Title page bk1

Copyright, 2004 Rock Star Recipes Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
Contents
Preface ...........................................................................................5
Introduction.......................................................................................6
Lesson:
1. Motivation and practice, introduction to chord diagrams, A major
chord, D major chord, introduction to reading guitar tablature..................10
2. Keeping an open mind, introduction to strumming, notes on the
treble clef, first string notes, second string notes.................................15
3. Patience and discipline, E major chord, the repeat sign, notes on
the third string.......................................................................19
4. The key to good practice, G major chord, C major chord, notes
on the fourth string...................................................................21
5. What is talent?, minor chords, A minor chord, E minor chord,
turnaround concept, notes on the fifth string.....................................23
6. Healthy learning, eighth note rhythm patterns,F major chord, the
chromatic scale.......................................................................26
7. Your gear, dominant 7 chords, A dominant 7, D dominant 7, E
dominant 7............................................................................29
8. Positive thinking, silent stroke symbol, notes on the sixth string................. 33
9. Progress and motivation, G dominant 7, C dominant 7, two bar rhythms .......35
10. The musical language, B dominant 7, blues pattern in E major..................37
4
11. Practice tips, stave notes in the first position, note values, bass
note picking..........................................................................39
12. Caring for your gear, time signatures, bass note picking in 3/4 time............41
13. Good technique, suspended chords, Asus chord, Dsus chord,
Esus chord, introduction to the Major Scale.......................................44
14. The rounded musician, Asus2 chord, Dsus2 chord..................................47
15. Hammer on technique, pull off technique......................................... 49
Supplementary Chord Refernce.......................................................51
Index......................................................................................54
5
Preface
Welcome to the Jamorama Rhythm Guitar series of books. This series
is designed to take the guitar student from a beginner level through
to an advanced standard of playing. The series was constructed on
the premise that learning should not be an arduous task. Therefore,
each book is written in a step by step lesson plan with instruction
that is both easy and enjoyable to follow.
Book one introduces the student to open chords on the guitar, basic
guitar rhythm and picking and some simple articulation techniques.
Also, basic music theory is introduced throughout the entire book to
aid the student in learning practical applications for the guitar.
The aim of this book is to give the student the best grounding from
which to progress on to intermediate and advanced rhythm guitar
technique. By the end of this book, the student will have a good
understanding of basic rhythm guitar and music theory, and will be
able to play many popular songs.
While this book is a valuable tool and resource for learning, the
guidance of an experienced guitar teacher is recommended as this
will accelerate learning greatly.
6
Introduction
Before you begin working through the lessons in this book, you will need to know the following
information.
The Acoustic Guitar
The Electric Guitar
Getting into Position
The Acoustic Guitar
Tuning machine heads
Nut
Neck
Heel
Sound hole
Pick guard
Saddle
Bridge pins
Soundboard
Bouts
End pin
Waist
Bridge
Body
Headstock
Fingerboard
Frets
Position markers
Truss rod
Strings
7
The Electric Guitar
Tuning machine heads
Nut
Neck
End pin
Bridge
Body
Headstock
Fingerboard
Frets
Position markers
Truss rod
Strings
Strap pin
Pickup selector switch
Pickups
Volume controls
Tone controls
Output jack
8
Standing Position
1. Pick up the guitar and place the strap over your shoulder. Adjust the strap so
that the guitar is positioned mid-body.
2. Use your left hand to support the neck of the guitar.
3. Rest your right hand over the bridge of the guitar.
Getting into position
Sitting Positions
There are two sitting positions for holding the guitar; classical and casual.
Classical position Casual position
1. Pick up the guitar and make sure that the guitar body is supported by your leg.
2. Position yourself at the edge of your chair.
3. Ensure that your back is relaxed but straight.
4. Lean the guitar back towards you slightly.
9
Make sure that you never position your hand like this:
Your thumb should never be placed
this low on the neck of the guitar
as it puts unneccessary strain on
your wrist and thunb.
Fretting
When you play the guitar, you use your left hand to press down the strings on the fret board of
the guitar and use your right hand to pluck or strum the stings at the bridge end of the guitar.
Using your left hand to press the strings on the fret board is called fretting. Here are some
tips you will need to know:
1. Short fingernails are essential.
2. Use only the tips of your fingers to press the strings.
3. When making a chord, be sure that each fingertip is placed directly behind the fret.
We will cover chords in lesson one.
4. Check each string that it rings clearly and is not muted or buzzing.
As a beginner guitarist, it may hurt your fingers to play. This is normal. Every guitarist starts
this way for the first couple of weeks. With practice, you will develop guitar fingers (hard skin
on your fingertips).
Holding the Pick
1. Position the pick between thumb and index fingers like in the diagrams below.
Hand Positions
It is important that you relax your wrists and hands. Straining them can cause injury.
Front view
Rear view
10
Motivation and Practice
Introduction to Chord Diagrams
The A Major Chord
The D Major Chord
Introduction to Reading Guitar Tablature
Motivation and Practice
The key to success with the guitar is practice, practice and more practice. This is the key to
success, but the lock into which the key fits, is motivation. Motivation is a set of internal
systems that drive us to achieve goals. When there is a lack of motivation, there will be a lack
of practice.
Think about yourself for a second. What is your motivation for learning to play the guitar?
Maybe you want to impress your boyfriend/girlfriend. You might be motivated by fame or
success. It could be a desire to fit in. Whatever it is that drives you to learn, that is your
starting point. It is from there that you will progress and your motivation for learning will
change. You will find that the act of learning the guitar will motivate you to learn more. It is
true that the people who simply cant live without the guitar and who live for their musical
passion are the ones that may have the staying power to progress onto becoming an elite
player. With enough passion and practice, you can become an elite player.
Understand that, as you learn the guitar, your attitude towards music will change.
Introduction to Chord Diagrams
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
S
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s
A chord is defined as the combination of 3 or more notes played together. For example, the A
major chord is constructed of the notes A, C# and E. We will cover notes a little later. For now,
we will make chords without knowledge of individual notes.
Guitar chords are illustrated by chord diagrams that match with the neck of the guitar. Below
is an illustration of the neck of a guitar.
Note that the fret board is divided into frets. Most guitars have around 20 frets. In this book,
we will focus on the first four, also known as the first position.
Lesson One
Lesson Outline:
Guitar neck
11
Here is an illustration of a blank chord diagram. Take note of how it matches with the
strings on the guitar on the previous page:
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
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Fingers
Fingers are given numbers that are placed on the fret of the chord diagram:
For example, the chord A major uses fingers 1, 2, and 3. Look at the diagram below.
The A Major Chord
The A Major Chord is constructed of the notes A, C# (C sharp) and E. It is played using fingers
1, 2 and 3:
2
3
4
1
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
t
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n
g
s
Note that the sixth string in the A major chord diagram is represented by a broken line. The
broken line tells you that you are not to play that string. The sixth string of the A major
chord is not played, but you play the rest.
See if you can make this chord according to the chord diagram. Make sure that you relax
your wrists and fingers and apply even pressure to each string.
1
2
3
Notice the notes to the left of this diagram: E, B, G, D, A, E. These are the open string notes,
meaning that, if you pluck the strings without placing your fingers on the fret board, these
are the notes that you would hear for each string.
12
Exercise: Strumming the A major Chord
Position each finger with care, according to the previous chord diagram. Make sure that each
fingertip is placed directly behind the fret. Firstly, strum across the strings one by one with
your right hand, checking that each string rings clearly and is not muted or buzzing.
Once you are sure that you are holding the A major chord correctly, practice strumming the
chord in single downward strokes. Listen to the audio cd to hear a recorded example of this.
Try your best to start your strum from the fifth string each time you strum. A major, doesnt
sound bad if you accidentally hit the top string, although if you want your music to sound
professional, youll want to play this chord properly. Remember to stay relaxed. Your fingers
may hurt a little but they will get stronger.
Now that you are playing the A major chord properly, lets take a look at another chord.
The D Major Chord
The D Major Chord is constructed of the notes D, F# (F sharp) and A. It is played using fingers
1, 2 and 3:
Exercise: Strumming the D Major Chord
Practice strumming the D major Chord in single downward strokes. Listen to the audio cd to
hear a recorded example of this.
Note: The top two, or fifth and sixth, strings are not played in the D major chord. Make sure
that you start your strum from the third string each time you strum D major, it doesnt sound
bad if you accidentally hit the fifth string, although as with A major above, if you want your
music to sound professional, you need to play this chord properly.
1
2
3
4
5
6
S
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s
1
2
E
B
G
D
A
E
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
1
3
2
13
Reading Guitar Tablature
Guitar tablature is probably the easiest and most used method for guitar notation. On the
internet, you can find guitar notation for almost any song that you want to learn. Tablature is
easier to learn than traditional music notation because it relates directly to the fret board of
the guitar, indicating where your fingers should be placed. Although it is an easier method to
learn it still has its weak points, the main one being that you cant easily indicate rhythm on
tablature. This means that when you learn a song you have to learn the strum from the song
itself.
The following diagram shows you how tablature relates to the guitar fret board:
We use numbers to indicate the string and the fret position that you are supposed to play.
Each fret is numbered, starting at the nut of the guitar at O and moving upwards towards the
bridge of the guitar. The following diagrams demonstrate this principle.
The 3 on the above tablature score (Tab. diagram 1) indicates to you that you place a finger
on the third fret of the sixth string. It is the note G.
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
S
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g
s
T
A
B
T
A
B
3
1
Fret board:
Tablature score:
T
A
B
1
2
3
4
5
6
Tablature has six
lines that indicate
the six strings of
the guitar.
The word TAB at the
beginning of the tablature
score is the abbreviation
for tablature.
Tab. diagram 1
Tab. diagram 2
14
The 1 on the tablature score (Tab. diagram 2) on the last page indicates to you that you place
a finger on the first fret of the third string. It is the note C.
The O on the above tablature score (Tab. diagram 3) indicates to you that the third string is
to be played open. This means that you dont need to place a finger on it. It is the note G.
Chords and Tablature
Chords are indicated by a set of numbers that tell you which frets need to be played and which
dont. The following diagram demonstrates how an open A major chord is constructed with
tablature.
The A Major Chord
The first and fifth strings are played open whilst the second, third and forth strings are played
at the second fret. The sixth string is not played in the A Major Chord and this is indicated by
an X.
Often tablature is written beneath traditional music score or stave. The two together looks
like this:
T
A
B
T
A
B
T
A
B
O
O
2
2
2
O
X

