Guitar for Beginners: Play Chords and Simple Songs (Berklee)

For the adult who likes a syllabus. Taught by Thaddeus Hogarth, this short Berklee course feels like a college class: six modules running from choosing a guitar and accessories through tuning, picking, strumming and fingerpicking to power chords, barre chords and a first song with the pentatonic scale. Coursera estimates about two weeks at ten hours a week, so treat it as a solid foundation rather than three months of material. It enrolls for free, though some course materials and the certificate may need the paid option. Covers acoustic and electric alike.