Music as a Second Language & The Modern Band Movement – Little Kids Rock Teacher Manual v3.

some of the Basics

Fret numbers
string numbers
3rd Fret 1st Fret
6
5
4
3
2
1
2nd Fret
GUITAR

Think of each box as a fret. Put your

finger in the first box, and you’re playing
the first fret.

E A D G B E string names

1 2 3
4

2. Finger numbers
The thumb doesn’t get a num-
ber because it sits on the back
of the neck (The guitar’s neck,
not your neck!!!)

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chord diagrams

A chord diagram is just a drawing of what a chord

looks like when you play it on your guitar. Look at
the chord diagram and key below.

D
chord name

don’t play this string

XX O Play this open string

nut

GUITAR
Frets

1 2
Finger number
Fretboard
3

Here are tips for Reading chord diagrams:

❶The black dots with numbers in them are where you place your fingers.
The numbers tell you which finger to use. Play strings that have black dots.
❷ Any string that has an “O” above it is supposed to be played, even though
there is no finger on it.
❸ Any string that has an “X” above it is NOT supposed to be played.

note x x 1 3 2

Lots of song books that you will find in music stores use chord
diagrams like this one to the right. The drawing is simpler and
there are either no finger numbers, or they are shown above. 1 2
That’s because after awhile people begin to remember chords
3
by their shapes. Once you are familiar with a chord’s shape,
your fingers will find their places automatically!

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Tuning a guitar... aRgH!

Tuning your guitar can be VERY frustrating! The good news is that just because
you can’t tune doesn’t mean you can’t start playing. When you are just getting
started on guitar, the BEST way to tune it is by using an electronic tuner. This is a
machine that will tell you when each string is in tune. You can get an electronic
tuner for about $20. The NEXT BEST way to tune your guitar is to get someone
else who already knows how to do it for you. However, here’s how to tune your
guitar if no one else is around and you have no tuner.

When you press down on the 5th fret of a

string, it should sound like the string right next to it.
GUITAR

For example, when you press down on the 5th fret on

the “E” string, it should sound like the open “A” string
just next to it. If they don’t sound alike, try adjusting
the tuning machine of the “A” string up or down until
both strings sound the same.

Next, when you press down on the 5th fret on the

“A”string, it should sound like the open “D” string just
next to it. Continue across the strings like that, but
when you go to tune the “B” string, press down on the
4th fret of the “G” string, NOT the 5th fret.

This drawing shows how to tune. The white circles 5 fr.

show where to press and the red lines show which
string the fretted note should sound like.

Learning to tune a guitar today is easier than ever,

thanks to the internet. Little Kids Rock provides an online tuner through our web-
site at www.LittleKidsRock.org/thehang/tuner and there are lots of other great
tools for learning how to do this out there as well. If you search ‘how to tune a
guitar’ on YouTube you can scroll through mountains of video demonstrations.
Watch several of them to get a couple of opinions and figure out which way of
thinking about tuning appeals to you most. Just by watching videos alone our ears
begin to get a great perspective on how tuning works and sounds.

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i got a "d", But my Mom is so Proud

XX O
D
1
1 2 2
3
3
Looks like a triangle!

GUITAR
A good first shape to learn is the “D” chord. If you look at the picture
below, you’ll see it looks ike a triangle. Use the tips below to help you
make the shape. Strum the chord with a pick, then play one string at a
time to check the sound. Play only the bottom four strings. Don’t play
strings with an “x” above them.

Tips for chord Fingering

Curve your fingers like cat claws.

Thumb is straight up and down on the

back of the neck parallell with the frets

Each finger touches just one string.

Place fingers close to the frets.

Press hard enough to get a sound.

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 Music as a Second Language & The Modern Band Movement – Little Kids Rock Teacher Manual 11th Ed.

a is for amplify

XO
A O
1
2
1 2 3 3

Looks like a line!

GUITAR

Use the tips below to help you make the shape. Strum the chord with
a pick, then play one string at a time to check the sound. Play only the
bottom five strings. Don’t play the top string, the one with the “x”.

Tips for chord Fingering

Curve your fingers like cat claws.

Thumb is straight up and down on the

back of the neck parallell with the frets

Each finger touches just one string.

Place fingers close to the frets.

Press hard enough to get a sound.

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e is for electric

O
E OO

1
2 1
2 3 3

Looks like a car seat!

GUITAR
Use the tips below to help you make the chord shape. Strum the chord
with a pick, then play one string at a time to check the sound. Play all
six strings.

Tips for chord Fingering

Curve your fingers like cat claws.

Thumb is straight up and down on the

back of the neck parallell with the frets

Each finger touches just one string.

Place fingers close to the frets.

Press hard enough to get a sound.

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Make it Minor, Make it sad: ami chord

X O
Ami O

1
2 1
3
2 3

Looks like the e chord!

GUITAR

The fingering is just like the E chord, but starts one string higher on the
fretboad. Use the tips below to help you make the shape. Strum the
chord with a pick, then play one string at a time to check the sound. Play
the bottom five strings.

Tips for chord Fingering

Curve your fingers like cat claws.

Thumb is straight up and down on the

back of the neck parallell with the frets

Each finger touches just one string.

Place fingers close to the frets.

Press hard enough to get a sound.

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