Guitar Courses

The course was first developed at HTB because of an awareness that there are not enough musicians to lead the worship in home groups, pastorates and churches.

The guitar course has ran at HTB 3 times a year since 2000.

Many of these guitarists have gone on to the intermediate level courses, to lead worship in local churches, or play in local church bands, lead worship in a variety of contexts, even play in the band at HTB!

This is a hands on/practical resource to complement theological teaching on worship.
This is not just a guitar course but a ‘how to lead worship with the guitar’ course - At each level the student learns a repertoire of 20 worship songs and in doing so learns the basic, rudimentary skills necessary to get going as a worship leader on the guitar.

The Beginners Course:

The Beginners course is a very practical, song-based introduction to the techniques of guitar playing that requires no previous knowledge of the instrument.

On the first week of the guitar course the students perform their first song. Throughout the course the essential chord shapes are examined and the five main guitar keys (C, G, D, A, and E) and their chord families are explored. A number of songs are used as practical illustrations of each key. Students learn basic concepts of rhythm, and practice various rhythmic exercises. Over the ten weeks a repertoire of contemporary worship songs is built up by worship leaders and songwriters such as Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, and Martin Smith.

The Beginners Course: objective

By the end of the 10 sessions beginner guitarists can begin to lead worship using contemporary worship songs in the context of a pastorate or home group.

The intermediate level 1 course

Intermediate Level 1 follows on from the Beginners course. In the first three weeks the entire of the Beginners course is revised, we then go on to look at ‘barre’ chords and the concept of moving chord shapes up and down the fret board, all demonstrated with appropriate songs.

Later in the course more complex chord structures are examined: 7th chords, and chords with different bass notes.
The course also looks at transposing a song from a 'difficult' key to a “guitar friendly” key and the use of capos.
Rhythm exercises become more complex and funky and a number of worship songs that use slightly more complicated rhythms are added to the repertoire.
By the end of this level students can play a further twenty worship songs.

Intermediate Level 1 course objective

By the end of the 10 sessions Intermediate Level 1 course guitarists can continue to lead worship songs in a pastorate or home group. It is possible that more diligent students could begin to play in a church group.

The intermediate level 2 course

Intermediate Level 2 begins by revising the entire Intermediate 1 course then follows on by more thoroughly exploring 7th chords and chords with different bass notes. The concept of transposition and the use of capos are further studied. Added note chords such as Dadd2, D6 and Dsus4 are also examined.
Rhythms become increasingly 'funky' at this level and students begin to learn to use finger picking patterns.
A further seventeen more complex songs are added to the repertoire.

Intermediate Level 2 course objective

Successful students should be able to lead worship in many contexts and be able to make a contribution to the musical life of a church group.

About the Tutor

Simon Nelson Ph. D.

Simon Nelson has been a professional guitarist for nearly 30 years. Simon has lived and toured all over the world, including the USA, Bermuda and Australia.

Initially self taught, he later felt he ought to “know” something about music, and took a Bachelor of Music degree at Goldsmiths College, a Master of Arts at City University and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at City University. For the latter he wrote a thesis on the origins and evolution of blues guitar.

As a session musician Simon has recorded for the ABC in Australia, and the BBC in the UK. He has played in a touring band at Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Belfast and Newcastle Arenas and the Albert Hall with Joss Stone, Ms. Dynamite, Lee Ryan (Blue), Des'ree, Paul Jones (The Blues Band) and Heather Small.

In a worship context Simon has played in bands with Andy Piercy, Charlie Groves, Nick Herbert and Nick Drake. He has been in Dave Bilbrough’s band since 1997, appearing on Dave’s last 6 albums - including the award winning DVD This Is My Worship and the new release People Of Promise. He has appeared regularly on The God Channel and Songs of Praise.

Simon plays original music with his co-writer / brother Steve Nelson. The two brothers are also currently playing in an original band (Sadie and the Hotheads) with Oscar nominated Hollywood actress Elizabeth McGovern.

Simon has taught guitar privately for 15 years, and has, over the last five years, taught courses in guitar in the worship context for Holy Trinity Brompton, Kensington Temple, St. michael’s Chester Square and St. Mary’s Bryanston Square.