Transcripts
1. Introduction: J, everyone. My name is Godfrey, and are you ready to turn your musical dreams
into reality? A beginner's guide to guitar is your first step into the
exciting world of music making. No experience required,
whether you've never held a guitar or you've dabbled a little and want to build
a solid foundation, this class is designed
to get you strumming, picking, and playing
real music in no time. In this fun, hands on course, you will learn the essentials
how to hold the guitar, tune it, play your first chords, and even start
playing simple songs. You will explore rhythm,
strumming patterns, and basic music theory
in a way that's easy to understand and
immediately rewarding. Along the way, you will discover
the joy of making music. Feeling your fingers come
alive on the fretboard, hearing the first
notes you create and realizing just how much
you are capable of. By the end of this class, you'll have the confidence
to keep playing, practicing, and maybe
even performing. Let's pick up the guitar, tune up, and start the journey. Your soundtrack begins here.
2. Parts of the giutar: Welcome, everyone. Before
we play our first chord, we need to learn the
parts of the guitar. Why? Because just
like knowing how to use a tool makes
you a better builder. Knowing your instrument helps you become a better musician. Every part of a
guitar has a purpose, and understanding how it all
fits together makes tuning, playing, and even
troubleshooting easier. This is the headstock located at the very
top of the guitar. On it, you will find
the tuning pegs. Also hold machine
heads or tuners. Each peg is connected
to a string, and turning it changes the
tension of that string, which changes the pitch. Tuning is one of
the most important daily habits for any guitarist. Even a great performance sounds off with an
untuned guitar. Let's try this. Everyone, pick one tuning peg and gently
turn it accordingly. Then block the string.
Hear the difference. That's how sensitive
tuning can be. And always remember, always tune up to the
note rather than down. It helps the tuning
stay more stable. Right here is the nut, a small strip made of
bone, plastic, or grapte. It guides the strings
down the neck and keeps them evenly spaced and elevated
at the correct height. If the nut is too
high or too low, your guitar becomes hard to play or sounds off
even when tuned. Think of the nut as the foundation of proper
string alignment. This long part is the neck. And on top of it is the
fret board or fingerboard. It's usually made of hardwood
like rosewood or maple. This is where you
place your fingers to make different notes. These are called frets. They divide the
fingerboard into sections, each representing a
half step in pitch. Why is this important? Every note you play is based on your position
on the fretboard. Pressing down behind
the fret shortens the vibrating length of the
string, raising the pitch. Try pressing a
string just behind the third fret and flap it
and also the open string. Here how it sounds different
from the open string. That's the magic
of the fretboard. This big part is the body. For acoustic guitars, it amplifies the sound
created by the strings, the wood type and body shape, like dreadnought, concert
or parlor affect the tone. On electric guitars,
there's no sound hole, but pickups inside
the body converts strings vibrations into
electrical signals that go to an amplifier. Try knocking lightly
on the body. Can you hear how
hollow it sounds? That's the resonance
chamber at work. This is the sound hole, and it's exactly
what it sounds like. A place for sound to escape. Vibrations from the strings bound inside the body
and are projected out, creating the volume you
hear why it matters. Without this, an acoustic guitar wouldn't be loud enough
to hear in a room. It's like a speaker built
into your instrument. This is the bridge, and it anchors the
strings to the body. The small piece sitting on top of the bridge is
called the saddle. The bridge transfers strings
vibrations into the body. The saddle controls the
height of the strings called action and affects how comfortable or easy
the guitar is to play. Look closely at
your strings here. Do they all line up
properly over the saddle? If not, it might affect
the tuning and tone. This flat plate is
the pick guard. It protects the body of
your guitar from getting scratched by your pick or
fingers when you strum. Not all guitars have one, especially classical or
Nylon string guitars. But for still string
players, it's a lifesaver. A standard guitar
has six strings, named from lowest or thickest to the highest or thinnest E A, G, B, and i E. A good memory trick is Eddie, dynamite, good by Eddy. Each string plays
a different role. Low E, A, T space or
foundation notes. G, P, and hi E is
melody and lead notes. Black each string one by one and say the
letter name out loud. This helps build memory
and pitch awareness. Let's do a quick review
from top to bottom. We have headstock,
tuners, knot, neck, frets, body, sound hole, bridge, saddle, and strings. Every one of these parts works together to create the sound
and feel of the guitar. Your guitar is more than
just food and strings. It's an instrument
of expression. And now you know how it all
works as we go forward, keep referring to these
parts when tuning, adjusting or learning
new techniques. Understanding your guitar is the first step to mastering it.
