Guitar Skills 1

Year 8
Parts of the Guitar: Acoustic vs. Electric
 Your Turn
• Terms
– Headstock, Output Jack, Tremolo, Bridge
Pins, Frets, Nut, Tuners, Body, Saddle,
Pickguard, Neck, Fretboard, Bridge, Waist,
Pickups.
– Put these terms in the proper place on the
guitar.
– Turn in the completed handout for formative
assessment grade #1!!
 DIRECTIONS along the strings

Down REMEMBER

Moving UP means going

toward a “higher” pitch
or note.

Down Up Moving DOWN is going

or toward a “lower” pitch
Across or note.

Up
Fret Numbers and String Numbers
 OPEN Strings - NAMES

Note lower
e case “e” is
the
SKINNY
string
(high note)

1st string
6th string
(skinny “e”)
(fat “E”)
OPEN Strings – FRET #’s

Note lower
e case “e” is
the
SKINNY
string
(high note)

BUT we
place
fingers
BELOW
the metal
frets!
 Musical Notes

C -> D -> E -> F -> G -> A -> B -> (C)

(just the WHITE keys on the piano)

‘repeats’ ‘repeats’
 Musical Notes (cont.)

C -> D -> E -> F -> G -> A -> B -> (C)

Read this as…
# = “sharp” b = “flat” A sharp -or- B flat

‘repeats’ ‘repeats’
 NOTES vs. FRETS

Each NOTE on the piano (black or white) = 1 FRET on the GUITAR

SO… if you move from the white “D” to the black “D#” key -> move 1 FRET

‘repeats’ ‘repeats’
 Musical Notes (cont.)

Represent this as a CIRCLE

C -> D -> E -> F -> G -> A -> B -> (C) ‘repeats’

A#/Bb These are the

G#/Ab
BLACK keys
on the piano

F#/Gb

C#/Db

Eb/D#
 Musical Notes (cont.)

Up 1 FRET = move 1 NOTE G#/Ab A#/Bb

So… what NOTE would be....

1. 2nd fret on “A” string? F#/Gb

2. 4th fret on low “E” string?

3. 1st fret on “B” string?

C#/Db

Eb/D#
How to hold & use a PICK

Or you can use

your fingers
(or just THUMB)!
Tuning Your Guitar – “Tuning Up”

Clip-On Phone APP

Directions: 1. pluck a string so ‘rings’..

2. turn TUNER
 Tuning Your Guitar – “Tuning Up”

LET’s DO THIS NOW AS A GROUP

Directions: 1. pluck LOW E string so ‘rings’..

2. turn TUNER on headstock
3. always tune UP to the correct note
4. repeat for other strings
NOTE: tighten string = increase tension = increase pitch

loosen string = less tension = lower pitch

Fingers & Numbering System
MIDDLE

RING
INDEX

PINKY

THUMB

(for RIGHT handed players)

Music Notation vs. Tablature

Traditional Music Notation

“aka” piano or sheet music
what “most” instruments use

Tablature or “TAB”
Simplified method for guitarists
Lines represent our 6 strings
“E” on bottom, little “e” on top
#’s represent FRET #
 How To Read TABLATURE (“TAB”)

Play one note Play all at

after the other same time

5
5
0 3 5 3 0 3

“0” means “open” string,

no finger required!
 Practice: “Put finger at……”

1. Put index finger on “A” string at 2nd FRET

2. Put 3rd finger on “big E” string at 4th FRET

3. Put middle finger on “D” string at 5th FRET

 Picking
(single notes)

1. HOLDING PICK – thumb & first finger

2. BRACING PICKING HAND – find bridge, rotate hand,

drop pinky or pinky & ring

3. PICK DIRECTION – 90° to string

4. EXERCISES – use METRONOME

1. SINGLE STRING: DOWN – DOWN ….

2. SINGLE STRING: UP – UP ….

3. SINGLE STRING: DOWN – UP ….

4. SINGLE STRING: DOWN – DOWN – UP – UP ….

 Picking (cont.)
(single notes)

5. MORE EXERCISES – use METRONOME (cont.)

1. TWO STRINGS: DOWN – DOWN ….

2. TWO STRINGS: UP – UP ….

3. TWO STRINGS: DOWN – DOWN – UP – UP ….

4. TWO STRINGS: DOWN – UP ….

5. THREE STRINGS: ……
 Sample Song using Tablature

The Troggs – “Wild Thing” riff

3 3 5 5 3 3
3 3

Let’s try it together!

