TSS OTOL

FIRST STRING NOTES Nut

E F G 1st
Fret
2nd
Fret
OPEN 1ST STRING IST FRET 3RD FRET 3rd
(no fingers placed 1ST FINGER 3RD FINGER Fret
behind frets) | \

6 5 3 2 1

Thickest Thinnest
String String

Place your fingers on their tips, immediately behind the frets and press hard to avoid
buzzing or deadened notes. |

The following examples use quarter notes(or crotchets) J worth one count each (see
page 9). Use a downward pick motion Y.This will apply to all examples and songs until
otherwise instructed.

Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 +1 2 3 4 +1 2 3 «4
Pick V VV V etc.
Motion

12 3 4 etc.

Count 1 2 3 4 etc.
 FeSO Ae
SECOND STRING NOTES Nut
B C D 1st
Fret
2nd
Fret
3rd
OPEN 2ND STRING Fret
IST FRET 3RD FRET
/ 1ST FINGER 3RD FINGER

6543 2 1

Ex. 10 introduces the half-note (or minim) J , which is worth two counts. In bar 8 the
half
notesare played on the first and third beats, as indicated by the count. This exercise is 8
bars long. Bar numbers are the small numbers written below the staff.

1 4
Count 1 2 3 4 etc.
Pick
Motion : : y ,

TROUBLESHOOTING
Make sure your guitar is in tune (see Appendix One).
¢ Watch the music, not your fingers. .
¢ Concentrate on learning the notes, rather than memorising the song. To dothis, you
should play very slowly, naming each note as you playit.
* Rememberto use the correct fingering: first finger for first fret notes, and third
finger for third fret notes.
16
The following songs makeuseofall six notes which you have so far studied.

11 Song Of Joy (Part One)

C* G7 C G7

Skip To My Lou

C G’

C | G? C

5 6 7

whichis
2 String Blues introduces the whole note (or semibreve) o ,in bars 12 and 13,
worth four counts. It is played on the first beat, and held for the remaining three, as
indicated by the count.

13 2 String Blues
G7

D’ C G’ C

1 ll 12 13
9
1234 123 4

You can nowplay the songs on pages8 to 10 of Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement.
have never played
* Chord symbols have been included for students who have some chord knowledge. If you
chords, see Progressive Guitar Method: RHYTHMbyGary Turner.
 17

Oe ss
THIRD STRING NOTES
G A

OPEN 3RD STRING 2ND FRET

2ND FINGER

You now have two G notes; the one above and the one atthethird fret on the first string.
This type of repetition occurs withall notes, since the musical alphabet goes from A to G,
and then back to A again. The distance between the two G notesis called octave.

NOTE SUMMARY

G A B C D E F G

Fret 0 2 0 1 3 0 1 3
| 3rdstring — || £2ndstring | | 1ststring |
notes notes notes
Fingering 0 2 | 0 1 3 0 1 3
 Aura Lee
AuraLee introduces the music repeat sign (Bar 4), which consists of a thick and thin line,
with two dots placed before them. It indicates a repeat of the section of music which has
just been played. The repeat sign in the final bar indicates that the song must be repeated
from the beginning.
C D’ G7 C

Three String Blues

Guitar Boogie
 19

12 Bar Blues

19 Michael Row The Boat Ashore

This song introduces lead-in notes, which are notes occurring before thefirst complete
bar of music. These notes should be played on counts three and four of a count-in (as
indicated). You will notice that the final bar of the song contains only one half note (two
counts), which acts as a ‘balance’ to the lead-in notes. This is quite common, but does not
always occur. Lead-in notes are sometimes called pick up notes.

G C G

Cont: 23 4 1 2 3 4. ete.

