LOVE GUITAR – The Real Beginner's Guide

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

1

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

Introduc=on

Playing the guitar is one of the most rewarding skills you can learn on one of the most versa=le of instruments. You can strum it loudly, finger pick it soPly, create beau=ful sounds with hundreds of chords. You can accompany the voice and let the most powerful ingredients of rhythm, harmony, and melody capture a willing audience. Then again, you can just play it in your bedroom away from the crowds leSng the mellow reverbera=ons from the seasoned wood restore your soul.

But where do you start? How do you begin?

Get a guitar: If you haven’t begged, stolen, or borrowed one already, the easiest place to start is with a classical version that has nylon strings. They are the most forgiving type, cheap to buy and easy on your fingers compared to steel strings. The neck is a liVle wider too, giving your fingers a liVle more room to learn the chord shapes. A ¾ size guitar will be fine for most 7 to 11 year olds, and a full size for everyone older – but I do know a few 10 year olds happy with a full size and some adults with smaller hands much preferring the less bulky size. Walk into any guitar shop and try out both. You’ll get either for under £80 new and much less second hand.

Make sure it's in tune: For now, ask a more experienced musician to tune it for you.

Some=mes strings detune a liVle just with damp and humidity around the house, so get yourself a decent £15 electronic tuner or a free smart phone app to help you make those minor adjustments.

There's also a detailed manual method of tuning on page 16.

Start playing: Whether you are aVemp=ng single note TAB songs or strumming chords you are suddenly introducing your finger=ps to something they have not experienced before. Just accept that there will be a liVle soreness to begin with. This is a normal process that might take a few weeks depending on how much and how oPen you prac=se. Fingers need toughening up and breaking in.

They will whine and complain but remember you are the boss and this is the direc=on you are going in – they must learn to follow.

Keep playing: As pilots need flying hours and motorists need driving hours, you need playing hours to progress. There's simply no geSng away from it; just do it. It is in that simple process of doing that you get beVer. The only other job you’ll have to worry about is dealing with the voice of your inner cri=c. It will keep telling you how awful it sounds and that you are not progressing blah blah blah. This is normal. Treat it as a given. Put it in a box all by itself, but keep playing anyway. This is where you learn perseverance. Regardless of your doubts, give yourself a month and then review everything to see how much you have progressed. Decide to set aside ten minutes, five =mes a week to get good at one thing. Maybe work at three chords, or the first line of a TAB song. Record yourself those first few days – you might be amazed with how far you've come when you look back!

2

Contents

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

Chapter 1: The Ten Basics Guitar parts – Finger names – Open string names – The leP hand home posi=on – The chord box – Six must-know chords – TAB – The rest stroke (right hand) – Finger picking (right hand) – Strumming – Tuning.

5

Chapter 2: How to Play TAB TAB intro – "Ten Green BoVles" – "Happy Birthday" – "Old Macdonald" – "Jingle Bells" – "Merry Christmas" – "Oh When the Saints" – The blues scale – "The Grand Old Duke of York" – The G major scale.

19

Chapter 3: How to Play Chords Chords intro – Learning the chords of E, A, B7, D, G, C, (including easy versions) – Learning to change between chords quickly and in =me – The 16 chord block exercise – Learning how to strum – The 4 basic strumming paVerns.

33

Chapter 4: How to Finger Pick Finger picking intro – Finger names (right hand) – Finger picking three strings – Finger picking 6 strings – using the 16 chord block progression to develop moving from one chord to another, quickly and in =me – The 4 basic finger picking paVerns.

47

Chapter 5: Understanding Classical NotaLon Rest stroke – Crotchet and minims – DoVed minims and semibreves – The stave – The notes of E, B, G, F, C, D, and various songs using these notes – G and C major scale.

61

Chapter 6: Back of the Book Extras Scales – Half-bar/full-bar chords – Minor chords – Ten cool riffs – Ten cool chord progressions – "Minuet in G" – "Greensleeves" – Ten songs using three chords – Really useful chord page.

3

83

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

Pre-flight =ps...

Self evalua=on progress squares: Beside each song or lesson there are squares ☑ (played through once) for you to fill in as you go (songs have 5 squares and lessons 3). It's a really ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) helpful way of seeing how well you think you're geSng on. ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed) Try and be a helpful coach to yourself. Remember that if you pick up your guitar regularly enough you will improve; but for your own encouragement it's important you rate your own progress, and realise your hard work is paying off.

Perfec=onists beware: Notes will sound buzzy and muffled. You will get muddled between the 1st and 6th string. You will get baffled and frustrated. You will be tempted to give up aPer 6 weeks. This is what everybody goes through and it's absolutely normal. Try and make the notes sound "as good as I can make them”, and then move on realising that with =me and prac=se, the quality of your playing will improve naturally.

☝

The anchor finger star * on a chord box suggests which finger to place down first (it's just one less thing for you to worry about).

*

There are 3 things you need to really know to make your first few weeks so much easier.

1. Finger names index

i

middle ring

m r

LiVle

L

2. String numbers 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

-----(thinnest string) -------------------------------------------------------------------------(thickest string)

3. Fret numbers

closest to the floor when playing fret 1

fret 2

closest to your face when playing

fret 3

As a beginner you only need just enough informa=on to move ahead one step at a =me.

Newbie runners don't need expensive trainers or a strict diet; just a simple, helpful and easy-tounderstand plan for the first 6 weeks. I've purposefully leP this book uncluVered. You can return to the more complex skills and concepts later.

To truly learn and understand anything it's healthy and wise to have a few informa=on sources.

I hope that this par=cular method, alongside others, will help you to reach the ul=mate guitarist's goal; to play – to progress – to enjoy!

4

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

The Ten Basics

1

This first chapter is like a quick start guide; ten simple things you need to know right at the beginning of your journey.

Later in the book we’ll be jumping further into the deep end but for now, take as much =me as you need to get familiar with the basics.

