Shaw Academy NOTES. Diploma in Guitar

Transcription

1 Shaw Academy NOTES Diploma in Guitar

2 Lesson 2 Notes Introduction: Lesson 2 begins with a recap of Lesson 1, and then I quickly introduce the Agenda for Lesson 2. Finger Presses: We start with doing 6 pressing exercises. These exercises develop the strength in our fretting fingers to be able to more easily grab chords when it comes time to play chords. During these exercises, we DO NOT strum. Except for Pressing Exercise #4, we only use our fretting hand for these exercises. Pressing Exercise #1: o Press your 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the A string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 2 nd fret of the D string o Then let go for three seconds. As you let go, keep the same shape that your fingers are in. Pressing Exercise # 2: o Press your 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the A string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 2 nd fret of the D string, o Press your 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the G string o Then let go for three seconds. As you let go, keep the same shape that your fingers are in. Pressing Exercise #3: o Press your 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of EVERY string, o Then let go for three seconds. As you let go, keep the same shape that your fingers are in. Pressing Exercise #4: o Press your 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of EVERY string, and o Press as hard as you can

3 o While holding your 1 st finger on the first fret of all the strings, play each string from the Low E to the High E. o The goal is to get every note on its string to ring clearly. Pressing Exercise #5: o Press your 1 st Finger on the 1 st fret of EVERY string, and o Press your 2 nd finger on the 3 rd fret of the A string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 3 rd fret of the D string, o Press your 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the G string o Keep your 1 st finger anchored (still pressing the strings) o Then let go of your 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th fingers for three seconds. As you let go, keep the same shape that your fingers are in. Pressing Exercise #6: o Press your 1 st Finger on the 1 st fret of EVERY string, and o Press your 2 nd finger on the 3 rd fret of the A string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 3 rd fret of the D string, o Keep your 1 st finger anchored (still pressing the strings) o Then let go of your 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th fingers for three seconds. As you let go, keep the same shape that your fingers are in. Repeat as many times as you d like Playing the Spider: The next exercise we do is called the Spider. This exercise increases the strength in our fretting fingers and develops the coordination between our picking and our fretting hands and fingers. This is a great exercise for those who want to play single notes fast. The First note: o Press your 1 st Finger on the 1 st fret of the High E String o If you are fingerpicking, play this note with your P finger o If you are using a plectrum, pick in the Down direction The Second Note: o Press your 2 nd Finger on the 2 nd fret of the High E String o If you are fingerpicking, play this note with your I finger o If you are using a plectrum, pick in the Up direction The Third Note: o Press your 3 rd Finger on the 3 rd fret of the High E String o If you are fingerpicking, play this note with your M finger o If you are using a plectrum, pick in the Down direction The Fourth Note: o Press your 4 th Finger on the 4 th fret of the High E String

4 o If you are fingerpicking, play this note with your A finger o If you are using a plectrum, pick in the Up direction Repeat this pattern on every single string (1 st finger 1 st fret, 2 nd finger 2 nd fret, 3 rd finger 3 rd fret, 4 th finger 4 th fret on B, G, D, A, and High E string) with the same picking patterns (P I M A or Down-Up) Finger Yoga: The third exercise we do is called the stretching exercise. This exercise forces us to stretch our fingers and develops the coordination, strength, and dexterity we will need to move around the fretboard to grab our chords more easily. Stretching Exercise B & High E string Variation 1 o Press your 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the B string, and o Press your 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the High E string. o Play these two notes simultaneously o Then press your 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the High E string, and o Press your 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the B string o Play these two notes simultaneously. o Move back and forth and play each combination Stretching Exercise B & High E string Variation 2 o Press your 3 rd finger on the 2 nd fret of the B string, and o Press your 2 nd finger on the 1 st fret of the High E string. o Play these two notes simultaneously o Then press your 3 rd finger on the 2 nd fret of the High E string, and o Press your 2 nd finger on the 1 st fret of the B string o Play these two notes simultaneously. o Move back and forth and play each combination Stretching Exercise B & High E string Variation 3 o Press your 4 th finger on the 2 nd fret of the B string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 1 st fret of the High E string. o Play these two notes simultaneously o Then press your 4 th finger on the 2 nd fret of the High E string, and o Press your 3 rd finger on the 1 st fret of the B string o Play these two notes simultaneously. o Move back and forth and play each combination Once you feel comfortable doing each variation on the B and High E string, move to doing the combinations on succession strings. Play the same pattern between the G and High E string, D and High E string, A and High E string, and from the Low E to the High E string. While doing these exercises, keep your fretting arm loose but always in the same position. You want to refrain from doing the funky chicken.

