Peter Edvinsson asked:




With the help of guitar tab notation it is easy to play melodies on your guitar. In this guitar lesson we will play The Star-Spangled Banner.

Guitar tablature is a way to notate how you put your fingers on the fretboard in order to play a song or something else.

I use my own form of guitar tab notation in articles like this one to be sure that the tabs are readable on article sites. You can find the more common guitar tab staff notation on my site with guitar tablature and free sheet music.

The string with the highest pitch on your guitar is usually an E and is called the first string. This is the string nearest your feet when you play. Here is an example of the guitar tab notation i mentioned:

3/2

The first number indicates the fret. The second number tells you which string to play. The previous example tells you to press down a finger on the third fret of the second string and play the note.

You will play The Star-Spangled Banner in the key of C-major. Here is the first part of the melody in guitar tab notation:

0/3 2/4 3/5 2/4 0/3 1/2 0/1 3/2 1/2 2/4 4/4 0/3 0/3 0/1 3/2 1/2 0/2 2/3 0/2 1/2 1/2 0/3 2/4 3/5

This part is now repeated once.

Which left hand fingers should you use to play the melody?

You can of course use your first finger for all the notes but the best way to use your left hand fingers is to play the notes on the first fret with your first finger, the notes on the second fret with your middle finger and the notes on the third fret with your ring finger.

Here comes the next guitar tabs:

0/1 0/1 1/1 3/1 3/1 1/1 0/1 3/2 0/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/1 3/3 1/2 0/2 2/3 0/2 1/2 2/4 4/4 0/3

It might be difficult at first to use your lefthand fingers the way I described but if you use these fingerings it will actually be easier for you to find the right notes on your guitar. You don’t even have to look at your fingers to find the right fret if you get used to this way of playing.

It’s time for the next part of the melody with guitar tab:

0/3 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/2 2/3 2/3 2/3 3/2 1/1 0/1 3/2 1/2 1/2 0/2

The length of the notes is not indicated with this type of guitar tab notation. I guess you will find out how to play the notes by your self if you sing the melody. On my site I often use guitar tab notation with common guitar sheet notation which indicates the length of the notes.

0/3 1/2 3/2 0/1 1/1 3/1 1/2 3/2 0/1 1/1 3/2 1/2

Now you have tested to play The Star-Spangled Banner with guitar tab notation. I would suggest that you learn the melody by heart by playing one line at a time until you know the whole song!

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Peter Edvinsson asked:




Flamenco guitar is an art that it is hard to master. But is it possible to play a flamenco guitar melody that is easy to learn for a beginner. Come and see!

Flamenco is a song, music and dance style which has its roots in Moorish and Jewish musical traditions.

Flamenco culture has become one of the icons of Spanish music and even Spanish culture in general.

The flamenco guitar comes from the lute and is made of Spanish cypress and spruce and is smaller than a classical guitar with a sharper sound.

Malaguena is a flamenco style with its roots in the local fandango of Malaga.

You will not need to read sheet music to play this flamenco guitar piece. We will instead use guitar tablature. You will only use four strings on the guitar.

The string with the highest pitch is called the first string or E-string. Look at the following guitar tab with four strings indicated:

1. ————————-

2. ———0———–0—

3. —–1———–1——-

4. -2———–2———–

This is a tablature staff and the number 2 on the fourth string indicate that you play the fourth string while pressing down the second fret.

The next note is played on the first fret on the third string. The zero indicate that you play the note without pressing down any fret.

Play the melody with your thumb and with your first finger resting on the first string for later use.

Here is the next guitar tablature part:

1. ————————-

2. —–1—0—————

3. -2———–2—0——-

4. ———————3—

After the last note on the third fret on the fourth string you just start over again with the first guitar tab staff.

Now it is time to introduce your first finger on your right hand into the melody. After every note you play with your thumb you just have to pluck the first string with your first finger. In guitar tab it looks like this:

1. —–0——-0——

2. —————–0–

3. ———1———-

4. -2——————

And so on for the rest of the melody!

I hope you will find this very simplified flamenco guitar tab melody enjoyable. I guess many people will recognize the melody when they hear you play it.

Flamenco guitar playing is of course an art that is hard to master but this little flamenco piece doesn’t sound so bad. Does it!

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Peter Edvinsson asked:




There are many ways to notate music on the guitar. You can use sheet music easy to understand when you have learned to read sheet music. To learn to read sheet music on the guitar is however not so easy for many students.

What different ways are there to notate guitar melodies?

1. You can use guitar sheet music. The advantage is that it is universal, meaning that other instrumentalists will understand the notation.

2. You can use guitar tablature. A tablature staff consists of six lines representing the six strings on a guitar. Number on the lines indicate what fret to press down. Guitar tablature is very common on the net and is a widely used.

