guitar+lesson+books

Easy Beginner Guitar Chords - One Chord Contour Around Rule Them All

C major is the granddaddy of all guitar chords, so we should start playing it immediately.

I often don't turn to C major from the very beginning with my total beginner students since it does involve stretching the fingers a little, and it also requires that the fretting fingers fall very vertically around the fingertips lest the nonvertical fingers accidentally mute other strings.

But let's live dangerously-C major it is for us.

To make C major, in the event you've forgotten: place your index finger around the 1st fret from the 2nd string. Then, place your middle finger around the 2nd fret from the 4th string. Finally, place your ring finger around the 3rd fret from the 5th string. Strum all of the strings on the guitar except for the 6th string. Ta da! C major!

Now, when you can make C major as to what we call "1st position," which is the section of the guitar fretboard closest to the head of the guitar where the strings tie off at the tuning pegs, then you're greater than halfway there. That it is easier to play that same chord shape somewhere else on the guitar. And that is exactly what we're going to do.

Without engaging in a bunch of inevitably confusing music theory stuff, I cannot be able to tell you exactly what chords you're about to play using just that C major shape. I will be referring to the chords we play instead as "some kind of" whatever lettered chord we're making. Just roll beside me on this and you'll be making sweet music right away.

So here's what we're going to do. Start with your C chord. Play it normally, and be sure to enjoy it. Then, slide your three fretted fingers up two frets toward the soundhole from the guitar. This makes some kind of a D chord. Go on and strum the chord together with your fingers now two frets up each. This puts the index finger around the 3rd fret from the 2nd string, your middle finger around the 4th fret from the 4th string as well as the ring finger around the 5th fret from the 5th string.

Once you have grown a little bored playing that D chord, slide your fingers up so your ring finger is around the 10th fret from the 5th string. The other fingers remain in exactly the same relationship to one another in a way that they all still resemble the initial C major chord fingering that we began with.

Play this G chord thingie-enjoy the newest and unusual combination of high notes with open strings.

Then, slide your fingers back now two frets toward the pinnacle of the guitar. This puts your ring finger around the 8th fret from the 5th string using the other fingers once more maintaining the C shape orientation.

This can be a sort of F chord.

So immediately, you have four different positions in which you can play the basic C major chord shape to get pretty cool results that immediately allow you to get 1) playing different sounds and two) learning how to slide down and up the neck of the guitar.

I wrote an audio lesson a few years back using exactly this sequence of chord changes, plus it sounds way harder than it actually is. Let's just say non-guitar players will totally buy your parlor trick if you play this sliding C-shape chord sequence at the next backyard BBQ or campfire shindig.

Just thought you may well be interested in reading this guide: all guitar chords and acoustic guitar chords.
Blues Guitar Lessons - Big Book of Blues - Vamp 4


Worrisome Heart


Worrisome Heart


$6.31


GARDOT MELODY WORRISOME HEART...

The Acoustic Guitar Method


The Acoustic Guitar Method


$23.85


These carefully graded starter lessons for the acoustic guitar are based on David Hamburger's best-selling books, issued by the publishers of Acoustic Guitar magazine. Beginner guitarists will learn how to use a pick and form all the most important chords, while those with some guitar experience will learn fingerpicking styles and other essential playing techniques. More than two-dozen classic son...

Fender Presents: Getting Started on Electric Guitar -- A Guide for Beginners


Fender Presents: Getting Started on Electric Guitar -- A Guide for Beginners


$20.00


Over 3 hours long with 50 interactive guitar lessons on DVD. Covers tuning, essential chords and scales, practice tips, rhythm techniques, play-along tracks with a band, 3-D fretboard graphics, instrument care, and more. Includes 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and German. Hosted by Keith Wyatt of the Musicians Institute....

Kids Guitar 1 : Ten Easy Lessons! [VHS]


Kids Guitar 1 : Ten Easy Lessons! [VHS]


$7.50


Children (and their parents and teachers) will be delighted with this lively, fun-filled, easy-to-follow video guitar course, our first devoted entirely to them! With clarity and lots of good humor, noted children's performer Marcy Marxer teaches basic chords and strums and gets your kids singing these songs with the guitar: Down By The Riverside, Skip To My Lou, Buffalo Gals, 100 Bottles Of Pop O...

Kids Guitar Lessons, Lesson 2 [VHS]


Kids Guitar Lessons, Lesson 2 [VHS]


$4.00


Marcy Marxer covers simple fingerpicking arpeggios, use of the capo, basic chord theory and the tools needed to learn hundreds of folk, country, spiritual, school and campfire songs. 75-MINUTE VIDEO INCLUDES CHORDS LEVEL 1/2 (ages 6-12)....

Guitar Method in the Style of the Beatles [VHS]


Guitar Method in the Style of the Beatles [VHS]


$4.99


Packed in the original box, this instructional VHS tape and printed sheet music are in excellent condition....

Fender Presents: Getting Started on Acoustic Guitar -- A Guide for Beginners


Fender Presents: Getting Started on Acoustic Guitar -- A Guide for Beginners


$11.96


Over 3 hours long with 50 interactive lessons. Covers tuning, essential chords and scales, music reference, practice tips, rhythm techniques, play-along tracks with a band, 3-D fretboard graphics, instrument care, and more. Includes 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and German. Hosted by Keith Wyatt of the Musicians Institute....

School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)


School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)


$2.33


The New York Times Jack black gives a roaring star-making performance his incandescent comic energy should establish him as the screen s most popular rock-fueled wild man the wall Street Journal This joyous film is a big deal and jack black is nothing less than majestic an epic star turn Entertainment weekly Jack black makes the joy the passion even the innocence of rock and roll just a little ...

My Violin


My Violin


$33.29


Research has proven that children who play an instrument do better in school, make friends more easily, are more creative, learn self-discipline and gain self-confidence. My Violin is the perfect way to introduce children to playing violin. Now it's easy for kids ages 6 and up to learn how to play violin. In eMedia My Violin, an animated character named Val the Violin leads kids through lessons by...

Olympus WS-500 Digital Voice Recorder (Silver)


Olympus WS-500 Digital Voice Recorder (Silver)


$129.99


Record meetings, store files, and listen to music with one device. Stay organized on the move with this high-class storage device and powerful music player. Transfer meetings or notes and even large documents to your PC with the easy-to-use USB input. The WS-500M is designed to be plugged directly into your computer for fast file transfer. With 2GB of internal memory, store up to 500 songs and lis...


Tagged with:

Filed under: Guitar Hero

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!