PROGRESSWe Hethod for’ ae Young Beginners Go ak 1SIntroduction Page 3 Lesson 1 Page 4 How to Sit and Hold the Guitar 4 Parts ofthe Guitar 4 Right Hand - Using the Pick 5 Lett Hand Fingering the Notes 5 Guitar Fingering Diagram é ‘The Open G Sting 6 How to Read Music - The Note G 8 G for Girate 8 The f Time Signature 9 For Four Giraffes > Lesson 2 Page 10 The Note A 10 The A Train 10 Going GA-GA 10 Giraffes and Ants u The Hal Note 4 Halt Time 1 Picnic Ants Lesson 3 The Note B. B Happy Johnny B Good B-Hive Yourself In the Light of the Moon 3 Merrily 13 Hot Cross Buns B List of Contents Lesson 4 ‘The Note C Coot Cats Easy toC Page 14 ‘The C Time Signature C the Circus Corse Lesson 5 2 ‘The Note D D-Licious dh Mary Had a Little Lamb Go Tell Aunt ‘The Wonky Donkey ‘Strumming Chords Lesson 7 Playing Two Chords ‘Strumming Patterns Two Strum Tango 2 ‘Two Chord Songs 2 Ode To Joy 23 Lightly Row 23 Lesson 8 Page 24 The {Time Signature 24 ‘The Fist Waltz 24 Teenie A, Girls and Boys Come Out to Play 2: ‘The Dotted Strum Little Bo Peep 2 Austrian Waltz 2 Boating Song Lesson 9 Page The Tie Bow Tie The Rower’s Waltz The C Chord (C Four Camels Three Chord Strum Beautiful Brown Eyes 3 Lesson 10 ‘The G7 Chord a Seven Green Gr Four Chord Strum ‘Aura Lee Roses from the South 3 Lesson 11 ‘The Lead-In The Cuckoo ‘The Mexican Hat Dance Lesson 12 ‘The Quarter Rest Silence is Golden Take a Rest Good Evening Friends 3 When the Saints Go Marchin’ In 3) ‘The Whole Note ‘Whole Lot3 Introduction Progressive Guitar Method for Young Beginners, in three books, has been designed to introduce the younger student tothe basics of guitar playing and reading music. To maximise the students’ enjoyment and interest, the Progressive Young Beginner series incorporates an extensive repertoire of well-known children’s songs. All the songs have been carefully graded into an easy-to- follow, lesson-by-lesson format, which assumes no prior knowledge of music or the guitar by the student. Chord symbols and easy strum patterns are provided above each song. Book 1 contains very easy arrangements involving five notes (G, A,B, C and D), and four simplified chord shapes (G, D7, C and G7), It introduces the students to 4 and 2 time, playing both melodies and simplified chords. It also incorporates quarter, half. and whole notes and their equivalent rests. The student is taught how to read music, and introduced to such basic terms as bar lines, repeat signs and lead-in notes. New pieces of information are highlighted by color boxes, and color illustrations are used throughout to stimulate and maintain the students’ interest. 3 : Let’s Practice Together We have recorded all the songs in this book onto a CD and DVD. When your teacher's not there, instead of practicing by yourself, ‘you can play along with us. Playing will be much more fun, and you will lear faster. On the recording each song is played on the right hand channel. An accompaniment (to play along with) is on the left hand channel. Each song is played four times. + The ist two times contain the song with the accompaniment, ise re rie sralvad arate (ee ter tae aren ae Heda eer a * A drum is sed to begin each exercise and to help you keep time, NIE Pu ae eonTaE AST Details on how to purchase the recording can be found on the inside front cover. teacher to help you tune your guitar. cited sLesson 1 How to Sit and Hold the Guitar Parts of the Guitar Fee a Sea ans 2. Cross your legs, and place ae leg, as shown in the picture a ere ae aaa position,Right Hand Using the Pick 1. The right hand i used to play the strings by them with a pick, A pick ee sha like a triangle. 2. Hold the pick lightly between your thumb and first 4, When you are playing a note support your hand by placing your second and third fingers on the body of the guitar. 