GTA Course / Section / Lesson Outline

Courses, sections, lessons and resources are shown in their current course order.

0 - GTA Student Support

General

Announcements

Student Support

Section 1 — Staff Only

Course Corrections & Edit Notes

1 - Guitar Tech Fundamentals

General — Introduction

System shared question bank

Announcements

Fundamentals Question Bank

Fundamentals Guitar Strings

Section 1 — Section 1: Why Guitars Need Professional Setup

Lesson 1.1 New Guitars Come With Problems

Lesson 1.2 Guitars Drift Out of Spec

Lesson 1.3 — Great Setups Begin With a Structured Process

Lesson 1.4 — Establishing a Baseline Before Adjustment

Review & Knowledge Check

Section 2 — Section 2 - Taking Measurements

Lesson 2.1 - Taking Measurements

Lesson 2.2 - Measurement Tools

Activity

Section 3 — Section 3 - Choosing Guitar Strings

Lesson 3.1 - String Types

Lesson 3.2 - String Materials

Lesson 3.3 - String Gauge

Review

Section 4 — Section 4 - Restringing Correctly

Lesson 4.1 - Professionals Restring For Consistency

Lesson 4.2 - Standard Restring

Lesson 4.3 - Stretching Strings

Section 4 Audio Review

Section 5 — Section 5 - Tuning

Lesson 5.1 - Tuning Basics

Lesson 5.2 - Tuning How-To

Review

Section 6 — Review & Knowledge Check

Section 1 Review — Slide Show

Section 1 Review - Audio

Quiz: Why Guitars Need Professional Setup

Section 7 — Activity

Lesson 2 - Assignment: Mastering Measurements

Section 8 — Review

Section 3 - Summary Slide Show

Review - Audio

Quiz - String Choices

Section 9 — Review

Section 4 & 5 Review - Audio

Sections 4 & 5 Knowledge Check: Restringing, Stretching and Tuning

2 - Professional Guitar Setups

General

Before You Start

Announcements

2 - Professional Guitar Setups course question bank

Section 2 - Guitar Geometry

Section 3 - Setup Standards

Setups Section 4 - Quiz

Setups Section 5 Question Bank

Setups Section 6 Question Bank

Section 7 Quiz

Setups Section 8 QB

Setups Section 9 qb

Section 1 — Section 1: The Take-In

Lesson 1.1: The Two-Hour Setup That Took a Week

Lesson 1.2: Get Decisions Now

Lesson 1.3: Job Take-In

Resource 1.4: Service Job Take-In Form

Section 1 Review - Audio

Setups Section 1 Quiz — The Take-In

Section 2 — Section 2: Applied Guitar Geometry

Lesson 2.1: Scale Length & Fret Placement

Lesson 2.2: Fretboard Radius and String Clearance

Lesson 2.3: Neck Bow, Twist and the Fret Plane

Lesson 2.4: Neck Angle and Bridge Operating Range

Lesson 2.5: Acoustic Geometry Under Tension

Section 2 Review - Audio

Setups Section 2 Quiz - Guitar Geometry

Section 3 — Section 3: Setup Standards, Specifications and Limits

Lesson 3.1: What a Professional Setup Should Deliver

Lesson 3.2: Choosing the Finished Specifications

Lesson 3.3: Tolerances, Tradeoffs and Physical Limits

Setups Section 3 Review - Audio

Setups Section 3 Quiz - Setup Standards

Section 4 — Section 4: Setup Sequence, Function and Hardware

Lesson 4.1: Setup Sequence

Lesson 4.2: Operational and Hardware Inspection

Lesson 4.3: Neck Relief

Lesson 4.4: Nut Slots

Lesson 4.5: Neck Alignment, Neck Angle and Available Adjustment Range

Setups Section 4 Review - Audio

Setups Section 4 - Quiz

Section 5 — Section 5: Action Adjustment and Pickup Height

Lesson 5.1: Setting Action on Fixed Bridges With Individual Saddles

