[Intermediate] Hit Songs Made Easy

Hit Songs Made Easy: Intermediate 🎸

You’ve been playing for years—but somehow, you keep sounding like the same guitarist.

You’ve learned plenty on your own, picked up songs from YouTube, and developed a style that gets you through. But certain techniques still won’t click, familiar habits keep taking over, and another tutorial isn’t giving you the feedback you need.

This six-week workshop is for self-taught guitarists ready to get unstuck and move beyond open-position chords. Our focus is power chords, bar chords, and learning to navigate farther up the neck—using hit songs as the practical guide.

You’ll explore root-and-fifth power chords through “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, use “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes to connect fret markers with notes across the neck, and begin working with bar chords through “Sweet Jane” by Cowboy Junkies.

Over six weeks, you’ll:
🎸 Build and move power-chord shapes with more confidence
🧭 Use fret markers to find your way around the neck
🎵 Start recognizing notes and patterns beyond the first few frets
🎶 Develop bar-chord technique through real songs
🛠️ Break out of familiar chord, rhythm, and playing habits
👂 Strengthen timing, listening, and musical awareness while playing
🤝 Get real-time feedback and enjoy making music with others

You don’t need to start over. You need fresh ideas, focused guidance, and a chance to put your skills to work with other musicians.

By the end of the series, you’ll have a better command of the neck, a stronger rock-and-roll toolkit, and more freedom to play beyond the shapes you already know.

📅 Dates: Saturdays – September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 17 & 24
🕔 Time: 7:00 – 7:55 PM
🏠 Location: Highland Park Community Centre (3716 2 St NW, Calgary, AB T2K 0Y4)
💵 Fee: $20 per session
✅ What to bring: your guitar, handouts from the 1st session (if you missed it, you can download the files from a link we will share after your registration), tuner (optional), music stand (optional)
👨‍🏫 Instructor: Kent McAlister
Kent brings more than 25 years of teaching experience, formal guitar studies at Vancouver Community College and Vancouver Island University, and a distinguished career as a performer and songwriter. He has released three albums, toured Canada, headlined festivals, and shared stages with Rosanne Cash, The Tennessee Three, and Corb Lund. His practical, personalized teaching helps students build fundamentals through songs they enjoy.