3. Use another system.

4. Describe with words how to play the melody on the guitar.

In this article I will use an easy system that doesn’t need a staff and I will also describe how to play the melody on the guitar with words. We will learn to play the melody Happy Birthday To You.

How to read the guitar notation

The first number tells you what fret to press down. The second number what string to play on. An example:

1/2

This means, press down the first fret on the second string.

Let’s play Happy Birthday To You. We can divide the song into four parts:

1. Start by playing the open third string twice. When you play a string without pressing down a fret is called to play an open string. Then you press down the second fret on the third string and the open third string. Play the first fret of the second string and the open second string. It will look like this:

0/3 0/3 2/3 0/3 1/2 0/2

2. Play the open third string twice. Play the second fret on the third string and the open third string. Play the third fret of the second string and the first fret on the second string. It will look like this:

0/3 0/3 2/3 0/3 3/2 1/2

3. Play the open third string twice. The third fret on the first string and the open first string. The first fret string two and open second string. Second fret on the third string. It will look like this:

0/3 0/3 3/1 0/1 1/2 0/2 2/3

4. We finish the song by playing the first fret first string twice. Open first string and first fret second string. Third fret second string and first fret second string.

1/1 1/1 0/1 1/2 3/2 1/2

Learning to play the song Happy Birthday To You on guitar is a good investment. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “Happy Birthday to You” is among the top three most popular songs in the English language.



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Peter Edvinsson asked:




To learn to play guitar is difficult and easy at the same time. The guitar is a fascinating instrument. It is very difficult to master in some areas but you will also find wells of easy to play but nice sounding treasures among the strings.

In this learn to play guitar article I will give some examples of easy to play guitar chords and progressions. I will use guitar tab to help you find the notes on your guitar.

In this article i will only use the first four strings on the guitar. In the guitar tab staff notation I will also use only the first four lines. The first string is the thinnest string on the guitar or the E-string.

The first guitar tab progression will be in the key of D. The chords of the progression is Dmaj7 and Em7. Here is the guitar tab:

1. –2—0— 2. –2—0— 3. –2—0— 4. –0—0—

The guitar chord progression above can be used as a little intro in a song in the key of D. It can also end a song or be used as a break between verses in a song. You can repeat the progression to make it last longer.

The next example will use the first chord and a Gm6 as the second chord. This little passage can also be used as an intro in a song if you like it:

1. –2—0— 2. –2—3— 3. –2—3— 4. –0—0—

The following example will use just one chord, the D chord and it will be moved two frets up. When you move the chord up it will not be D anymore. It will change into a E7 or if you want E/D. This means that you play an E-chord with the note D as a bass note.

The chords in this guitar chord progression will be D and E7. Try it!

1. –2—4— 2. –3—5— 3. –2—4— 4. –0—0—

When you move the chord up the two frets you don’t need to lift you left hand fingers. Just release the pressure of your left hand fingers a bit and slide up to the new position.

This method of sliding to new positions can be used when you change between chords. Many times you can keep one or more of your fingers on your fingerboard and slide when you change to new chords. This will make it easier to find the chord and will speed up the chord change.

Our last little guitar chord progression will use the same progression with just a different way to play the E7 chord.

Remember that all these chord progressions can be repeated over and over as intros or something else in the key of D on your guitar.

1. –2—0— 2. –3—0— 3. –2—1— 4. –0—0—

Observe that you can slide with you first finger that you hoopefully have pressed down on the second fret of the third string when you play D. When you change to the second chord you can slide to the first fret.

The above progressions use the open D-string as a fundament so to speak and this bass note creates an illusion of peace in the chord progressions. In tonal music this bass note is called a pedal point.

If you like finger picking on your guitar I will give you a pattern that can be used with these chords. I will use the common classical guitar symbols for the right hand fingers. P denotes the thumb, i the first finger, m the middle finger and a the ring finger.

1. –a———–a— 2. ———-m——- 3. ——i———– 4. –p—————

I hope you will find this little learn to play guitar lesson helpful. There are a lot of chord progressions that sounds nice but are very easy to play. In other words, I will be back!



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Peter Edvinsson asked:




You don’t need to know guitar sheet music to learn to play guitar melodies. Let’s learn Morning Has Broken with guitar tab!

“Morning Has Broken” is a Christian hymn. Cat Stevens has recorded a popular version of the song.

Here is the first verse:

Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the world

As I mentioned we will not use guitar sheet music notation. Many people find it hard to read sheet music on guitar.

In order to learn to play guitar melodies we will use another notation system called tablature.

Tablature or guitar tab is a form of musical notation, often with numbers and letters, which will tell you where to place your fingers on the guitar fretboard in order to play a melody.