5 This exercise is to be picked only with your fingers. You cannot do this exercise with a plectrum as you have to pluck only the notes on the strings you are pressing in unison. Lesson 2 Challenges: The first challenge for Lesson 2 is to be able to play the lick for Nirvana s Come As You Are." First we: 1. Play the open Low E string twice, then 2. Press our 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the Low E string, and play, then 3. Press our 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the Low E string, and play, then 4. Play the open A string, then 5. Press our 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the Low E string, and play, then 6. Play the open A string, then 7. Press our 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the Low E string, and play twice, then 8. Press our 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the Low E string, and play, then 9. Play the open Low E string, then 10. Press our 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the A string, and play, then 11. Play the open Low E string twice, then 12. Press our 2 nd finger on the 2 nd fret of the A string, and play, then 13. Play the open Low E string, then 14. Press our 1 st finger on the 1 st fret of the Low E string, and play, then 15. Repeat from number 3. The second challenge is to be able to play the lick for Peter Gunn. 1. Play the open Low E string twice, then 2. Press our 1 st finger on the 2 nd fret of the Low E string, and play, then 3. Play the open Low E string, then 4. Press our 2 nd finger on the 3 rd fret of the Low E string, and play, then 5. Play the open Low E string, then 6. Press our 4 th finger on the 5 th fret of the Low E string, and play, then 7. Press our 3 rd finger on the 4 th fret of the Low E string, and play, then 8. Repeat from #1 as many times as you d like. The third challenge is to play Deep Purple s Smoke on the Water. For this, use only the 1 st finger to press the indicated frets. 1. Play the open D and the open G string in unison, then 2. Press the 3 rd frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 3. Press the 5 th frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 4. Play the open D and the open G string in unison, then 5. Press the 3 rd frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 6. Press the 6 th frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 7. Press the 5 th frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 8. Play the open D and the open G string in unison, then 9. Press the 3 rd frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 10. Press the 5 th frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then 11. Press the 3 rd frets of the D and G strings, and play in unison, then

6 12. Play the open D and the open G string in unison, then 13. Repeat from #1 as many times as you d like. The fourth and final challenge for Lesson 2 is to play the lick the Rolling Stone s Satisfaction. 1. Press your 1 st finger on the 2 nd fret of the A string, and play three times, then 2. Press your 3 rd finger on the 4 th fret of the A string, and play once, then 3. Press your 4 th finger on the 5 th fret of the A string, and play three times, then 4. Press your 3 rd finger on the 4 th fret of the A string, and play twice, then 5. Repeat from #1 as many times as you d like. Note that none of these descriptions include the timing as describing the timing with words is unimaginably cumbersome and very abstract. Try to FEEL the rhythm. For every lick that we learn, make sure to listen to that particular song. Playing the guitar is as much listening to music as it is playing it. Listen to the music and try to emulate. If you would like to record yourself playing one (or all of these) challenges and posting it on our Facebook page, you can at Also, please remember to vote for this course s number 1 song. You can do so on my Twitter or you can me your vote at guitar@shawacademy.com. We will learn the Number 1 song during Lesson 6. Please subscribe to my Youtube Channel, and every Thursday I will be uploading new challenges for everyone to do. If at any point you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to me. This concludes the summary for Lesson 2.

7 THANK YOU