Basic Guitar Technique

All other instrumentalists learn early on to play with 100% control does not come naturally. For one reason or another alot of guitar players dont develop great technique. Many hours of study and practice are necessary, and you can practice to your hearts content but if your posture and hand positions are awkward its going to work against you, and take longer. Like my favorite uncle used to say Practice doesnt make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. It is important to be comfortable when you are playing. And learning how to sit, how to finger a chord or note properly, how to pick accurately can go a long way in developing some skill. Some guitarists are natural and develop their own technique; however this doesnt work for everyone. Here are some loose guidelines that will help get you on the right track.

Your Strap
Dont be holding the guitar up, that is the straps job. If you are sitting then it is the job of your knee. You want your hands to be free to fret and strum. Try and have your strap adjusted to the same height. Learning to play guitar in a consistent position will help alot. Alot of guitar teachers will tell you the guitar has to be in an exact certain position, I dont completely agree with this maxim as everyone is different. Bodies come in different shapes and sizes and so do guitars. So experiment, and observe your body and position when you are playing. Pay attention to your arms and hands especially, but keep in mind your whole body plays a role.

Your Posture

Your body works alot better when your spine is straight so sit upright and slightly forward Try to sit in the same chair every time you practice (or if you prefer to stand with a guitar strap, stand in the same position) Focus on what you are doing, and check your posture and body position, try not to develop any awkward habits Try not to slouch Dont lay the guitar flat on your lap Dont rest your left forearm on your left knee Dont push the neck way out in front of you Be careful of having too much tension, and try to relax when you play; alot of people play with alot of tension you should be pretty loose and relaxed when you play, it shouldnt be all pain

The Invisible Thumb

In most situations your thumb should be invisible to anyone standing in from of you. Check in a mirror if you are unsure if this is the case. Yes, some of the best guitar players in the world (Hendrix is one example) have used their thumbs to great success, but you should probably leave advanced techniques like these until later in your development.

Generally keep your thumb in hitchhiking position, pointed away from you with the ball of the thumb in the center of the neck. Your thumb will more than likely move around when you play, especially if you are fretting awkwardly shaped guitar chords. But for the most part try to keep it in this center position.

The C Chord
You are now ready to learn your first chord. A chord is a combination of 2 or more notes that sound good together, in other words, they harmonize. The following few lessons will quickly get you on the road to chord formation, and you dont even need to know anything about musical theory to begin practicing. Dozens of notable musicians have made their way to rock stardom with little or no musical theory. For now just concentrate on getting your fingers in the correct positions, the rest will come with practice and time. The chord weve selected to start you on is the chord of C Major, or popularly known as C. This chord is used widely and will relate to many others that you will learn later on. The black dots in the diagram indicate the position for each finger. Take your finger and place it just behind the fret indicated. If necessary use your right hand to help put your fingers in place. The C Chord is formed like this:

Index finger just behind the first fret on the second string (B). Middle finger, just behind the 2nd fret on the forth string (D). Ring finger behind the third fret on the 5th string (A). The first and third string are played open, whereas the 6th string is not played at all.

Strumming
Now that you know how to finger the C Chord, lets strum it. To start out use all downstrokes. And when you are strumming make sure hit only 5 of the 6 strings. If you look at the diagram to the right you will see that you shouldnt play the low e string (or the thickest string on the guitar). Make sure when you strum that you count it evenly in sets of 4. In the below diagram the D stands for downstrum and the count underneath should be followed evenly. This is common notation for demonstrating strumming patterns. If you are just starting out, or if you struggle you may want to count the strumming pattern out loud. A good sense of timing takes a long time to develop but is very important later on when you get into more advanced strumming patterns.
D D D D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

This lesson explains the most popular fretting for a C Major Chord. Because the guitar has so many frets on it, there are multiple ways to finger any chord. Click here if you would like to see some other C Major Shapes.