Page

Basics lesson 1: Guitar parts .............................................. 6 Basics lesson 2: Finger names – Open string names ......... 7 Basics lesson 3: The leP hand home posi=on ...................

8

Basics lesson 4: The chord box .......................................... 9 Basics lesson 5: Six must-know chords .............................. 10 Basics lesson 6: TAB (guitar tablature/nota=on) ................. 11 Basics lesson 7: The rest stroke (right hand) ..................... 12 Basics lesson 8: Finger picking (right hand) ....................... 13 Basics lesson 9: Strumming .................................................. 14 Basics lesson 10: Tuning ....................................................... 16

Page-by-page videos:

loveguitar.co.uk

Videos of every page including songs, chords and riffs are on the website – useful to watch and see how they're played, and helpful to listen to hear how they sound.

5

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 1: Guitar parts tuning pegs nut

posi=on dots body

(thi

st) cke

. . t) . nes hin . g (t trin 6t

..

ring h st s 1st

fretboard frets

bridge sound hole

Body: The main hollow part of the guitar that gives the notes the depth of sound when the strings are played.

PosiLon dots: These are like road signs for the fingers to help you remember where they are on the fretboard. Most guitars have them on fret 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12, and can be found on the fretboard or along the top edge of the neck clearly visible to the player.

(Small s=ckers are helpful for some older or 'budget' instruments that have few or none.)

Nut: The bar of white plas=c between the head and the fretboard that holds and supports the strings in place.

Tuning pegs: These =ghten or loosen the strings – this changes the pitch, and is how each string is tuned correctly to each other.

Fretboard: (fingerboard) The top strip of wood on the neck of the guitar that the frets lie across.

The strings run over the fretboard between the nut and bridge.

Frets: The metal strips that lie across the fretboard.

Sound hole: This helps to project the sound of the chords or notes when the strings are played.

Bridge: This supports the strings coming from the nut and fixes them to the top of the body (some=mes called a soundboard).

6

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 2: Finger names – open string names

Finger names

index

i

middle

m

ring

r

Ring LiVle

L

R

Middle

M

Index

I

Thumb

T

LeP hand (fretboard)

Right hand (finger picking)

Open string names Open strings are just the strings plucked on their own without using any fretboard fingers.

This is a simple phrase to help you remember – always start from the 1st string (thinnest).

Every ----------------------------------- 1st string (thinnest, and closest to the floor when playing)

E

----

B

-------

Big ---------------------------------

G -------- Gardener ----------------D ---------- Digs ------------------A ------------ And --------------E

-------------- Eats ------ 6th string (thickest, and closest to your face when playing)

Another helpful way of orienta=ng the guitar strings with the six lines on the page is to lay the guitar flat on your knees (strings on top) with the book opened flat on a table right in front of you. This way, the six lines correspond exactly to the six guitar strings, and are directly parallel.

Top Tip

As players progress (in the classical style especially) they will learn the more technical names referring to the leP hand fingers as 1,2,3,4 (index, middle, ring, LiVle) and the right hand fingers with the Spanish names P, I, M, A – Pulgar (Thumb), Indice (Index), Medio (Middle), Anular (Ring).

7

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 3: The leP hand home posi=on This shape shows best prac=se technique and what you are ideally working towards when playing scales and single note TAB. There is no one answer when it comes to the best leP hand/thumb posi=on but there are good techniques to follow and adapt, to suit our own par=cular hand.

Stretch your finger=ps over four frets,

with the leP hand thumbnail right behind the middle of the neck, poin=ng up.

Thumb: Place it behind the neck (fret 4) with the nail half way down, poin=ng up. The thumb acts like a clamp and helps to press the finger=ps down firmly. This will help get the best sounding notes with less chance of muffles or buzzing.

FingerLps: Place the index, middle, ring, and liVle fingers on the thickest string (6th) just behind fret 3, 4, 5, and 6. Try to create an arch or bridge so that your fingers do not come into contact with any other strings. Ideally the fingers should be around 90 degrees from the fretboard.

Wrist: Push slightly forward.

Remember this shape; a good home posi=on technique will make sure your fingers reach easily over the strings to the right place on the fretboard.

Top Tip

When strumming or finger picking chords the LH thumb rule is relaxed as many guitarists use it to mute the 6th string and provide more support for the whole hand in general.

8

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 4: The chord box The chord box is set out from the player’s point of view, so if you lay your guitar flat on your lap, it will be very similar.

Remember; with the guitar in the playing posi=on on your thigh, the thickest string (6th) is closest to your face.

Although the frets are the metal strips that lie across the fretboard, when we say 'fret 1'

fret 1

1

we really mean the area just behind the

☟

Thinnest string (1st)

metal strip where the finger =p is placed.

2 3 4 5 6

Thickest string (6th)

• • ••

index i

middle m

ring r

LiVle L

(LeP hand)

fret 1

9

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 5: Six must-know chords Down strum each chord X4

Easy versions are perfect for young beginners. (strumming only 3 strings and using less LH fingers)

•• ••

index i

using your RH Thumb.

ring middle m r LiVle L

fret 1

1 2 3

☟

(1st string - thinnest)

Nicknames (helpful for remembering chord shapes)

* **

“PODIUM E”

4 5

(thick string)

6

(6th string - thickest)

(X = don’t play the string) 1

*

2 3

“STAIRWAY A”

4 5 6 (X = don’t play the string)

*

1 2 3

“FIDDLY B7”

4 5 6 *

1 2 3

“TRIANGLE D"

4 5 6

Sorry, can't make D any easier :)

*

1 2 3

“TALL G”

4 5 6 1 2

*

3

“STRETCH C”

4 5 6

10

* anchor (the finger you place down first) ** "podium E" i.e. gold/silver/bronze podium levels in sport

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 6: TAB (guitar tablature) TAB is short for guitar tablature, and is a form of nota=on that uses lines (represen=ng the strings) and numbers

index

i

(fret numbers) to show you where to place your fingers

middle

m

ring

r

on the fretboard. TAB is a quick and easy way to play

LiVle

L

tunes using single notes.