 Sample Song using Tablature

Rolling Stones – “Satisfaction” riff

Traditional Music Notation

Tablature or “TAB”
0 0 0 2 3 3 3 2 2

Let’s try it together!

 Sample Song using Tablature

Deep Purple – “Smoke On The Water”

riff

0 3 5 0 3 6 5 0 3 5 3 0

Let’s try it together!

 All songs using Tablature
Deep Purple – “Smoke On The Water”

riff

0 3 5 0 3 6 5 0 3 5 3 0

The Troggs – “Wild Thing” riff

3 3 5 5 3 3
3 3

Rolling Stones – “Satisfaction” riff

0 0 0 2 3 3 3 2 2
Break….
Work on songs
 Tell me about your guitar
• Brand
• Model # (if known)
• Serial # (if it has one)
• Description (size, color of wood, etc.)
• Any distinguishing characteristics or marks
• Case (hard case or soft case, color, etc)
• Anything else that can help be ID it if it becomes
lost?
 TAB songs can be difficult !!!

SO….. JUST WORK ON THEM A FEW NOTES AT A TIME !!!

 Intervals

If you play….….

1 NOTE = a “note”

2 NOTES = an “INTERVAL”

5 8 1
3 6 8
0
 Songs with INTERVALS

Smoke On The Water

5 8 1 5 8 11 1 5 8 1 8 5
3 6 8
0 3 6 9 8
0 3 6 8
0 6 3

Using TWO fingers (1st & 3rd)

 Songs using Intervals (cont.)

The Troggs – “Wild Thing” riff

5 5 7 7 5 5
5 5 3 3 5 5 3 3
3 3

Using TWO fingers (1st & 3rd)

 Songs using Intervals (cont.)

The Troggs – “Wild Thing” riff

5 5 7 7 5 5
5 5 5 5 7 7 5 5
5 5 3 3 5 5 3 3
3 3

Using THREE fingers (1st, 3rd, & 4th)

 Introduction to CHORDS

If you play….….

1 NOTE = a “note”

2 NOTES = an “interval”

3 or more NOTES = a CHORD

Introduction to CHORDS (cont.)

Most SHEET MUSIC

has “LETTERS”

above the music

notation lines.

These represent the

CHORD to be played

for that part of the

song.
Introduction to CHORDS (cont.)

HOW to play these

CHORDS is shown in

the DIAGRAMS here.

They show the strings

and where fingers

need to be placed to

play this CHORD.

Introduction to CHORDS (cont.)

BAD NEWS:
There are literally
HUNDREDS of
chords, if not more
to learn!!

GOOD NEWS:
You need only 3
to play MOST songs
on the radio.
 How to practice CHORDS

TECHNIQUE:

1. Use TIPS of fingers to hold strings down

Traditional Music Notation
2. Place fingers close to (but below) the fret

3. Thumb behind neck should support fingers

4. Place fingers in place one at a time & HOLD

5. Play each string one at a time to ensure every note

is clear and “rings”

6. Strum all strings to hear chord

7. REPEAT steps 4-6

 Playing SONGS with CHORDS

• To play songs, must be able to move from one chord to another

chord QUICKLY
Traditional Music Notation
• PRACTICE going from CHORD1 -> CHORD2 -> CHORD3

• Strum each chord 1X, the move on to next

• Strum each chord 2X’s, then move on…

• Etc….