Lesson 5.2: Setting Action on Tune-o-Matic Bridges

Lesson 5.3: Setting Action on Fender-Style Tremolo Bridges

Lesson 5.4: Setting Action on Floyd-Type Tremolo Bridges

Lesson 5.5: Setting Acoustic Guitar Action by Filing the Saddle

Lesson 5.6: Setting Pickup Height and String-to-String Balance

Section 5 Review - Audio

Setups Section 5 Quiz

Section 6 — Section 6: Frets, Fretboard and Under-String Work

6.1 Check for High and Loose Frets

6.2: Check For Sharp Fret Ends

6.3: Condition the Fretboard and Polish the Frets

6.4: Clean and Polish the Areas Normally Covered by the Strings

Setups Section 6 Review - Audio

Setups Section 6 Quiz - Frets

Section 7 — Section 7: New Strings and Stabilization

Lesson 7.1: Install the Authorized New Strings

Lesson 7.2: Install Strings on Acoustic Guitars

Lesson 7.3: Install Strings on Floyd Types

Lesson 7.4: Install Strings Classical Guitars

Section 7 Review - Audio

Setups Section 7 Quiz

Section 8 — Section 8: Intonation

Lesson 8.1: Setting Intonation on Conventional Bridges

Lesson 8.2: Setting Intonation on Floyd-Type Bridges

Lesson 8.3: Intonated Saddles, Compensated Nuts and Compensated Fret Systems

Section 8 Review - Audio

Setups Section 8 Quiz

Section 9 — Section 9: Next-Day Quality Control and Delivery

Lesson 9.1: Perform Next-Day Measured Quality Control

Lesson 9.2: Final Playability and Function Check

Lesson 9.3: Final Cleaning, Documentation and Delivery

Section 9 Review - Audio

Setups Section 9 Quiz

3 - Guitar Nutwork

General

Announcements

Before You Start

Nutwork Section 1 QB

Nutwork Section 2 QB

Nutwork Section 3 QB

Section 1 — Section 1: Diagnose Nut Problems

1.1 Nut Problems and Their Effects

1.2 Inspect the Nut and Surrounding Area

1.3 Check and Measure Nut Slot Heights

1.4 Fill, Shim or Replace?

1.5 Nut Files, Gauges and Supporting Tools

Nutwork Section 1 Review - Audio

Nutwork Section 1 Quiz

Section 2 — Section 2: Replacement Nuts and Materials

2.1 Nut Materials -- What Actually Matters

2.2 Procurement: Identify the Nut You Need

2.3 Stocking Replacement Nuts

Nutwork Section 2 Review - Audio

Nutwork Section 2 Quiz

Section 3 — Section 3: Replacing and Fitting the Nut

3.1 Remove the Old Nut

3.2 Fit and Shape the New Nut

3.3 Lay Out Slots on a Blank Nut

3.4 File the Nut Slots

3.5 — Nut Slot Geometry and Tuning Stability

Nutwork Section 3 Review - Audio

Nutwork Section 3 Quiz

4 - Fretwork

General

Announcements

Before You Start

Section 1 — Section 1 — Diagnosing Fret Problems

Lesson 1.1: Inspect Fret Wear and Damage

Lesson 1.2: Rock the Frets

Lesson 1.3: Re-Seat Loose Frets

Fretwork Section 1 Review - Audio

Section 2 — Section 2 — Replacing Existing Frets

Lesson 2.1 Remove Frets

Video - Removing Frets

Lesson 2.2 Prepare Fretboard and Slots

Lesson 2.3 Choosing, Procuring, and Preparing Fretwire

Lesson 2.4 Prepare & Install New Frets

Video - Refret

Lesson 2.5 Trim, Bevel and Dress New Fret Ends

Fretwork Section 2 Review - Audio

Section 3 — Section 3 — Level & Crown

Lesson 3.1 Level the Frets

Lesson 3.2 Crown the Frets

Lesson 3.3 Finish and Polish the Frets

Lesson 3.4 Clean and Polish the Fretboard

Fretwork Section 3 Review - Audio Note: AI audio r...

5 - Guitar Electronics & Wiring.

