One Finger Guitar

One finger guitar is a simple but effective way of playing the guitar, the
banjo or the ukulele. There are no complicated chords to play. With just
one finger you will amaze your non-musical friends with your guitar playing
skills. Should you decide to learn guitar using the full fingering, what you
learn here will not have been wasted. You will have learned how to make
what are called barre chords in which one finger covers several strings at a
time. Of more importance, however, you will increase your undertanding of
how to choose and make chord changes during a song. Enough of the
introduction, let’s get started.

Tuning your guitar.

A guitar is normally tuned E A D G B E. For one finger guitar, tune the six
strings from the thickest to the thinnest string as follows: G B D G B D.
Here are the notes on a piano to which your guitar should be tuned.

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With this tuning, you can strum all six strings and the sound will be rich and
powerful. Note that your lowest string will have to be tuned up more than
one whole note, but this is unlikely to break the string or damage the guitar.
As a quick check on tuning the guitar, the three notes GBD are the opening
notes to several songs including Michael row the boat ashore or Morning
has broken.

How to accompany songs.

Just three chords are enough to accompany thousands of songs. The key is
the musical level at which the song is sung and each key has three main
chords.

Let’s start with the key of G and the chords of G C and D.

Open (no finger is required) = the chord of G
One finger across fifth fret (space) = the chord of C
One finger across seventh fret (space) = the chord of D

So, in this key, most of the time your finger will be travelling between an
open strum and the fifth or the seventh frets. Use whatever finger feels most
comfortable. Don’t put your finger on the fret but in the space between the
frets. It’s important to remember that or you won’t graduate from the course.

What follows now is important.

It helps to know when to play the right chord and here are some ideas to guide you.
In a group of three chords, like G C and D, each chord serves a different purpose.

The first chord (eg G) is the main chord. It will generally be the chord on which the
song starts and finishes, and the one that is played the most. Think of it as an anchor.
and, if you get lost lost, just hit that main chord (but not too loudly).
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The second chord (eg C) is usually played at a point where the song starts to lift or
travel in a new direction. It has a positive edge to it.

The third chord (eg D) . This is an important chord which occurs quite frequently and
often draws the tune back to the main or tonic chord. It has a more gentle feel to it.
We should really be playing a chord called D7 as it sounds better, but let’s keep it
simple at this stage. There’ll be more about D7 and other sevenths later.

Here are a few tunes for you to strum along. The numbers in brackets are the frets
where you place your finger. They appear in the lyrics (words of the song) where a
change of chord is needed. Keep your finger on the fret shown until another change
occurs. Strum down the strings of the guitar with your thumb or a plectrum.

Coming Round the Mountain

(0) She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she (7) comes

She’ll be (0) comin’ round the mountain, (5) comin’ round the mountain

(0) Comin’ round the (7) mountain when she (0) comes.

Repeat this tune and listen to the difference between the C chord on the fifth fret and
the D chord on the 7th fret. You will notice how one chord seems more gentle and
the other seems more strident. Think of a song as a ship leaving a mooring and
weaving a course through rough and smooth waters.

Here are some words to describe the three chords in a triad.

First: Key, anchor, base.

Second: Positive, hard, outward, strident
Third: Sensitive, soft, inward, gentle

By listening to songs, and lots of practice, you will soon get to know when to change
and to which chord.

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Will the Circle be Unbroken?

(0) Will the circle be unbroken

By and (5) by Lord by and (0) by

There’s a better home awaiting

In the sky Lord (7) in the (0) sky.

Little Brown Jug

(0) My wife and I lived (5) all alone
In a (7) little log hut we (0) called our own.
She loved gin and (5) I loved rum
I (7) tell you we had (0) lots of fun.
Ha Ha Ha (5) He He He
(7) Little brown jug how (0) I love thee.
Ha Ha Ha (5) He He He
(7) Little brown jug how (0) I love thee.

Add some rhythm

If a song has a bouncy rhythm, why not add a bass note in your strumming? Hit the
6th (the thickest and lowest) string alone and then strum the rest of the chord. Or hit
the 6th and strum the top four strings and then the 5th and strum the top four strings.
Try it with the tunes above, they will sound much better.