3. How to Play the Basic Chords: Alright. Now that you've learned
the parts of the guitar, it's time for one of the
most exciting steps. Playing your first chords. Chords are the building blocks of almost every song
you've ever heard. Once you learn just a few, you can already
start playing music. Let's dive in. Let's start
with the E minor chord. The easiest chord to play and one of the most
emotional in sound. How to play it. Put
your middle finger on the second fret
of the fifth string. Put your ring finger on the second fret of
the fourth string. Leave the other strings open. Strum all six strings. Try it out with me. Don't
worry if it buzzes, it's part of learning. If it hurts a
little, that's okay. Your fingertips will toughen
up with the practice. Next is G major, bright, happy, and
used in tons of songs. How to play it. Middle finger on the third fret of
the sixth string. Index finger on the second
fret of the fifth string. Ring finger on the third
fret of the first string. Optional. Add your pink key on the third fret of the second
string for a fuller sound. Strum all six strings. Try it with me. Move from
E minor to G a few times. It's okay to go slowly. We're building muscle memory. Now, let's try C major, a warm sounding chord used in countless balllads
and folk songs. How to play it. Ring finger on the third fret of
the fifth string. Middle finger on the second
fret of the fourth string. Index finger on the first
breath of the second string. Don't play the sixth string. Strum from the
fifth string down. Ark your fingers so they
don't mute the other strings. That's a common beginner issue. Ready for a fun one. Let's try the major, a bright and snappy chord. How to play it. Index finger on the second fat of
the third string. Bring finger on the third
fret of the second string. Middle finger on the second
fret of the first string. Don't play the sixth
or fifth strings. Strum from the
fourth string down. Take it slow, place each
finger carefully, then strum. Our last chord for
today is A major, a classic for rock, country, and blues.
How to play it. Place index, middle, and
ring fingers side by side on the second fret of
strings four, three and two. Leave the first and
fifth strings open. Don't play the sixth string. Strum for the fifth string down. You can also stack
your fingers or flatten one to cover
all three strings. But let's start with
this comfortable method. Now that you've learned
by basic chords, E minor, G, C, D, and A. You can already play
parts of songs. Okay, now, let's practice
switching between E minor, G, C, and D slowly together. Strum once per chord. Ready. He Great job today. Chords are the foundation
of guitar playing. The more you practice
switching between them, the smoother your transitions
will become. A quick tips. Try to practice just five to
10 minutes a day at first. Don't rush accuracy over speed. And remember, every
pro guitarist started right where you are. Next time, we will work on
strumming patterns and playing your first full song until then keep practicing
and have fun with it.
4. How to Play All the Major Chords: Welcome. Today we're going to explore the
seven major chords. You need to know to start
playing tons of songs. A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. These chords are the foundation of thousands of popular tunes. By the end of the session, you'll have seen
and tried each one. If you are new, don't worry about playing them
perfectly right away. Just focus on getting
your fingers in place and making a clean sound. A major. A major has a bright, full sound and is
commonly used in country, rock, and pop music. It also part of the key of A, which is great for open
chod songs, how to play it. Play index, middle,
and ring fingers on the second set of strings
four, three and two. Let the fifth and
first strings open. Avoid playing the sixth string, strum from fifth string down. By placing your fingers side
by side close to the fret, but not on top of it. Now strum slowly and listen. B major. B major isn't used
as often in open chord songs, but it's vital for playing in more advanced keys and bar
chord based progressions. You will hear it in ballads, funk, and jazz, how to play it. Borrow all strings on the second fret with
your index finger, place your ring finger on
fourth fret of fourth string. Pinky on fourth fret
of third string. At middle on fourth
fret on second string. Strum all six strings. These ones stop. B major is often the first
bar chord students learn. Don't worry if it
sounds a bit muted. You'll get stronger
with practice. C major. C major is one of the most important
chords in Western music. It's often the first chord
beginners learn and is used in countless folk pop and classical
songs. How to play it. Ring finger on third
fret of fifth string. Middle finger on second
fret on fourth string. Index on first spread
on second string. Strong from the
fifth string down. Make sure your fingers are so they don't accidentally
mute others strings. D major, D major is a sweet resonant chord used widely in acoustic
music, folk and ballads. It's perfect for
finger picking and melody driven songs.