Shape 1

Shape 2

Shape 3

Shape 4

Shape 5

Shape 6

Shape 7

Shape 8

Notes in this chord:

ceg

Alternate Names:
cM, cMa

The Names of Musical Notes

Notes in traditional music theory are represented by the first seven letters of the Latin alphabet; A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. However these arent the only notes in music, there are also sharp and flats, and they fall between these main notes.

Why are they called sharps and flats?

Simple: because the sharp is sharp, in that its pitched one note above the main note, making it sharper. Where as the flat notes are literally flattened a semi-tone below a main note; hence it is flat. Here is the confusing part. Flats and sharps are actually the same note. Take the note between G and A. This note can be called either G# or A . And just so you know the symbol for sharp is # and the symbol for flat is . There are 2 places in the musical alphabet where there are no sharps or flats between E and F, and between B and C. You can see this clearly below (the sharp notes on a piano are black). Also pay close attention to the string names, from the thickest most string to the thinnest the names are E A D G B E. An easy way to remember them is with the phrase Every August Dogs Go Biting Elvis.

The Notes of The Guitar

The Notes on the Piano

F Major
The Chord of F Major is one of the trickiest to learn at first, but once youve cracked it you will progress alot faster. Like C its usually known as just F. Heres how it is formed:

Index finger across the first fret of all the strings.

Middle finger just behind the second fret of the third string (G). Ring finger finger just behind the third fret on the fifth string The pinky finger just behind the third fret of the fouth string (D).

Strumming the F with the C

The great thing about the F Chord is it is the brother of the C Chord, meaning that they sound great together. Using the diagram below and the audio file, practice switching between them. Remember too keep the count as even as possible. It may help you to count out loud. If you are just starting out you might first think that the change is impossible, but believe me it isnt. Just keep practicing daily. If you get frustrated take a break. You will get there eventually; its just a matter of hard work. Once you get to the end of the pattern below, start over and keep repeating it until your fingers start bleeding or you get completely bored! These chords will come in handy later on. They are so widely used that learning them and a few others will open the possibility of playing thousands of songs.
F C D D D D D D D D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

This lesson teaches the most popular F Major chord shape. Every chord can be played in different positions on the fretboard, click here for more F Major diagrams.

Shape 1

Shape 2

Shape 3

Shape 4

Shape 5

Shape 6

Shape 7

Shape 8

Notes in this chord: f a c

Alternate Names: fM, fMaj

G Major
The G Chord has a slightly differently look then the F or C chords, mostly because it is formed in reverse, with the first and second fingers going across the neck, and the third finger held back. Heres how it is formed:

Index finger behind the 2nd fret on the 5th string (A). Middle finger just behind the 3rd fret on the bottom string (E). Ring finger just behind the third finger on the 1st string (E). Note: You must arch your index and middle fingers to avoid brushing the adjacent strings

The Notes on the E String

A basic knowledge of notes on the fretboard and their position is helpful to any guitarist. Gradually we will introduce notes in the first position. First position is the first 4 frets of the guitar. The first 3 notes we will introduce are on the high E string (thickest). E, F, G.

Here is how fingerings are represented on the fretboard:

The number 1 repersents the index finger. The number 2 repersents the middle finger. The number 3 repersents the ring finger. The number 4 repersents the ring finger. The number 0 is an open note, i.e. you just play the string without a finger on the fretboard

E, F, G Note Exercise
Try to pick this little exercise evenly. And try some other combinations of these notes, saying the names of each note as you play. This will help you learn the note names, as well as their positions on the guitar. Note exercises will also help you to loosen your fingers.

Basic Musical Symbols

This is a quarter note. The quarter note has the same timing as one down strum, both are worth one count. The 4/4 Time Signature: The top number tells us how many of the specified notes are in a bar and the bottom number tells us what duration (ie: how long) that specified note is. For example in 4/4 Time the top number tells us there are 4 notes in a bar and the bottom number tells us that each note is a quater of the length of the bar, or more simply put a quarter note. Therefore, we can tell that a song written with a 4/4 time signature is made up of bars (musical units a song is divided up into) which contain 4 quarter note long beats. Guitar Tablature: Under the musical notes you will notice a method of notating music called tablature, as known as just TAB for short. Tablature is a method of indicating the position of notes on the fretboard. There are six tab lines, each representing once of the six strings of the guitar. When a number is placed on one of the notes, it indicates the fret location of a note. You can read the time of tablature by following the count written beneath it. Although there is not nessesarly always a count beneath it.