There are three things to remember with TAB:

(leP hand) Thin string

------

The six lines represent the six strings

1 2 3

The top line is always the thinnest string 1st The numbers show you which fret to place your

4 Thick string

------

5 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m r L i ----3----4----5----6---

finger=ps on The pictures below explain the TAB diagram.

index finger behind fret 3

middle behind fret 4

ring behind fret 5

Li^le behind fret 6

Top Tip

As a beginner you might not be able to stretch your fingers over all four frets just yet!

This page is more of a guide to how TAB works and what it looks like on the page.

11

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 7: The rest stroke (right hand) The rest stroke is a technique that is used to play single notes in TAB/classical nota=on (Ch 5).

It's also the easiest way to produce the clearest sounding note.

It gets its name because aPer plucking the string, the finger rests on the adjacent string aPer it follows through giving a slightly rounder, oPen punchier sound.

STEP 1

STEP 2

Place your right hand Thumb on the top string (6th)...

Place your straight Index finger on the 1st string…

STEP 3

STEP 4

...coming to 'rest' on the string above.

With the Index, pull (pluck) the string towards you…

Top Tip

For simplicity this technique can be used by the RH Index finger on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string, while the RH Thumb uses it when playing notes on the 6th, 5th, or 4th string. With the Thumb you simply press/ pluck down on the string away from you, and come to 'rest' on the string below.

12

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 8: Finger picking (right hand) Finger picking is a technique that uses the finger=ps to pluck individual strings (some=mes referred to as the free stroke) without res=ng on the adjacent string .

It's mainly used with chords (played by the leP hand), and unique as it adds a variety of sounds by picking out the different notes of that chord.

Try to get your hand to look like this.

g 1st strinrin g Ring plays ays 2nd st Middle plays 3rd string Index pl

Thumb p

••••

middle ring index m r LiVle i L

(LeP hand) fretboard

th, or 4t lays 6th, 5

h string

Your leP hand fingers play the chord shape...

1 2 3 4 5 6

...while your right hand fingerpicks the paVern.

M

R

R M

M

I

I

E

T

I T

(Right hand) finger picking

(Thumb starts…)

Each finger is assigned to a string (Index/3rd, Middle/2nd, Ring/1st) Pluck each string in this order: T, I, M, R, M, I

(Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring, Middle, Index)

It might help to speak out the finger names as you pick the strings.

Play the paVern twice slowly and carefully, star=ng with the RH Thumb.

Repeat the sequence un=l it sounds smooth and clean.

13

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 9: Strumming Strumming is the swinging ac=on of the right hand with a pick (or thumb) brushing over the strings.

It's used when playing chords only, and provides rhythm.

Picks (some=mes called plectrums) come in a variety of thicknesses and colours.

Having used many over the years, I now only use the Jim Dunlop Nylon .6 (grey) or .46 (white).

Players use a pick (as opposed to a thumb) to give a louder and more even strum across the strings.

Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger…

with the pick poin=ng towards you like this.

The basic strumming pa^ern DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP (Strumming always starts with a downstrum)

⇩

⇩

⇩

⇩

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 2 3 4 = down strums and = up strums

14

⇩

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

1

With your leP hand playing the E chord, rest the inside of your right elbow on the outside edge of the guitar body…

•••• i

m

r

L

1 2 3 4 5 6

2 then lightly brush the pick (or thumb) downwards across all of the strings…

3 and then swing your arm back again brushing the pick over the strings, upwards.

Top Tip

Don’t worry, it will feel a liVle awkward and choppy at first, but keep strumming down and up and it will get smoother and cleaner. Swing your arm from your elbow, like a clock pendulum – and try not to twist your wrist. Ten minutes a day and I promise you will see a huge difference in just 2 or 3 weeks.

15

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

Basics lesson 10: Tuning Tuning your guitar digitally is the easiest and quickest way to tune a guitar (using a digital tuner).

A clip-on tuner works great, or any of the excellent free smart phone apps.

Tuning your guitar manually takes =me to learn, so be pa=ent! Below is the step by step method.

(It will be really helpful for you to watch the video of this page on loveguitar.co.uk).

1 ----------------------2 ----5------------------

start with tuning the 2nd string to the 1st

3 ----4----- (then tune the 3rd to the 2nd string) 4 ----5----- (the 4th to the 3rd string) 5 ----5----- (the 5th to the 4th string) 6 ----5----- (and lastly the 6th to the 5th string) STEP 1

Place your leP hand index finger behind fret 5, 2nd string.

STEP 2

Pluck the open 1st string, followed by the 2nd string.

STEP 3

Listen carefully to the 2nd note (2nd string).

STEP 4

Ask yourself, is this 2nd note sound higher or lower than the first note?

If you think this note is higher (sharp), go to the 2nd string's tuning peg ready to turn it. Play the open 2nd string again (take your index finger off) and very slowly turn the peg an=-clockwise to slacken the string – this lowers the pitch of that string's note.

If you think this note is lower (flat), gently turn the tuning peg clockwise to =ghten the string.

This raises the pitch of that string's note.

The goal is to try and get the 2 strings to sound exactly the same (with the 1st open, and 2nd string with the index on fret 5). If you think they are close, just pluck them both together with your index finger s=ll pressed down on fret 5, 2nd string. If they are s=ll out of tune you will hear a wobble or pulsing in the sound. If it is in tune there will be a dis=nct clean sounding note, ringing true and even.

STEP 5

Now repeat the whole process again, tuning the 3rd string to the 2nd, but this =me puSng your index finger on fret 4. Con=nue this process (refer to diagram above) un=l all strings are tuned.

This will take =me! As you keep prac=sing this your ears will sharpen, your listening will improve, and you will get beVer and quicker.

16

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS BASICS

The digital method is great if the strings are a liVle out of tune due to natural humidity changes. If a curious child has been leP alone with the tuning pegs however, you might need some help from a more experienced musician to retune!