How to play it. Index finger on second
fret of third string. Ring, finger on third
fret of second string. Middle finger on second
fret of first string. Strong from the
fourth string down. D major is perfect for
practicing pinger coordination. It's used in tons of
pop and folk songs. E major, E major is
one of the boldest and most commonly used chords
in rock, blues and metal. It's the root of
the Iki and gives a rich full sound when
strummed open. How to play it. Middle finger on second
fit of fifth string. Ring finger on second
fit of fourth string. Index finger on first
bread of third string, strum all six strings. This is one of the most
powerful sounding open chords and is favorable
in rock and blues. F major, F major is famously
tricky for beginners, but opens up access to tons of classic songs in the
key of F and B flat. It's essential for full
chord progressions and playing in multiple keys. How to play it. Bar all strings on the first spread
with your index finger. Middle finger on the second
fret of third string. Ring finger on third
fret of fifth string. Pink finger on third
fret of fourth string. Strum all six strings. This is one of the most
challenging cords for beginners. Keep working at it and your
hand strength will improve. G major, major is a
versatile up and sounding chord found in thousands of songs from country
to worship to rock. It pairs well with C, D, and E minor. How to play it. Middle finger on third
fret of sixth string. Index finger on second
fret of fifth string. Ring finger on third fret
of first string optional. Pinky finger on third fret of second string for a fuller G. Strum all six strings. G major is a friendly up and sounding chord that
blends well with C and D. Let's go over all the major chords
we've learned today. A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. That's the full
major chord family. I'll call all out a chord, and you form it. Let's try. C G, A, D, E, F and B. Again, C, G A, T E, F, and P. Take your time.
Remember, clean sound, good finger placement,
and patience. You've just taken a huge step, learning all the major
chords from A to G. These are the core building blocks behind thousands of
songs in every genre. Practice two to three
chord progressions daily. Try adding minor chords. For example, A minor, E minor, and D minor. And next, play along with simple songs using
two to three chords. Be patient with your fingers. They are learning
a new language. Keep practicing, and
soon these chords will feel like second
nature. Great job today.
