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Preset

G - Major |

C - Major |

D - Major |

G - Minor Pentatonic |

G - Major / Ionian

Where do I start?

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

To get started playing guitar is not necessarily a huge project, all you need is a guitar, an afternoon to spend and this quick guide. And to get further after this is not that hard either, see the bottom to check what is next.

Playing guitar often starts with learning a few chords and some songs, then one or two scales, and after that depending of interest, you learn some more chords and some more scales and after a while you start wonder about how and why things sound good and bad and you get into some music theory. This introduction will show you the first chords and scales to learn and then how to get further.

Play chords

Start learning the three chords, G, C and D, place your fingers according to the chord diagrams below, try not to play the strings marked with an x. To play a chord, count 1, 2, 3 and 4, repeat, for each number 1 to 4 strum a chord downwards, change chord after 4 and before you start over at 1, depending of the song this will vary, but this is the basics.

G - Major

			o	o	o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	F♯	B	E	A	D♭	F♯
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

C - Major

	x			o		o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	G♭	B	E	A	D♭	G♭
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

D - Major

	x	x	o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	F♯	B	E	A	C♯	F♯
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

When you learn to a play chords first learn to play them without buzz and second be able to change between the chords. When you can play some chords try play along with some songs. To play the two songs below, all needed is the G, C and D chord, use your ear and listen when to change chords, your ears are your friend!

Sweet home Alabama

Ring of fire

Play melodies

If you want to try play some melodies, just eye ball one of the charts below and use one of the two songs above as a backing track, use your ear to figure out what notes fits where over the chords. Place the fingers according to the diagram and do try to use your pinky right from the start.

If you have a friend to play together with take turns playing chords and melody, playing together is fun and you will teach each other. If you have a looper pedal you can also record your own backing track to play over.

G - Minor Pentatonic

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
E	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6
B	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3
G	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1
D	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5
A	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2
E	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6

G - Major / Ionian

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
E	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6
B	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3
G	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1
D	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5
A	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6	♭7	7	1	♭2	2
E	♭7	7	1	♭2	2	♭3	3	4	♭5	5	♭6	6

The minor pentatonic is common in blues and rock, and the major scale sound pretty classical and is used everywhere, these two scales are the two most common scales to learn.

Now what?

Chords

To learn some more chords, here are some more common open chords, to learn some movable 7th chords common in Jazz and Blues, check this.

Scales

To learn some more scale shapes for the minor pentatonic scale check this, and to learn the major pentatonic scale see this. If you want to learn the minor scale and more modes of the major scale see this.

Music theory

For a quick introduction to music theory check the three part tutorial, 1 Notes and pitch, 2 Scale degrees and intervals, 3 Harmonizing scales and musical key.

Have fun!

Play chords

G - Major

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

			o	o	o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	F♯	B	E	A	D♭	F♯
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

C - Major

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

	x			o		o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	G♭	B	E	A	D♭	G♭
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

D - Major

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

	x	x	o
1	F	B♭	E♭	A♭	C	F
2	F♯	B	E	A	C♯	F♯
3	G	C	F	B♭	D	G

Sweet home Alabama

Ring of fire

Play melodies

G - Minor Pentatonic

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

	E	A	D	G	B	E
1	♭7	♭3	♭6	♭2	4	♭7
2	7	3	6	2	♭5	7
3	1	4	♭7	♭3	5	1
4	♭2	♭5	7	3	♭6	♭2
5	2	5	1	4	6	2
6	♭3	♭6	♭2	♭5	♭7	♭3
7	3	6	2	5	7	3
8	4	♭7	♭3	♭6	1	4
9	♭5	7	3	6	♭2	♭5
10	5	1	4	♭7	2	5
11	♭6	♭2	♭5	7	♭3	♭6
12	6	2	5	1	3	6

G - Major / Ionian

Index

Middle

Ring

Pinky

	E	A	D	G	B	E
1	♭7	♭3	♭6	♭2	4	♭7
2	7	3	6	2	♭5	7
3	1	4	♭7	♭3	5	1
4	♭2	♭5	7	3	♭6	♭2
5	2	5	1	4	6	2
6	♭3	♭6	♭2	♭5	♭7	♭3
7	3	6	2	5	7	3
8	4	♭7	♭3	♭6	1	4
9	♭5	7	3	6	♭2	♭5
10	5	1	4	♭7	2	5
11	♭6	♭2	♭5	7	♭3	♭6
12	6	2	5	1	3	6

The minor pentatonic is common in blues and rock, and the major scale sound pretty classical and is used everywhere, these two scales are the two most common scales to learn.

Now what?

Chords

To learn some more chords, here are some more common open chords, to learn some movable 7th chords common in Jazz and Blues, check this.

Scales

Music theory

For a quick introduction to music theory check the three part tutorial, 1 Notes and pitch, 2 Scale degrees and intervals, 3 Harmonizing scales and musical key.

Have fun!

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