The Chord Of E Minor

Our first chord that is not a major chord is the chord of E Minor; generally written as Em. The minor chords are often known as the mood chords, because they carry a sad, resonant sound, as opposed to the bright or more forceful sound of a major chord. The Em chord also works with C Major, F Major and G Major. Youll be relieved to know that Em is one of the easiest chords, only requring 2 fingers.

Place the index finger behind the 2nd fret of the 5th String (A). Place the middle finger behind the 2nd fret of the 4th String (D).

Strum this chord and notice the slightly sombre sound. This chord can be played with the major chords of C, F and G, which you already know if you have been following these lessons.

C Major Guitar Scale

So now your probably wondering if your fingers are going to toughen up enough to play the F Chord. Dont worry, they will. But you have to stick with it if you really want to learn. So many attics, basements and garages are full of barely used guitars, only because it is not an easy instrument to master. So keep in mind that if you want to be a good guitarist the best thing you can do is practice, there are no fast easy fixes. Rome wasnt built in a day. Now you might have been wondering, if the Em was so easy to learn why wasnt it the first chord I learned. Surely when you were trying to fret the F Major you were wondering there must be easier chords to play then this? And the answer is yes, but few are as important and widely used as C, F, and G. Once you know these 3 chords you can play a wealth of songs; in the millions. This is why these chords were chosen to start you out on, because the more you enjoy playing the more you will stay dedicated to learning. And I guarantee you there is a song out there that you love that has these 3 chords in it. These 3 chords did not combine by some magical force. There is an exact science to it all. When you play these 3 chords together or 4 if you include the Em you just learned, you are playing in the Key of C. It can be important to know what key you are playing in, especially if you are playing or improvising with other musicians. Before you can start playing with other people you need to

know what key its in, because this will tell you what chords and notes you can use and sound good. Weve seen how music consists of 12 notes: A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#. A# is also known as B , D# is also known as E ; and so on. There is a major key based on each of these 12 musical notes A Major, D# Major and so on. Each of these keys consists of an 8 note scale. You probably learned it in elementary school, doh, re, mi, fah, soh, la, ti, doh. Every major scale consists of this pattern it looks like this:
tone tone C ^ D^ re^ semitone E ^ mi^ tone tone tone semitone G ^ soh^ A^ la^ B^ ti^ C doh

F ^ fah^

doh^

All the chords in the Key of C Major consist of some combination of these notes, and the scale of C Major consists of all of them.

Exercise: The Scale of C Major

Here is what the C scale looks like on a fretboard, due to the amount of notes there are on a guitar there are other ways to play the C scale, but we will stick to the first 5 frets of the fretboard for now. When practicing this scale, you can either count out loud, 1, 2, 3, 4 (should all be even) or if you want to learn the notes you can alternately say the names of the note as you play them. The bottom part of this diagram shows you what finger to fret the guitar with.

Picking
You can pick them all with downstrokes as well as down and up strokes. Just make sure if you are picking up and down to do it evenly. Up, Down, Up, Down. Once you get to the highest C on the G string then make your way back in reverse. This scale should sound like doh, re, mi, fah, soh, la, ti, doh. Try to practice this scale at least 50 times in a row if you can. The best way to train your fingers is through repetition. Take your time and master it, a veteran bluesman used to tell me, The slower you go, the faster you will get there.

