"Strive for excellence, not perfection." (H. Jackson Brown Jr)
Welcome to the free Beginner Lesson here at Skinny Devil Music Lab - the web home of award-winning guitarist & instructor David M. McLean. Sonn, we will be able to converse so that I might better guide you on your journey through the Music Lab, but for now, enjoy.David instructional method is now recognized & sponsored by:
David performing live, summer 2005.
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David performing with his dynamic duo ALIEN BLUE, July 2005.
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by David M. McLeanThis section is a resource for the novice and beginner guitarist. Some of the pages & files are on this site, others will take you off-site for standard on-line resources. These lessons, of course, are NOT a replacement for a qualified instructor, but they can get you started on your own. To find an instructor in your area, visit Music Staff or Teach List...or search for an SDML certified instructor on my INSTRUCTOR page.
Tune your guitar.
There are various tunings and standards for guitar, but it's always best to start with standard tuning at concert pitch (A=400). Click each sound file below to tune your strings....remembering that the skinniest string (highest pitch) is #1 while the fattest string (lowest pitch) is #6.String #1 - E (high)
String #2 - B
String #3 - G
String #4 - D
String #5 - A
String #6 - E (low)Parts of the guitar
The most important parts to know as a beginner are the body, neck, head (or headstock), tuning pegs, bridge, frets, and strings. Take a look at a guitar and it's parts here.Notes of the guitar
As soon as you start playing power chords, it'll be good to know the notes on your guitar. Memorize at least strings #5 & #6 (just the first 12 frets) so you won't get lost moving those chords around. Take a look at the notes on the fretboard (the part of the neck you put your fingers down on to play notes) right here. You'll need to scroll down to the picture.Your first, and only, finger exercise
That's right, only one exercise, then it's all music. You'll also learn to read tab (a super-easy notation). On the diagram below, the horizontal lines are your strings, while the numbers tell you what notes to play...and in what order (left to right, just like reading a book). Try it out first, then listen to the MIDI sound file to see if you did it right. If so, move on; if not, try again.
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Here's the tab one more time, with the standard notation on top for reference (in case you want to learn to read music later).
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Melodies
Now that you can play notes slowly and cleanly, and can read tab, here's a simple melody for you. See if you can tell what you're playing, then listen to the MIDI file to be certain.Chords
Here is a list of the most important chords - the major chords, the minor chords, and the power chord shape. There are only a few shapes to remember (about 10), so get these down. Once you do, you'll be able to play almost any song you've ever heard! Take a look here:Major Chords
Minor Chords
Power ChordsChords/Melodies
Try to put it all together with this simple piece. Only two chords and the same melody as above.Scales
There are hundreds of scales & even more scale patterns, but this simple C Major Scale will get you on your way (these patterns will enable you to play thousands of songs).C Major (open position)
A Minor Pentatonic (5th position) coming soon
That's all, Folks!
That should get you started. Now it's up to you. Work on these, then.....1) find some chord charts or tabs of your favorite songs and start playing,
2) find a qualified instructor in your area, and
3) remember that you PLAY guitar. Spend only a few minutes a day "practicing" (5 minutes...no more than 10!), and spend most of your time "playing". Guitar is supposed to be fun, so if it starts to be like going to your job or doing tedious homework, put it down and take a deep breath and remember not to WORK so much, but to PLAY!
This project is offered FREE of charge as are many projects from Skinny Devil Music Lab. Please consider leaving a small tip to help support all past & future projects here. Thanx!
To support these & other lessons, feel free to leave tip! Pay-Pal Tip-Jar
You can make donations in David's Pay-Pal tip-jar by using VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or other major credit cards; checking account; or a PayPal account. Just click the button below.All music on this site (c) 1999 - 2005, D. M. McLean; (P) Morgan Star Music, BMI.
All rights reserved.
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SDML web-site first published 1999; last up-date: 2005
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