General

Announcements

Section 1 — Section 1 — Guitar Electronic Basics

Lesson 1.1 — How an Electric Guitar Creates a Signal

Lesson 1.2 — Passive vs. Active Electronics

Lesson 1.3 — Signal, Ground and the Complete Circuit

Lesson 1.4 — Voltage, Current and Resistance

Electronics Section 1 Review - audio

Section 2 — Section 2 — Tools, Testing & Soldering

Lesson 2.1 — Multimeter Basics

Lesson 2.2 — Continuity & Resistance Testing

Lesson 2.3 — Soldering

Electronics Section 2 Review - audio

Section 3 — Section 3 — Pickups

Pickup Wiring Color Chart

Lesson 3.1 — Pickup Construction & Operation

Lesson 3.2 — Pickup Qualities: Output, Resistance, Magnets & Coil Design

Lesson 3.3 — Single Coils vs. Humbuckers

Lesson 3.4 — Pickup Leads, Polarity & Phase

Lesson 3.5 — Evaluating a Pickup

Lesson 3.6 — Pickup Installation & Replacement

Electronics Section 3 Review - audio

Section 4 — Section 4 — Pots, Capacitors, Jacks & Controls

Lesson 4.1 — Potentiometers: Types, Values & Tapers

Lesson 4.2 — Volume Controls

Lesson 4.3 — Tone Controls

Lesson 4.4 — Blend Controls

Lesson 4.5 — Capacitors

Lesson 4.6 — Output Jacks

Lesson 4.7 — Component Selection & Replacement

Electronics Section 4 Review - audio

Section 5 — Section 5 — Reading Wiring Diagrams & Signal Flow

Lesson 5.1 — Road Maps for Electricity

Lesson 5.2 — Add Switching to the Road Map

Lesson 5.3 — Following Signal Flow

Lesson 5.4 — Following Ground Paths

Lesson 5.5 — Tracing Backward From the Output Jack

Electronics Section 5 Review - audio

Section 6 — Section 6 — Common Wiring Configurations

Lesson 6.1 — Telecaster Wiring: 2 P / 3 S / 1 V / 1 T

Resource 6.1.1 : 2 Pickup, 3-Way Switch, 1 Vol, 1 Tone

Lesson 6.2 — Les Paul / SG Wiring: 2 P / 2 V / 2 T

Lesson 6.3 — Stratocaster Wiring: 3 P / 5 S / 1 V / 2 T

Lesson 6.4 — Common Wiring Variations

Electronics Section 6 Review - audio

Section 7 — Section 7 — Switching & Wiring Options

Lesson 7.1 — Toggle Switches

Lesson 7.2 — Blade Switches

Lesson 7.3 — Coil Splits & Coil Taps

Lesson 7.4 — Series and Parallel Circuits

Lesson 7.5 — Phase Switching

Lesson 7.6 — Push-Pull Controls

Electronics Section 7 Review - audio

Section 8 — Section 8 — Grounding, Shielding & Noise

Lesson 8.1 — Grounding in the Real Guitar

Lesson 8.2 — Shielding the Guitar

Lesson 8.3 — Hum, Buzz & Noise Diagnosis

Electronics Section 8 Review - audio

Section 9 — Section 9 — Troubleshooting

9.1 Troubleshooting as a System

9.2 Trace the Signal Path Backward

9.3 Trace the Ground Network

9.4 Isolate the Fault by Symptom

Electronics Section 9 Review - audio

Section 10 — Section 10 — Active Electronics

Lesson 10.1 — How Active Guitar Electronics Work

Lesson 10.2 — Batteries, Battery Compartments, Power Switching & Stereo Jacks

Lesson 10.3 — Active Pickups

Lesson 10.4 — Onboard Preamps, EQ & Boost Circuits

Lesson 10.5 — Installing Active Systems

Lesson 10.6 — Troubleshooting Active Systems

Electronics Section 10 Review - audio

Section 11 — Section 11 — Acoustic-Electric Systems

Lesson 11.1 — Acoustic Pickup Systems

Lesson 11.2 — Undersaddle Pickups & Saddle Contact

Lesson 11.3 — Endpin Jacks & Output-Jack Installation

Lesson 11.4 — Installing Onboard Acoustic Pickup Systems

Lesson 11.5 — Internal Wiring, Batteries & Preventing Rattles

Lesson 11.6 — Acoustic Preamp, EQ & Blend Systems

Lesson 11.7 — Troubleshooting Acoustic-Electric Systems

Electronics Section 11 Review - audio

Section 12 — Section 12 — Final Electronics Service & QC

