1. hobbies and interests
2. guitar

Play Guitar in 7 Days
Learn How to Play
Guitar in as Little as 7
Days...
Even if you can't read music, and have never
picked up a guitar before!
•
Incredible Breakthrough Method
•
Easy to Use
•
Ultimate Quick Start Guide
•
Proven Results
By Michael Setz
 2003 King-Setz Enterprises All Rights Reserved
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Contents
Contents....................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ................................................................................................. 3
Chapter I: Buying the Right Guitar .............................................................. 5
Chapter II: Tuning Your Guitar.................................................................... 9
Chapter III: Your First Chords ....................................................................12
Chapter IV: The G Chord............................................................................16
Chapter V: The E Major and E minor Chords .............................................19
Chapter VI: The C Major and A minor Chords ...........................................22
Chapter VII: Cool & Easy Chords...............................................................24
Chapter VIII: Additional Chord Progressions & Songs ...............................27
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Introduction
Guitar playing is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences I know. It is a
beautiful instrument just to look at, let alone hearing the sounds it can create. It has the
ability to "sing" and is known to express emotions with its string bending and other
playing techniques. It is arguably the most popular instrument in the world today.
I'm sure there are many people who have put the guitar down in frustration after trying
desperately to place their fingers in just the right position, only to discover when they
strummed, all they got was a handful of "clunk". Then they tried it again, and again, and
pretty soon the tips of their fingers were raw and sore, so much that they had to stop to
relieve the pain.
I remember those days too. They were difficult and no fun. Well, today there is good
news for you. Did you know it is possible for anybody to play guitar, including you. And
get this...believe it or not, you don't even need to know how to read a "lick" of standard
musical notation either.
Yes, many people do get past that stage in their playing. And I can show you how to get
past that stage too.
In fact, I can show you exactly how to do it in a mere week! That's right, I know a simple
way to get you playing guitar in 7 days or less, and I'm not talking "Twinkle, Twinkle,
Little Star" either. Unless you want to learn Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. If so, then send
for my free special report, "How to Play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" at www.guitars-online.com).
I have developed a simple way to learn quickly and easily and sound good, really good.
And I'm going to show it to you here in this book right now.
But first, I want to give you some foundational work to get you prepared. The method in
this book is broken down into daily lessons. You will need to spend a minimum of 30
minutes playing each day for the next 7 days.
However, keep in mind that it is not how many days or even years that count as a guitar
player.
This is a critical misconception that most guitar players fall into believing, and generally
bragging about. What really counts is the number of hours you play. Trust me, the
players who devote more hours to practice will quickly surpass their friends in
proficiency every time.
Therefore, if you can devote an hour, or even two hours a day, you will be playing
guitar proficiently even sooner.
Obviously you will need to have a guitar. I assume you are motivated enough to
accomplish this, and in case you don't yet have one, I do spend time in the next chapter
discussing the types of guitar that are available and what might be the best one for you.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
You will need to have access to a tuner or some way to tune your guitar. You know how
the saying goes, you can tune a guitar, but you can't tuna fish! So don't forget that.
Actually, the point that I'm trying to make is that it is imperative that you learn to play with
a guitar that is in tune.
This is one of the most common reasons for aspiring guitarists to give up. It is their
inability to tune the guitar and subsequently, have the chords or notes sound as they
should that ultimately ends many a guitar player's endeavor. No doubt this can be even
more frustrating then the pain on your fingertips.
So I have a short section devoted to explaining the basics for tuning the guitar, the
options and methods that are available, and some tips and tricks to help you keep it in
tune all the time.
In addition to this I've included in this e-book a free tuner that you can use to get you
started with an in-tune guitar. By the way, even great guitarists have to tune their guitars,
constantly.
Finally we will begin the lessons. Once you have your guitar tuned and sounding sweet I
will provide you with a step by step approach that will show you exactly the chords to
play, diagrams on where to place your fingers and some simple, easy to learn songs and
chord progressions for you to build strength and dexterity in your fingers.
Sound good? Then let's go to the next chapter and begin on the wondrous adventure of
learning to play guitar in 7 days!
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Chapter I: Buying the Right Guitar
Buying the right guitar can be a lot more difficult than it seems. That's because there are
a lot of them to choose from; electric, acoustic, classical, folk, hollowbody, semihollowbody, solidbody, 12-string, and 7-string just to name the more common ones.
It will be important for you to know the type of music you are interested in playing. If you
are only interested in screaming solos, you could probably just focus on an electric
guitar. If you like playing folk music, a steel string acoustic would be an excellent choice.
