2

Contents

Your first chord A 3The chord of D 4The chord of E 5

Let’s Play! 6Upstroke/downstroke 7

In rhythm with D 8In rhythm with E 11

Moving around! 14The chord of G 16The chord of C 18Your first song 20Changin’ Time 22

Adding a melody 28

3

Your first chord A

x o o

x = don’t play this string

o = open string

A1 The A chord’s full name isA major – later on you’ll comeacross other types of A chordsuch as minor and seventh.

2 The A chord is named after itslowest note – the open A string(the 5th string).

3 Like all major chords, A major ischaracterized by a bright, happysound.

A major facts:

21 3

4

The chord of D

x = don’t play this string

o = open string

D1 The D chord is named after itslowest note – the open D string(the 4th string).

2 D is a favorite with folkguitarists – try adding your fourthfinger at the third fret on the topstring to form a chord of Dsus4,for a classic folky sound.

3 D and A sound great whenplayed after each other.

D major facts:x x o

21

3

2

1

3

5

o o o

x = don’t play this string

o = open string

E1 The E chord is the fullestsounding of all the chords you’velearned so far – because, unlike Aor D, it uses all six strings.

2 E is possibly the most popularkey for guitar music, because itallows you to use the open Estrings (top and bottom strings).

3 Once you’ve perfected the Eshape, try adding your little fingerat the 2nd fret, 3rd string, to formthe chord of Esus4.

E major facts:

The chord of E

6

Let’s Play

& 44 !1Count: 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4 etc.

A A A A

! = downstroke

& 44 ! !1Count: 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4 etc.

A A A A A A A A

& 44 ! ! ! !1Count: 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

etc.

7

Upstroke/downstroke

& 44 ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

Count:

!

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

& ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.

C

! = downstroke" = upstroke

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

8

In rhythm with D

Dx x o

21

3

& 44 !1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4 etc.

D D D D

Now play a chord of D, once a bar, on beat 1:

9

This time, try playing two D chords per bar, on beats 1 and 3.

& 44 ! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4 etc.

D D D D D D D D

Now play four D chords in each bar, using a downstroke on each beat.

& 44 ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

etc.

10

We’re now using downstrokes and upstrokes in a continuous rhythm.

In rhythm with D (continued)

& 44 ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

& ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.

D D D D D D

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

D D D D D D D D D D

11

In rhythm with E

E

& 44 !1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4 etc.

E E E E

The first example demonstrates one strumof E per bar (remember the four clicksof the intro).

2

1

3

o o o

12

This example has two strums per bar, on beats 1 and 3.

& 44 ! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4 etc.

E E E E E E E E

The next example requires four strums of E, one per beat, all downstrokes.

& 44 ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

etc.

In rhythm with E (continued)

13

We now use downstrokes and upstrokes in a continuous rhythm.

& 44 ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

& ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.

E E E E E E

E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

E E E E E E E E E E

14

Moving around!

& 44 !1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

! ..1 2 3 4 etc.

Repeat Sign:�Repeat all 4 bars

A D E A

& 44 ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! !1

move move move

2 3 4

! ! !1 2 3 4

! ..! !1 2 3 4

A A A D D D E E E A A A

repeat

Now it’s time to try changing chords from bar to bar. First, use onlydownstrokes and play one chord per bar:

Now try three strums per bar, preparing the next chord shape on beat 4:

15

& 44 ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1

move move move2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ..! ! !1 2 3 4

A A A A D D D D E E E E A A A A

repeat

& 44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D

move

& ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ..1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

A

E E E E E E E E A A A A A A A A

move

Now, try strumming up and down four times per bar (once on each beat),changing chord shape quickly before the start of the next bar:

Finally, try doing the same but with eight strums per bar - twice as fast!

16

The chord of G

G

& 44 !1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4 etc.

G G G G

1

2 3

o o o

To practice G, try these next exercises. First,strum the G chord on the first beat of thebar only:

17

The next pattern uses up-and-down strumming – count steadily and try and keep yourstrumming arm relaxed as you play.

& 44 ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

& ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.

G G G G G G

G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

G G G G G G G G G G

18

The chord of C

C

& 44 !1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

!1 2 3 4 etc.

C C C C

1

3

2

x o o

Remember to keep your first finger pressingdown vertically in order to clear the firststring. Also be sure that your second fingerdoesn’t catch the open G string in themiddle of the chord. Try strumming C onceper bar:

19

& 44 ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

& ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.

