Song #1 - 12 Bar Blues in E (Part 5 of 5)

In this video, you will see three kinds of turnarounds.  We will be working with the first one he shows you (aka "the easy one").

Song #1 - 12 Bar Blues in E (Part 4 of 5)

Song #1 - 12 Bar Blues in E (Part 3 of 5)

Song #1 - 12 Bar Blues in E (Part 2 of 5)

Song #1 - 12 Bar Blues in E (Part 1 of 5)

For our first song, we will be working on a tune called the "12 Bar Blues in E."  This is a very famous blues guitar tune, and many blues standards by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and many others follow this chord progression.  It is called a 12 Bar Blues because it is a blues song that lasts for 12 bars (4 counts each).  Simple enough so far?

Because we are wanting to give our song a bluesy feel, we will be using a special type of open chords called "seventh chords."  There are three chords used in this song, and two of them are extremely easy to form with your fingers (E7 and A7).  The final chord, B7, is a little tricky so be sure to practice lots!  The following three lessons will teach you how to play each chord individually, but below you will see the chord progression and a video of the song itself.  That way, you will know what you are working toward.  After you've practiced all three chords, and are able to switch between them, come back to this lesson to play along with the song itself.

 

Lesson 4 - How to Read a Chord Diagram

As we are just getting started, we will not be learning how to read sheet music in our class.  This is a great skill for you to have, but it is still entirely possible for you to learn guitar quickly if you do not know how to read music.  We will use a few tools to help us - most commonly, a tool called a chord diagram.  By using the chord diagram properly, we will be able to play any open chord for all of the songs we will learn in class. 

Watch the video below to see how these diagrams work.  While you are watching, practice making the shape of the E major chord the way it is pictured on the screen.

 

It is important to note that left-handed players will have to view this diagram in reverse, as it is drawn to reflect the right-handed position of the guitar.  For this exercise, the diagram would look like this:

 

Lesson 3 - Strumming the Guitar

Changing the strumming pattern you use is, by far, the easiest way to alter the pace and overall feeling of the song you are playing.  We will work with a few basic strumming patterns in class, but I really like the three "universal" patterns shown in the video below.  Try them out for yourself!

Lesson 2 - Holding the Guitar Pick

 

Holding a pick can feel unnatural at first, but it is important that your grip on the pick allows for good range of motion without the risk of dropping it.  It's also important to keep your other fingers out of the way while you're at it.  Below is a picture that shows the position and grip that I use.

 

Lesson 1: Holding the Guitar

Welcome!

Welcome to the guitar page, everyone! I hope you will enjoy the experience of learning to play guitar by following these lessons at your own pace!

On this site, I will be posting lots of video and tabbed instructions for you to use at home.  Remember: Regular practice is the most effective way to improve, so please remember to take a practice guitar home whenever possible! 

Have fun!