Peter Edvinsson asked:




In this guitar lesson you will see that you can easily learn to play melodies on your guitar with tab notation! I will show you how to read tablature and also how to play the Christmas song Silent Night.

First we will take a look at a guitar tablature staff:

1. —————-

2. —————-

3. —————-

4. —————-

5. —————-

6. —————-

In this tab staff we have six lines that represent the six strings on your guitar. The top line represents the first string. That is the thinnest string or the string with the highest pitch. It is called E.

When you look at a guitar tablature staff you will find numbers on it. These numbers tell you which frets to press down. Let’s look at an example:

1. ———–

2. —1—0—

3. ———–

4. ———–

5. ———–

6. ———–

The number one on the second line tells you to press down a finger on the first fret on the second string and play the note. This note is a C. The number O represents an open string. This means that you should play the second string without pressing down a finger. The note is called B.

Now it’s time to play the first part of the melody with lyrics and corresponding guitar tab notation. We will play the song in the key of C-major:

Silent Night, silent night

1. ————————————–

2. ————————————–

3. —0—2—0———-0—2—0——-

4. —————2——————2—

5. ————————————–

6. ————————————–

If you want to use a professional approach for your left hand fingerings you can use your index finger to press down the first fret, the middle finger for the second fret and your ring finger for the third fret.

Time for the next guitar tabs:

All is calm, all is bright

1. —————————

2. —3—3—0—1—1——-

3. ———————–0—

4. —————————

5. —————————

6. —————————

The left hand fingerings I mentioned might be a little bit tricky when you first try it but if you are patient you will soon reap the benefits from this way of playing.

It will be easier to keep your left hand from moving too much which will make it much easier to play advanced melodies on your guitar and you will not have to look at the fretboard all the time to find your way around as your left hand fingers will take care of the assigned frets.

Here are the next part:

Round yon virgin Mother and Child

1. —————————————

2. ———–1—0———————–

3. —2—2———–2—0—2—0——-

4. ———————————–2—

5. —————————————

6. —————————————

The melody is repeated with the next lyrics:

Holy infant so tender and mild

1. —————————————

2. ———–1—0———————–

3. —2—2———–2—0—2—0——-

4. ———————————–2—

5. —————————————

6. —————————————

We have not taken the length of the notes into account in this guitar tablature notation. If you sing or hum the melody you will probably find out how to play the notes.

Here are the next line:

Sleep in heavenly peace

1. ———–1—————0—

2. —3—3——-3—0—1——-

3. ——————————-

4. ——————————-

5. ——————————-

6. ——————————-

…and the last tab:

Sleep in heavenly peace

1. ——————————-

2. —1—————————

3. ——-0——-0—————

4. ———–2——-3—0——-

5. —————————3—

6. ——————————-

Now you have learned to play guitar tablature and also one of the most popular Christmas songs! I would suggest that you practice one line at a time learning it by heart until you master the whole song.

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Jewel Rosenberg asked:




Knowing how to read guitar tabs is as important as your fretting exercises. For beginners, it will look complex but to be able to learn to play guitar it is necessary to understand tabs. Some may comment that this is not significant but expert guitarists and those who are serious about their career view reading tabs a very essential part of music. It may sound difficult but don’t worry because in due time you will learn to play guitar effortlessly and thanks to many online contributors there are now varying forms available to learn how to study tablature the easiest way. So here are some concepts to take note in understanding the guitar tablature.

The staff of the guitar tab is composed of six horizontal lines where the bottom line is represented by lowest “E” and the next to the bottom is the “A” string. There are also number representations in each line which tells you what tab to fret. An example is the number “0″ meaning you should play an open string. Now, this is only the basic of reading guitar tab.

When a guitar tab is showing vertically stacked numbers, this means that all the notes should be played at once or in guitarist term strung all the strings at the same time. But when the notes are shown diagonally, chords will be played one at a time or strung the string individually. Usually, a chord name is also shown in the tab to identify it easily.

There also a few symbols that you will notice on a guitar tablature. Here are the most common ones that you should be familiar of. The “h” symbol meaning hammer on, “p” for full off or the “^” symbol which means you can either hammer on or pull off. Another set of symbols are “b” for bent to, “r” for return of bent. A “/” symbol is for an ascending slide while “” means descending slide. Some other miscellaneous signs include “v” for vibrato but it can also be noted as “~” or “~~~”. String mute is noted as “x”. The “t” meant tapping with right hand. Lastly, the symbols “” are used for harmonics.

These are only the basic concepts of reading a tablature. In order to learn to play guitar, you must know these and apply in your guitar lessons. As mentioned above, serious guitarists do not take reading guitar tablature for granted.

By doing so, you do not only enhance your guitar skills but you will also be able write notes.

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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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Jess. asked:


i can play guitar when reading tab but i have to teach myself standard notation. i already play a few instruments so i can read music fine, so that learning curve is over, but i cant read off standard notation on guitar.
does anybody know any websites with a tutorial?
thanks x

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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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cleo.clem asked:


I have only been having lessons for a year, and I have learnt to read notes and play basic chords, and do the 3 scales. But I am thinking of quitting guitar lessons and learning the rest by myself. Would that be wise? And also, would I be able to learn guitar tab and chord progressions on my own? Where do I go from here?

learn to play guitar

Peter Edvinsson asked:




Turnarounds are chord progressions with the last chord taking you back to the first chord thus making it possible to play these progressions over and over again as an intro to a song, an ending or between verses. Here are some nice sounding but easy turnarounds for you!

In order not to mess up the layout with the guitar tab staff I will not include left hand fingerings but I suggest that you choose left hand fingers carefully so you don’t get into trouble!

However, in order to learn to play these guitar chord progressions as intended I will say something about your right hand fingerings.