The manual method is great if you are playing on your own. If you play with others you'll need a reference note to make sure everyone is in tune. This is where the digital tuner is useful because it will give you concert pitch, a standard tuning system that everyone uses worldwide.

Top Tip

Learn to listen. This exercise is as much about listening as geSng the strings in tune with each other.

We start by geSng the 2nd string in tune with the 1st.

Take =me in geSng this string in tune – only then move on to tuning the 3rd to the 2nd, and so on.

17

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

18

Best experienced photocopied and coloured in

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

2

How to Play TAB

In this chapter we’ll be learning to play over 15 well known TAB songs.

TAB is short for 'guitar tablature', and is a form of nota=on that uses lines (represen=ng the strings) and numbers (fret numbers) to show you where to place your fingers on the fretboard.

It's the easiest and quickest way to start learning songs on the guitar.

Page

TAB lesson 1: "Easy Peasy", "LiP Off", "Ten Green BoVles" (pt 1) ............... 21 TAB lesson 2: "Jingle Bells" (pt 1), "Old MacDonald", "Happy B'day" (pt 1) ..... 22 TAB lesson 3: "Merry Christmas", "Oh When the Saints", "Happy B'day (pt 2) . 23 TAB lesson 4: "Ten Green BoVles" (pt 2), "Jingle Bells" (pt 2), "Swing Low" (pt 1) . 24 TAB lesson 5: "Oh When the Saints" (full), "Merry Christmas" (pt 2) ............ 25 TAB lesson 6: "10 Green BoVles" (full), Blues Scale in G, "Duke of York" ...... 26 TAB lesson 7: "Blues Solo" (pt 1), "Blues Solo Bass" (pt 1), "Give Me Oil" (pt 1) .. 27 TAB lesson 8: "Blues Solo" (full), "Blues Solo Bass" (full), "Auld Lang Syne" .... 28 TAB lesson 9: "Merry Christmas" (full), "Give Me Oil In My Lamp" (full) ....... 29 TAB lesson 10: G Major Scale, "Yankee Doodle" ................................. 30

Top Tip

Basic TAB shows you what notes to play, but does not indicate note dura=on – that's why it really helps to know how the song sounds before you try and learn it. More advanced TAB is now using elements of classical nota=on to indicate =ming and rhythm, but in this book we'll keep to the simple version.

19

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB intro The best way to progress is to find out the lesson level you're confident with, then work towards the next lesson. Set yourself a high enough standard to prac=se the pieces so you can play them confidently and easily with a consistent flow and rhythm.

The BSR technique works wonders (Bite Size Repe==on, AKA ‘chunking’): take a small sec=on and repeat un=l you feel there is real improvement. Then take the next short phrase and do the same. Add these two sec=ons together and repeat them. As you work through the whole song in this way you will begin to see real progress bit by bit. It’s the same principle as polishing a car or your shoes; going over and over, round and round, bit by bit, un=l shiny.

Under each song there are five self-evalua=on squares that help you chart your own progress.

☐☐☐☐☐ ☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 =mes) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

This is when you really know a song well :)

As you work on each song, the process and skills acquired to learn it well will help you enormously with learning other songs easier and quicker.

Remember, it's all about good technique.

Top Tip

Try and get these two good habits into your playing as early as possible: 1. Thumb behind the neck/fretboard – this will help you reach the right notes easily with your fingers.

2. FingerLps pressing down, just behind the fret – this will help you play a good clean note with the least amount of buzzing or muffling.

20

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 1 Work at being confident with two out of the three pieces on every page before moving on to the next lesson – you can use your leP hand index or middle finger to play the notes for this lesson.

(For the right hand, pluck with your Index finger using the rest stroke technique (p12). Also, when you see a zero, it means play the open string i.e. just the string on its own, so no leP hand fingers needed).

"Easy Peasy" Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

Need a TAB refresher?

See page 11

---0-----1-----3-----0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Lid off" Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

index

i

---0----0----1----1----2----2----3--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Ten Green Bo^les" (pt 1) Ten green boV - les sit - =ng on the wall...

Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

---0---0---0---4------2---0---2---4---0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ 21

middle

m

ring

r

LiVle

L

(leP hand)

use your LH index finger to the play the notes for this lesson

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 2 Try and use the suggested leP hand fingering (i m r L) to play the notes for this lesson.

"Happy Birthday" (pt 1)

index

i

middle

m

ring

r

Hap - py birth - day to you...

Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

----------------------------0-------------r i ---0-----0-----2-----0---------4---------------------------------------------------(starts on 2nd string) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

LiVle

L

(leP hand)

"Jingle Bells" (pt 1) Jing - le bells jing - le bells jing - le all the way Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

L

i

r

---4-----4-----4-------4-----4-----4------4-----7-----0--------2-----4----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Old MacDonald" Old Mac Don - ald had a farm e i e i o Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

r

r

i

i

---0---0---0--------------------------------4-----4-----2-----2-----0-----------i i -----------------0------2----2----0-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ ☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

22

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 3 "Happy Birthday" (pt 2)

i m r

L

Hap - py birth - day to you, hap - py birth - day to you...

Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

------------------------------0--------------------------------------2---0---------i L i ----0-----0-----2------0---------4--------0-----0-----2-----0-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ ☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

"Merry Christmas" (pt 1) We wish you a mer - ry Christ - mas we wish you a mer - ry Christ - mas Thin string

------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

r

i

-------0----0----2----0--------------------2----2----4----2----0----------------r i i r ---0----------------------4----2-----2--------------------------------4-----0-----i -----------------------------------2--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Oh When the Saints" (pt 1) Oh when the saints oh when the saints oh when the saints go mar - ching in Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

m

L

i

m

L

i

m

L

i

i

i

----0----4----5----7--------0----4----5----7------0----4-----5-----7-------4----0----4----2---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

Page-by-page videos:

23

loveguitar.co.uk

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 4 i m r

"Ten Green Bo^les" (pt 2)

L

Ten green boV - les sit - =ng on the wall ten green boV - les sit - =ng on the wall Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

r

i

i

r

i

i

L

m

i

m

L

i

---0----0----0----4--------2---0---2---4---0-------4----4----4----7--------5---4---5---7---4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Jingle Bells" (full) Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh hey!

Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

L

i

r

L

L

L

L L

r r

r r r

r i

i i

L

---4--4--4----4--4--4----4--7--0-----2--4-------5--5--5---5-5--4-4-----4-4-4--2-2--4-2---7----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse o - pen sleigh!

i

i

i

i

i

i L

i

L

r

L

L

L L

r r

r r

L L

L

i

---4--4--4----4--4--4----4--7--0-----2--4-------5--5--5---5-5--4-4----4-4--7-7---5---2---0-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Swing Low" Swing low sweet cha - ri - ot comin' for to ca - rry me home swing low sweet cha - ri - ot coming' for to ca - rry me home Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

r

r

i i L

L

L L i

L

r r

i

--4--0---4--0--0---------0-0--0-0--4-4--7--7---9-7-4---7-0--0---------0-0--0-0---4-4--2--0--i i --------------------2--0----------------------------------------------2--0----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

24

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 5 i m r

"Happy Birthday" (full)

L

Hap - py birth - day to you, hap - py birth - day to you, hap - py birth - day dear doo daa, hap - py birth - day to you!

Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

L

i

L

i

L

i

r

-------------------0----------------------2---0-------------7--4--0----------5---5---4---0---2---0--r i i r i --0---0---2---0-----4-----0--0--2--0--------------0--0------------4--2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ ☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

"Oh When the Saints" (full) Oh when the saints oh when the saints oh when the saints go mar - ching in Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

m

i

L

i

m

L

m

i

L

i

i

i

----0----4----5----7--------0----4----5----7------0----4-----5-----7-------4----0----4----2---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I want to be in that num - ber, Oh when the saints go mar - ching in.

r

r

i

L

i

L

m

m

i

i

L

i

i

-----4----4----2----0--------4----7----7----5------4----4-----5-----7-------4----0----2---0---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

"Merry Christmas" (pt 2) We wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas and a ha - ppy new year Thin string

-------

i

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

r i

r

r

L

r

i

i

----0--0--2--0-------------2--2--4--2--0-----------4--4--5--4--2--0-----------------2-------0----r i r i r r i i --0-------------4--2------2-----------------4--0---4--------------------2---0--0---2-------4--------i -----------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 6 i m r

L

"Ten Green Bo^les" (full) Ten green boV - les sit - =ng on the wall ten green boV - les sit - =ng on the wall and if Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

r

i

i

i

r

i

i

L

m

i

m L

i

---0----0----0----4--------2---0---2---4---0-------4---4---4---7---------5--4--5--7--4---0--0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------one green bot - tle should ac - ci - dently fall there'll be nine green boVles sit - =ng on the wall...

L

L

L

i

i

r

i

r

i

i

r

L ---9----9----7----4-------0--2--4--2--0------------------0--0--0--4-------2---0---2---4---0------i i -----------------------------------------------2-------0--2-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

Blues Scale in G (two octaves) Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

----------------------------------------------3--------3-------------------------------------------------i L L i ---------------------------------------3--6--------------6--3-------------------------------------------i r L L r i -----------------------------3--5--6----------------------------6--5--3--------------------------------r i i r -------------------3--5--------------------------------------------------------5--3---------------------r m i i m r ---------3--4--5----------------------------------------------------------------------5--4--3----------i L L i --3--6-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6--3----

☐☐☐☐☐ "The Grand Old Duke of York"

Oh the grand old Duke of York he had 10,000 men he marched them up to the top of the hill and he marched them down again Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

L

m

i

i

i

i

i

i

i r r r r r L L L L

L L

r

i

--7--5--4--0-0-0-0-------0--2--2--2--2--2-----2-4-4-4-4-4-5-5-5-5---5-5--4--0--2------0----r ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐

26

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 7

"Blues Solo" (pt 1) Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

r

i m r

b = bend the string

L

i

---12----10------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m r m m i ----------------12---11---10----------------------------------------8-----b8-----------------------r i i r r -----------------------------------b12----9-------------7----9---------------------9--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------☐☐☐☐☐ ☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

"Blues Solo Bass" (pt 1) Thin string

-------

1 2 3 4 5 6

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------r i L i i ----------------------------------------5-------------8----7----5---------------------------5-------r i r i r r r -----------------------------5-----7--------7-------------------------7----------5-----7--------7--r r r i ---0---3---5---5-s-7---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐ s = slide between fret 5 and 7

"Give Me Oil in My Lamp" (pt 1) Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning give me oil in my lamp I pray give me oil in my lamp keep me burning keep me burning =ll the break of day Thin string

-------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0--0--0-------------------------0--0--0-------------------------0--0--0-------------------------------------0--0------------------i i i i i m i ------------1---------------------------------1----------1-------------------1-------------------------------1--------2--1-----------m L L L m L m m L m L m L m m L m ---------------4--2--4--2---2------------------4---2------4------------------4--2--4--2----2----2--4-------------------4---2---L L ----------------------------4-----------------------------------------------------------------4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

Page-by-page videos:

27

loveguitar.co.uk

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 8 i m r

"Blues Solo" (full) Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

r

L

i

--12--10------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m m m r i -----------12--11--10----------------------8----b8-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------r r i i r i i ------------------------b12--9-----7---9---------------9-----------9----7------------------------------------------------------------i r m i --------------------------------------------------------------------------------9---8---7---5--------------------------------------------r i -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7---5---------------------------i r m i ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7---6---5---b3---0----