5. Pick the strings over the sound hole. This makes the bes The pick is also used to play groups of notes called chords. Left Hand Fingering the Notes ‘The left hand fingers are used to hold down the strings on the fretboard. Each finger of the left hand > isgivena number, + To hold down a note with your lft hand, place your fingertip just behind a fet. kaae Re Ist fret >) Suitar Fingering Diagram Guitar Fingering gram nut + To: ee to play a note, we use a pu cng diagram, a strings of the guitar are given numbers. The thinnest string is called the first 2nd fret—>=! “thickest string is called the sixth thickest string | 3rd fret—> x oe The Open G String ‘An open ring isa sing which payed without wn the open third string you are playing a G note. id the pick in your right hand. Pluck the third string over the sound hole with a downward motion of your pick. You are now playing the note G, Play four G notes. Remember to play dowm fingering diagram. Because itis ‘on an open string, the letter G is written above the nut in a circ ie When you play Hol The note Gisshown on the guitar strings Use the tip ofthe pick to play the string. ick sthingMusic Notes There are only seven letters used for notes in music. They are: ss i The Staff The Treble Clef These five line ae called the staff or stave. Ths symbol is called a treble clef, 1 ee There is a treble clef at the beginning of every line of guitar music, ae The Quarter Note This is a musical note called a quarter note Sometimes called a crotchet. Music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the staff. <— Fifth fine <— Fourth line MI , lineThe Note G iy, Tita Grote Them |: Gye ‘is placed on ‘secone = line ofthe staf. To play the note G, pick i ‘the open third string, ‘Music is divided into bars by bar lines. In your first song, G for Giraffe, there are two bars of music, There are four G notes in each bar. As you play the notes in each bar, count 1 2 3 4 aloud. Remember to pick downwards. A downward pick is shown below the notes by a V . In this book all notes are played with a downward pick movement. 1<—* G for Giraffe On the recording there are four drumbeats to introduce this song. I 1 Bar 1 Bar Bar gi jar tine ¥The Four Four Time Signature ( 4 ) They are placed after the treble clef The ¢ time signature tells you there are four counts in each bar. AB) a ie ‘These two numbers are called the four four time signature. 2< > For Four Giraffes Here are four bars of the note Gin £ time. Count aloud as you play. On the recording there are four drumbeats to introduce songs in 4 time. a ope ft os te Cotmnte eee 2S de ete se en) Te 2") 3004 eal Pick: VOM ALY So Vill Ve VGN 2 vay, View) Things to Remember L.Sit up straight. 2.Keep the guitar upright. 3.Count aloud as you play the notes. 4. Use a downward pick motion.. 5. Support your right hand.Lesson 2 The Note A A note This is an A note. The note Ais placed in the second Space of the staff. je SET. Whenablack dotis writen ona guitar fingering diagram, ite you the postion ) of the note and where to place your left hand finger. i Place your finger just behind the fret. Do not place your finger on the fret, Besure to press down hard, and use the tip of your finger. I you do no do this, the string will make a buzzing noise. *))) © The A Train This song contains four bars of A notes. Cm: 1 2 3 4 1 2 1-2 ae 2 3: 4— Going GA-GA This song contains both A and G notes." 5 <> Giraffes and Ants Cont 10 2 3-4 4 aa ae a3 aero oN eae ea Ce ee ee ee not need to move your finger The Half Note Ghee ee —— This is a half note. Sometimes S : called a minim. It lasts for two a counts. There are only two half notes in one bar of { time. Count 1 2 _ 6 Half Time g( This So Sas ba fal oes tate Cae a Da Scat ee eae Vita, v v . gnu and yuto pay ee, Tes anes 2 eye 7 = Picnic Ants hold it until the next note. This song uses a mixture of half notes aid quarter notes. Because of the 4 time signature, there, cf lore Canes EN a aThe Note B B not ThisisaBnote The note B | Toplay thenoteB, pick the - ee ‘open second string. B Happy ofthe sai. == See Count: 1 2 3 4 Pick: v v 9 —= Johnny B ‘These two dots are called a repeat sign. This means that song again fromB Th eer tg ee ene mm encore ca Ds cone vin Gem on ie 11 —* In the Light of A Mack boring on the hd ine ofthe ical hal G 12 => Merrily a Traditional So ee ee ‘numbers. They are used to count. 