Lesson 12.1 — Final Visual Inspection

Lesson 12.2 — Functional Test of Every Control & Pickup

Lesson 12.3 — Noise, Ground & Power Checks

Lesson 12.4 — Reassembly & Mechanical Check

Lesson 12.5 — Final Amplified QC

Lesson 12.6 — Documenting Completed Work & Non-Standard Wiring

Electronics Section 12 Review - audio

6 - Common Repairs

General

Announcements

Bracing, Binding, Body Cracks and Finish Work

Section 1 — Section 1 — Practical Guitar Repairs

Lesson 1.1 — Headstock Repair

Lesson 1.2 — Acoustic Bridge Re-Glue

Lesson 1.3 — Stripped Threaded Holes & Broken Screw Repair

Lesson 1.4 — Truss Rod Nut Problems

Lesson 1.6 — Tuner Problems and Replacement Issues

Lesson 1.7 — Knowing When the Repair Becomes Luthier Work

Course Summary

0 - GTA Student Support — 1 Section — 0 Lessons

Section 1 — Staff Only — 0 Lessons

1 - Guitar Tech Fundamentals — 9 Sections — 16 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1: Why Guitars Need Professional Setup — 4 Lessons

Section 2 — Section 2 - Taking Measurements — 2 Lessons

Section 3 — Section 3 - Choosing Guitar Strings — 3 Lessons

Section 4 — Section 4 - Restringing Correctly — 3 Lessons

Section 5 — Section 5 - Tuning — 2 Lessons

Section 6 — Review & Knowledge Check — 1 Lesson

Section 7 — Activity — 0 Lessons

Section 8 — Review — 1 Lesson

Section 9 — Review — 0 Lessons

2 - Professional Guitar Setups — 9 Sections — 36 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1: The Take-In — 3 Lessons

Section 2 — Section 2: Applied Guitar Geometry — 5 Lessons

Section 3 — Section 3: Setup Standards, Specifications and Limits — 3 Lessons

Section 4 — Section 4: Setup Sequence, Function and Hardware — 5 Lessons

Section 5 — Section 5: Action Adjustment and Pickup Height — 6 Lessons

Section 6 — Section 6: Frets, Fretboard and Under-String Work — 4 Lessons

Section 7 — Section 7: New Strings and Stabilization — 4 Lessons

Section 8 — Section 8: Intonation — 3 Lessons

Section 9 — Section 9: Next-Day Quality Control and Delivery — 3 Lessons

3 - Guitar Nutwork — 3 Sections — 13 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1: Diagnose Nut Problems — 5 Lessons

Section 2 — Section 2: Replacement Nuts and Materials — 3 Lessons

Section 3 — Section 3: Replacing and Fitting the Nut — 5 Lessons

4 - Fretwork — 3 Sections — 12 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1 — Diagnosing Fret Problems — 3 Lessons

Section 2 — Section 2 — Replacing Existing Frets — 5 Lessons

Section 3 — Section 3 — Level & Crown — 4 Lessons

5 - Guitar Electronics & Wiring. — 12 Sections — 61 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1 — Guitar Electronic Basics — 4 Lessons

Section 2 — Section 2 — Tools, Testing & Soldering — 3 Lessons

Section 3 — Section 3 — Pickups — 6 Lessons

Section 4 — Section 4 — Pots, Capacitors, Jacks & Controls — 7 Lessons

Section 5 — Section 5 — Reading Wiring Diagrams & Signal Flow — 5 Lessons

Section 6 — Section 6 — Common Wiring Configurations — 4 Lessons

Section 7 — Section 7 — Switching & Wiring Options — 6 Lessons

Section 8 — Section 8 — Grounding, Shielding & Noise — 3 Lessons

Section 9 — Section 9 — Troubleshooting — 4 Lessons

Section 10 — Section 10 — Active Electronics — 6 Lessons

Section 11 — Section 11 — Acoustic-Electric Systems — 7 Lessons

Section 12 — Section 12 — Final Electronics Service & QC — 6 Lessons

6 - Common Repairs — 1 Section — 6 Lessons

Section 1 — Section 1 — Practical Guitar Repairs — 6 Lessons

Grand Total: 144 Lessons