
4 (12 Credits)
($1,575 per course)
Tuition
$6,300
($5,670 single payment)
Semester Starts
Jan 12, 2026
Accreditation
NECHE

What You'll Learn

  • To establish a strong foundation in chords, scales, and fretboard awareness using Berklee’s core guitar principles
  • To personalize your learning through electives focused on improvisation, tone shaping, music technology, or performance
  • To enhance technical ability, timing, and expressiveness across diverse styles
  • To translate theory and ear training into effective solos, chord melodies, and authentic guitar sounds
Overview Course Requirements About this Certificate Enroll Now No application required. Request Info

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Course Requirements

4 Courses to Complete this Certificate

Complete These 2 Required Courses

  • Guitar Chords 101 (OGUIT-120 • Level 1 Course)

    Add dynamics and expression to your playing and gain a greater feel for your instrument through Berklee’s approach to constructing chords and chord voicings.

  • Guitar Scales 101 (OGUIT-121 • Level 1 Course)

    Develop your technique, and learn to confidently navigate the guitar fretboard by gaining a firm understanding of scales and modes.

Choose 2 Guitar Skills Courses

  • Basic Improvisation (OPERF-110 • Level 1 Course)

    Learn an approach to improvisation that applies to all styles and instruments by studying legendary players and finding your own style by learning to develop solos on the fly.

  • Gary Burton: Jazz Improvisation (OPERF-312 • Level 3 Course)

    Learn the art of jazz improvisation from Gary Burton, one of the most renowned improvisers in the jazz world.

  • Getting Your Guitar Sound (OGUIT-223 • Level 2 Course)

    Learn to use your ears, hands, and the tools of the trade to play jazz, rock, blues, country, and other genres, with an authentic guitar tone.

  • Guitar Chords 201: Chord Melody and Inversions (OGUIT-320 • Level 3 Course)

    Improve your style, technique, and tone as you learn open triads, 7th chord structures, open triadic shapes, and inversions in a variety of musical styles

  • Guitar for Beginners (OGUIT-100 • Level 1 Course)

    This course explores foundational guitar techniques for healthy, relaxed playing, note recognition on the fretboard, chord playing with common shapes and strumming patterns, and melodic improvisation with versatile scale fingering.

  • Guitar Fundamentals (OGUIT-105 • Level 1 Course)

    Guitar Fundamentals is a comprehensive introduction to the instrument. The course explores basic techniques for chord-playing and melodic improvisation, and introduces a variety of chord forms and scale patterns.

  • Guitar Improvisation Techniques (OGUIT-420 • Level 4 Course)

    Learn to play a great guitar solo! Guitar Improvisation Techniques is for guitarists who may know the technical aspects of playing, but lack the theory needed to build a solo that moves listeners.

  • Music Technology for Guitarists (OGUIT-110 • Level 1 Course)

    Learn how to use a DAW and master guitar amplifier modeling and effects processing, in addition to several other digital technologies applicable to recording and live performance.

Upon Completion of this Certificate Program, You'll Receive:

  • Professional credential from the world leader in music education
  • Credits that may be eligible for transfer toward a Bachelor's degree program
  • A physical certificate from Berklee College of Music
  • A verified, digital certificate that you can share

Questions?

Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.

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