☐☐☐☐☐

b = bend the note

"Blues Solo Bass" (full) Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

i

r

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10--12-----r m i i m -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8-----------8--10--11--12----------------r i r -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7---9------9----------------------------------------i L i i i i m r r --------------------------5--------8---7---5-------------5--------5--7--8--9-------------------------------------------------------i r r r r i r -------------------5--7-----7-----------------7--5--7------7-------------------------------------------------------------------------i r r r ---0--3--5--5s7-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

s = slide between fret 5 and 7

"Auld Lang Syne" Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne i r i L L L r i i L i i i i r i

------0---0--0--4---2---0--2-----4--2--0---0---4---7---9------9--7---4--4---0--2---0--2----4--2--0----------------0-----i i ---0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2--2---0-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

L i i i i i i r i i i L L i i L L L L L

---9---7--4--4---0--2--0--2-----9---7----4--4----7----9-------9--7---4--4---0--2---0--2----4---2---0---------------0-------i i --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2--2---0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

28

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 9 i m rL

"Merry Christmas" (full) We wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas we wish you a merry Christmas and a ha - ppy new year Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

r i

r

r L

r

i

i

------0--0--2--0-----------------2--2--4--2--0------------------4--4--5--4--2--0----------------------2----------0-------------r i r r r i i i ---0---------------4--2----2-----------------------4---0---4--------------------------2--0--0-----2-----------4------------------i --------------------------2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

good = - dings we bring to you and your kin we wish you a merry Christmas and a ha - ppy new year! r

i

i

L

i

i

-------0---0---0-------------------0------------------------------4---2--2--0--0--7----------------------2---------0-------------r r r r i i ---0---------------4-------4-----------4----2----0-------0----------------------------0---0-0------2----------4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

"Give Me Oil in My Lamp" (full) Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning give me oil in my lamp I pray give me oil in my lamp keep me burning keep me burning =ll the break of day Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0--0--0-------------------------0--0--0-------------------------0--0--0-------------------------------------0--0------------------i i i i i m i ------------1---------------------------------1----------1-------------------1-------------------------------1--------2--1-----------m L L L m L m m L m L m L m m L m ---------------4--2--4--2---2------------------4---2------4------------------4--2--4--2----2----2--4-------------------4---2--L L ----------------------------4-----------------------------------------------------------------4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sing hosanna sing hosanna sing hosanna to the king of kings sing hosanna sing hosanna sing hosanna to the king

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m m m m m L m L m ---0---------0----2---------2-----4--2--0---------------2--0----0---------0---2-----------2------4----2---0-------------------m i i m i i i i ------1---------------2-----------------------2--1---------------------1--------------2--------------------------2---1-----------L m m L L m m L ----------2---------------4--------------------------4--2------------------2--------------4-------------- ------------------4---2---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

Page-by-page videos:

29

loveguitar.co.uk

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB lesson 10 i m r

The G major scale (two octaves and back) Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

m

i

L

i

---------------------------------------------------------2----3-----2--------------------------------------------------------------m L L m ------------------------------------------------3---5------------------5---3-------------------------------------------------------L i r L r i -----------------------------------2---4---5-----------------------------------5---4---2-----------------------------------------r L L r i i -----------------------2---4---5-------------------------------------------------------------5---4---2---------------------------L m i m L i -----------2---3---5---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5---3---2-------------m L L m ---3---5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5---3-----

☐☐☐☐☐

"Yankee Doodle" (full) Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

i

r

r i

i

r

i

r

r L

i

---0--0--2--4--0--4--2------------0--0--2--4--0----------------0--0--2--4--5--4--2--0-----------------------0----0--------r r i r ----------------------------0---------------------------4---0-----------------------------------------4--0--2--4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

-----------------------------0------------------------------------------------------------0--------------0-----2----0----0--------i r i i r i i r r i i r i ---2---4---2---0---2---4----------0---2--0--------------0--------2---4--2--0--2--4------2-----0-----4----------------------i i --------------------------------------------------2----1--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

i

i

i

-----------2---2---0--------------------------------0----2---------------------2---2---0-------------------------------0---2--------m i i m m i i m ---0--0----------------3---2---0------0---2---3--------------------0---0-----------------3---2---0-----0---2---3-----------------i i -------------------------------------2--------------------------------------------------------------------2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

m

i

m L

L

i

i m i

i

i mL L i

---2---3---0---2---3---5---7---2---0---------------0------0----2--3--2--2--0-------------------0----0--2-3-5-7-2-0---m m m i m i m m i i m ------------------------------------------3--0--2--3-----3------------------------3--2--0--3-2-0----3--------------------3--2--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

30

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB treat "E Squeeze" riff (bronze) pause!

Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m m m m ---8b--------------------------------8---8b-------------------------8b---------------------------------------------------------r i r i r r i r r i r i --------9-----7-----9----7--9----------------9----7-----9--------------9---7---9------7-------------------------------------m i i r -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9-------8---7---5-----------------r ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐ b = bend the note (up)

☑ (played through once) ☑☑ (played through 5 times) ☑☑☑ (partly off by heart) ☑☑☑☑ (fully off by heart) ☑☑☑☑☑ (eyes closed)

"E Squeeze" riff (silver) pause!

Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------m m m m ---8b--------------------------------8---8b-------------------------8b---------------------------------------------------------r i r i r r i r r i r i i i i i ---7b--9-----7-----9----7--9-------7---7b--9----7-----9---------7b--9---7---9------7-------------------------------------m i i r -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9-------8---7---5-----------------r ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐ b = bend these two notes up together

"E Squeeze" riff (gold) Thin string

--------- 1 2 3 4 5 6

i

i

i

pause!

i

---7b--------------------------------7---7b-------------------------7b------------------------------------------------------------m m m m ---8b--------------------------------8---8b-------------------------8b---------------------------------------------------------r i r i r r i r r i r i i i i i ---7b--9-----7-----9----7--9-------7---7b--9----7-----9---------7b--9---7---9------7-------------------------------------m i i r -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9-------8---7---5-----------------r ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

☐☐☐☐☐

Bend these three notes up using index finger across 1st, 2nd and 3rd string, fret 7.

