One Finger Guitar

One finger guitar is a simple but effective way of playing the guitar, the

banjo or the ukulele. There are no complicated chords to play. With just

one finger you will amaze your non-musical friends with your guitar playing

skills. Should you decide to learn guitar using the full fingering, what you

learn here will not have been wasted. You will have learned how to make

what are called barre chords in which one finger covers several strings at a

time. Of more importance, however, you will increase your undertanding of

how to choose and make chord changes during a song. Enough of the

introduction, let’s get started.

Tuning your guitar.

A guitar is normally tuned E A D G B E. For one finger guitar, tune the six

strings from the thickest to the thinnest string as follows: G B D G B D.

Here are the notes on a piano to which your guitar should be tuned.

1

With this tuning, you can strum all six strings and the sound will be rich and

powerful. Note that your lowest string will have to be tuned up more than

one whole note, but this is unlikely to break the string or damage the guitar.

As a quick check on tuning the guitar, the three notes GBD are the opening

notes to several songs including Michael row the boat ashore or Morning

has broken.

How to accompany songs.

Just three chords are enough to accompany thousands of songs. The key is

the musical level at which the song is sung and each key has three main

chords.

Let’s start with the key of G and the chords of G C and D.

Open (no finger is required) = the chord of G

One finger across fifth fret (space) = the chord of C

One finger across seventh fret (space) = the chord of D

So, in this key, most of the time your finger will be travelling between an

open strum and the fifth or the seventh frets. Use whatever finger feels most

comfortable. Don’t put your finger on the fret but in the space between the

frets. It’s important to remember that or you won’t graduate from the course.

What follows now is important.

It helps to know when to play the right chord and here are some ideas to guide you.

In a group of three chords, like G C and D, each chord serves a different purpose.

The first chord (eg G) is the main chord. It will generally be the chord on which the

song starts and finishes, and the one that is played the most. Think of it as an anchor.

and, if you get lost lost, just hit that main chord (but not too loudly).

2

The second chord (eg C) is usually played at a point where the song starts to lift or

travel in a new direction. It has a positive edge to it.

The third chord (eg D) . This is an important chord which occurs quite frequently and

often draws the tune back to the main or tonic chord. It has a more gentle feel to it.

We should really be playing a chord called D7 as it sounds better, but let’s keep it

simple at this stage. There’ll be more about D7 and other sevenths later.

Here are a few tunes for you to strum along. The numbers in brackets are the frets

where you place your finger. They appear in the lyrics (words of the song) where a

change of chord is needed. Keep your finger on the fret shown until another change

occurs. Strum down the strings of the guitar with your thumb or a plectrum.

Coming Round the Mountain

(0) She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she (7) comes

She’ll be (0) comin’ round the mountain, (5) comin’ round the mountain

(0) Comin’ round the (7) mountain when she (0) comes.

Repeat this tune and listen to the difference between the C chord on the fifth fret and

the D chord on the 7th fret. You will notice how one chord seems more gentle and

the other seems more strident. Think of a song as a ship leaving a mooring and

weaving a course through rough and smooth waters.

Here are some words to describe the three chords in a triad.

First: Key, anchor, base.

Second: Positive, hard, outward, strident

Third: Sensitive, soft, inward, gentle

By listening to songs, and lots of practice, you will soon get to know when to change

and to which chord.

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Will the Circle be Unbroken?

(0) Will the circle be unbroken

By and (5) by Lord by and (0) by

There’s a better home awaiting

In the sky Lord (7) in the (0) sky.

Little Brown Jug

(0) My wife and I lived (5) all alone

In a (7) little log hut we (0) called our own.

She loved gin and (5) I loved rum

I (7) tell you we had (0) lots of fun.

Ha Ha Ha (5) He He He

(7) Little brown jug how (0) I love thee.

Ha Ha Ha (5) He He He

(7) Little brown jug how (0) I love thee.

Add some rhythm

If a song has a bouncy rhythm, why not add a bass note in your strumming? Hit the

6th (the thickest and lowest) string alone and then strum the rest of the chord. Or hit

the 6th and strum the top four strings and then the 5th and strum the top four strings.

Try it with the tunes above, they will sound much better.

Now try this one in G and throw in some of those bass notes during the chorus.

4

Bad Moon Rising

Checkout a short demo of this under mudsailor in YouTube

(0) I see a (7) bad (5) moon rising

(0) I see (7) trouble (5) on the (0) way

(0) I see (7) earth (5) quakes and (0) lightnin'

(0) I see (7) bad (5) times (0) today

(5) Don't go 'round tonight

(0) It's bound to take your life

(7) There's a (5) bad moon on (0) the rise

(5) Yeah, don’t go out tonight

(0) Where it’s bad to take your wife

(7) For a (5) Big Mac (0) and some Fries

A change of key

The key of A and the three chords of A D and E.

One finger across second fret (space) = A (the key chord)

One finger across seventh fret (space) = D (the second chord)

One finger across ninth fret (space) = E (the third chord)

I’ll fly away in the key of A

(2) One glad morning when this life is over

(7) I’ll fly (2) away

To a land on God’s celestial shore

(9) I’ll fly (2) away

I’ll fly away Oh Lordy

(7) I’ll fly (2) away

When I die. Allelujah by and by

(9) I’ll fly (2)away.

5

A couple of tricks to add variety.

