Contents. Moving around! 14 The chord of G 16 The chord of C 18 Your first song 20 Changin Time 22 Adding a melody 28

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2 2 Contents Your first chord A 3 The chord of D 4 The chord of E 5 Let s Play! 6 Upstroke/downstroke 7 In rhythm with D 8 In rhythm with E 11 Moving around! 14 The chord of G 16 The chord of C 18 Your first song 20 Changin Time 22 Adding a melody 28

3 Your first chord A A x o o x = don t play this string o = open string A major facts: 1 The A chord s full name is A major later on you ll come across other types of A chord such as minor and seventh. 2 The A chord is named after its lowest note the open A string (the 5th string). 3 Like all major chords, A major is characterized by a bright, happy sound. 3

4 4 The chord of D D x x o D major facts: The D chord is named after its lowest note the open D string (the 4th string). 2 D is a favorite with folk guitarists try adding your fourth finger at the third fret on the top string to form a chord of Dsus4, for a classic folky sound. x = don t play this string o = open string 3 D and A sound great when played after each other.

5 The chord of E E o o o x = don t play this string o = open string E major facts: 1 The E chord is the fullest sounding of all the chords you ve learned so far because, unlike A or D, it uses all six strings. 2 E is possibly the most popular key for guitar music, because it allows you to use the open E strings (top and bottom strings). 3 Once you ve perfected the E shape, try adding your little finger at the 2nd fret, 3rd string, to form the chord of Esus4. 5

6 6 Let s Play &4 4 Count: A A A A = downstroke &4 4 Count: etc. A A A A A A A A &4 4 etc. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Count: etc.

7 Upstroke/downstroke &4 4 Count: & = downstroke = upstroke A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A etc. 7

8 8 In rhythm with D D x x o &4 4 Now play a chord of D, once a bar, on beat 1: D D D D etc.

9 This time, try playing two D chords per bar, on beats 1 and 3. &4 4 D D D D D D D D etc. Now play four D chords in each bar, using a downstroke on each beat. &4 4 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D etc. 9

10 10 In rhythm with D (continued) We re now using downstrokes and upstrokes in a continuous rhythm. &4 4 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D & D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D etc.

11 In rhythm with E E o o o &4 4 The first example demonstrates one strum of E per bar (remember the four clicks of the intro). E E E E 11 etc.

12 12 In rhythm with E (continued) This example has two strums per bar, on beats 1 and 3. &4 4 E E E E E E E E etc. The next example requires four strums of E, one per beat, all downstrokes. &4 4 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E etc.

13 We now use downstrokes and upstrokes in a continuous rhythm. &4 4 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E & E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E etc. 13

14 14 Moving around! Now it s time to try changing chords from bar to bar. First, use only downstrokes and play one chord per bar: &4 4 A D E A Repeat Sign: Repeat all 4 bars. etc. Now try three strums per bar, preparing the next chord shape on beat 4: & 4 4 move move move A A A D D D E E E A A A repeat.

15 15 Now, try strumming up and down four times per bar (once on each beat), changing chord shape quickly before the start of the next bar: & 4 4 move move move A A A A D D D D E E E E A A A A Finally, try doing the same but with eight strums per bar - twice as fast! & 4 4 A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D move & & E E E E E E E E A A A A A A A A move repeat..

16 16 The chord of G G o o o & To practice G, try these next exercises. First, strum the G chord on the first beat of the bar only: G G G G etc.

17 The next pattern uses up-and-down strumming count steadily and try and keep your strumming arm relaxed as you play. &4 4 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G & G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G etc. 17

18 18 The chord of C C x o o 1 & Remember to keep your first finger pressing down vertically in order to clear the first string. Also be sure that your second finger doesn t catch the open G string in the middle of the chord. Try strumming C once per bar: C C C C etc.