4
4
Tab. diagram 3
15
Keeping an open mind
Introduction to Strumming
Notes on the Treble Clef
First string notes
Second String Notes
Lesson Two
Lesson Outline:
Keeping an Open Mind
Learning to play the guitar might not be what you had expected. Just remember to keep an
open mind and try to forget any preconceived notions that you may have had about learning
an instrument. Things might be harder to learn than you first anticipated and you may find
yourself less motivated to continue practicing. You need to counter this by taking up the
challenge and enjoying it. Try different things to keep your practice interesting and most
importantly, have fun with it.
Introduction to Strumming
In a strum there are two types of guitar stroke. They are up stroke and down stroke.
Throughout this book these strokes will be notated as follows:
Chord A D A D
Stroke
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
This exercise may be difficult on your first few attempts. You may find that your left hand
struggles to co-ordinate each chord change with your right hand strum. This is natural and will
take a bit of practice to break. Try to focus on getting right hand consistency first and your
left hand should follow with practice.
3
Up stroke
Down stroke
When you play a stroke, you strum across the strings just in front of the bridge of the guitar
with the pick in your left hand. When strumming a chord, make sure that you play all of the
necessary strings in the chord. The stroke direction will depend on which stroke is indicated;
up or down as shown above.
Exercise:
Practice strumming the A major and the D major chords to this down stroke pattern. Strum
four down strokes over the A Major chord and then four down strokes over the D Major chord
and then repeat. You should aim to get a smooth change between the two chords so that the
whole piece flows and is in time. Play along to the audio track for this lesson until you have
mastered it.
16
Notes on the Treble Clef
A clef tells you which notes are represented by each line and space on the musical stave. We
will look at the G clef or treble clef. It looks like this:
The clef is placed on the stave at the very beginning of a piece of music. When it is the treble
clef, the stave is called the treble stave. Treble stave looks like this:
There are seven notes in the musical alphabet. They are: A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
These notes are indicated by the placement of musical notes on the lines and spaces of the
treble stave. Using the treble clef, the bottom line on the stave represents the note E. The
subsequent notes, F G A B C D, continue up the stave so that F sits in the space above E, G sits
on the line above F, A sits in the space above G, and this continues up the stave and repeats
itself once E is reached, near the top of the stave and then the cycle starts again at E. Notes
can be placed off of the stave on what are called ledger lines (see the following diagram).The
following diagrams will help you to remember the notes on the treble stave.