(1) When there is a chord change in a bouncy tune, occasionally try this. Suppose you

are changing from open G to C on the fifth fret. Put your finger on the first fret,

strum the strings and immediately slide up to the fifth fret. Try the same trick with

the D chord on the seventh fret. Don’t overdo it, because your audience will think

you are high on something or spent too much time in Hawaii.

(2) Here’s a trick borrowed from the banjo. When you are strumming chords with

your first finger across the strings, drop your little finger on the thin top string two

frets up and hold it there for the 3rd and 4th beat. The following diagram shows

how:

1 2 3 4.........................and repeat

More keys

The key of D.is a popular key in folk music and sounds good in one finger

guitar. The three basic chords are D G and A.

One finger across seventh fret (space) = D (the key chord)

Open strumming (or 12th fret) = G (the second chord)

One finger across second fret (space) = A (the third chord)

When the saints go marching in

(7) Oh when the saints, go marching in

Oh when the saints, go marching (2) in

(7) Well I want to be in that (0) number

When the (7) saints, go (2) marching (7) in.

6

Key of E

The key of E is very popular in country music. The three chords are E A and B.

They are just two frets up from the key of D.

One finger across ninth fret = E the key chord

One finger across second fret = A the second chord

One finger across fourth fret = B the third chord

When the Saints go Marching In (Key of E)

(9) Oh when the saints, go marching in

Oh when the saints, go marching (4) in

(9) Well I want to be in that (2) number

When the (9) saints, go (4) marching (9) in

In the two versions of this song, which key best suited your voice - D or E?

A list of some main keys, the three chords and their frets

Key of G: G Open C 5th D 7th

Key of A: A 2nd D 7th E 9th

Key of C: C 5th F 10th G 12th

Key of D: D 7th G Open A 2nd

Key of E: E 9th A 2nd B 4th

Key of F: F 10th B 3rd C 5th

FAQ Q: I have a guitar capo. What shall I do with it?

A: Destroy it immediately. It’s an abomination.

7th Chords

Earlier, I mentioned that the third chord in a three chord song is usually

played as a 7th. To explore this, drop your little finger on the top string and

three frets up from the basic one-finger shape. Now you have a seventh. So

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instead of playing G C and D, you would play G C and D7. This extra note

is not the seventh note in the scale of D - that’s another story, but it fits in

musically with the key of C. It adds a something to the third chord and

helps drive the melody along. Try it out on the third chord with the songs

and other keys presented earlier

What’s that 4th chord?

Although the focus here is on three chords, sometimes a fourth chord

appears. It usually only happens once in the verse or chorus and is often

found two frets up from the key chord. Try Jingle Bells here in the key of G

and you’ll see what I mean. Can you name the extra chord here?

Jingle Bells

(0)Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

(5) Oh what fun it is to ride

(2) On a one horse open (7) sleigh, Hey!

(0)Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

(5) Oh what fun it (0) is to ride

(7) On a one horse open (0) sleigh.

One finger guitar is capable of lots of interesting chords but if you enjoy

playing, you may want to upgrade to full fingering. It will take longer to

master but you’ll have had a good start.8

Here is a short list of three chord songs on which you can try out your new

skills. Finally, if you have got this far, well done. There’s a graduation

certificate waiting for you on the next page. Frame it and hang it in your den.

Amazing GraceBig Rock Candy Mountain

Camptown RacesComin' Through the Rye

For He's A Jolly Good FellowGrandfather's Clock

Happy Birthday to YouHappy Wanderer

Home on the RangeHome Sweet HomeIf I Had a HammerIrene GoodnightI've Got Sixpence

Jimmie Crack CornJump Down, Spin Around

Little Brown JugMama Don't Allow

Michael Row the Boat AshoreMidnight Special

My Bonnie Lies Over the OceanOh Susannah

Oh When The Saints Go Marching InOld Cotton Fields Back Home

Old Dan TuckerOld Folks at HomeOld Kentuky Home

Old MacDonaldOn Top of Old Smoky

Red River ValleySaints Go Marching

She'll be Comin' Round the MountainSo Long, It's Been Good to Know You

Swanee RiverThere's a Hole in the Bucket

There Is a Tavern In the TownThis Land Is Your Land

Wabash CannonballWaltzing Matilda

Wearin' O' the GreenWorried Man Blues

Yankee DoodleYou Are My Sunshine

9

It's fun to be a boy

Work out the tune from the fret positions on the different strings. (Tabs). The rest of the verses are to be found on the next page. .

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(c) Vladimir O'Leary 2006

It’s fun to be a boy

Oh It’s fun to be a boyand here’s some reasons why.We don’t need to wear dressesor kiss our friends goodbye.

No need for painted fingernailsor fancy underwear.

Or spend an hour every dayfussing with our hair.

Chorus:Though we know we can annoy, and that sometimes we destroy,

Doing things we enjoy.But It’s fun to be a boy

And when we’re playing footballor wrestling in the mud.

We use our sleeves to wipe our noseand soak up any blood.

We wear our sneakers every daythat’s why they always stink.We never have to wear a bra

or anything in pink.

So join our secret gangand do things that boys must doWe don’t have any special rules

well maybe one or two.If your caught wearing make-up,

or trying out hairspray,Then when we have a sleep-over

you won’t be asked to stay.

Yes it’s fun to be a boyand we love to misbehave.Not ready to be grown upor old enough to shave.

But If we smarten up a bitand try to make less noise.

Please dump that health and safety stuffand just let boys be boys,

Why not play along to the video on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eocKJv3ZKCc