D Major
The chord of D Major has a a different set-up compared to the other chords weve covered so far. Instead of pushing the second finger across the neck beyond the first finger, its reveresed. D Major is a four note chord in first position. In other words you only play four strings. The strings you leave out when strumming this chord are the thickest strings on the guitar; the E and A. The shape of D Major may look a little intricate, but its quite simple. Here is how its formed:

First finger behind the 2nd fret on the G string. Second finger just behind the the 2nd fret on the top E string. Third finger just behind the 3rd fret on the B string. The fourth string is played open. The E and A strings are not strummed.

Click here for other D Major shapes.

Shape 1

Shape 2

Shape 3

Shape 4

Shape 5

Shape 6

Shape 7

Shape 8

Notes in this chord: d f#/g a Alternate Names: dM, dMaj

Reading Guitar Tab

Guitar tablature (tab for short) is a system of notation that graphically represents strings and frets of the guitar fretboard. Each note is indicated by placing a number which indicates the fret to play, on the appropriate string. With these easy instructions you will be able to understand how to read and write guitar tab in 5 minutes.

The Basics of Reading Guitar Tab

To start out, tabs are written in lines, each line representing a string on the guitar. The thickest string being the bottom most line and the thinnest string being the topmost.
e-------------------------------B-------------------------------G-------------------------------D-------------------------------A-------------------------------E--------------------------------

Numbers are then placed on these lines to represent finger positions on the guitar fret board. If you read the diagram below you would play this on a guitar by putting your finger just behind the 2nd fret on the 5th string (or the second thickest string). As musical notes this would read as follows B B B C# B A. The zero represents playing an open string. So in this case you would play the A open with no finger position on the fretboard.
e------------------------------B------------------------------G------------------------------D------------------------------A--2--2--2--4--2--0-----------E-------------------------------

How to Read Guitar Tab Chords

To tab a chord the notes would be placed in a vertical line upon the horizontal ones. This diagram represents a C Chord. You would strum the bottom 5 strings of the guitar in one motion if you were to read this tab properly.
e--0---------------------------B--1---------------------------G--0---------------------------D--2---------------------------A--3---------------------------E-------------------------------

And this one you would strum the C Chord three times.
e--0--0--0--------------------B--1--1--1---------------------

G--0--0--0--------------------D--2--2--2--------------------A--3--3--3--------------------E------------------------------

The one shortcoming of guitar tab is it doesnt usually represent how long to hold a note for, or rhythm very well. Although some good tab writers will represent it by how much space is between each note. Tab works best if you listen to the song for guidance on timing then read the notes and practice it. Here for example is the timing of Day Tripper by the Beatles, note the distances between the numbers, the first 0 would ring slightly longer then the next 4 notes and the distance between D2 and D0 would also indicate a break in timing:
e----------------------------B----------------------------G----------------------------D-----------2---0---4---0-2-A---------2-------2---2------E-0---3-4---------------------

Tablature Symbols
The numbers dont really describe the subtle techniques that a guitarist can execute, these are the tablature symbols that represent various techniques.

h hammer on p pull off b bend string up r release bend / slide up \ slide down v vibrato (sometimes written as ~) t right hand tap s legato slide S shift slide natural harmonic [n] artificial harmonic n(n) tapped harmonic tr trill T tap

TP trem. picking PM palm muting \n/ tremolo bar dip; n = amount to dip \n tremolo bar down n/ tremolo bar up /n\ tremolo bar inverted dip = hold bend; also acts as connecting device for hammers/pulls <> volume swell (louder/softer) x on rhythm slash represents muted slash o on rhythm slash represents single note slash

A Hammer On
A hammer on is executed by picking a note and then hammering done with the fretting hand on the second note. The second note isnt actually picked but kind of echos the first one. Here is an example of how hammer ons are written in tab:
e----------------------5h7---B------------------5h7-------G--------------5h7-----------D----------5h7----------------

A------5h7-------------------E--5h7------------------------

A Pull Off
A pull off is the opposite of a hammer on, so the first note is played again then the fretting hand pulls the finger off and lets the one fretted behind it play.
e----------------------7p5---B------------------7p5-------G--------------7p5-----------D----------7p5---------------A------7p5-------------------E--7p5------------------------