The notes in the above diagram (e.g. ) are called quarter notes.
Four Four Time Signature
Time signatures tell you what time you are to play the piece of music in. They are written as
two numbers, one above the other. This is the four four time signature:

4
4
This is a bar line. Bar lines are
used to divide the stave into
sections that are called bars
or measures.
This is a double bar line.
Double bar lines indicate
the end of a piece of
music.
The diagram below shows you where the time signature sits on the stave. There are some
other things on the diagram that you should note.
Four four time
signature.
4
4

E

F

E

F

G

A

B

C

D
17
Notes on the First String
Knowledge of the notes that are on each string is necessary for understanding guitar theory.
The first string is also known as the high E string. The main notes in the first position on the
first string are E (open), F (1st fret) and G (3rd fret).
We will use these notes in the following exercise to introduce to you the concept of note
picking.
Exercise:
Note picking is a skill that is used in all types of music. For now, we will use it to familiarize
ourselves with the note names on each string in the first position. Pluck these first string
notes with a downward picking motion:
In a time signature, the upper number specifies the number of beats that there are per bar.
In the above example: the upper number is 4 which tells us that there are 4 beats allowed per
bar. The lower number specifies the note value that is equivalent to one beat in the bar. In
the above example: the lower number is 4. Because a time signature is a fraction, we can
read the bottom number in the above example as ; a quarter. Therefore, in the above four
four example, a quarter note (e.g. ) holds for, or is equivalent to, one beat in the bar.
So, four bars of quarter notes of A in four four time would look like this:
T
A
B

4
4



O O O O 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3
Count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

3 3 3 3
1 2 3 4
4
E F G
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4

4
4

18
Exercise:
Pluck these second string notes with a downward picking motion:
Dont forget that your fingertips should be directly behind the fret and you should hold those
notes down tight. This will produce a clear sound.
T
A
B

4
4

O O O O 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3
Count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4


Notes on the Second String
The second string is also known as the B string. The main notes in the first position on the
second string are B (open), C (1st fret) and D (3rd fret).
C D B
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4

3 3 3 3
1 2 3 4
5
19
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
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1
2
3
Lesson Three
Lesson Outline:
Patience and discipline
Patience and discipline are two qualities that all great musicians have. You should try to
nurture these qualities in yourself. Do not be discouraged by any signs of slow progress. It
takes time to learn the guitar. Be patient and clock up those consecutive days, even if it is
only 15 minutes a day. At the very least, you should keep your brain thinking about the guitar
every day. Enjoy the thirst and hunger that you have for knowledge and experience. At the
end of the day, you are the one responsible for your own practicing.
Learning the guitar is like learning a language. Those that speak great English speak it
everyday. Those who speak broken English probably dont use it as much, or have not used it
for as long as others. The same goes for guitarists. Those who play great guitar, practice
everyday. Those who play average guitar probably are not practicing as much as they should.
The E Major Chord
The E Major Chord is constructed of the notes E, Ab (A flat) and B. It is played using fingers
1, 2 and 3:
Exercise:
Practice strumming The E Major Chord using the following strum.
Chord E EE EE
Stroke
Count 1 2 3 4
Remember to start slowly. It is easier to maintain an even strum and smooth chord changes
when you play slowly.
Patience and discipline
The E Major Chord
The Repeat Sign
Notes on the third string
6
20
Exercise:
Practice strumming A, D and E to the suggested strum. Note that there is a repeat sign after
four bars which means that you go back to the start and repeat the piece.
Notes on the Third String
The third string is also known as the G string. The main notes in the first position on the third
string are G (open), A (2nd fret) and B (4th fret)
Exercise:
Pluck these third string notes with a downward picking motion.
It is normal for your fingers to ache, especially your little finger. However, if you practice each
day your fingers will become strong and more used to the movements required to play the
guitar.

A AA AA D D D D D A A A A A E E E E E
Strum:
Count: 1 2 3 4
A B G
T
A
B

4
4

O O O O 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4
Count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4


The Repeat Sign
This sign is used to instruct you that instead of finishing on the last bar you go back and
repeat the piece from the beginning.
4
4

4 4 4 4
1 2 3 4
7
8
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
21
Lesson Four
Lesson Outline:
The key to good practice
The G Major Chord
The C Major Chord
Notes on the fourth string
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
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1
3
2
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
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1
2
3
The key to good practice
Be sure to allow enough time for practice. In your busy and complex life, it can be very hard to
find some time to sit down and work on your guitar. You need to stick to a plan. A routine
means that you have designated practice times for each day. If you know the times that you
will practice during the week, you will be able to maximize your practice productivity and
maintain a constant rate of learning.
Of course, there will be times when your plan gets interrupted by the unexpected. You might
have friends drop by or a party to go to or a doctors appointment to attend. These things will
never stop. You really just need to have a flexible plan so that your practice fits in with your
life. The amazing thing is that over time, your lifestyle and friends will change because of
your practice and your passion for music.
The G Major Chord
The G Major Chord is constructed of the notes G, B and D. It is played using fingers 1, 2 and
3:
The C Major Chord
The C Major Chord is constructed of the notes C, E and G. It is also played using fingers
1, 2 and 3:
9
10
22
Exercise:
Practice strumming D, A, C and G to the rhythm below.
Notes on the Fourth String
The forth string is also known as the D string.The notes in the first position that are on the
forth string are D (open), E (2nd fret) and F (3rd fret). It is played using fingers 2 and 3:

D A C G D A C G D A C G D A C G D A C G
Strum
Count 1 2 3 4
E F D
T
A
B



O O O O 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
Count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4
Exercise:
Pluck the fourth string notes with a downward picking motion.