• Use a METRONOME ?
 Naming CHORDS – The Basics

1 2 3

How CHORD is altered

Last # identifies
CHORD MAIN NOTE or changed.
additional note(s)
or ROOT NOTE Ex: min = MINOR
added beyond just
maj = MAJOR
basic 3 notes of chord.
dim = DIMINISHED+
Ex: 7 = seventh
sus = SUSPENDED
9 = ninth
aug = AUGMENTED
11 = eleventh
others…
13 = thirteenth
others…

But this gets us into THEORY, so for now we won’t go any deeper
Chords
1 2 3
2 3
 1 2 3

2 3
5th FRET

Notice that moving the “shape” of one chord

creates a DIFFERENT chord!
 2 3
5 FRET
th

x
 2 3

1 2
3
 Playing SONGS with CHORDS

• To play songs, must be able to move from one chord to another

chord QUICKLY
Traditional Music Notation
• PRACTICE going from Emin -> Gmin -> Amin9 -> Asus2

• Strum each chord 1X, the move on to next

• Strum each chord 2X’s, then move on…

• Etc….

• Use a METRONOME ?

Let’s try it together!

 Moving from Chord to Chord

Emin Gmin Amin9 Asus2

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
2 3 2 3

2 3 2 3
Chords
 1 1
1
2 23 3
2 3 2 1 3

1 2
1 2 11
3 2
2
1 32 3
3
1 2
1 2 2
31
3
3
 A D E

1 11
1 2 11
3 2
2 1 2 2 23 3
1 32 3 1 2 2 3 2 1 3
31 2
3 3
3

1 2
Create your own chord progression using these three chords.

Your creation can use any combination of these three chords and any
strumming pattern you like. The only requirement is you must start
and end on an A Major chord.

Experiment and find something that sounds good to you.

 Happy Birthday with A-D-E Chords

A E A D A

111
32 2
1211
1 3
2 22
333 2
13 32 2
1211 3
3
3 1 3 2 1132
1 22 32 2
1211
1 3
2
1 2 3 33 3
3

Happy BIRTHDAY…. … to YOU..

1 2 … ….to YOU... …… dear XXXX … … YOU!
 Happy Birthday with A-D-E Chords

A E A D A

111
32 2
1211
1 3
2 22
333 2
13 32 2
1211 3
3
3 1 3 2 1132
1 22 32 2
1211
1 3
2
1 2 3 33 3
3

Happy BIRTHDAY to YOU.. …

1 to
2 YOU... dear XXXX … … YOU!
/ / / / / / /// / / / / / / / / / / /
 1
1
2 3 3 4
 1
1 2
2 3 1

3 2 3 4
1 2
1 2 2
31
3
3
 Happy Birthday with G-D-C Chords

G D G C G

1 2

Happy BIRTHDAY…. … to YOU.. … ….to YOU... …… dear XXXX … … YOU!

 1 SAM
1
2 3 1 3 E SH
APE
2 3 2 A
“E” S
cho
rd!!!

1 2
 Open Position Chords (review)

1
2 1 2 3 1

3 2 3 4

2 3 1 2
3
 First Chords (3 notes)

This is a very common chord progression, used by many songs

C C Amin Amin F F G G
0 0 0 0 1 1 3 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0
x don’t
x play
these
x
strings

If there is an “x” or “nothing” on a string,

that means -> don’t play that string !
 What to PRACTICE at Home ?
Remember, PRACTICE = PROGRESS

1. Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie !

2. Tab version of song(s) - listen on YouTube

3. Finger exercise (e.g. 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5)

4. CHORDS – place fingers, strum, squeeze…

 Strumming
(chords, most/all strings)

1. HOLDING PICK – thumb & first finger

2. WHERE ON STRINGS TO STRUM?

3. BRACING PICKING HAND – find bridge, then rotate & drop

4. PICK DIRECTION – 90° to string

5. HOW – either with just HAND or WHOLE FOREARM

6. EXERCISES – use METRONOME

1. DOWN – DOWN ….

2. UP – UP ….
 STRUMMING PATTERNS

ALL DOWN
“ON THE BEAT” (from low strings to high strings)
 STRUMMING PATTERNS

DOWN / DOWN / DOWN / UP

“ON THE BEAT” (from low strings to high strings)
 STRUMMING PATTERNS

ALTERNATE UP & DOWN

“ON THE BEAT” (from low strings to high strings)
 STRUMMING PATTERNS

DOWN / DOWN / UP
“ON THE BEAT” (from low strings to high strings)

