As with the acoustic guitar, holding your electric guitar properly is vital to establishing proper angles for your body, arms, and hands. Electric guitar bodies, being usually only a couple of inches thick, do best when used with a strap. The strap provides you with more support and control over how the guitar relates to your body. Adjust your guitar strap so it is the perfect fit for you.
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1: Get to Know Your Guitar
Welcome to the Guitar!
- Common Models of Guitars
- How to Hold the Acoustic Guitar
- How to Hold the Electric Guitar
- Guitar Anatomy 101
- Essential Takeaways About Your Guitar
The Strings and Tuning
- Basic Concepts of Tuning
- Tuning with an Electronic Tuner
- Manual Tuning, or, Tuning 'By Ear'
- Let's Memorize the Strings
- Essential Tuning Takeaways
How Does the Guitar Work?
2: Lets Learn to Play!
Look Mom, Two Hands!
- Left & Right Hands Working Together
- What Does the Right Hand Do?
- How to Use a Pick
- What Does the Left Hand Do?
- The Basic Mechanics of Fretting
- The Opposable Thumb
- The 'One-Finger-per-Fret' Rule
- Spider Legs Warm-Up Exercise
- Essential Takeaways on Left and Right Hand Positioning
C and G
- What is a Chord?
- Simple C Major
- How to Read a Chord Diagram
- Simple G Major
- Changing Between C and G
- How to Count Off & Play in Rhythm
- Playing Simple G and C in Rhythm
- Learn the Song 'Walk Downtown'
- Play Along with 'Walk Downtown'
Simple Chords, A Minor and E Major
- Simple A Minor, 2 Fingers!
- Simple E Major
- Changing Between Simple Am and E
- Playing Simple Am and E in Rhythm
- Learn the Song 'I Believed You'
- Play Along with 'I Believed You'
More Simple Chords and Easy Songs
- Learn Simple G7
- How to Read a Simple Song Chart
- Learn the Song, 'Would You?'
- Play Along with 'Would You?'
- Learn the Song, 'Long Long Train'
- Play Along with 'Long Long Train'
Learning and Practice
- Understanding the Guitar-Learning Process
- How to Practice Guitar
- How Long Does it Take to Learn to Play Guitar?
- Pacing Yourself for Success
- Special Cases, Quirky Fingers?
- Let's Make a Practice Plan
Hot Tips for Better Tone
3: How to Play Simple Melodies
Simple Melodies on the First 2 Strings
- What is a Melody?
- Intro to Reading Tablature
- Play the the 1-String Melody, 'Higher Elevation'
- Let's Add the Second String
- Learn to Play 'Ode to Joy', Part 1
- Play Along with 'Ode to Joy', Part 1
Add the Middle 2 Strings
- Let's Add the Third String
- Learn the Melody, 'Early Bird Gala'
- Play Along with 'Early Bird Gala'
- Let's Add the Fourth String
- Learn the Melody, 'Cousin Dave's Blues'
- Play Along with 'Cousin Dave's Blues'
Melodies on All 6 Strings
- Let's Add the Fifth String
- Tame Your Melody Tone
- Learn the Melody, 'Five Miles Out'
- Play Along with 'Five Miles Out'
- Let's Add the Sixth String
- Learn the Melody, 'Six Days Till Sunday'
- Play Along with 'Six Days Till Sunday'
- Essential Takeaways on Melodies and Tablature
Melodies to Read, Learn, and Play
4: Your 5-Chord Power-Pack!
Learn the Chords E Minor, and D Major
- What is a 'Full Chord'?
- The E Minor Chord
- Learn the Song, 'Funky Holiday'
- Play Along with 'Funky Holiday'
- The D Major Chord
- Learn the Song, 'Do Something For You'
- Play Along with 'Do Something for You'
Learn the Chords C, G, and Am
- The C Major Chord
- The G Major Chord
- The A Minor Chord
- Major vs. Minor, What Does it Mean?
- Another Way to Make the G Chord
- Master Your 5-Chord Power Pack!
2-Chord Songs to Learn and Play
- Switching Chords in Rhythm
- Am and Em, Chord Change Tips
- Learn the Song, 'Cross the Line'
- Play Along with 'Cross the Line'
- D and Em, Chord Change Tips
- Learn the Song, 'Begin Again'
- Play Along with 'Begin Again'
Chord-Change Strategies for the 5-Chord Power Pack
- Am and C, Chord Change Strategies
- Am and D, Chord Change Strategies
- Am and G, Chord Change Strategies
- C and D, Chord Change Strategies
- C and Em, Chord Change Strategies
- C and G, Chord Change Strategies
- D and G, Chord Change Strategies
Songs to Play with Your 5-Chord Power Pack
5: Must-Know Basic Open Chords
More Must-Know Major and Minor Chords
- The E Major Chord
- The A Major Chord
- The F Major Chord
- The B Major Chord
- Let's Recap ALL Major Chords, A through G
- The D Minor Chord
- The B Minor Chord
- Let's Recap ALL Your Minor Chords
Seamless Chord Changes, Every Time!
6: How Chords Work Together to Make Songs
Playing Songs in the Key of G
- What is a 'Key'?
- Major Chords in the Key of G
- Minor Chords in the Key of G
- Master the Chord Changes in the Key of G
- Learn the Song, 'Darling Destination'
- Play Along with 'Darling Destination'
Playing Songs in the Key of C
- Major Chords in the Key of C
- Minor Chords in the Key of C
- Master the Chord Changes in the Key of C
- Learn the Song 'Keep That Faith'
- Play Along With 'Keep That Faith'
Playing Songs in the Key of D
- Major Chords in the Key of D
- Minor Chords in the Key of D
- Master the Chord Changes in the Key of D
- Learn the Song 'What Love Can Do'
- Play Along With 'What Love Can Do'
Playing Songs in the Key of A
- Major Chords in the Key of A
- Minor Chords in the Key of A
- Master the Chord Changes in the Key of A
- Learn the Song 'Shiny Objects'
- Play Along With 'Shiny Objects'
Playing Songs in the Key of E
7: Intro to Timing and Rhythm
Basic Strumming in 4/4 Time
- Intro to Timing and Rhythm in Music
- Surprise! You're Already a 4/4 Strummer!
- Let's Try a Variation, With an Upstroke
- Tweak That Strum, for a Whole New Sound
- Get More Mileage From Your Upstrokes
- All-Powerful Essential Strum Pattern!
- Essential Takeaways on 4/4 Strumming
Basic Strumming in 3/4 Time
- What is 3/4 Time?
- Simple Strumming in 3/4 Time
- Let's Try a 3/4 Variation, with Upstrokes
- Create Even More 3/4 Strum Grooves!
- Learn the Song, 'With You I Am Whole'
- Play Along With 'With You I Am Whole'
You're a Guitar Player Now!
Congrats on a WONDERFUL site!
-Sue
More ReviewsI find it quite easy (so far!) to navigate, and found the "where do I start" to be very helpful! I'm getting there!!
I LOVE the forum, too. I've never been one to use forums, but the GT forum is full of great people and helpful information at ALL levels! Congrats on a WONDERFUL site!!
Good job!
