Created by Anna Grace Cannon
Copyright Full of Grace Music 2007
CONTENTS PAGE
GUITAR THEORY
This
is a picture or grid of the six guitar strings. The left hand E which is the
thickest string is the lowest sounding string and is called the bottom string
because of its pitch. The E string on the right is the highest string and is
the lowest down the guitar but it is not called the bottom string, rather the
top string! Confused! Top and bottom string is referring to the level of sound
with top meaning a high sound and bottom meaning a low.
You can use the acronym to help you learn the guitar strings. You could also try
Every Afternoon Do Guitar Book Exercises.
Make up your own if you like.
The first thing to learn is the names of the strings on the guitar. It is also very important to know which string is one and which is six. Later on you will learn where these notes are found on the treble staff. The guitar is a really interesting instrument and you will find the same sounding notes in different places, unlike the piano where one sound can only be found in one place.
GOAL Learn string names for next lesson
Parts of typical classical and electric guitars
I will go through this with you with your own instrument. It is important to know the parts of your guitar and what each part does. For more information go to Wikipedia on the internet, or do a Google search for guitar:. There is lots to learn.
GOAL Learn the parts of the guitar before next lesson.
HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR
The guitar is a transposing instrument. Its pitch sounds one octave lower than it is notated.
A variety of different tunings are used. The most common by far, known as "Standard Tuning" (EADGBE), is as follows:
When tuning make sure you turn the tuning peg gently in a quarter or half turn only. If you make a mistake it is easy to correct. Practice tuning. Remember this is a skill that takes time even if you have a good ear.
Here is a picture of the notes on the guitar fretboard. See how at fret five the note is the same as the open string of the next string. The exception being tuning between strings three and door where only four frets are required.
GOAL Practice tuning your guitar everyday until you get really good at it. You can buy a guitar tuner to keep your guitar tuned at accurate pitch. Music shops will sell them. Buy one that also has a metronome in it and it will help you keep your strumming and picking in time.
DEFINITIONS TO LEARN
Action The height of the strings above the fret board
Alternating Bass A style where the bass notes are plucked and alternated
between strums.
Altered Tuning A system where a bass note is altered in pitch away from standard tuning.
Amplify - Increasing the volume of an instrument
Arpeggio The notes of a chord are played one at a time. (This is the
Style of folk picking_
Bar Chord A chord that requires a bar with the index finger across the strings of the guitar
Bass Strum A bass note is plucked then followed by a strummed chord
Bending The act of pushing or pulling a string sideways across the fret to raise the pitch of a note by a half to full tone or more. Used extensively in rock and blues playing as well as in jazz
Bridge - The bridge is located on the body of the guitar and transfers sound from the strings to the body of the guitar. This can be held in place by screws or string tension.
Capo A device which is attached to the neck of the guitar which raises the pitch of the chord strummed.
Chord A group of three or more notes (strings) played at the same time.
Chord Chart A picture of the neck and frets on the guitar which show you where to place your fingers when making a chord shape
Chord Progression A sequence of chords
Down Strum A strum which moves downwards
Up Strum A flick upwards often with thumb
Electric Guitar A guitar which can be amplified. It usually has a solid body.
Finger Picking A style which involves using some or all of your right hand fingers.
Folk Pick A style where the thumb and three fingers create patterns using the notes one at a time.
Fretboard The front side of the neck of the guitar which contains the frets.
Frets The front side of a guitar neck which contains the frets.
Guitar Tablature A system of reading notes, also called TAB. There are six lines which represent the six strings and the fret number is written on the appropriate string.
Hammer-on A note sounded literally by "hammering" down with a left hand finger, often performed in conjunction with a note first plucked by the right hand on the same string.
Harmonics Chime-like sounds achieved in two ways: 1) natural harmonics - by touching a string at any equidistant division of the string length (typically 5th, 7th, and 12th fret), directly above the fret with left hand, and striking hard with the right-hand fingers or pick near the bridge where there is more string resistance; or 2) artificial harmonics - touching a string with the index finger of the right hand twelve frets higher than any fretted note and plucking the string with either the thumb or third finger of the right hand.
Hash mark / Indicates a strum
Interval The distance between two notes.
Melody A series of notes and rhythms that create a tune.
Nut Piece of plastic or metal between the headstock and fretboard. Guides the strings from the headstock and tuners over the fretboard
Open String A string which is not fretted.
Pick A small triangular shaped piece of plastic which is used to pluck the strings.
Power Chord A chord which does not have the third note. Only first and fifth. Used extensively in metal.
Sound Hole The hole in the front of the guitar where the sound is projected.
Standard Tuning Tuning where the notes are set to E,A,D,G,B and E.
Strumming The right hand plays all the notes of a chord at the same time using a series of patterns, up and down and with different rhythms.
PIMA Pulgar Thumb
Indice Index
Medio Middle finger
Anular Ring finger
Positions A reference to placement of the left hand index finger at various frets.
Pull-off The opposite of a hammer-on. Performed by plucking a note with a finger on a higher note and pulling parallel to the fret to sound a lower note on the same string.
Tuner An electronic tuning device.
Vibrato To vibrate by slightly altering a pitch higher and lower
EXCELLENT WEB SITES FOR GUITAR
http://www.guitarsite.com/glossary.htm
http://www.melbay.com/guitarglossary.asp
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
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