4
4

11
12
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
4
4
23
Lesson Five
Lesson Outline:
What is talent?
Minor Chords
The A Minor Chord
The E Minor Chord
Turnaround concept
Notes on the 5th string
What is Talent?
Talent is a term that we attach to people, or to skills that people have, when we believe that
they are really good at what they do. Sometimes it seems that some people have talent, or an
advantage or strength at a particular skill due to some innate force. Although it may appear
this way, the chances are that they were not born with their talent. It is more likely that they
had to learn it.
Talent is gained through complex interactions between an individual and their environment
over a period of time. Children who are bought up in a musical environment are more likely to
become talented musicians than children bought up in a less musical environment. If you were
constantly surrounded by music as you grew up, you will probably have a good mental database
of sounds. It is your database of sound that influences your playing and creating of music.
A good database of sound is important if you want to be a great musician, but it wont make
you talented on its own. There are other factors that contribute to being talented such as
discipline and a sense of artistry.
Think about these questions: When you like something, do you do it a lot? Do you put all of
your energy into it? Do you try to extend yourself both physically and mentally?
If you answered yes to these questions, then you may have the discipline to become a talented
musician. Discipline is important because without it, you will not practice and without practice
you will not have the practical skills to be talented.
So you have a good database of sounds and you feel that youve got the discipline that it takes
to be great, but do you have a sense of artistry. Well, lets see. Think about the following
questions: Do you experiment with what you already know in order to learn new things? Do
you try to be creative for the sake of it? Do you have a vivid imagination when it comes to
sound? Do you feel a need to be original? If you answered
yes to these questions, then you are well on your way to
being talented.
Hard work is where its at. Practice, listen and experi-
ment with your music. Like a sponge, you really just
need to soak it up. Any musical knowledge that you dont
already know is out there for you to learn. Learn it and
work hard on it, and you will be talented.
24
Minor Chords
So far, the chords that you have learnt have all been major chords. Major chords give music a
happy feel. Minor chords, on the other hand, lend a sad or melancholy feeling to music. Minor
chords are constructed in the same way as major chords except that the third or middle note
of the chord is flattened (something that will be explained in full later in this book).
The A Minor Chord
The A Minor chord is constructed of the notes A, C and E.
The E Minor Chord
The E Minor chord is constructed of the notes E, G and A.
Exercise: Turnaround Progression
A turnaround progression is a sequence of chords that can be continually repeated due to
strong sounding chord movement between the ending and starting chords. Try the following
turnaround progression:
1
2
3
2
3

D G Em A D G Em A D G Em A D G Em A D G Em A
Strum
Count 1 2 3 4
In this example, a strong sounding chord change between A and D resolves the progression
back to its starting point.
4
4
13
14
15
25

G Am C D G Am C D G Am C D G Am C D G Am C D
Strum
Count
1 2 3 4
4
4
Exercise:
Play the following progression.
Once again a strong sounding chord change (D to G) resolves the progression back to
its starting point.
Notes on the Fifth String
B C A
Exercise:
Play these fifth string notes with a down/up picking motion.
T
A
B

4
4



O
2 2 3 3
Count: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

2 2 O
The fifth string is also known as the A string. The main notes in the first position that are on
the fifth string are A (open), B (2nd fret) and C (3rd fret).
16
17
Down/up picking:
Down Up Down Up
26
Lesson Six
Lesson Outline:
Healthy learning
Eighth note rhythm patterns
The F Major Chord
The Chromatic Scale
Healthy learning
The basis of good learning is good health. On average, people who lead healthy lifestyles have
a much higher rate of learning. What type of lifestyle do you promote? Do you have a healthy
lifestyle or do you live like there is no tomorrow? In the end, only you can decide what is right
and what is wrong for you, but if you want to learn well, it pays to live well.
Good food in your diet is essential. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and make sure that your
body gets all the nutrients that it needs to function well. Your diet should be all about balance.
Adding a little sport to your week will keep you fit and feeling good. Try 45 minutes a day of
light exercise and you will start to notice a change in your energy levels quite quickly. A daily
walk will help your bodys metabolism to maximize the minerals and nutrients that you get
from your diet.
Drugs should not be a part of your daily lifestyle. This doesnt mean that you have to give up
and be clean forever. It just means that you shouldnt mess with your brain if you want to
progress. You need to socialize and let go sometimes, but control your life. Dont ever let a
drug control you.
Sleep is important. You need at least eight hours a night to be at your best. Try changing your
sleeping patterns so that they are regular and consistent. This way, your body learns to get
the most out of sleep and you will feel far more alert from the moment that you wake to the
moment that you sleep. It could be the best thing you will ever do for yourself.
Remember, life is a long journey. If you want to maintain a long musical life, look after
yourself.
Eighth Note Rhythm Patterns
So far we have used rhythms that follow a quarter note pulse. It is counted 1 2 3 4. For
example:
Note
Count

1 2 3 4
The quarter note becomes an eighth note
when halved. The eighth note looks like this:
= Eighth Note
In terms of time, a quarter note is the
equivalent of two eighth notes:
= (two eighth notes)
27
The F Major Chord
The F major chord requires you to hold down the first and second strings with your first
finger. You will need to play these strings with the flat of your finger rather than the tip.
Exercise:
Play the following chord progression. Notice the chord changes between
chords C and G. These changes take place half way through bars 2 and 4.
At first it will be hard to land that F chord and then change to C and G and back to F. Dont
worry a little practice each day will improve your new skill.
2
1
1
3

F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G F C G
Strum
Count 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
4
4
By halving the quarter note pulse we can make an eighth note pulse. It is counted as follows:
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. When you strum an eighth note pattern, you strum in a down/up
motion. For example:
Note
Strum
Count