What about Classical and fingerpicking? A Classical guitar is definitely what you need. In
any case, know the music you want to play and that will also help you choose the right
guitar.
Nylon String Classical
Steel String Folk
Les Paul Electric Solid Body
Stratocaster Electric Solid Body
Telecaster Electric Solid Body
Electric Hollow Body
Used in Classical music as well as many other
fingerpicking styles of music such as ragtime.
Besides the softer nylon strings it usually has a
wide neck allowing for easier fingerpicking. This
is the guitar I recommend for beginners.
This is a versatile instrument used in a wide
variety of music styles including folk, country,
rock, and blues. It usually has a large body and a
thin neck. The steel strings provide more ring in
the sound and the large body allows for greater
resonance or volume.
Named after the great guitar and modern music
innovator this guitar has an outstanding tone and
very long sustain. It also has dual humbucking or
double coil pickups that create excellent tone,
jumbo frets for easy playing. This is the premier
Rock guitar, but can be used in jazz sometimes.
Probably the most famous and recognized guitar
on the planet. It has been used in just about
every music style, but is probably best known for
its extensive use in Blues. It has single coil
pickups and a smooth neck.
This is a favorite of Country & Western and
"Chicken Pickin’" guitar players. A close sibling to
the Strat, but a different body style and has both
dual and single coil pickups.
This is the favorite of many a Jazz musician, but
it can also make a great blues guitar. It has a
very warm tone with lots of clarity. It uses dual
humbucking pickups.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
When choosing your guitar, there are several factors to consider:
•
•
•
•
Price
Playability
Sound
Looks.
Which is the most important? They are ALL important in their own way!
In no particular order of merit, here are the reasons:
•
Price: If you are on a budget, then obviously the price you intend to pay is
important! Most of us have wallets with limits! This is self-explanatory.
•
Playability: The playability of a guitar (how EASY it is to play) is important. Are
the strings close to the fret board? Is the neck a comfortable fit for your hand
size? Is the body shape comfortable to hold? This will also make a big impact on
your progress as a guitar player. Anything that hinders your progress can be
disheartening and should be eliminated.
•
Sound: Do the notes ring out on the guitar and sustain (last long before dying
out)? Does the guitar sound fat and full, or bright and thin? What sort of tone do
you want? For example - Rock and Metal players often favor fat, full sounding
guitars.
•
Looks: Are looks important? You bet!! You want to look at your guitar and think
it's cool. Playing something that looks like a dog will not inspire you! Also, the
look of a guitar can be important for the image associated with a certain type of
music. Like we mentioned earlier, Telecaster shaped guitars are often associated
with traditional blues and country playing - Les Paul-shaped guitars are often
associated with classic rock, Flying V guitars are usually associated with heavy
metal.
With that said the first place to start is whether to buy new or used. There are
advantages and disadvantages to each, but generally the primary difference would be
your budget. It is important to note however, that guitars do tend to hold their value over
time as long as they are well cared for and have no significant dings, dents or other
damage.
Nonetheless, you can usually expect to pay slightly less for a used guitar versus a new
and comparable guitar. The downside to buying used is that there will undoubtedly be
wear on necks, frets, fingerboards, and pick guards, and there could also be hidden or
less noticeable damage.
You can find multitudes of places on the Internet as well as in newspapers, and
magazines for used guitars. However, one often overlooked place where great deals can
be found is at pawnshops, flea markets, and swap meets. Keep this in mind when you
begin your shopping. I have found some of the very best deals at the local pawnshop.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
There are many affordable new guitars on the market today as well, and these should
not be overlooked. Despite the slightly higher price, buying new is usually less risky
when it comes to quality. But that is not to say all new guitars are good. One advantage
to buying new is you will get a warranty. So it's worth comparing the new guitars in your
price range to the used ones.
You can often get a decent new acoustic guitar worthy of a beginner for right around
$100 and no more than $150. I would expect to pay about 10-20% less for a comparable
used instrument.
Always buy a case! There are two types: Hard-shell and soft-shell. You should opt for
hard-shell. New cases can run between $50 and $75, and sometimes you can get them
thrown in the deal, it’s always worth asking the salesman. If you do not buy a case you
will get dings and scratches, and it is more difficult to safely move your guitar from place
to place.
Choose a guitar that has the strings close to the fretboard, or playing will be difficult.
However, if they are too close then they will produce a buzz and affect the tone
produced. Be sure that it produces a clear sound, with no buzzes at any of the frets, and
that the guitar is constructed of high quality wood, so the neck doesn't "warp”.