In this article I will use a type of guitar tab notation with numbers only. The more common guitar tab staff notation you will find on my site.

Lets take a look at your guitar!

The six strings on your guitar is numbered from the one with the highest pitch. This string is called the first string.

In order for me to tell you how to play the melody on your guitar I will write down which fret to press down with your left hand and which string to play.

If I write 31 it means that you are to press down the third fret on the first string. The first number indicates the fret to press down and the next number the string.

01 means: play the first open string. This means that you play the first string without pressing down a fret.

The first part of Morning Has Broken with guitar tab and lyrics looks like this:

Morning has broken, like the first morning

35 24 03 12 32 02 23 03 23 02 23 03

You will start with the note C here notated 35. That is, press down the third fret on the fift string.

In this type of guitar tab notation you will not have an indication as to the length of the notes. I suggest that you sing the lyrics in order to feel how the melody is to be played.

Let’s look at the next guitar tab:

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

35 04 24 03 23 03 24 35 04

In this guitar lesson we will not deal with how to play the strings with your right hand fingers. I suggest that you play the strings with you right hand thumb or some other way you choose.

The next guitar tab looks like this:

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

03 24 03 12 23 03 24 35 35 04

What about your left hand? You can play the notes with your index finger but I suggest that you assign the notes on the first fret to your index finger, the notes on the second fret to your middle finger and so on.

It might be a little bit difficult at first but in the long run you will find it easier to play melodies with these left hand fingerings if you are persistent!

Now we will continue with the next and last guitar tab:

Praise for the springing fresh from the world

24 04 24 03 23 04 24 04 35

I promised you that you could learn Morning Has Broken on your guitar without sheet music and now you have accomplished this and I have kept my promise. Congratulations!

It would have been nice to hear you play the melody but I guess it is not possible so play it for a friend!

I suggest that you memorize the melody one line at a time so that the reading of this guitar tab will not slow you down when you play the melody in public!



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Peter Edvinsson asked:




You don’t need to know guitar sheet music to learn to play guitar melodies. Let’s learn Morning Has Broken with guitar tab!

“Morning Has Broken” is a Christian hymn. Cat Stevens has recorded a popular version of the song.

Here is the first verse:

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world

As I mentioned we will not use guitar sheet music notation. Many people find it hard to read sheet music on guitar.

In order to learn to play guitar melodies we will use another notation system called tablature.

Tablature or guitar tab is a form of musical notation, often with numbers and letters, which will tell you where to place your fingers on the guitar fretboard in order to play a melody.

In this article I will use a type of guitar tab notation with numbers only. The more common guitar tab staff notation you will find on my site.

Lets take a look at your guitar!

The six strings on your guitar is numbered from the one with the highest pitch. This string is called the first string.

In order for me to tell you how to play the melody on your guitar I will write down which fret to press down with your left hand and which string to play.

If I write 31 it means that you are to press down the third fret on the first string. The first number indicates the fret to press down and the next number the string.

01 means: play the first open string. This means that you play the first string without pressing down a fret.

The first part of Morning Has Broken with guitar tab and lyrics looks like this:

Morning has broken, like the first morning

35 24 03 12 32 02 23 03 23 02 23 03

You will start with the note C here notated 35. That is, press down the third fret on the fift string.

In this type of guitar tab notation you will not have an indication as to the length of the notes. I suggest that you sing the lyrics in order to feel how the melody is to be played.

Let’s look at the next guitar tab:

Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

35 04 24 03 23 03 24 35 04

In this guitar lesson we will not deal with how to play the strings with your right hand fingers. I suggest that you play the strings with you right hand thumb or some other way you choose.

The next guitar tab looks like this:

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

03 24 03 12 23 03 24 35 35 04

What about your left hand? You can play the notes with your index finger but I suggest that you assign the notes on the first fret to your index finger, the notes on the second fret to your middle finger and so on.

It might be a little bit difficult at first but in the long run you will find it easier to play melodies with these left hand fingerings if you are persistent!

Now we will continue with the next and last guitar tab:

Praise for the springing fresh from the world

24 04 24 03 23 04 24 04 35

I promised you that you could learn Morning Has Broken on your guitar without sheet music and now you have accomplished this and I have kept my promise. Congratulations!

It would have been nice to hear you play the melody but I guess it is not possible so play it for a friend!

I suggest that you memorize the melody one line at a time so that the reading of this guitar tab will not slow you down when you play the melody in public!

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Peter Edvinsson asked:




To learn to play guitar is difficult and easy at the same time. The guitar is a fascinating instrument. It is very difficult to master in some areas but you will also find wells of easy to play but nice sounding treasures among the strings.

In this learn to play guitar article I will give some examples of easy to play guitar chords and progressions. I will use guitar tab to help you find the notes on your guitar.