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
18
19
28
The Chromatic Scale
The chromatic scale is based around the seven notes of the musical alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F
and G), however, it contains a few extra musical notes. In its entirety it runs as follows:
A#/Bb
A B C
C#/Db
D
D#/Eb
E
F
F#/Gb
G
G#/Ab
You have probably noticed that some of the notes in the chromatic scale have two note
names. These notes are called accidentals. They can either be sharp notes, in which case we
we use the symbol #, or flat notes, in which case we use the symbol b. This can be more easily
seen on the keyboard diagram below:
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
A#/Bb
C#/Db
D#/Eb G#/Ab
F#/Gb
On the piano keyboard, the black keys are the sharp/flat notes. The note name that you use
depends upon the key that you are playing in. We will look at keys and scales later in this book.
For now, just realize that these notes can either be flat or sharp.
The chromatic scale applies to your guitar in the same way as it does a piano:
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
t
r
i
n
g
s
1
2
3
4
5
6 E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab
A A#/Bb B C C#/Db
D
D#/Eb E F F#/Gb
G
G#/Ab A A#/Bb
B C
B
C#/Db D D#/Eb
E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab
Each string on the guitar follows the chromatic scale. Once you get to the 12th fret on each
string, the scale repeats itself.
C D
29
Lesson Seven
Lesson Outline:
Your Gear
Dominant 7 Chords
The A dominant 7 Chord
The D dominant 7 Chord
The E dominant 7 Chord
Your Gear
Buy the best gear that you can and maintain it. Good gear is definitely good for motivating
yourself when it comes to practice time. If you save your money you will be able to reward
yourself for reaching your practice goals. To keep things interesting, try going through the
routine that youve been playing using a new guitar effect. Practicing with a delay or distor-
tion effect on, for example, may change the way that your fingers play something.
Always keep your gear in tune. Practice is never good when your gat is out of tune, especially
if youre in a band situation. Good habits during practice will strengthen your motivation.
Dominant 7 Chords
So far we have looked at major and minor open chords. Some of these chords can be made
into dominant seventh chords by changing the shape of the chord on the guitar. Dominant 7
chords (often called sevenths) are built by adding the minor seventh note of the major scale
to the major chord. For example the A major becomes A dominant 7
th
if you add a G note to
the chord (G is the minor seventh note of the A major scale).
See the two A7 shapes that follow. Both shapes consist of the same notes that make up the A
dominant 7
th
chord. The first shape adds a finger, changing the open E (1
st
string) to a G and
creating the minor seventh in the chord. The second shape removes the note A on the 3
rd
string and therefore becomes G which is the open string. In this way both shapes have added
a G to the A major chord to become A dominant 7.
Here are some open dominant seventh chords to learn. You will see that the dominant seventh
adds a nice blues sound to the chord.
1
1
1
3
The A7 Chord (shape 1)
The A7 chord consists of the notes A, C#, E and G
20
30
2
3
1
3
2
4
1
2
3
1
2
Seventh chords can be used in place of major chords to add variation to a piece of music.
The A7 Chord (shape2)
There is an alternative way to play the A7 chord. It still consists of the notes A, C#, E and G
The D7 Chord
The D7 chords consists of the notes D, F#, A and C. Note also that the sixth string is not played
on this chord.
The E7 Chord (shape1)
The E7 chord consists of the notes E, G#, B and D.
The E7 Chord (shape2)
There is also an alternative way to play the E7 chord. It still consists of the notes E, G#, B
and D.
21
22
23
24
31
Exercise:
Play the following using shape 1 of the chords A7 and E7
There is an uneasy sound created between the first and seventh notes of the dominant seven
chord. This is known as dissonance.

A A7 D D7 A A7 E E7 A A7 D D7 A A7 E E7 A A7 D D7 A A7 E E7 A A7 D D7 A A7 E E7 A A7 D D7 A A7 E E7
Strum
Count
1 2 + 3 4
4
4
Exercise:
Play the following:

D G E A7 D G E A7 D G E A7 D G E A7 D G E A7
Strum
Count
1 + 2 3 4
4
4

G E C D7 G E C D7 G E C D7 G E C D7 G E C D7
Strum
Count
1 2 + 3 + 4
4
4
25
26
27
32

A C G E7 A C G E7 A C G E7 A C G E7 A C G E7
Strum
Count
1 + 2 3 + 4
4
4
The A7, D7 and E7 chords are used in all types of music, but especially in 12 bar blues.
28
33
Lesson Eight
Lesson Outline:
Positive Thinking
Silent Stroke Symbol
Notes on the Sixth String
Positive Thinking
A lot can come from positive thinking. People treat you kindly when you are positive. Youll
also find that positive thinking will help you be more productive when you are learning guitar.
More productivity means better practice and that leads to a better band, a better recording
and a better record contract. If you want to go anywhere with music it pays to think positively
about it.
Silent Stroke Symbol
In lesson six we covered an eighth note strum pattern that involved a continuous down/up
strum pattern:
We will now introduce the idea of a silent stroke and incorporate it into this continuous
down/up strum pattern.
When you see these symbols: you do not stroke the strings but let your strumming
hand continue to move over the strings so that the down/up pattern of strum is not broken.
These symbols allow us to write more complex strumming patterns because we can start to
miss out those strokes that fall on the beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 as the following exercise
demonstrates.
Exercise:
Play the following chords using the strum provided. Make sure that you dont hit the strings on
beats + of 1 and 3.
Strum:
Count:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D
4
4
29
34
Notes on the Sixth String
The sixth string is also known as the low E string.
Exercise:
Pluck the following notes. This time, play the notes with a down/up picking motion.
T
A
B

4
4
Count: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + etc.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
O O O O O O O O 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3



F
G
E
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
30
35
1
3
2
1
2
3
4
Lesson Nine
Lesson Outline:
Progress and Motivation
The G dominant 7 Chord
The C dominant 7 Chord
Two bar rhythms
Progress and Motivation
An old piano teacher of mine used to record my playing at different times throughout my
terms work. At the end of the term she would give me a tape that contained a selection of
pieces that I had played running from work that I had completed early in the term to the
things that I was working on at the end of the term. I would take this tape home and I would
play it to my friends and family. People listening to the tape would say, Man, youre getting
good.
This did two things for me. First of all, it made me go back to my teacher for more lessons.
Secondly, it made me practice more because I could see the benefits of working on something
over time. Basically, the progress that I could hear on the tape motivated me to progress
further.
I strongly recommend that you begin to record your practice sessions for future reference.
The G7 Chord
The G7 chord consists of the notes G, B, D and F. It is played using the fingers 1, 2, and 3
The C7 Chord
The C7 chord consists of the notes C, E, G and A#.
31
32
36

C7 F D7 G C7 F D7 G C7 F D7 G C7 F D7 G C7 F D7 G
Strum
Count
4
4
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Two Bar Rhythms
So far, the rhythm patterns given play for one bar only and are then repeated for every
following bar. We will make things a little trickier now by introducing some two bar rhythms.
A two bar rhythm is a rhythm phrase that lasts for two bars.
(see the following exercises)
Exercise:
Play the following chord progrssion using the two bar rhythm provided. Note that both F and
C are held for two bars each.