A Bend
A bend is represented by the symbol b, this is where the fretting hand actually bends the string to give a wobbly effect.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7b----7b------------------D--------------7b----7b------A----------------------------E-----------------------------

A Release Bend
A release bend is represented by the symbol r, this is just like a bend, but it tells you when to release the bend and go to the next note.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7r5---7r5-----------------D--------------7r5---7r5-----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

A Slide-Up
A slide up is represented by the symbol /. You would play the first note on 7 then slide the finger that is holding that note up to 9.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7/9---7/9-----------------D--------------7/9---7/9-----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

A Slide-Down
Opposite of a Slide Up, slide down is represented by the symbol \. You would play the first note on 7 then slide the finger that is holding that note down to 5.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7/5---7/5-----------------D--------------7/5---7/5-----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

Vibrato
Vibrato is like a constant rhythmic bending of the string. You do a bend up and bend down quickly to create a moving sound. It is usually represented by v or ~.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7v------------------------D--------------------7~~~----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

Tapping
Tapping is much like a hammer-on but you dont strum any notes. Just tap the notes on the fret board with your fretting hand.
e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7t---7t---7t--------------D----------------------------A----------------------------E-----------------------------

The Finger Squeeze

Just a general warning, the warm up you are about to learn can be very boring and strenuous. But if you practice this daily it will be the quickest way for you to get your fingers strong and able enough to pull off any chord shape or awkward fingering. The finger squeeze is a strengthening exercise designed to help you develop finger strength and control over the fretboard as well as finger independence. It should be practiced at the very start of your session for maximum benefits.

Fret the 1st fret of the 6th string on your guitar (F) with your index finger. Use maximum pressure, and maintain it for an even count of 4. Without moving your index finger add your middle finger to the 2nd fret (F#). Hold it for 4. Again, without moving your first 2 fingers add your ring finger to the 3rd fret (G). Hold it for 4. Now, maintaining pressure on all the strings add your pinky to the 4th fret (G#). Maintain the pressure on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th frets of the 6th string, move your first finger down to the 5th String (A). Once again, maintain maximum pressure and hold for a count of 4. Add the middle finger, hold for a count of 4, then the ring finger, hold for a count of 4, then the pinky. And so on. See the diagrams below for clarification, read the grids left to right.

Once you finish this exercise you can then start over from the 2nd fret of the 6th string, and continue up the fretboard repeating this exercise. This could take a while to master, but it will help strengthen your fingers to an unimaginable strength. Keep in mind that you should always be exerting maximum pressure and counting to an even 4. As well make sure you keep the ball of your thumb close to the center of the neck.

Strengthen your fingers and play any barre chord

This exercise is purely to strengthen your fingers up. If you have trouble playing barre chords then this is the place to start. It might be painful initially but if you do this enough, every time you practice you will be playing any chord you want in no time. This is the type of exercise that can easily be done well you are sitting in front of the TV or talking on the phone. It should be done very slowly, stopping to hold each position for a count of 4. Starting from the thinnest string you are going to barre each string, count to 4, then add another one and repeat. Here is an example:

Step 1: Barre the thinnest string with the index finger, hold for a count of 4. Step 2: Barre the thinnest string plus the second thinnest string with the index finger and hold for 4. Step 3: Barre the 4 thinnest strings with the index finger and hold for a count of 4. Step 4: Get the idea now? Use the diagrams below for more direction.

Once you are done, work your way back done the fretboard like in the diagrams below (read them from left to right). And then when you are done with the index finger, you can move to the middle finger, then the ring finger and then the pinky! That one will be tough If your fingers are really weak, you might want to start on a fret further up the neck. Starting on the 5th Fret for example, can be much easier then starting on the 1st Fret. I would try different places and see where you are most comfortable, then over time move closer to the first fret. This is how I learned to play barre chords, so I can assure you it totally works it just takes some gumption, and dont worry about your fingers always hurting, that will go away eventually once you build up enough strength in them. The important thing is to stick with it. If your fingers get sore or tired, then take a break and come back later. Eventually over time you will build the required strength to play almost any barre chord.