When you play these progressions on your guitar I suggest that you play the bass notes with your thumb and the first three guitar strings with you first finger, middle finger and ring finger.

Of course you can use a pick if you **** picking with you right hand fingers. If you strum the chords you will have to mute unused strings with your left hand fingers or otherwise you can pluck the strings with your pick using different patterns.

The first chord progression includes the guitar chords A F#m7 Bm11 and E7. You can use any right hand pattern you like as you play the chords.

1. —0—0—0—0—

2. —2—2—3—3—

3. —2—2—2—1—

4. ——————-

5. —0——-2——-

6. ——-2——-0—

Our second turnaround consists of the guitar chords Amaj7, F#7, Bm11 and E7. When you learn to play these turnarounds I strongly suggest that you follow my advice above about left hand fingerings.

When you have found the most effective fingerings for the guitar chords it is important that you stick to the fingerings so that you can learn the progressions by heart and be able to move between chords fluently.

1. —0—0—0—0—

2. —2—2—3—3—

3. —1—3—2—1—

4. ——————-

5. —0——-2——-

6. ——-2——-0—

Turnaround number three is a bit harder to play, at least the last chord which requires a bit of stretching. The chords are A, F#7+, Bm11 and Bb7add+11.

Try to move your fingers as little as possible when changing chords. To keep the fingers close to the fretboard will help you change chords smoothly. Here is the guitar tab:

1. —0—0—0—0—

2. —2—3—3—3—

3. —2—3—2—1—

4. ——————-

5. —0——-2—1—

6. ——-2———–

The last guitar tab turnaround consists of the chords Aadd9, C9, Fmaj and Bb9+11.

The most difficult and most important thing when playing chord progressions on your guitar isn’t to hold a chord but to change between chords.

To practice really effectively you can choose two consecutive chords and practice changing between them in a slow tempo.

1. —0—0—0—0—

2. —2—3—1—1—

3. —4—3—2—1—

4. ———–3——-

5. —0—3——-1—

6. ——————-

Now you can play four guitar progressions that of course can be mixed. You can replace the second chord in a progression with a second chord from another progression and so on.

I will end this learn to play guitar article by showing you a right hand pattern you can use with the chords. Use the pattern once for every chord in the progression. The thumb will of course be on different bass strings depending on the chord.

1. —a—a—

2. —m—m—

3. —i—i—

4. ———–

5. —p——-

6. ———–

There are many common turnarounds that are used frequently in pop songs like the old pop song Diana, Last Christmas and many more. To practice the common progression C, Am, Dm, G7 in different keys is a good way to learn how chords are related and also a good way to practice the art of changing between chords in a smooth way.

learn to play guitar

Peter Edvinsson asked:




Turnarounds are chord progressions with the last chord taking you back to the first chord thus making it possible to play these progressions over and over again as an intro to a song, an ending or between verses. Here are some nice sounding but easy turnarounds for you!

In order not to mess up the layout with the guitar tab staff I will not include left hand fingerings but I suggest that you choose left hand fingers carefully so you don’t get into trouble!

However, in order to learn to play these guitar chord progressions as intended I will say something about your right hand fingerings.

When you play these progressions on your guitar I suggest that you play the bass notes with your thumb and the first three guitar strings with you first finger, middle finger and ring finger.

Of course you can use a pick if you **** picking with you right hand fingers. If you strum the chords you will have to mute unused strings with your left hand fingers or otherwise you can pluck the strings with your pick using different patterns.

The first chord progression includes the guitar chords A F#m7 Bm11 and E7. You can use any right hand pattern you like as you play the chords.

1. —0—0—0—0— 2. —2—2—3—3— 3. —2—2—2—1— 4. ——————- 5. —0——-2——- 6. ——-2——-0—

Our second turnaround consists of the guitar chords Amaj7, F#7, Bm11 and E7. When you learn to play these turnarounds I strongly suggest that you follow my advice above about left hand fingerings.

When you have found the most effective fingerings for the guitar chords it is important that you stick to the fingerings so that you can learn the progressions by heart and be able to move between chords fluently.

1. —0—0—0—0— 2. —2—2—3—3— 3. —1—3—2—1— 4. ——————- 5. —0——-2——- 6. ——-2——-0—

Turnaround number three is a bit harder to play, at least the last chord which requires a bit of stretching. The chords are A, F#7+, Bm11 and Bb7add+11.

Try to move your fingers as little as possible when changing chords. To keep the fingers close to the fretboard will help you change chords smoothly. Here is the guitar tab:

1. —0—0—0—0— 2. —2—3—3—3— 3. —2—3—2—1— 4. ——————- 5. —0——-2—1— 6. ——-2———–

The last guitar tab turnaround consists of the chords Aadd9, C9, Fmaj and Bb9+11.

The most difficult and most important thing when playing chord progressions on your guitar isn’t to hold a chord but to change between chords.

To practice really effectively you can choose two consecutive chords and practice changing between them in a slow tempo.

1. —0—0—0—0— 2. —2—3—1—1— 3. —4—3—2—1— 4. ———–3——- 5. —0—3——-1— 6. ——————-

Now you can play four guitar progressions that of course can be mixed. You can replace the second chord in a progression with a second chord from another progression and so on.

I will end this learn to play guitar article by showing you a right hand pattern you can use with the chords. Use the pattern once for every chord in the progression. The thumb will of course be on different bass strings depending on the chord.

1. —a—a— 2. —m—m— 3. —i—i— 4. ———– 5. —p——- 6. ———–

There are many common turnarounds that are used frequently in pop songs like the old pop song Diana, Last Christmas and many more. To practice the common progression C, Am, Dm, G7 in different keys is a good way to learn how chords are related and also a good way to practice the art of changing between chords in a smooth way.



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