F C F C F C F C F C
Strum
Count
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
4
4
Exercise:
Here are some more two bar rhythms. This time we use two new chords, G7 and C7. Notice
that in this exercise, there are chord changes that occur half way through the two bar
rhythm. This could be hard to coordinate at first. Stay with it though and remember to keep
your right hand consistent.

A7 D7 G7 C A7 D7 G7 C A7 D7 G7 C A7 D7 G7 C A7 D7 G7 C
Strum
Count
4
4
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
33
34
35
37
Lesson Ten
Lesson Outline:
The musical language
The B dominant 7 Chord
Blues pattern in E major
The Musical Language
Its amazing how people will argue over tab and traditional notation. You might hear things
like, Tab is best for guitarists, and things like, Classical notation is good if you want to be
a session musician.
The truth is, for every positive point that tab has, traditional music notation has an equally
positive point. The idea is to use both. Tab can be an extremely useful tool to learn some skills
fast and easily. Traditional notation, on the other hand, relates to every instrument. Knowing
it enables you to relate to all types of music and musical instrument. Realize that at some
point along the way, you are going to learn all the ways that you can communicate music. Do
not ever limit yourself. Learn it all!
The B7 Chord
The B7 chord consists of the notes B, D#, F# and A. It is played using the fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2
1
3
4
36
38

E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7 E E7
4
4

A A7 E E7 A A7 E E7 A A7 E E7 A A7 E E7 A A7 E E7
4
4

B7 A A7 E E7 B7 B7 A A7 E E7 B7 B7 A A7 E E7 B7 B7 A A7 E E7 B7 B7 A A7 E E7 B7
4
4
4
4
B7 E B7 E B7 E B7 E B7 E
(1)
(2)

Exercise: Blues in E major

Now that we have covered the basic open dominant 7 chords we can play a blues in E major.
Use the suggested strum and make sure that you keep the chord changes smooth and clear.
Start out slow and as you get better, increase the speed of your strum.
Within this piece there are two endings, a first ending (1) and a second ending (2). Once the
first ending has been played, the piece is played again from beginning (this is indicated by the
repeat sign ) and ends after the second ending has been played (indicated by a double bar
line ).
Strum:
Count: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
37
39
String: 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
Lesson Eleven
Lesson Outline:
Practice tips
Stave notes in the first position
Note values
Bass note picking
Practice tips
The place where you practice is very important. Your practice room needs to be free of
distractions and a place that you can feel totally comfortable in. The best advice is to set up a
permanent practice space in a place that is free from all audio distractions. You want to be
able to leave your gear there exactly how you want it when you return. Get yourself a table
and a comfortable seat and make sure that you have everything that you need available to
you. Make sure that you have the right amount of light so that you arent straining your eyes
when reading music.There are some helpful tools available to you that make practice a lot
better. A tuner will make things a lot easier and sound a lot nicer. A stereo, tape recorder,
metronome, music stand, and instrument stand are also essential to good practice.
Notes on Stave: first position
Exercise:
The notes written above can all be found within the first position on the guitar fret. To get
familiar with them, start on the low E note and play up to the top G note. From G play each
note back to the low E note naming each one as you play it. Play this with an down/up picking
motion. Remember to play each fret with its corresponding finger (e.g. 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4)
T
A
B

E F F# G G# A A#B C C# DD# E F F# G G# A A#B C C# DD#E F F# G G#
O 1 2 3 4
O 1 2 3 4
O 1 2 3 4
O 1 2 3
O 1 2 3 4
O 1 2 3 4
Note:
38
40
As you worked through the last exercise, you may havel noticed that the space between the
notes B and C, and the notes E and F, is one of a fret. This space is called a semi-tone. All the
other notes on the fret board are two frets apart. This is called a tone. It is important that
you remember this pattern as all the major scales follow it (see the example below).
C Major Scale
C----------D----------E----------F------------G----------A-----------B----------C
Tone Tone Semi-Tone Tone Tone Tone Semi-Tone







Note Value Revision
4 counts whole note (semibreve)
2 counts half note (minim)
1 count quarter note (crotchet)
1/2 count eighth note (quaver)
Adding a dot ( ) to a note adds half that notes value:
= 3 counts = 1 1/2 counts
T
A
B

3
2
O
2 3
3
2
3
C Am F G
Count: 1 2 3 4 etc.
4
4
Exercise:
In this progression, see if you can play the bass notes whilst holding each chord shape with
your left hand for the full 4 counts of each bar.
Bass note picking
Bass notes are those notes that are played on the 4th, 5th and 6th strings. Bass note picking
is a technique where single bass notes are played and then followed by a full chord (see the
following exercise).
.
39
41
4
4

Lesson Twelve
Lesson Outline:
Caring for your Gear
Time signatures
Bass note picking in 3/4 time
Caring for your Gear
As I mentioned earlier, when you buy gear, get the best that you can afford. You definitely get
what you pay for when it comes to musical equipment. Only share your gear with people that
you really trust. Most people wont look after your gear like you would, so it is probably safer
to just say no.
Protect your gear. An excellent practice habit is to place your guitar in a stand when it is not
in use. If you are really passionate about music, youll probably end up spending a lot of money
on it, so invest in some protection. Get a hard case for your gat, one that can handle being
dropped. Keep a nice clean cloth to wipe down your strings after practice. When you clean
your gat, remember to push down firmly on the strings and dont neglect any place along the
fret. Keep the surface of your guitar clean. Clean, shiny guitars look beautiful.
Keep a moisture-collecting pad in your case and change it regularly. Have a spare packet of
strings at all times. If your guitar gets broken, pay a professional to fix it.
You are one of a new breed of guitarist, one that knows all the details of how a guitar is made
and maintained. Learn about your guitar. Take a day trip to the library and read some books
about guitar craft, pickups and electronics. This way, you will always have well-maintained
and reliable gear.
Time Signature
A time signature denotes two numbers (e.g. 4/4). The upper number specifies the number of
beats per bar and the lower number specifies the note value of each beat.
Example 4 indicates 4 beats per bar
4 indicates that the
beat value is a quarter note (crotchet)
Therefore, a bar of 4/4 (in its simplest form) would look like this:
Another term for 4/4 is common time It is written with the letter C