19 Now try strumming up and down strokes: &4 4 C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C & C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C etc. 19

20 20 Your first song A x o o D x x o E o o o G 1 o o o 2 3

21 C x o o The second time through, skip over the bars under the number 1 and go straight to the bars under the number 2. 4 Ignore the To Coda sign for the time being and carry straight on into the next section there s another repeat here. 21 Understanding Musical Notation Don t be put off by the musical signs we ve used here this is how it works: 1 Play through the Intro in exactly the same way as you have played all the other examples in this book count steadily and play the chords as indicated. 2 Carry on through the Solo/melody until you come to the sign that s a repeat sign, and it means you have to go back to za and play that section again. 5 Once you ve repeated that sequence carry on until you reach the marking D.. al Coda this basically means Go back to the until you reach the To Coda marking, and then go to the Coda. 6 So skip back to letter za and play through that repeated section again until you reach the To Coda marking. 7 Then go to Coda and play through that section until the end.

22 22 Changin Time = downstroke = upstroke Intro & # # # Count: & # # # & & # # # & A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A &

23 % A & # # #. Solo/melody A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D & # # # E E E E E E E E D D D D D D D D & # # # & A A A A A A A A D D D D D D D D 23

24 24 1st & 2nd endings: play through the bars under the number 1, then skip back to A. On the second pass, leave out the bars under the number 1, and go directly to the bars under the number & # # # E E E E E E E E D D D D D D D D & 2 & 3 & 4 & & # # # & # # #. To Coda o (2nd time) E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E A A A A A A A A

25 & # # # G G G G D D D D & # # # A A A A A A A A 25 & # # # G G G G D D D D.

26 26 Skip back to the Sign (s) at A and play through the 1st & 2nd endings. Then, at To Coda o, skip ahead to the Coda below to finish the song. & # # # D.s.al Coda E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E ocoda & # # #. C C C C C C C C G G G G G G G G &

27 27 & # # # & # # # D D D D D D D D A A A A A A A A & # # #. C C C C C C C C G G G G G G G G D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D U 1 hold chord

28 28 Adding a melody Introduction to TAB Most guitar music uses a system called tablature (TAB) which tells you where to put your fingers when playing the single notes of a melody. To play the simple melody of the song let s briefly look at the TAB system. 1 Don t concern yourself with the music notation for now, concentrate on the TAB information. TAB is always written under the melody of the song. & T A B note (here, a D) w Fret number 3 2 The six horizontal lines of the TAB represent the six strings of your guitar; the bottom line represents the lowest (thickest) string, and the top line represents the highest (thinnest) string. 3 The number on those horizontal lines indicate the fret at which you should place your finger. Open strings are designated as 0 on the TAB line don t fret the string, just play it open. Fret: 5 etc. 1st string (top) 6th string (bottom)

29 & # # # T A B Intro bars rest: don t play! % A Solo/melody & # # #. A*. œ D. œ E. œ D. rest: don t play Œ 29 T A B Count: *Chord symbols are for reference only

30 30 & # # # A. œ. ( œ œ) w E D w Œ. T A B play 1st time only ( 0 2) & # # # w 2. To Coda o D.s. al Coda E w 18 T A B 0

31 ocoda & # # #. T A B. C. œ 0 0 G w 3 D. 3 œ 0 A w 0 C G w D & # # #. œ w w. w UD hold note T A B

32 WARNING The law provides severe penalties for unauthorized reproduction or public broadcasting of copyrighted videos or DVDs. Absolute Beginners Guitar 2002 Omnibus Records & Tapes 445 Bellvale Road, Chester, NY USA Order Number: OV DVD Original video production by Matej Dimlic/ Rockschool Limited DVD authoring by New York DVD DVD developer: Brian Brodeur Menu design: Jonathan Ratcliff Music recorded, mixed and mastered by Kester Sims Guitar played by Arthur Dick Voice over artist: Anthony C. Barrett BOOKLET Original Absolute Beginners method written by Phil Mulford Music processed by Paul Ewers Design by Chloe Alexander Editing by Sorcha Armstrong Photographs by George Taylor