31

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS TAB

TAB debrief Great achievement for geing this far... you have now learnt the basics of TAB, and hopefully have increased your confidence to tackle more challenging songs.

It's really all about pracLce and repeLLon from now on.

The more TABs you aVempt, the quicker your fingers will adapt, and the easier it will become. You may no=ce more difficult looking TAB songs online and be tempted to panic, but if you take things very slowly one bar at a =me, you will begin to work them out slowly but surely.

Numbers on top of each other (or in line with each other) simply mean you have to play them at the same =me (down strumming as a full chord or in the case of two or three notes, finger picking them together). Below is an TAB example of the chord of E.

1

The E chord in TAB

2 3 4 5 6

-----0---------0---------2---------3---------3---------0-----

You might noLce other TAB symbols elsewhere on more advanced songs (vibrato, hammer-ons, pull offs, and slides) – they all refer to par=cular techniques to create different sounds from the guitar. Check out the many useful tutorials made by other guitarists on YouTube to master these as you progress in your own playing.

In the meanLme keep playing li^le and oden, and your fingers will learn to get where they are supposed to be, quickly and cleanly. Experiment with rhythm by playing the notes as if you were humming or singing them, with some notes las=ng longer or shorter than others.

Above all, enjoy! Remember this is not a compe==on or race, but a step by step, liVle by liVle process of learning to play one of the world's most versa=le instruments.

32

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS

3

How to Play Chords

In this chapter we’ll be learning to play basic chords and moving quickly between them – the top priority for every beginner.

Many guitarists lose heart because they never seem to master the quick chord change.

The key is repeLLon. Move enough =mes between E and A and your fingers will soon remember. In a very short while you will not even have to look at your fingers; they will know what to do.

StarLng with small steps is oPen the best way, as struggling through a whole song before you are ready can be frustra=ng. As you work through the ten chord lessons, your confidence and ability will increase as you progress.

Page

Chords lesson 1: The chord of Easy E ............................................ 35 Chords lesson 2: Easy E and A .................................................... 36 Chords lesson 3: Easy E, A, and B7 ............................................... 37 Chords lesson 4: E chord .......................................................... 38 Chords lesson 5: E and A .......................................................... 39 Chords lesson 6: E, A, and B7 ..................................................... 40 Chords lesson 7: E, A, B7, and D ................................................. 41 Chords lesson 8: The 16 chord block – E, A, B7, D, G, and C ................. 42 Chords lesson 9: The 16 chord block without chord boxes .................. 44 Chords lesson 10: The 16 chord block strumming styles ..................... 45

33

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords intro: How to read a chord box The chord box in this book is set out from the player’s point of view, so if you lay your guitar flat on your lap, it will be very similar.

• • ••

index i

middl m

ring r

LiVle

L

Remember, with the guitar in the playing posi=on on your thigh, the thick string (6th) is closest to your face.

fret 1

String numbers

1st

fret 2

☟ ☟

Thin string (closest to the floor when playing)

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Thick string (closest to your face when playing)

Thickest string (6th)

Thin strin g Thic

k st ring

(1st)

(6t

h)

fret 1

Top Tip

As you progress through the lessons try and focus on quality not speed.

1. Press down finger=ps, just behind the frets.

2. Keep your down strum slow and even – it's much beVer to be slow and smooth than quick and un=dy.

34

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 1: The chord of Easy E Place your leP hand index finger=p just behind fret 1 (3rd string)...

• • ••

index

middle m

i

ring r LiVle L

fret 1 Thin string (1st)

1

☟

2

☝

3rd string

Easy

3

E

4

X4

5 6

x = don't play the string

...and with your right hand thumb, down strum the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st string – four Lmes.

X X X

L1 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

35

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 2: The chords of Easy E and A With your right-hand thumb, down strum the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings – four Lmes each.

• • ••

index i

middle m

ring r

X X X

LiVle L

Thin string (1st)

1 2

Easy

3

E

4

X4 X4

5 6

1 2

Easy

3

A

4

X4

5 6

At the end of every lesson there are three self-evalua=on check squares to fill in so you can chart your own progress. ☑ (aVempted this a few =mes) ☑☑ (definitely seeing progress at this level) ☑☑☑ (can down strum between chords smoothly and in =me)

36

L2 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 3: The chords of Easy E, A, and B7 Check out the new chord of B7 – then down strum (four =mes each) the whole column, trying to keep the rhythm steady and smooth throughout. index

• • •• i

middle m

ring r

LiVle L

Thin string (1st)

1 2 3 4

x

Easy

x

E

x

X4

5 6

1 2

Easy

A

3 4

X4

5 6

1 2

Easy

3

B7

4

X4 X4

5 6

1 2

Easy

EE

3 4

X4

5

L3 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

6

37

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 4: The chord of E Now let's use all six strings with the full chord of E.

• • ••

index

* The index finger is the anchor finger (the finger you place down first)

i

middle m

ring r

LiVle L

fret 1 Thin string (1st)

2

4th string 5th string

☝ ☝ ☝

3rd string

☟

1

fret 2

☟

*

3

X4

4 5 6

…and this is your view of your fingers.

thin string (1st)

thick str ing (6th

)

L4 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

Top Tip

To become confident with this chord, try using the Hand Behind Technique: Start with the leP hand behind your back – count ‘3,2,1, go’ and then see how long it takes you to play the chord cleanly.

Keep repea=ng this un=l you reach the target =me of under five seconds.

38

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 5: The chords of E and A Learning to change quickly between these two chords will help you change between any two chords; While keeping a steady beat, the goal is to change chords smoothly without pausing (i.e. keeping your right arm swinging without having to pause to wait for the leP hand fingers to get to the next chord shape).

The key is repeLLon: Put the =mer on for two minutes at a =me, and just keep changing over and over and over – E, A, E, A, and so on. However boring this exercise is, you are training your fingers to change shapes. Three repe==ons of two minutes a day for a week, and you will have mastered this chord change for life.