Count: 1 2 3 4
42
3/4 Time
Until now, all exercises have been written and played in 4/4.
Let us now take a look at 3/4 time signature.
3 indicates 3 beats per bar.
4 indicates that the beat value is a quarter note (crotchet)
Example
Exercise:
Play this 3/4 rhythm over the E major chord.
Exercise:
Play the following chord progression using the 3/4 strum provided.
3
4

Count: 1 2 3 1 2 3
Count: 1 + 2 + 3 +
3
4

Count: 1 + 2 + 3 +
E C G B7 E C G B7 E C G B7 E C G B7 E C G B7
Strum:
Strum:
40
41
43
Exercise: Bass note picking in 3/4
T
A
B

O
3
O
3
A G C D A G C D A G C D A G C D A G C D
3
4
Count: 1 2 3 etc.
42
44
Lesson Thirteen
Lesson Outline:
Good Technique
Suspended Chords
The Asus Chord
The Dsus Chord
The Esus Chord
Introduction to the Major Scale
Good Technique
Good technique is the result of regular practice of exercises such as scales, licks and
arpeggios. Because these skills can be played in different timings and at different speeds,
achieving good technique requires loads of practice.
Take the example of a turn-around chord progression like one of those that you have learnt
already. It could be put into a 4/4 time and be very simple and easy to play, but how does the
same progression sound in or with a reggae strum or with jazz chords? At the end of the
day, the more techniques you have the better your technique will be and the more versatile
your song writing will become.
Someone with good technique will be able to play a progression fast or slow or with a different
feel and still play with precision and clarity. You must realize that speed comes from practice.
To gain speed initially, you need to start slow and build up speed slowly. Its best to cement a
particular skill by playing it slowly. Then once it has stuck, you should practice it at speed to
enable yourself to perform that skill at any speed you like. This produces precision. With out
practice, you will find that most people have a speed/accuracy trade off. The faster you go
the bigger the mess.
Suspended Chords
Suspended, or sus chords are used by guitarists because they provide an open and incomplete
sound. There are two types of sus chord. One type is sus4 and the other is sus2. Sus chords are
built the same way that major chords are built except that their middle note changes from
that of the major chord. Major chords are built from notes 1, 3 and 5 of the major scale (we
look at the major scale later in this lesson). The middle note in a sus chord, however, is
replaced by either notes 2 or 4 of the major scale. Sus4 is made of the notes 1, 4 and 5 of the
major scale and sus2 is made of the notes 1, 2 and 5.
Because the middle note in the sus chord is different to that of a regular major chord, there
is an uneasy quality to its sound.
The Asus4 Chord
The Asus chord consists of the notes A, D and E
3
1
2
4
43
45
The Dsus4 Chord
The Dsus chord consists of the notes D, G and A
The Esus4 Chord
The Esus chord consists of the notes E, G, A and B
2
1
4
3
1 2
4
3
Exercise:
Play the following chord progression using the suggested strum pattern.
Strum
Count
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

A Asus4 A D A Asus4 A D A Asus4 A D A Asus4 A D A Asus4 A D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D

A Asus4 A A Asus4 A A Asus4 A A Asus4 A A Asus4 A E E E E E

D DD DD A E Esus4 E A E Esus4 E A E Esus4 E A E Esus4 E A E Esus4 E

4
4
44
45
46
46
The Major Scale
The major scale is probably the most common scale used in music. It has a happy quality about
it. It feels complete, with no need for resolve. An example of a major scale is shown below.
C Major Scale
Exercise:
T
A
B

2
O
2
3 O 2
O
1
I II III IV V VI VI VIII
Play the above scale from start to finish and then play the scale in reverse, back to the
starting position on C on the fifth string.
Each note in a scale is given a number (written in roman numerals). You may notice that
between the notes III and IV, and the notes VII and VIII there is a distance of one fret; this is
a semi-tone. All the other notes are separated by two frets or a whole tone. This is the case
for all major scales.
Tone Tone Semi- Tone Tone Tone Tone Semi-Tone
47
47
Lesson Fourteen
Lesson Outline:
The rounded Musician
The Asus2 Chord
The Dsus2 Chord
The Rounded Musician
Apart from lessons and exercises, what else should you do to learn your craft? One idea is to
build a library of music books. These could be anything that you are interested in, from flute
to old piano music. Many books can be found at garage sales or second hand bookshops.
Collect old and new. Keep updated by reading guitar magazines.
If you love an artist, buy the official book, listen to the CD and play along. An excellent skill is
to be able to play a song all the way through with a CD on in the background, especially when
the tune pushes your ability.
Start a black book. Alphabetically file every new scale and riff or lick you are learning and have
mastered. Take a lick or scale every once and a while and use it in your practice. Play the lick
all over the guitar. Start slow and play until your fingers are breaking the sound barrier. For
those who wish to push their brain, try to play every lick or solo or scale you have learnt, in
reverse (a couple of months work right there).
The Asus2 chord
The Asus2 chord consists of the notes A, B and E.
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
t
r
i
n
g
s
2
1
E
B
G
D
A
E
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fret 1 Fret 2 Fret 3 Fret 4
S
t
r
i
n
g
s
3
1
The Dsus2 Chord
The Dsus2 chord consists of the notes D, E and A.
48
49
48
Exercise:
Try the following progression. It uses both types of sus chord and major chords.

