Basics of Acoustic Guitar

By: Wesley RobbeBenchmark: P.4 Perform, present, exhibit, publish, or demonstrate the results of the artistic/creative process for an audience.

String Notes

• 1st String – E (thinnest string)• 2nd String – B • 3rd String – G• 4th String – D• 5th String – A• 6th String – E (thickest string)

Tips to Remember String Notes

Thinnest to Thickest Every Boy Gets Dizzy Around Ellie

Thickest to ThinnestEddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie

Or simply make up your own phrase – whatever works best.

Tuning

• GET A GUITAR TUNER! • Guitar tuner cost 15 dollars, much easier to

tune a guitar than the traditional way.• The traditional way involves knowing the

sound or tune of a guitar, this is for more advanced players.

Parts of a Guitar

Understanding Chords Part 1

Each Finger represents a number- Index finger = 1- Middle finger = 2- Ring finger = 3 - Pinky finger = 4- Thumb = 5

Understanding Chords Part 2

• Frets are the bars on the guitar of the neck• The first fret is at the end of the guitar by the

nut

A Chord

• 3rd finger goes on 2nd fret, 2nd string.• 1st finger goes on 2nd fret, 3rd string.• 2nd finger goes on 2nd fret, 4th string.

C Chord

• 1st finger goes on 1st fret, 2nd string.• 2nd finger goes on 2nd fret, 4th string.• 3rd finger goes on 3rd fret, 5th string.

D Chord

• 2nd finger goes on 2nd fret, 1st string.• 1st finger goes on 2nd fret, 3rd string.• 3rd finger goes on 3rd fret, 2nd string.

E Chord

• 1st finger goes on 1st fret, 3rd string.• 2nd finger goes on 2nd fret, 5th string.• 3rd finger goes on 2nd fret, 4th string.

G Chord

• 3rd finger goes on 3rd fret, 1st string.• 1st finger goes on 2nd fret, 5th string.• 2nd finger goes on 3rd fret, 6th string.

Bending

• Firmly press fingers against the string.• While still applying pressure, pull down on the

string after plucking the note.• Bending notes makes a distorted sound that

creates a neat bluesy sound.

Hammer Ons

• To play a hammer on, pluck the string intended.

• Then immediately place your finger on the desired note.

• Hammer ons are useful, because it makes a clean sound and involves less plucking of the right hand.

Easy Songs to Learn

• Wild Thing (The Troggs)• Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan)• American Pie (Don Mclean)• House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)• Have you Ever Seen the Rain (CCR)• Time of your Life (Green Day)

Difficult Songs to Play

• Wish you were Here (Pink Floyd)• Patience (Guns n’ Roses)• Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)• Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton)• She Talks to Angels (Black Crowes)

Citations

• Most information was researched at the website – www.justinguitar.com

• Guitar Picture: http://www.onlineguitarlessonsfree.com/onlineguitarlessons/partsofaguitar.html

• A,C,D,E, and G chord pictures were also found at the site – www.justinguitar.com found under beginners course.