• • ••

index i

middle m

ring r

LiVle L

fret 1 Thin string (1st)

☟

1 2

fret 2

☟

*

3

down strum this chord

4

X4

5 6

* For A the Li^le finger is the anchor (the finger you place down first) 1

*

2 down strum this chord

3

X4

4 5 6

L5 check: ☐ ☐ ☐ X = don’t play this string

39

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 6: The chords of E, A, and B7 E, A, B7, and back to E – try to down strum these four chords, four =mes each, slowly and smoothly in under a minute.

Thin string (1st) 1 2

fret 1

fret 2

☟

☟

• • •• i

m

r

L

*

3

X4

4 5 6

1

*

2

X4

3 4 5 6

*

1

* For B7 the Li^le finger is the anchor (the finger you place down first)

2 3

X4

4 5 6

1 2

*

X4

3 4 5

L6 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

6

☑ (aVempted this a few =mes) ☑☑ (definitely seeing progress) ☑☑☑ (smooth chord changes)

40

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 7: The chords of E, A, B7, and D Introducing the new chord of D – try to down strum these eight chords, four =mes each, slowly and smoothly in under a minute.

fret 1

2

fret 2

☟ ☟

1

Down strum each chord x4 in columns Thin string (1st)

1

3

3

X4

4

6

☞

5

6

3

3

5

6

6 *

1

2

2

3

3

X4

4

5

6

6

1

1 2

*

3

* X4

4

5

2

X4

4

5

1

* middle finger = anchor

2 X4

4

*

1

*

2

X4

4

5

1

*

2

*

*

3

X4

4

4

5

5

6

6

X4

L7 target =me: under 1 minute

L7 check: ☐ ☐ ☐ Page-by-page videos:

41

loveguitar.co.uk

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 8: The 16 chord block: E, A, B7, D, G, and C These are the six basic chords learnt so far incorporated into a 16 chord structure.

The 16 Chord Block is a really useful training exercise using the most common chords within the key families of E, A, D, and G. Down strum each chord (X4) down the page in columns. fret 1

☟

1 2

Thin string (1st)

1

3

3

X4

6

5 6

3

2 3

X4

4

5

6

6 *

1

2

2

3

3

X4

4

5

6

6

1

1 2

*

3

3

X4

4

4

5

5

6

6

• • •• i

* X4

4

5

2

X4

4

5

1

*

1

*

2

☞

5

X4

4

☞

4

1

*

2

*

m

r

L

* = anchor finger (the finger you place down first)

42

*

X4

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Top Tip

Don't worry if you are well outside the 1 minute target =me to begin with. Your first few aVempts may take between 3 and 4, but persevere and you will become quicker and more confident. With just 10 minutes prac=se, 5 =mes a week you will see real progress in under a month. Eventually you'll be able to down strum one chord every second – this is the tempo of 60 beats per minute (BPM). Use a metronome to help you keep in =me.

1

*

*

1 2

2 3

3

X4

*

1

5 6

☞

6

1 2

2 3

5

6

6 1

*

3

X4

4

5

6

6 *

1

*

2

2 3

X4 X4

4

5

1

*

2

2 3

X4 X4

4

5

1

*

3

X4

4

☞

5

X4 X4

4

☞

4

3

X4 X4

4

4

5

5

6

6

X4 X4

L8 target =me: under 1 minute

L8 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

43

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 9: The 16 chord block (without chord boxes) At this point you'll need to start learning the chord shapes off by heart.

Use the chord nicknames to help you remember (see page 10).

This =me, down strum the chords (x4) across the page in rows.

E☞

A

A

X4

D

X4

G

X4

C

podium

triangle

G

B7

X4

E

X4

A

X4

D

triangle

stairway

D

X4

E

X4

X4

A

X4

X4

D

X4

X4

G

X4

podium

podium

stairway

triangle

stairway

tall

triangle

stretch

tall

X4

fiddly

stairway

tall

L9 target =me: under 1 minute

L9 check: ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ (aVempted this a few =mes) ☑☑ (definitely seeing progress) ☑☑☑ (smooth chord changes)

44

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords lesson 10: The 16 chord block (strumming paVerns) Once you're confident with changing between chords using down strums, we can now try different strumming paVerns which add variety and dynamics to your playing (more on p14/15).

Lesson 10 goal: to strum the 16 chord block using each strumming paVern (shown below) in under a minute (i.e. four minutes for all four paVerns), as smoothly as possible.

E☞

A

B7

E

A

D

E

A

D

G

A

D

G

C

D

G

Strumming paVerns (1234's = down strums, 'ands' = upstrums – see p14) DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP

1.

⇩ 1

⇩ 2

and

⇩ 3

and

⇩ 4

and

2.

1

2

and

3

and

4

and

3.

1

2

3

and

4

and

4.

1

and

and

2

and

and

and

L10 target =me: under 4 minutes

L10 check: ☐ ☐ ☐

45

BASICS TAB CHORDS FINGER PICKING CLASSICAL NOTATION EXTRAS CHORDS

Chords debrief Good work reaching this point!

The end goal of this chapter is smooth strumming with clean and =dy chord changes.

If you can achieve this with these six chords within the 16 chord block, you can achieve it with any chord sequence.

However choppy and awkward your strumming feels at the moment, I guarantee that if you play through all four paVerns on level 10 twice a day (around ten minutes) you'll see a drama=c difference in your playing within just two or three weeks.

Remember you are only breaking in your fingers once. There will come a =me when you will have mastered it – and if you take a break, muscles have memories; a few days of brushing up and your fingers will soon remember where they need to go.

There are many guitarists who dabble with chords, but few who are confident and strum smoothly and effortlessly without the need to look at their fingers. These are the people who have put in the =me to learn well. Be that person – learn to play simple things well before moving on – you'll never regret the =me you spent geSng the basics right. As a beginner you start as a slave to this piece of wood and strings, but gradually over =me you will become the master!

46