Sharps or Flats?
As we know a sharp/flat note can be called either sharp or flat. So how do we know which one it should be? The simple explanation is the name you call it by is dependent on the key you are in. Heres how it works. You cant have two notes with similar names in the same key. So for instance you cant have G and G , or G and G#, or G and G#. So if there is G in the scale/key the note G /F# will be called F#. On top of that, you cant have both sharps and flats in the same key. A key may include up to six sharp notes (the key of F# Major) or five flat notes (The Key of D Major). But never both. For this reason, keys with sharps are sometimes known as sharp keys, and keys with flats are sometimes known as flat keys. One final point. In the diagram below you may notice that in the keys of F# Major and D# Minor theres a note called E#. This is the note we usually call F, but because theres already an F note (F#) in the key, its called E#. This is the only time this ever occurs. Dont worry too much about what you call a sharp or a flat. If you refer to a chord or note as D# when it should be and E , any musician will know what you mean. But for the visitor who wants to know the real answer, hopefully this page helps.

Major Keys
Primary Note in Triad Scale Chord Root Major Chord Scale (Read down from root note)

Root

E F F# G

Second

Minor Chord Minor Chord Major Chord Major Chord

E F F# G G# A

B C C#

Third

E F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# G A B D E

Fourth

B C

Fifth

B C C# D

E F F#

Sixth

Relative B Minor A B C C# D D# E F F# G G# Chord B C C# D D# E E# F# G G# A A#

Seventh -

Guitar Scales Explained

On a standard guitar there are generally 6 strings and 21 frets. For the purpose of this lesson we are just going to work with the first 12 frets of the guitar to explain some basic guitar music theory. If a guitar is in standard guitar tuning the notes on its fretboard will look like this:
open string E A D G B E F A# D# G# C F F# B E A C# F# 3rd fret G C F A# D G G# C# F# B D# G# 5th fret A D G C E A A# D# G# C# F A# 7th fret B E A D F# B C F A# D# G C 9th fret C# F# B E G# C# D G C F A D D# G# C# F# A# D# 12th fret E A D G B E

Tones and Semitones

Tones and semitones are the basic building blocks of musical theory. 1 tone is equal to 2 frets on the guitar fret board, whereas as semitone is equal to one fret. For example if you are on the 1st fret of the A string a semitone up would be the second fret or A#, and a full tone up from the second fret would be fret 4, also known as C#.

How Scales are Formed

Scales always have a pattern. For example, the pattern of every major scale is consistent and it is as follows: Tone-Tone-Semitone-Tone-Tone-Tone-Semitone As an example the notes in the C scale are shown below:
tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone C^ D^ E^ F^ G^ A^ B^ C

How Chords are Formed

In any give key certain chords are more common then others. For example in the key of C, the chords C, F and G are usually present, and quite often they are complemented with Am, Dm, and Em. The reason for this is each key has its own set of chords constructed from the notes of its scale. This is basic music theory and will work starting with any note. We will start with C, consider the scale of C major:
C I II D III E IV F V G VI A VII B VIII C

Chords are constructed by notes that are a 3rd apart in its scale. So the following positions would give us the root major chord of a key: I II III Using the C major scale written above, chords can be constructed by placing 2 third intervals above each note. So a C chord has C, E and G in it. Here are the chords of the key of C and how they are constructed:
Chord Constructed C Dm Em F G Am Bo

C Scale III V

C E G

D F A

E G B

F A C

G B D

A C E

B D F

The chords are always named according to their root note. They are chords in the key of C because they only contain notes from the C scale. This method of constructing chords can be applied to form the chords of any major scale. The result will always produce the chords of whatever root note you start with.
Scale Note I II III IV V VI VII