3
STRUMMING PATTERNS

DOUBLE DOWNS
(from low strings to high strings)
STRUMMING PATTERNS

TRIPLE DOWNS
(from low strings to high strings)
Summative Assessment #2
Break ?
5th FRET 1 1
1
2 23
2 3 2 1 3

x
1 2
 Finger Exercises
How you can build dexterity and SPEED !!!!!

• go slow!
e
• pick DOWN for each note
Traditional Music Notation
• do this to warm-up

• to play FAST you must first play

slow!

AS YOU GET BETTER, THEN……..

• move up (e.g. 2-3-4-5)

• use a Metronome ?
Let’s try it together!
 Finger Exercises (cont.)
Now in REVERSE !

• go slow!
e
• pick DOWN for each note
Traditional Music Notation
• do this to warm-up

• to play FAST you must first play

slow!

AS YOU GET BETTER, THEN……..

• move up (e.g. 6-5-4-3), etc..

• use a Metronome ?
Let’s try it together!
 E A D G B e

1. fill in the missing string names

2. Put a on the 3rd FRET “D”

string

3. Put a on 6th string 1st FRET

4. Put a on “A” string 4th FRET

5. Put a on low “E” 2nd FRET

1
2 3
 E A D G B e

1. fill in the missing string names

2. Put a on the 3rd FRET “D”

string

3. Put a on 6th string 1st FRET

4. Put a on “A” string 5th FRET

5. Put a on low “E” 2nd FRET

1
2 3
1. fill in the missing A#/Bb

notes

F#/Gb

Eb/D#
1. fill in the missing G#/Ab A#/Bb

notes

F#/Gb

C#/Db

Eb/D#
 E A D G B e

1. Put a on the 3 “F” notes

2. Put a on the 3 “C” notes

3. Put a on the 4 “A” notes

4. Put a on all the 12 “#” notes

1
2 3
 E A D G B e

1. Put a on the 3 “F” notes

2. Put a on the 3 “C” notes

3. Put a on the 4 “A” notes

4. Put a on all the 12 “#” notes

1
2 3
1. Write the following notes “in order” in TAB form below

G – G – A – G – E – F – C – C – D – F#

1
2 3
1. Write the following notes “in order” in TAB form below (1 string / all)

G – G – A – G – E – F – C – C – D – F#

1 1 2
0 0 2 0
2 3 4

3 3 5 3 0 1 8 1 8 10 2
2 3
1. No practice = No _________ = No ________

2. Minimum # of minutes you should practice each day =

___

3. What should you “fill-in” everyday? ___________

4. Who ate dynamite? ___________

5. Who can learn to play guitar? ________

6. What is the guitar “DIP”? _____________

 Miscellaneous

• Watch YouTube videos of Beginner Info – holding, chords, etc.

try www.JustinGuitar.com
 What’s NEXT?

• play EVERY DAY, even if only for 5 minutes

• Keep your guitar “OUT” where you will see it and play it
(next to bed, desk, TV?)
• If offered, take LEVEL 2 class ( TBD ) must pre-register (via email)
• Signup for after-school lessons here at NCC this fall (email me for
info)
• Find a good teacher near you!
• Hang with others that play, or want to play
• Don’t give up when the “DIP” happens…
• Email me to let me know how you are doing, or if you have questions
(bdoney@northampton.edu)

When you are a famous guitarist,

don’t forget to get me free tickets to your concert!!!!
 Last Day

• Fill out SURVEY – student AND parent

• Any papers to take home
• Class files available at www.WilliamDoney.com/guitarclass.htm

Congratulations! You ARE a guitarist!