You can now play the songs on pages 11 and 12 of Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement.
20

FOURTH STRING NOTES

Nut
D E F
1st
Fret
2nd
Fret
OPEN 4TH STRING 2ND FRET 3RD FRET 3rd

a
2ND FINGER 3RD FINGER Eret

Ex. 17 is in? time, where there are 3 quarter note beats perbar (see page 11).
It also introduces the dotted half note g- which is worth three counts. When a dotis
placed after a noteit increases the value of that note by a half (see page 10).

Cont 123 123 123 123 123 123 123 12:3

2) 21. Molly Malone

G Em Am D’ G

Count 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3. ete.
 21
22 Will The Circle Be Unbroken
A tie is a curved line joining two or more notes of the same pitch. The second note (or .
notes) is not played, but its time value is added to that of the first note. In bar 1 the G
note is held for a total of 4 counts (2+2) and bar 15 it is held for 6 counts (4+2).

Count! 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 123 4 1,3. 3 4 1 2 3 4

6 7 8
D7 Cc G
9 10 12

NOTE SUMMARY
D E F G A B C D E F G

Fret 0 2 3 0 2 1 3 0 1 3
| 4th | | 3rd | oO 2nd | _—i| 2nd |
string string string string

TROUBLESHOOTING
Rememberto maintain correct left and right hand playing positions (see photos on
page 9).
e¢ Count as you play, and be particularly careful of dotted notes and ties. You mayalso
find it advantageousto tap your foot with the beat.
e Hold the pick correctly, between the thumb and index finger (see page 8).
e Be sure to support your wrist and use correct pick technique (see page 14).
You can nowplay songs on page 13 and 14 of Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement.
FIFTH STRING NOTES wut
A B C 1st
Fret
2nd
Fret
3rd
OPEN 5TH STRING 2ND FRET 3RD FRET Fret
2ND FINGER 3RD FINGER

RESTS
In music, rests are used to indicate periods of silence. For each note value there is a
corresponding rest, as outlined in the following table.

Whole Note Half Note Quarter Note

Value 4 2 1

Whole Rest. Half Rest Quarter Rest

24
The © at the beginning of this exercise stands for commontime, which is another name
for 4 time.

Count 1 2 3 4 12 3 4 1 2 3 4 12 3 4
 23

°° 25 Banks Of The Ohio

C G’

») 26 Blow The Man Down

 27 Volga Boatman

Am Dm Am Dm Am

28 Harem Dance

Am E7 Am ' «7 Am

NOTE SUMMARY
A B C D E F G A B C D E F G

Fret 0 2 3 0 2 3 60 2 0 1 3 0 1 3
[| Sth |{_ 4th || 3rd jj[_ 2nd jl Ist |
string string string string string

You can nowplay songs on pages 14 to 17 of Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement.

 25

BS Le
SIXTH STRING NOTES
E F G

OPEN 6TH STRING IST FRET 3RD FRET

1ST FINGER 3RD FINGER

a | N

I Gave My Love A Cherry

Cc Am F Cc
 12 Bar Blues In the Key of C

Asturias

32 3 a 4 ahs

You can now play songs on pages 18 to 20 of Guitar Method Book 1: Supplement.
 27
OPEN POSITION NOTES
All of the notes you have studied, as summarised below,are in the open position. The
openposition consists of the open string notes and the noteson thefirst three frets.

6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st

String String String String String String
'e F Gila eB clip € elle allg c pll—e F gl

KE ADGBE
Nut
ee kd
nad

ww

6th 5 4 3 2 1st
String String
(thickest) (thinnest)

By playing through the notes you will notice B to C and E to F are only one fret apart
called a semitone), whereas all other notes are two frets apart (called a tone). The
distance betweennotesof the musical alphabet can be set out as such:

A B Cc D EnM__” F G A

\ Le
ee

semitone(i.e. one fret apart)

t is essential for you to remember this pattern of notes.

TROUBLESHOOTING
Revise all songs and exercises so far studied.
» . Double-check your timing and smoothness of sound. To dothis, try recording
yourself.
» Rememberto watch the music, not the guitar.