[Beginner] Hit Songs Made Easy

Hit Songs Made Easy: Beginners 🎸

You know a few chords. You can play a couple of songs. But lately, it feels like you’re going in circles.

Maybe you’re great at following YouTube tutorials—pause, rewind, copy the fingers, repeat—but without the video, you’re not quite sure what to play or why it works.

This six-week workshop is for guitarists who are past the absolute-beginner stage and ready for their next “belt” in guitar playing: the F chord. We’ll make this essential, often-intimidating chord more approachable, then use it in familiar songs to build stronger chord changes, steadier rhythm, and greater confidence.

Songs may include “Lost Together” by Blue Rodeo, “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty, “Hey Good Lookin’” by Hank Williams, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “Take It Easy” by the Eagles.

Over six weeks, you’ll:
🎵 Add the F chord and other useful shapes to the chords you already know
🪕 Practice both flowing, syncopated strumming and punchy all-downstrum rock-and-roll patterns
🎶 Learn how chord progressions work inside real songs
💪 Improve chord changes and clean up buzzing or muted notes
👂 Recognize common rhythms, progressions, and song structures
🧭 Build the skills to learn songs with less hand-holding

You don’t need to abandon YouTube or memorize a pile of theory. You just need a clearer map—and a little time with songs worth playing.

By the end of the series, you’ll have a more reliable F chord, a stronger rhythmic foundation, several familiar songs to play, and a clearer sense of what to work on next.

📅 Dates: Saturdays – September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 17 & 24
🕔 Time: 6:00 – 6:55 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 past session (if you missed them, 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.