Beginning
Lessons
Warm-up Exercise
Great exercise to warm up your fingers at beginning of practice session
Open ChordsYour first job: Learn the basic open chords
Intro to 12-Bar Blues; Dominant 7th ChordsMany, many rock and jazz (and other) tunes are based on 12-bar blues!
Basic Boogie Rock in Open A (12-Bar Blues Format)Want to start rockin'? This one's for you.
Play a Simple Melody By EarTake a song everyone already knows and 'sound it out' on guitar.
Play Major Scale on 1 StringLearn about the basis of most music: The Major Scale
Sing and Play a Blues LickLearn to "sing through your instrument" and "play what you hear"
How to Find Note Names On NeckSome simple techniques for finding the notes up and down the neck
Triads: The Four Most Basic ChordsLearn what Major, Minor, Dimished and Augmented mean and how to play them
Ear Training: Intervals, "Tone Deafness"...What does a "Minor 3rd" or "Perfect 4th" sound like? Learn to hear (and play) them. What if you can't "match tones?"
Open C Major Scale; All "Named Notes"Your first scale: C Major in open position. And, you'll learn all the "named notes" on the first 4 frets!
Open A Minor Scale (Darker Sound)Your second scale(?). Also in open position.
Sus4 & Sus2 Chords For EmbellishmentAdd color and variety to open chords the easy way!
Foundation of Improvisation (Soloing)
Major Pentatonic: Across NeckThe "bright" 5-note scale on one part of the neck
Major Pentatonic: Up NeckThe "bright" 5-note scale going up & down the neck
Minor Pentatonic: Across NeckThe darker/bluesy 5-note scale on one part of the neck
Minor Pentatonic: Up NeckThe darker/bluesy 5-note scale going up & down the neck
Licks & Lines
EZ Strum, Play-Along Songs
Country Roads--John Denver (P/A)In key of "G," for lower voices and ease of playing
Dead Flowers--Rolling Stones (EZ-Strum, P/A)An easy country song from the Stones' great Sticky Fingers album
Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Bob Dylan (V, P/A, L&C)Super popular beginning guitar tune! Good strumming practice.
Let It Be--Beatles (EZ-Strum, V, P/A)In key of "G," for lower voices. Use capo for higher voices!
My Girl--Temptations (V, P/A, L&C)"I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day..."
Nowhere Man--Beatles (EZ-Strum, V, P/A)Great song for harmonizing with your friends!
Peaceful Easy Feeling--Eagles (V, L&C)"I like the way your sparklin' earrings lay..."
Proud Mary--CCR/John Fogerty (V, P/A)"Rollin' on the river..." Master the art of strumming!
Route 66--Nat King Cole (EZ-Strum, V, P/A)"If you ever plan to motor west...get your kicks on Route 66!"
Stand By Me (Various Artists) (EZ-Strum, V, P/A)Just 4 chords! Easy to play in key of "G."
That'll Be The Day--Buddy Holly (EZ-Strum, V P/A)Early rock classic. Chords: A, D, E, B
Other Songs
Born To Be Wild--Steppenwolf (Lyrics & Chords only)Lyrics & chords only
For What It's Worth--Buffalo Springfield"There's something happening here..."—Stephen Stills
Have You Ever Seen The Rain--CCR (Lyrics & Chords only)Lyrics & chords only
Heart of Gold--Neil YoungClassic acoustic guitar sound; just 5 open chords
I Can't Help Falling In Love W/ You--Elvis PresleyPractice "arpeggiating" chords (play one note at a time)
Who'll Stop The Rain--CCR (Lyrics & Chords only)Lyrics & chords only