Guitarist Skills Focus

WALT: Identify key features of a guitarist’s style and translate TAB notation into expressive guitar playing.

This lesson focuses on understanding a specific guitarist's technique and style, as well as reinforcing TAB reading skills for guitar performance. It supports the “Performance” unit where students develop practical musicianship by interpreting and performing as a guitarist would.

Curriculum Links

Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for The Arts: Music Level 4 (Year 8):

Achievement Objective 4: Music Practical Knowledge and Skills Perform and compose music, demonstrating technical skills with instruments and using notation systems to support learning and performance.

Key Competencies:

• Thinking: Students analyse the unique style and sound of a chosen guitarist, relate this to TAB notation, and problem-solve ways to replicate techniques on guitar.
• Using language, symbols, and texts: Interpreting guitar TAB as a symbolic language linked to expressive musical choices.
• Managing self: Developing focus and self-monitoring in practising techniques to build authentic performance skills.

Duration

15 minutes

Class Size

5 students

Lesson Outline

1. Introduction (4 minutes)

• Introduce the chosen guitarist (e.g., Jimi Hendrix, Joan Armatrading, or a New Zealand guitarist relevant to the students' interests).
• Show a brief video or audio clip of the guitarist’s playing style to highlight distinctive musical techniques (e.g., bends, slides, vibrato, finger placement).
• Discuss how guitarists interpret TAB notation uniquely based on their style.
• Present a simple TAB line similar to the one previously used (notes on high E and B strings, frets 0, 2, 3).
• Explain Success Criteria for this lesson:
• Identify strings and frets using TAB.
• Notice stylistic elements such as note duration, attack, or expressive techniques common to the guitarist.
• Attempt to emulate expressive techniques while playing the notes.

2. Guided Practice (6 minutes)

• Each student receives a guitar.
• Demonstrate the first note on the TAB slowly, noting fret and string, while showing how the guitarist might play it: e.g., gently bend the note, add vibrato, or pluck softly.
• Students try playing the note exactly as both TAB and the guitarist’s style indicate.
• Continue with notes on frets 2 and 3 and open strings on the B and high E strings, repeating the process.
• Encourage students to verbalise: e.g., “This note is on the high E string, 3rd fret, played with a slight bend like the guitarist.”
• Provide gentle correction focusing on finger placement and expressive technique, not just accuracy.

3. Independent Practice (4 minutes)

• Students receive the TAB visual again.
• Challenge students to play the full TAB line incorporating the stylistic choices discussed (e.g., articulate holes with vibrato, slides).
• Teacher circulates, encouraging individual adjustment and authentic expression in technique, supporting students with reminders of success criteria.

4. Wrap-Up and Reflection (1 minute)

• Students share their experiences:
• What did you notice about the guitarist’s style?
• Which expressive techniques did you try?
• How did following the success criteria help you play more like the guitarist?
• Reinforce the value of learning both technical reading of TAB and the personal style of musicians to enhance performance confidence and creativity.

Assessment & Feedback

• Formative: Observe students during practice, checking if they:
• Correctly identify strings and frets from TAB.
• Incorporate the expressive techniques characteristic of the guitarist.
• Self-monitor and adjust their playing.
• Use guiding questions like: “How does this guitarist make this note sound special?” and “What technique can you use to copy that?”
• Provide positive, specific feedback that highlights both technical accuracy and expressive playing.

Resources Needed

• Acoustical guitars (one per student)
• Audio/video clip demonstrating guitarist’s style
• Simple guitar TAB focusing on frets 0, 2, and 3 on B and high E strings
• Visual success criteria chart showing: string identification, fret counting, expressive technique reminders (e.g., bend, vibrato)

Extension Ideas (for future lessons)

• Analyse and perform longer TAB passages from the guitarist’s repertoire.
• Explore how other genres or guitarists use TAB differently to shape their stylistic expression.
• Compose a short TAB line inspired by the guitarist's techniques and style.

This plan closely follows the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh by emphasising practical musicianship, technical understanding, expressive performance, and reflection, tailored to Year 8 students. The focus on a guitarist’s style connects technical skills with musical identity and creativity, supporting student engagement and deep learning within the Performance unit. It balances structure with exploration and fosters both technical fluency and artistic interpretation.