A Asus2 A Asus4 A Asus2 A Asus4 A Asus2 A Asus4 A Asus2 A Asus4 A Asus2 A Asus4

D Dsus2 D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D Dsus4
4
4
Strum:
Count: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
50
49
Lesson Fifteen
Lesson Outline:
Hammer on Technique
Pull off Technique
Hammer on Technique
The Hammer on is a technique that allows you to move smoothly from one note to a higher
note without plucking the string with your right hand. It is achieved when you pluck a
particular note and then using a fretting finger, strike a note above it on the same string. The
effect is a second note sound that is more subtle than a plucked note.
Exercise:
With your first finger, hold down the first fret on the first string (See diagram 1). This the
note F. Now, pluck the string and follow it by placing your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret (See
diagram 2). When you do this, make sure that you hammer down onto the string. The result
should be that you played the third fret note, G, without having to pluck the string with your
right hand. This is a hammer on.
The hammer on is notated as follows:
(1)
(2)
T
A
B

3 1

H
51
50
Pull Off
The pull off allows you to move smoothly from one note to another lower note without
plucking the string with your right hand. It is achieved when you flick the string with a fretting
finger as it pulls away from a particular note on the fret board.
Exercise:
Hold your third finger down on the third fret of the first string. This is the note G. Place your
first finger on the first fret of the first string (See diagram 1). This is the note F. Now, pluck
the string with your right hand and you will have played the G note. While it is still ringing,
pick the string with your third finger as you remove it from the string (See diagram 2). The
result should be that you have played the note F without plucking it with your right hand.
The Pull Off is notated as follows:
(1)
(2)
T
A
B

3 1

P
52
51
1
2
3
3
4
1
3
4
1
2
1
2
3
3
4
1
1
2
3
1
3
2
1
1 1
2
3
2
3
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
4
A AA AA A#/Bb A#/Bb A#/Bb A#/Bb A#/Bb
B BB BB
Supplementary Chord Reference
Major chords in open position.
C CC CC C#/Db C#/Db C#/Db C#/Db C#/Db D DD DD
D#/Eb D#/Eb D#/Eb D#/Eb D#/Eb
E EE EE
F FF FF
F#/Gb F#/Gb F#/Gb F#/Gb F#/Gb
G GG GG
G#/Ab G#/Ab G#/Ab G#/Ab G#/Ab
52
Minor chords in open position.
1
2
3
3
4
1
4
2
1
3
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
3
1
1 1
1
1
3
Am Am Am Am Am A#m/Bbm A#m/Bbm A#m/Bbm A#m/Bbm A#m/Bbm Bm Bm Bm Bm Bm
Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm C#m/Dbm C#m/Dbm C#m/Dbm C#m/Dbm C#m/Dbm Dm Dm Dm Dm Dm
D#m/Ebm D#m/Ebm D#m/Ebm D#m/Ebm D#m/Ebm
Em Em Em Em Em
Fm Fm Fm Fm Fm
F#m/Gbm F#m/Gbm F#m/Gbm F#m/Gbm F#m/Gbm
Gm Gm Gm Gm Gm
G#m/Abm G#m/Abm G#m/Abm G#m/Abm G#m/Abm
2
2
1
4
3
4
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
53
Dominant Seventh chords in open position.
2
3
1
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
2
A7 A7 A7 A7 A7 A#7/Bb7 A#7/Bb7 A#7/Bb7 A#7/Bb7 A#7/Bb7
B7 B7 B7 B7 B7
C7 C7 C7 C7 C7 C#7/Db7 C#7/Db7 C#7/Db7 C#7/Db7 C#7/Db7 D7 D7 D7 D7 D7
D#7/Eb7 D#7/Eb7 D#7/Eb7 D#7/Eb7 D#7/Eb7
E7 E7 E7 E7 E7
F7 F7 F7 F7 F7
F#7/Gb7 F#7/Gb7 F#7/Gb7 F#7/Gb7 F#7/Gb7
G7 G7 G7 G7 G7
G#7/Ab7 G#7/Ab7 G#7/Ab7 G#7/Ab7 G#7/Ab7
1
4
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
1
3
4
2
3
1
54
Index
A
A dominant seven chord, 29, 30
A major chord
- chord diagram, 10, 11
- tab diagram, 14
A minor chord, 24
A note, 16
A string, 25
A suspended 4, 47
A suspended 6, 44
Accidentals, 28
Acoustic guitar, 6, 7
Alphabet, musical, 16
B
B dominant 7 chord, 37
B note, 16
B string, 18
Bar line, 17
Bass note picking, 40
- in , 43
Blues
- in E, 38
Body, of the guitar, 6, 7
Bouts, 6, 7
Bridge, 6, 7
C
C dominant 7 chord, 35
C major chord, 21
C major scale, 40, 46
Chord, 10
Chord diagrams, 10
Chromatic scale, 28
Clef, treble, 16
Common time, 41
Crotchet, 40
D
D suspended 2 chord, 47
D suspended 4 chord, 45
D dominant 7 chord, 30
D major chord, 12
D note, 16
D string, 22
Dominant 7 chords, 29
Double bar line, 38
E
E dominant 9, 30
E major chord, 19
E minor chord, 24
E note, 16
E string
- high, 17
- low, 34
E suspended 4 chord, 45
Eighth note, 26, 40
Eighth note strum, 26
Electric guitar, 6, 7
End pin, 6, 7
F
F major chord, 27
F note, 16
Fifth string notes, 25
Fingerboard, 6, 7
Fingers, 11
First string notes, 17
Forth string notes, 22
Four four time, 16
Fret board, 6, 7, 10
Frets, 6, 7
Fretting, 9
55
G
G dominant 7 chord, 35
G major chord, 21
G note, 16
G string, 20
H
Half note, 40
Hammer on, 49
Hand positions, 9
Headstock, 6, 7
Heel, of guitar, 6, 7
M
Major chords, 10
Major scale, 46
Minor chords, 23
N
Neck, of guitar, 6, 7
Notes
- treble clef, 15
- values, 40
Nut, 6, 7
P
Pick, 9
Picking, 17
Pick guard, 6
Position markers, 6, 7
Pull off, 49
Q
Quarter note, 18
Quaver, 40
R
Repeat sign, 20
S
Saddle, of guitar, 6, 7
Score, 14, 16
Second string notes, 18
Silent stroke, 33
Sitting position, 8
Sixth string notes, 34
Sound hole, 6, 7
Soundboard, 6, 7
Standing position, 8
Stave, 14, 16
Strings, 6, 7
Strumming, 15
Suspended chords, 44
T
Tablature, 13
Third string notes, 20
Time signature, 41
Treble clef, 16
Truss rod, 6, 7
Tuning machines, 6, 7
Turn around concept, 24
Two bar rhythms, 36
U
Upstroke, 15
W
Waist, of the guitar, 6, 7