Chord Constructedmajorminorminormajormajorminordiminished

Chord Substitutions
The chords studied so far involve the placement of 3 notes. The root note of the chord and the 2 third interval notes above it. This method of building chords can be extended by adding another note illustrated below. These chords could then be substituted for chords in the key of C, to color things up.
Chord Constructed C Scale III VII V C E B G Cmaj7 D F C A Dm7 E G D B Em7 F A E C Fmaj7 G B F D G7 A C G E Am7 B D A F Bo7*

From this example chords for any key can be substituted by using the chart below:
Scale Note Chord Constructed I major seventh II minor seventh III minor seventh IV major seventh V VI VII half diminished seventh

minor seventh seventh

Travis Picking Deconstructed

You have probably heard it in a song before, as it is a widely used pattern in popular music. Travis Picking is named after its creator; Merle Travis. It involves playing a steady bass note pattern with the thumb alternating between 2 bass notes. And is filled out by some syncopated rhythms with the other fingers, usually on the higher strings of the guitar. For simplicities sake, we are going to start out with one guitar chord, which we are going to fret for the whole tutorial, all the focus here will be on the strumming hand. We will use a simple chord, A Minor. Once you are fretting A Minor all the attention for the reminder of this tutorial will be on the strumming/picking hand.

Step 1: Fret The Chord of A Minor

1 | | | | | | + 2 + 3 + 4 + 0--------------1--------------2--------------2--------------0--------------0--------------| | | | | |

Step 2: The Alternating Bass Notes

This is the foundation of this technique. First you must develop a steady rhythm with the alternating bass notes, plucking them with your thumb. Pluck the Open A first and then the 2nd Fret on the D String. At this point you should only be using your thumb plucking back and forth in a steady rhythm. Its important that you get a rhythm of 1 and 2 and 3 and 4, hitting the notes on the 1, 2, 3, 4; because as we add more notes the rhythm will be harder to keep.
| | | | | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ---------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------2-------2--- | ----2-------2--0-------0------- | 0-------0---------------------- | ----------------

| | | | | |

Step 3: Adding A Pinch

This is called a pinch. As you pluck down on the A String with your thumb, you also pluck the 1st Fret of the B String with your middle finger.
| | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | ---------------- | ---------------- | 1--------------- | 1--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

| ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | | 0-------0------- | 0-------0------- | | ---------------- | ---------------- |

Step 4: Your First Syncopation

Now here comes the fun part. We are going to add a note right between the alternating bass notes. Remember your rhythm should be the same. 1, 2, 3, 4 but there is an eighth note between the first 2 quarter beats, played with the index finger.
| | | | | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ---------------- | ---------------1--------------- | 1----------------2------------- | --2----------------2-------2--- | ----2-------2--0-------0------- | 0-------0---------------------- | ----------------

| | | | | |

Step 5: Your Second Syncopation

Now you just basically keep adding notes. So after you hit the second alternating bass note you put another note in before the 3rd bass note; all the while keeping the rhythm intact. It helps to count out loud or tap your foot, 1 and 2 and 2 and 4 and.
| | | | | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | ---------------- | ---------------1-----1--------- | 1-----1----------2------------- | --2----------------2-------2--- | ----2-------2--0-------0------- | 0-------0---------------------- | ----------------

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Step 6: The Last Syncopation

Again we are adding another note between the 3rd and the 4th beat. Keep in mind that the 2 lowest notes are plucked with the thumb, the G String notes are always plucked with the middle finger and the B String notes are always plucked with the Index finger.
| | | | | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | ---------------- | ---------------1-----1--------- | 1-----1----------2-------2----- | --2-------2--------2-------2--- | ----2-------2--0-------0------- | 0-------0---------------------- | ----------------

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Your Finished
There you go. These are the basics of Travis Picking. The patterns and chord changes can get alot more complex. The pinch and syncopation can change throughout a patterm. and you can

combinine Travis Picking with other techniques such as hammer-ons to make it even more dynamic. But most patterns follow this basic technique. I suggest just sticking with one pattern until you master it, then look around for other patterns and songs to play that utilize this technique.