5. How Play Leaving on a Jetplane using 3 Chords: Hey, and welcome. Today, we're learning a
classic and heartfelt song titled Living on a jet
plane by John Denver. This beautiful tune only
uses three easy chords. G C and D. It's perfect for beginners
and great for singing along. By the end of this session, you'll be able to strum
and sing the entire song. Let's start by reviewing the
records we'll be using G, C and D. G major, middle finger, third
fret, six string. Index finger, second fret, pip string, and ring finger, third fret, first string. Optional, pinky on third fret of second string
for fuller sound. Strum all six strings. Try strumming the chi
chord four times. Make sure it sounds clean. Okay, let's go to C major. C major, ring finger, third fret, fifth string. Middle finger, second fret, fourth string, and index finger, first fret, and second string. Strong from fifth string down. Let's try that four times. Focus on curling your fingers so they don't mute
other strings. Okay, let's go to D major. D major, index finger, second fret, third string. Middle finger, second
fret, first string. Ring finger, third fret,
and second string. Strum from fourth string down. Let's give D four
good strums together. Now, let's practice switching
through the cords in order G to C to D. D two
rounds of slow transitions, and always remember, watch
your hands and go slow. G, C, D, G, C T. Okay, let's add rhythm. A simple pattern that works
great with this song is down, down up, up down nap. Down down, up, up down nap. Down down n, up down k Start by playing this
pattern slowly on the G chord. Repeat on C and then D. Now, try using this pattern
while switching G to C to D to D. We'll do that
loop slowly together. Keep your wrist relaxed. It's okay if your
strumming isn't perfect. Focus on steady rhythm. Now let's go to the first verse. The chord progressions
stay simple. G C, G, C, repeated. Then ends with G C, D, D. Let's go to
the first verse. All my backs are back. I'm ready to go on
standing here outside your door I away you
up to say goodbye. Keep the strumming steady and let the lyrics guide the rhythm. The pattern repeats for
every verse and chorus. Now let's play to one full
verse and chorus together. I'll play slowly. Join in when you're ready. All my bags are back. I'm ready to go. Standing here outside your door, I to wake you up to say goodbye. So Kim and smile for me. Tell me that you wait for me. O like you never let me go. Soda on a jet plane. Don't know when
I'll be back again. Oh, I hate to go. And that's it. Great job. You just learned to play living
on the jet plane using only three
simple chords, G, C, and D. With just these shapes and the steady
strumming pattern, you can now play to the entire
song from start to finish. Here's what you're
going to do next. Practice switching
chords smoothly and slowly build up speed. Try singing along. Don't worry if it's not
perfect. Just have fun with it. And remember, these records are used in dozens
of other songs, too. So this is a huge step forward. Thanks for playing along
today. Keep practicing. Stay patient with yourself, and I'll see you in
the next lesson.
6. How to Play One day by Matisyahu using 4 Chords: Hey, everyone. Today we are
learning how to play one day by Matiiahu a powerful
song about hope and peace. The best part, it uses just four basic chords that
repeat the whole time. G, D, E minor, and C. Perfect for beginners. Let's quickly go over
the chords we'll need. Don't worry if you're still
getting used to them. Just take it slow. G major, middle finger, third fret, sixth string. Index finger, second
fret, fifth string. Ring finger, third fret, first string, optional, pinky on third fret,
second string. Strum all six strings. D major, index
finger, second fret, third string, middle finger, second fret, first string. Ring finger, third fret, second string, Srum from the
fourth string down. E minor. Middle finger, second
fret, fifth string. Ring finger, second fret, fourth string,
strum all strings. C major, ring finger, third fret, fifth
string, middle finger, second fret, fourth string, index finger, first fret, second string, strung
from a fifth string down. A quick tip. Try going
G to D to E minor to C, a few times slowly. These are the only
chords you'll need. Let's try a simple
strumming pattern. Here's one that works
beautifully for this song. Down down n, up down nap. Again, down down, up, up down, n. One more. Down down n, up down, n. Now, let's try that pattern
on just the G chord first. Now, try switching through G D a minor to C. Using that
pattern, take your time. Let's look at the verse. The progression is super simple. It just looks G, T E minor, and C over and over, let's start with the verse. Sometimes I lay a third moon
and say, God, don't pray. Then I pray, don't take
me so Desire for reason. One day, one day, one day Hey. One day, one day, one day Same chord order. Just follow the feel. The group stays
relaxed and steady. Let's play it slowly
together once. Now, let's try a mini play through off the
verse and chorus. Play along with me. Falls on chord changes and
smooth transitions. Sometime y under the moon. And thank God don't pray then. Then I pray, don't make me soon. I am for a reason. One day, one day, one day one day,
one day, one day When desert change, people the same stop
with the violins. Now with the ad. They will all be
free and proud to be under the same
sound singing sounds of freedom like vi. Awesome job today with
just four chords, G, D, E minor, and C. You've learned to play a full
version of one day by Matishahu This song is great for building confidence
and practicing rhythm. Play the chord changes slowly
until they feel natural. Repeat the strumming pattern on each chord without lyrics, hum the melody if
singing feels tricky. Try playing the whole
song along with the backing track of
the original recording.
John Godfrey Bejarin