Woods to look for include hardwoods such as Ash, Mahogany, Cherry, Maple,
Rosewood, and Birch. These are some of the more common, and the key is looking for
hardwoods. Not only does this help to resist dings, it also improves tone.
Generally, my recommendation to any beginning guitar player is first learn on a nylon
string acoustic guitar. These are also called Classical guitars. The reasons I recommend
nylon acoustics are first, nylon strings are easier on the fingertips than steel string
guitars. After you've played an hour straight you'll know what I'm talking about. Imagine a
thin piece of wire being pressed against your tender skin and then moved back and forth
like a saw. Ouch! Now imagine a soft nylon string and you can easily see why I
recommend nylon.
Don't get me wrong, your fingertips will hurt regardless, and that's ok. All guitar players
need calluses on the fingertips. And you will very quickly develop them if you persist in
your playing but nylon strings will make a significant difference in how painful it can be,
and it will ultimately let you practice a little longer before you can't take anymore.
The neck is also wider on classical style guitars. Although this may seem to make
playing more difficult initially, it actually helps with finger placement and the alwaystroublesome issue of fingers touching other strings and muting them. This is especially
true on electric guitars, which have a much narrower neck. By having more space
between strings you have less chance of this occurring. In addition wider necks will help
build dexterity in your fingers quicker too.
Finally, when you start with a nylon acoustic guitar you don't need to buy an amplifier or
any other accessories to go with it. You can play it anywhere and hear it loud and clear,
thus saving you money, allowing for more mobility and producing clear sounds to hear
your true playing style and sound. All these add up to my recommendation.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
If you must buy an electric guitar first time out, and you have no interest in an
acoustic, you will be faced with many choices of guitars, amplifiers, and hordes of other
pieces of equipment. While much of the gadgetry is fun, the SINGLE most important part
of your setup is still the guitar itself.
However much money you have to spend, try to get the best guitar you can - even if it
means not being able to afford an amplifier to begin with! Unless you are playing in a
band, you don't really need an amp to start off with, and the better your guitar is, the
easier and more enjoyable your learning experience will be!
Remember how it is in most cases; you generally get what you pay for! However, with
these few key points in mind, you can have confidence that the right guitar with the right
price and right quality can be found.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Chapter II: Tuning Your Guitar
Now that you've found that one in a million six-string...you did get a six string, right?
Anyway, now that you've got it, I bet you'd like to rip a few killer solos, stomp out a few
power chords, and generally wail until your fingers are bleeding. But wait, before you
begin, you need to deal with one more issue: tuning your guitar.
Do not overlook this task, nor should you take it lightly and assume your guitar is already
in tune. All guitars go out of tune and need constant checking. Take heart though my
friend, for there are many ways to do this, and thanks to modern day technology, there
are ways that actually make it almost effortless to do.
Tuning the guitar is all about listening to a sound source and tuning the string up or
down until it matches the source. The source itself will be one of two things:
•
•
An external source such as another instrument, an electronic tuner, or a pitch
pipe (my have we come a long way in technology or what!).
Another string on your guitar
My first recommendation is for you to spend the extra money and buy an electronic
guitar tuner. This is by far the best way to go for a beginning guitarist. It will save you
countless hours of frustration and really makes it quick and easy to get your guitar
accurately tuned and get you playing. These tuners even work on acoustic
guitars, they're not just for electric guitars. You should be able to purchase a good
electronic tuner for anywhere from $20 to $50, maybe even less if you shop
around. However, some of the more reliable and technically capable ones will cost
upwards of $100.
Another alternative is to use more traditional methods of tuning your guitar. Pianos and
keyboards are a typical example. Pitchforks and pitch pipes are some other examples.
It is important for you to know the names and numbers of each string. This is your first
lesson. As you know there are six strings on a standard guitar, with the lowest note in
tone being on top (it is the fattest string), and the highest note in tone being at the
bottom.
Names and Number of the Strings on Your Guitar
E AD G B E
6 5 4 3 2 1
The fattest string on top is number 6 and the skinniest string on the bottom is 1.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Make sure you are holding the guitar upright and not slanted on your lap as in the picture
below:
That’s my friend Dionisio. He plays a mean guitar. He was the first to do something
about the ergonomics concerning guitar players way back in the 18th century before they
had cameras.
Once you have a source to tune your guitar, you should start by tuning your lowest note
(the fat one) or the E string. Then, when you have it relatively close, here is a step-bystep method to tune your guitar to itself with a corresponding diagram:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tune your low E string close to what you think it should be.
Fret then pluck the E string at the 5th fret to obtain the A note.