Finger Picking Pattern #1

This pattern involves the use of the thumb (p), index finger (i) and middle finger (m). You should play them in the following order: pimipimipimipimi You can just keep repeating the pattern on and on when you are practicing. The thumb will play the root bass note, the middle finger will play the 2nd string and the index finger will play the first string. Hold the chord of G Major (shown in the diagram to the right) and play the pattern. Note, you can hold any chord you wish for this exercise, Im just picking G because its a pretty popular chord.
| | | | | | | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + --------3------- | --------3----------0-------0--- | ----0-------0------------------ | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------------3--------------- | 3---------------

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Finger Picking With A Turn Around Chord Progression

You can also apply this pattern to a chord progression. Below I have tabbed out a simple Turn Around chord progression. The chords for this progression are G Major, E Minor, C Major and D Major. If you listen to the progression it goes down then kind of turns around when it hits the C Chord. Hence the name. Also note the thumb is picking the Root Bass Note of the chord. The root for each chord is G, E, C and D respectively.
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | --------3------- | --------0------- |

| | | | | | | | | | | |

----0-------0-----------------------------------------------3---------------

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----0-------0-----------------------------------------------0---------------

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1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + --------0------- | --------2----------1-------1--- | ----3-------3------------------ | ------------------------------- | 0--------------3--------------- | ------------------------------- | ----------------

Using a Guitar Pick

Originally picks or plectrums were made out of animal bone or tortoise shell. Today, most all picks are made out of plastic. There are many different shapes, as well they vary in size and flexibility. Its really a subjective thing but for the most part really hard picks are used for picking lead guitar and really soft flexible ones are used for strumming chords. Though its important to keep in mind when you are developing your technique and style that there isnt one rule of thumb in how to pick or pluck a guitar. If you are just starting out you might find a larger more flexible pick to be easier initially. The sound might not be as loud but there will be less resistance against the strings, thereby making it easier to strum. But definitely feel free to experiment especially if you have been playing for a long time. Most guitar teachers will suggest holding the pick between the thumb and the first finger. Though depending on your finger size and style you might want to try holding it between your second finger and your thumb or holding the pick using both your first and second fingers and your thumb. Again this is a matter of personal choice and use develop and practice you will naturally find what works best for you, maybe you dont even want to us a pick, maybe you prefer to finger pick like many guitarists. The most important thing when plucking is the angle of the plectrum when it hits the strings. When holding a pick dont clench it to tightly, you want your grip to be somewhat relaxed,

not so relaxed that it will fly out of your hand but relaxed enough that your fist isnt clenched white. The pick should be at a 90 degree angle when you play, so if the guitar is completely vertical the pick would be horizontal. Try to get a sharp, clear sound when you play. Stick with it, and remember to keep focused on your right hand as much as your left hand even when learning new chord shapes. Its easy to become satisfied with a lack lustre technique, but always keep your focus and try to get a clear tone, flexible wrist and a firm grip. But keep in mind to relax.

Guitar Scales
As any cutting edge lead guitarist will tell you, guitar scales are the basic foundation to becoming a great guitarist. Use the links below to start finding any scale in the Major or Minor Pentatonic Modes.
Minor Pentatonics

Major Pentatonics

C Minor C# Minor/Db Minor D Minor D# Minor/Eb Minor E Minor F Minor F# Minor/Gb Minor G Minor G# Minor/Ab Minor A Minor A# Minor/Bb Minor B Minor

C Major C# Major/Db Major D Major D# Major/Eb Major E Major F Major F# Major/Gb Major G Major G# Major/Ab Major A Major A# Major/Bb Major B Major

C Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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C# Minor/Db Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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D Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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D# Minor/Eb Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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E Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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F Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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F# Minor/Gb Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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G Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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A Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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A# Minor/Bb Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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B Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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C Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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C# Major/Db Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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D Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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D# Major/Eb Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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E Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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F Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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F# Major/Gb Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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G Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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G# Major/Ab Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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A Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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A# Major/Bb Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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B Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale

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