As the title suggests, for those who are afraid to pick up a guitar and learn to play this popular instrument, or who are already starting to learn but lack understanding,
Welcome to our very first guitar lesson.
First let's start with the left hand.
It is very straightforward, right? Let's look at the diagram below:
When we refer to guitar strings in number, the 1st string is the thinnest string (the high E string) and we continue counting up from there to the thickest string which is the 6th string (the low E string)
The standard guitar tuning is as below.
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E – 1st string
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B – 2nd string
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G – 3rd string
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D – 4th string
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A – 5th string
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E – 6th string
Now we can start reading the chord diagram
Based on the diagram above, we learn that,
i.) leave the 1st string open
ii.) hold the 1st fret of the 2nd string with your index finger
iii.) leave 3rd string open hold the 2nd fret of the 4th string with middle finger
iv.) hold 3rd fret of the 5th string with ring finger
v.) leave the 6th string alone.
vi.) play the chord, if you are going to strum all the strings, DO make sure the 6th is muted.
Open Chords
Open chords, also referred to as “cowboy chords” are those chords that involve at least one open string. For beginners, there are 8 basic open chords that must be mastered.
Major Chords
To explain the theory behind the difference of the major and minor chords will make this email very long. So to cut it short, I will use the cookie cutter explanation that I used in my beginner class, let us call the major chords the “happy chords” just to distinguish them from the “sad” minor chords.
The diagram below listed out all the 5 Basic Open Major Chords.
***Note:
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the way I play the Open G Chord is different, the way it is play in the diagram gives me a more solid sound
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that are a few ways to hold the A major chord
In the diagram above, you can use the
i.) index, middle and ring,
ii.) middle, ring and pinky
iii.) index finger holds down 3 strings, but MUTE The 1st string.
Video link: Basic Open Major Chords
In the video, I use the index finger to press the 4th string for A Major chord.
Minor Chords
For beginners, these 3 basic open minor chords can get you started playing the guitar. Note that these chords have some “sad” sound.
Video link: Basic Open Minor Chords
*E minor chord also can be played by using the middle finger and ring finger
That’s it! Congratulation!
These are the 8 open chords that are essential to a beginner, you can always come back visit this newsletter and the videos.
For the guitar players that are already way past this subject, lean back and relax, we will move on into more advanced subjects in the future. Also, you can just drop us a reply if you have any questions and feedback, all of them mean a lot to us.
You can always go back and review our previous newsletter
Link to our previous biweekly newsletter
Thanks and always remember,
Learn to play. Play to create
Daniel