C C C C C C

C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C

C C C C C C C C C C

Now try strumming up and down strokes:

20

Your first song

21 3

x o o

21

3

x x o

A D

2

1

3

o o o

E1

2 3

o o o

G

21

1

3

2

x o o

C

Understanding Musical NotationDon’t be put off by the musical signs we’ve usedhere – this is how it works:

1 Play through the Intro in exactly the sameway as you have played all the other examplesin this book – count steadily and play the chordsas indicated.

2 Carry on through the Solo/melody until youcome to the ! sign – that’s a repeat sign, and itmeans you have to go back to zA and play thatsection again.

3 The second time through, skip over the barsunder the number 1 and go straight to the barsunder the number 2.

4 Ignore the To Coda" sign for the time beingand carry straight on into the next section –there’s another repeat here.

5 Once you’ve repeated that sequence carry onuntil you reach the marking D. # . al Coda – thisbasically means “Go back to the # until youreach the To Coda" marking, and then go to theCoda .

6 So skip back to letter zA and play throughthat repeated section again until you reach theTo Coda" marking.

7 Then go to "Coda and play through thatsection until the end.

22

Changin’ Time ! = downstroke" = upstroke

& ### 44 !1

Intro

2 3 4

!1 2 3 4

! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

&

Count:

A A A A A A A A

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

23

A

& ### .. !% " ! " ! " ! "

1

Solo/melody

& 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

E E E E E E E E D D D D D D D D

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

!

A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D

24

& ### ..! " ! " ! " ! "1

1st & 2nd endings: play through the bars under the number 1, then skip back to .�On the second pass, leave out the bars under the number 1, and go directly to thebars under the number 2.

& 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

A

E E E E E E E E D D D D D D D D

1.

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

2.To Coda o

(2nd time)

& ### .. ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

&

A A A A A A A A

25

& ### ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

&

G G G G D D D D

& ### ! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

&

A A A A A A A A

& ### ..! ! ! !1 2 3 4

! ! ! !1 2 3 4

A

G G G G D D D D

26

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

A

E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

Skip back to the Sign (s) at and play through the 1st & 2nd endings.Then, at To Coda o, skip ahead to the Coda below to finish the song.

D.s.al Coda

A

& ### .. ! " ! " ! " ! "1

oCoda

& 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

C C C C C C C C G G G G G G G G

27

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

D D D D D D D D A A A A A A A A

& ### ! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

&

C C C C C C C C G G G G G G G G

& ### ..! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

! " ! " ! " ! "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

!U1

hold�chord

C

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

1. 2.

28

Adding a melodyIntroduction to TABMost guitar music uses a system called“tablature” (TAB) which tells you where to putyour fingers when playing the single notesof a melody.

To play the simple melody of the song let’sbriefly look at theTAB system.

1 Don’t concernyourself with themusic notation fornow, concentrateon the TABinformation. TAB isalways writtenunder the melodyof the song.

TAB

& w

31 2 3 4 5 etc.

1st string (top)

6th string (bottom)

note (here, a D)

Fret numberFret:

2 The six horizontal lines of the TAB representthe six strings of your guitar; the bottom linerepresents the lowest (thickest) string, and thetop line represents the highest (thinnest) string.

3 The number on those horizontal linesindicate the fret at which you should placeyour finger.

Open strings are designated as 0 onthe TAB line – don’t fret the string,

just play it open.

29

TAB

& ###

TAB

& ### ....

.˙

4 84

œ0 0

.˙ œ03

.˙ œ00

.˙ Œ3

Intro

8 bars rest: don’t play!

A% Solo/melody

1

A*

*Chord symbols are for reference only.

p

D DE

2 3 4

1

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

rest: don’t play

Count:

30

TAB

& ### ....

.˙ œ0

2

.˙ œ( )( )

œŒ0 23

w0

wA E

E

Dplay 1st time only

D

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1

1 2 3 41 2 3 4

1

1.

18

TAB

& ### w0

wE

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1

2. To Coda o D.s. al Coda

31

TAB

& ### ....

.˙ œC

0 0

wG

3

.˙ œD

03

wA

0

TAB

& ### ....

.˙ œC

0 0

wG

3

wD

3

w wUD

3

oCoda

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

hold�note

1. 2.

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