3 bars. G s by 4 Mer-ri-ly we roll a-long, roll. along, roll a long. G D G = . 7 * Mer-ri- ly we roll a-long © = ver deep blue seas. 13 —* Hot Cross Buns Traditional \ \~ 4 ;Lesson 4 The Note C € note This is a C note. The note : C is placed in the third 14 = Cool Cats space of the staff. Dr br Dr Cont: 1236 1 2 3 15 <= Easy to C G The note C usually has the stem going downwards. Stem The stem for the note can go up down.The Common Time Signature (C ) ‘This symbol i called common time. It means exactly the same as | 16 —*C the Circus | | cc T When tis) cir - cus comes tw town, wo. all wil ging, oa) opt c G@ ic = ‘when the cir - cus comes 2 “Oo 17 —*C Horse ‘Things to Remember G D Dr G 1. Place your fingertips just behind the frets, not on top of them. 2. Count aloud as you play the notes. 3, Learn each note and try to think of its name as you play it. babe over the soundPlay the D note with the thir finger of your ket just behind the third a D note. The note nd a of the second string. is placed on the fourth line of the staff 18 —D-licious G D (County le ayer 3 ee aera 4 ike sayenee 19 —* Mary Had a Little Lamb ‘Traditional iG D G 7 7 lit - le lamb, lit - le lamb. Dr ai lit - le lamb, G T Ma-ry had a G20 —* Go Tell Aunt Nancy Traditional G G D 7 tell Aunt Nan - cy, g0 tell Aunt Nan - cy, G G 6 g0 tell Aunt Nan * gone. = cy, the old grey goose is te 21 <* Oats and Beans Traditional Is oa A If 1 yao ee not, ask your teacher to tune im Aiacat i tating wear youre a fees covey 3. Pick downwards,Lesson 6 The G Chord A chord is a group of notes that are ff played together. The first chord you will learn to is the G Major chord, usually called the G chord, Chords are wniten on chord dagrans © Place your left hand finger just » behind the et shown bythe back » dot The number in the dot tells you which finger to use. "hscmiee’ ee tree If there is no dot ona string, you ngs sags play it as an open string. oe a ae Toplay the G chord, play al thre strings atthe same time. Thi «.G chord diagram above tells ou called a strum, A downward strum which lasts for one count is | toplace the third finger of your lft shown below the chord symbol by a \f hhand just behind the third fret of the : first string, Do not play any strings 22 <—2G Wiz which are shown as a broken line. G iG G e Ny tym VV VV VV Vv VV V (. ie ( @ (Comutent) v2ig 3) calcoel) wai S00 4 La 3) In this book you will always strum chords downwards. In four bars of G chords. Strum i h= BE The D Seventh Chord (D7) To play the D7 chord, you must use three ie of your left hand and strum four strings. Chords are used to play along with someone who is singing or playing the notes of ‘a song. * A » yo-7our 2 i 4321) 23~©D-Tour . : we ee ee tteseeyren ta feert eta using downward strums, Count aloud as oe oe ee you play. Try to strum a litte bit louder every time you count the number one. This will ' strings. strings. help you keep time, | = Dr Db Dy ~ Vo OV VY ¥ ViovOny VO Vi vi Avi ey ®) ae omit 2 3, 4 1,3, 3,49. 1, cees) Aen) 6 a 24 <*The Wonky Donkey In this song play only two strums in each bar. Strum when you count one and when Adownwardstrum which lasts you count three for two counts is shown below Dr D Dr Dr the chord symbol by a é Commit 1sStrumming Chords So far you have learnt two different of strums, The first strum ( \ ) lasts for one count, and the second ('\’) lasts for poo In the next songs you will need to use both of these strums. Follow the count very carefully. 25 -* Strumming G’s ; G a 7 7 ‘ light -ly row, a - cross the roll-ing waveswe go. Light-ly row, G Dr G Dr G = 6 7 . Light -ly row, Tight -ly row, a - way from shore we lide.u Lesson 8 z The Three Four Time Signature (2) The time signature tells you there are three counts in each bar. 33 —* First Waltz v es ene recon ter ae tree drunbea’ onto songs inte ” ¢ s v bi v G Strum: VooVO OV vDots he Dotted Half Note A ee after a half note means that you hold the note for three counts. This note is called a dotted half note or dotted minim, One dotted half note makes one bar of music Count 1 23 in}lime. 5 Gi i 35 <* Girls and Bor (Chass mt to Bey Traditional Dee ey are pale for Girls and Boys Come Out to Play and the songs on the next two pages. V. Count 1 23 nh ng le iy. The Dotted Strum A dot placed after a two count strum means that the strum lasts for three counts, which is one bar of music in 2 time, = 3 counts Count 1 23 me% Things to Remember 1. Listen to the recording to hear if you are playing the jieomed 2 Sap your and su iy the notes. 