Now try this one in G and throw in some of those bass notes during the chorus.
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Bad Moon Rising
Checkout a short demo of this under mudsailor in YouTube

(0) I see a (7) bad (5) moon rising

(0) I see (7) trouble (5) on the (0) way
(0) I see (7) earth (5) quakes and (0) lightnin'
(0) I see (7) bad (5) times (0) today

(5) Don't go 'round tonight

(0) It's bound to take your life
(7) There's a (5) bad moon on (0) the rise

(5) Yeah, don’t go out tonight

(0) Where it’s bad to take your wife
(7) For a (5) Big Mac (0) and some Fries

A change of key

The key of A and the three chords of A D and E.

One finger across second fret (space) = A (the key chord)
One finger across seventh fret (space) = D (the second chord)
One finger across ninth fret (space) = E (the third chord)

I’ll fly away in the key of A

(2) One glad morning when this life is over

(7) I’ll fly (2) away

To a land on God’s celestial shore
(9) I’ll fly (2) away
I’ll fly away Oh Lordy
(7) I’ll fly (2) away
When I die. Allelujah by and by
(9) I’ll fly (2)away.
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A couple of tricks to add variety.

(1) When there is a chord change in a bouncy tune, occasionally try this. Suppose you
are changing from open G to C on the fifth fret. Put your finger on the first fret,
strum the strings and immediately slide up to the fifth fret. Try the same trick with
the D chord on the seventh fret. Don’t overdo it, because your audience will think
you are high on something or spent too much time in Hawaii.

(2) Here’s a trick borrowed from the banjo. When you are strumming chords with
your first finger across the strings, drop your little finger on the thin top string two
frets up and hold it there for the 3rd and 4th beat. The following diagram shows
how:

1 2 3 4.........................and repeat

More keys

The key of D.is a popular key in folk music and sounds good in one finger
guitar. The three basic chords are D G and A.

One finger across seventh fret (space) = D (the key chord)

Open strumming (or 12th fret) = G (the second chord)
One finger across second fret (space) = A (the third chord)

When the saints go marching in

(7) Oh when the saints, go marching in
Oh when the saints, go marching (2) in
(7) Well I want to be in that (0) number
When the (7) saints, go (2) marching (7) in.

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Key of E
The key of E is very popular in country music. The three chords are E A and B.
They are just two frets up from the key of D.
One finger across ninth fret =E the key chord
One finger across second fret =A the second chord
One finger across fourth fret =B the third chord

When the Saints go Marching In (Key of E)

(9) Oh when the saints, go marching in
Oh when the saints, go marching (4) in
(9) Well I want to be in that (2) number
When the (9) saints, go (4) marching (9) in

In the two versions of this song, which key best suited your voice - D or E?

A list of some main keys, the three chords and their frets

Key of G: G Open C 5th D 7th

Key of A: A 2nd D 7th E 9th
Key of C: C 5th F 10th G 12th
Key of D: D 7th G Open A 2nd
Key of E: E 9th A 2nd B 4th
Key of F: F 10th B 3rd C 5th

FAQ Q: I have a guitar capo. What shall I do with it?

A: Destroy it immediately. It’s an abomination.

7th Chords
Earlier, I mentioned that the third chord in a three chord song is usually
played as a 7th. To explore this, drop your little finger on the top string and
three frets up from the basic one-finger shape. Now you have a seventh. So
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instead of playing G C and D, you would play G C and D7. This extra note
is not the seventh note in the scale of D - that’s another story, but it fits in
musically with the key of C. It adds a something to the third chord and
helps drive the melody along. Try it out on the third chord with the songs
and other keys presented earlier

What’s that 4th chord?

Although the focus here is on three chords, sometimes a fourth chord
appears. It usually only happens once in the verse or chorus and is often
found two frets up from the key chord. Try Jingle Bells here in the key of G
and you’ll see what I mean. Can you name the extra chord here?