In this article i will only use the first four strings on the guitar. In the guitar tab staff notation I will also use only the first four lines. The first string is the thinnest string on the guitar or the E-string.

The first guitar tab progression will be in the key of D. The chords of the progression is Dmaj7 and Em7. Here is the guitar tab:

1. –2—0—

2. –2—0—

3. –2—0—

4. –0—0—

The guitar chord progression above can be used as a little intro in a song in the key of D. It can also end a song or be used as a break between verses in a song. You can repeat the progression to make it last longer.

The next example will use the first chord and a Gm6 as the second chord. This little passage can also be used as an intro in a song if you like it:

1. –2—0—

2. –2—3—

3. –2—3—

4. –0—0—

The following example will use just one chord, the D chord and it will be moved two frets up. When you move the chord up it will not be D anymore. It will change into a E7 or if you want E/D. This means that you play an E-chord with the note D as a bass note.

The chords in this guitar chord progression will be D and E7. Try it!

1. –2—4—

2. –3—5—

3. –2—4—

4. –0—0—

When you move the chord up the two frets you don’t need to lift you left hand fingers. Just release the pressure of your left hand fingers a bit and slide up to the new position.

This method of sliding to new positions can be used when you change between chords. Many times you can keep one or more of your fingers on your fingerboard and slide when you change to new chords. This will make it easier to find the chord and will speed up the chord change.

Our last little guitar chord progression will use the same progression with just a different way to play the E7 chord.

Remember that all these chord progressions can be repeated over and over as intros or something else in the key of D on your guitar.

1. –2—0—

2. –3—0—

3. –2—1—

4. –0—0—

Observe that you can slide with you first finger that you hoopefully have pressed down on the second fret of the third string when you play D. When you change to the second chord you can slide to the first fret.

The above progressions use the open D-string as a fundament so to speak and this bass note creates an illusion of peace in the chord progressions. In tonal music this bass note is called a pedal point.

If you like finger picking on your guitar I will give you a pattern that can be used with these chords. I will use the common classical guitar symbols for the right hand fingers. P denotes the thumb, i the first finger, m the middle finger and a the ring finger.

1. –a———–a—

2. ———-m——-

3. ——i———–

4. –p—————

I hope you will find this little learn to play guitar lesson helpful. There are a lot of chord progressions that sounds nice but are very easy to play. In other words, I will be back!

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Peter Edvinsson asked:




Is it really possible to conquer the guitar fretboard? Do you find the notes you want to find? Is tabulature cheating? Let me invite you to the guitar fretboard!

I suggest that you right now start to take command over your guitar. Usually when you are playing your first guitar sheet music melodies you will have to learn the notes in the first position on the guitar. To have a good grasp of these notes on the guitar I suggest that you learn them slowly and with concentration.

I usually begin by teaching the notes on the first string like E on open string, F on fret 1 and G on fret 3. On string two you’ll find B on open string, C on fret 1 and D on fret 3. With these notes you can play the song Mary Had A Little Lamb.

Using the previous notes the melody can be played as follows:

E D C D E E E D D D E G G E D C D E E E E D D E D C

I hope you recognized the melody. This kind of music notation doesn’t give any hints as to how the rhythm is to be played but you already know the melody, right!

Is using tablature cheating? My father taught me some interesting things about learning to read guitar sheet music.

My dad was the only guitar tutor in the town where I lived and he taught mostly classical guitar pieces. His young students, I was one of them, learned those first guitar pieces very rapidly because he used a system similar to tablature showing the frets and strings to play, along with the sheet music. Tablature wasn’t common back then. I remember somebody remarking that his system prevented the children from learning to sight read sheet music.

His reply was that if somebody really wants to learn the notes they will anyway!

I agree with that and I have found that if a pupil is not motivated learning guitar sheet music they will not advance in this area whether they play with or without tablature.

Do you think your fingers has anything to do with guitar playing? I guess you’ll answer yes!

A more important question is if the fingers you choose to use can have a bearing upon your guitar playing. Left hand fingering means which finger you use when playing a specific note.

Usually when playing the first pieces on the guitar on the first frets one plays the notes on the first fret with the index finger, notes on the second fret with the middle finger, notes on the third fret with the ring finger and notes on the fourth fret with your little finger.

Why mess up everything with this fingering stuff? Isn’t it possible to play every melody with your left index finger and forget about fingerings?

Well, of course you can play melodies with your index finger but your progress will be very limited beyond just playing easy melodies.

Besides you’ll have to move your hand all the time as you change frets and, most importantly when reading sheet music, you’ll have to look at the guitar fretboard all the time instead of looking at the sheet music.

The important thing when learning to play the notes on the guitar is to make a conscious effort to learn the notes and not to work on too many notes at the same time.



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