3, Count aloud as you strum, and ‘chords in time. see cee a ae oe a inate music, not your guitar. 3 7 © Lit - tle Bo Peep has lost her sheep and does - n't know<> Austrian Waltz G 8 ~~ Boating Song Jacques Offenbach”—— wz Lesson 9 = The Tie —Z aa Atiisacuveditethat conned to ns withthe Count: 123 aor is 6 Pick the G note and hold it for six counts. 39 —> Bow Tie Strum Pattern G G Dr tie D Count: 123 40 <> The Rower’s Waltz — Strum Patterni a” | 41 -* C Four Camels In this song play four bars of the C chord. c ol Strum: VV VV VV OV OV The C Chord To play the C chord, put the first lager of ou ef ha just behind first fret of the second stri anni dal é CmerR | { ! c vv is)0 44 <> Three Chord Strum q ol Strum: VV W Wave 45 —* Beautiful Brown Eyes Strum Pattern ‘This songs in $time and uses the thre chords you have learnt so fer, There i also ate between bars 15 and 16 Dre G c ic) G 6 7 7 5 5 « 7 pemte tease fel! rowan “eyes, © beami-d - fl teas fal brown D G G G ic ci > w at B ro i eae etic) eyes, Sl ( nc - ver love, bio cyes a - gain———.m Lesson 10 The G7 Chord To play the Gr chord, first finger of your left string. Strum three strings, 46 —* Seven Green Grasshoppers G G@ Gr Strum: VV vVvvv v < Ee tee 47 => Four Chord Strum 22> a ay Gh ay G Strum: VV ¥ vv Gveww vy 48 <> Aura Lee Strum Pattern |’ Traditional c D a: Latzisai}: bie ” 7 > 7 ‘As the black-bird in the spring, “neath the willow tree, 7 Dr G@ ic 7 € 7 * sat and piped I heard him sing, sing of Au-ra Lee.2 49 —> Roses from the South Sidon etter (asp Sonann) StrausLesson 11 The Lead-In eon eaten on tft brat oar Any ne wich come forthe ial brane ed Sangin nan ean abo woop Theanine an ce (pik pt een yout pings donot sumthin notes 50 —* The Cuckoo _ Strum Pattern ‘On the recording there are five drumbeats to introduce this song. = Lead - in note Traditional G G o G + * = ten 2 = « pene web epee ees i ede eto. 2 G G D + 51 ~~ The Mexican Hat Dance St Traditional On the recording there are five drumbeats to introduce this song. ic c c @ c qo === @ 5 v og G G G G @ G ic ic Le f eS isLesson 12 The Quarter Rest This symbol is called a quarter rest. Sometimes called a crotchet rest. It Do not play any note. Small countin; Geen 5 numbers are placed underneath rests. Ifa rest comes after you have playe ae Count: 1 4 note, you must stop the note sounding. To do this lift your finger off the fret but keep it lightly touching the string. WW vv 52 <> Silence Is Golden Strum Pattern [1 > 3 « In this song, lift your finger off the D note atthe start of the second count. This will give you thee counts of silence, G G Dr G Count: vt 2 3 4 1 2 2 4 2 3 53.22 Take a Rest — Strum Pattern |! o 234 c b G c = « (Gondola BY ae ihe 2 Se 1 54 <> Good Evening Friends D Dr “a5 => When the Saints Go Marchin’ In_ Traditional Strum Pattern [\) the recording there are five drumbeats to introduce this song. L1_2_3_4 Do not begin summing until after the lead-in notes. G G G 7 Count: eats ' y234 1 O when the Saints ‘g0 march-in’ G G oF 7 © when the Saints go march - in’ in, 2 mal S Things to Remember 1. Listen to the recording to hear if you are playing the rests Dr close to the strings as possible. 3 Rey conan Coat 4, Pick downwards, not. 5, Hola the pick lightly, 6. Look at the music, not your guitar.36 Count: 1 234 56 <=> Whole Lot G 2 Count: 1 3 57 = The Banks of the Ohio ‘On the recording there are five drumbeats to introduce this song G Dr Count: | 1 askedmy love Strum Pattern G 4 The Whole Note Thisisa whole note, Sometimes called a semibreve, it ss for four counts, There is one whole note in one bar of § time. 1 a vv Leas di: 1 Dr 2 Strum Pattern Count: 1 3 iv Vv 1234 ‘TraditionalStrum Patterns 4 Time VVVV mie iii vie Notes and Rests