Jingle Bells
(0)Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
(5) Oh what fun it is to ride
(2) On a one horse open (7) sleigh, Hey!
(0)Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
(5) Oh what fun it (0) is to ride
(7) On a one horse open (0) sleigh.

One finger guitar is capable of lots of interesting chords but if you enjoy
playing, you may want to upgrade to full fingering. It will take longer to
master but you’ll have had a good start.
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Here is a short list of three chord songs on which you can try out your new
skills. Finally, if you have got this far, well done. There’s a graduation
certificate waiting for you on the next page. Frame it and hang it in your den.
Amazing Grace
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Camptown Races
Comin' Through the Rye
For He's A Jolly Good Fellow
Grandfather's Clock
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Wanderer
Home on the Range
Home Sweet Home
If I Had a Hammer
Irene Goodnight
I've Got Sixpence
Jimmie Crack Corn
Jump Down, Spin Around
Little Brown Jug
Mama Don't Allow
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Midnight Special
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Oh Susannah
Oh When The Saints Go Marching In
Old Cotton Fields Back Home
Old Dan Tucker
Old Folks at Home
Old Kentuky Home
Old MacDonald
On Top of Old Smoky
Red River Valley
Saints Go Marching
She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain
So Long, It's Been Good to Know You
Swanee River
There's a Hole in the Bucket
There Is a Tavern In the Town
This Land Is Your Land
Wabash Cannonball
Waltzing Matilda
Wearin' O' the Green
Worried Man Blues
Yankee Doodle
You Are My Sunshine

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 It's fun to be a boy
Work out the tune from the fret positions on the different strings. (Tabs). The rest of the verses are to be found on the next page. .

#
Open Fifth

" $ &% ' ( ( ( ( ( ( )* ( ( ( ( (

)* (
! Oh it's fun to be a boy and here's some reasons why We

T
A
&% ' 0 2
0 0 0
2 0. 0 2 2 2
0

2. 0
B

#
Seventh Open Open

" ( ( ( ( ( ) ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (
( )*
! don't need to wear dresses or kiss our friends good bye No need for paint-ed

T 0 0 0 0 0
A 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
2 0.
B

#
Fifth Seventh

( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( )
" )* ( (
! fing - er nails or fan - cy un- der wear Or spend an ho - ur ev - ery da - y

T 0 0
A 0 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2. 0 4 0 4
B

#
Open CHORUS: Open Fifth

( ( ( )* ( ( ( ( ( ( ) ( ( ( (
" ( ( (
! fuss - ing with our hair Though we know we can ann- oy and that some times we des-

T 1 0 0 0 0 0
A 2 0. 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 2
0 4
B

#
Seventh Open

) ) ( ( ( )* '
" ) ( ( ( ( ( ( (
! troy, do- ing things we en- joy But it's fun to be a boy

T
A
0 2 0 2
1 0
2 0. '
2 4 4 4 2 0
B

(c) Vladimir O'Leary 2006

 It’s fun to be a boy
Oh It’s fun to be a boy
and here’s some reasons why.
We don’t need to wear dresses
or kiss our friends goodbye.
No need for painted fingernails
or fancy underwear.
Or spend an hour every day
fussing with our hair.

Chorus:
Though we know we can annoy,
and that sometimes we destroy,
Doing things we enjoy.
But It’s fun to be a boy

And when we’re playing football

or wrestling in the mud.
We use our sleeves to wipe our nose
and soak up any blood.
We wear our sneakers every day
that’s why they always stink.
We never have to wear a bra
or anything in pink.

So join our secret gang

and do things that boys must do
We don’t have any special rules
well maybe one or two.
If your caught wearing make-up,
or trying out hairspray,
Then when we have a sleep-over
you won’t be asked to stay.

Yes it’s fun to be a boy

and we love to misbehave.
Not ready to be grown up
or old enough to shave.
But If we smarten up a bit
and try to make less noise.
Please dump that health and safety stuff
and just let boys be boys,

Why not play along to the video on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocKJv3ZKCc