Hi class,
It was great to see you all in class, familiar faces and new people. This is going to be a fun class! I know it seemed hard, but you all did great! Remember, you don’t have to have all of the barre chords together by next week. It’s a work in progress. The whole idea is to get started learning them (if you don’t know them already).
1) Practice changing from chord to chord. It doesn’t matter which chords, just practise them all, going back and forth, making smooth transitions,
2) Practice the rhythms,
1. 4/4 – strumming 4 beats to the bar;
2. Pick-strum – “pick” the lowest note of the chord with your thumb (or guitar pick) then strum the rest of the chord. See the rhythm pattern sheet;
3. Fingerpicking pattern - Thumb, Finger, Finger, Finger, using your Thumb to play the lowest bass note of the chord, then your fingers to play the other strings.
1. 4/4 – strumming 4 beats to the bar;
2. Pick-strum – “pick” the lowest note of the chord with your thumb (or guitar pick) then strum the rest of the chord. See the rhythm pattern sheet;
3. Fingerpicking pattern - Thumb, Finger, Finger, Finger, using your Thumb to play the lowest bass note of the chord, then your fingers to play the other strings.
Just work on smoothness and getting nice clear notes. This is generally a hurdle at this point in time, you know a bunch of chords but making them sound good and putting them all together is still a challenge. This is what we’ll work on.
NOTE: Remember, when playing the chords, approach the chord from the “bottom, up”, *low notes first*.
Guitar riffs we learned:
1. Rock and roll riff using the “A” chord. With your first finger playing the A chord (across 3strings), use your 3rd finger to play the note on the 4th fret of the D string. Play this note off, then on, etc…
2. Alternating bass pattern using the C chord. Play the C chord and using the “Pick-strum” pattern, play the low C note, then your 3rd to moves to the low E string to play the G note. This creates an alternating bass pattern, like the Coconut Song. If you want to know how it sounds, go to YouTube and search for the Coconut Song, Harry Nilsson. You can go here to here it >> http://guitarbeginnerlevel1.blogspot.ca/2012/09/the-coconut-song.html
3. Reggae pattern in the Key of C. Uses C, F and G chords. It’s the first line of the sheet entitled “Beginner 3 chord songs”. Use the C and F chords, then move the F chord up 2 frets to play the G chord. (Remember, all chords are movable, up the neck).
See you next week for more fun and games.
Marg