Tune your A, or 5th, string to that note.
Do not press too hard on the E string at the 5th fret as you will cause the A note
to go sharp (higher in pitch).
5. Once the A string has been tuned, fret it at the 5th fret then pluck it to obtain a D
note.
6. Tune your 4th, or D, string to that note.
7. Next, fret the D, or 4th, string at the 5th fret then pluck it to obtain a G note.
8. Tune your G, or 3rd, string to that note.
9. Here's a change in the pattern. Fret the G, or 3rd string at the 4th fret then pluck
it to hear a B note.
10. Use that note to tune your B, or 2nd, string.
11. Finally, fret the B, or 2nd, string at the 5th fret then pluck it to obtain an E note.
12. Use that note to tune your E, or 1st, string.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
The steps above are illustrated in the example below:
For the computer savvy guitarist there are numerous places on the Internet and
applications available where you can get FREE guitar tuners. A quick search on "free
guitar tuner" in your favorite search engine will yield thousands of results. In fact,
because I've placed so much emphasis on keeping your guitar in tune, I've added one to
my website http://www.guitars-on-line.com.
I recommend you spend the first day of your lesson practicing tuning. Here are a couple
of other tips to help you along:
•
•
Always tune up. In other words, when you start tuning a string, loosen it and
make the pitch lower than the correct pitch you are tuning to. Then slowly bring
the string up increasing tension to the desired pitch. This helps to keep the string
in tune as you play and it is a good way to find the matching pitch.
Listen for the "beads" in the pitch. When you are tuning one note or pitch to
another there is dissonance in the two notes if they are not the same because
they vibrate at different rates or frequencies. When they are played at the same
time, you will hear this difference in vibration. As you tune the string up, the
strings will begin to vibrate at the same rate and the beads will fade away. When
you finally reach the desired note you will no longer hear the "beads".
Now we're ready to learn some chords. Are you in tune? Great! Let's go!
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Chapter III: Your First Chords
I know this is the part you have been anxiously waiting for, and I'm sure you won't be
disappointed. This next section is going to teach you your first set of chords to learn. I
won't go into a lot of theory and detail into what is a chord, and why these chords. But I
will give you a brief reason for why I picked these chords to start you with.
There are literally hundreds of chords to play, and on the guitar you can even play the
same chord in many different ways and locations on the fretboard. By the way, just so
you don't get lost in the lingo, here is a quick reference of the main parts of a guitar
thanks to my friend Chris Fouts at www.learnthat.com. It’s pretty much the same for an
acoustic without the knobs and pickups:
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Anyway, back to our story. I've specifically chosen these first chords not only because
they are some of the easiest to play, but they are also probably the some of the
most frequently played. You will play these over and over again no matter what style you
happen to be in at the time. And to keep you excited and interested I'm even going to
show one or two songs you can play right away.
Along with the string numbers you will need to know the numbers of your fingers. Since
you play guitar with your four fingers it is really quite simple:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Index finger
Middle finger
Ring finger
Pinky
Lets begin! Your first chord is called a D major or D chord. It looks like this:
String Number:
6 5 4 3 2 1
The black numbers are your fingers and the X means do not strum this string. The O
means play this string open (open means you are playing strings without holding them
down with your fingers). So, for this chord you will not strum the E string nor the A string,
and you will play the D string open. Your 1st and 2nd fingers are at the 2nd fret.
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It's not necessary to press hard on the string to get a clear sound. You only need to
press firmly and right behind the fret (the metal part of the fretboard). Remember this
whenever possible, always press as close to the fret as you can for the most leverage.
However, do not press the string on the fret because this will mute the tone.
Do this for at least 5 minutes continuously, and practice taking your fingers off, resting
them, and then refingering the chord. This will help to condition your fingers and
automate chord fingerings. It will also help as we move to the next chord, because
another important aspect to good playing is how smooth you move from one chord to the
next.
It may be a stretch at first, but keep trying. Make sure that your third finger is not
touching the first string and the rest is "gravy". Now strum the 4 strings downward
several times. If you are using a pick, make sure you hold the pick with your thumb and
first finger. If you have no pick, then use your thumb and strum downward on the strings.
If you hear some clunks readjust your fingers so that you are using only the tips of the
fingers to hold down the strings.
In the chart below, each slash mark represents a down stroke strum:
D
D
D
D
I won’t spend a lot of time in this course discussing strumming techniques because the
goal is to get you playing quickly. There are several different techniques, but the only
ones you need to know about for now are Downstrokes and Upstrokes. As you may
have already guessed, a Downstroke starts at the 6th String and goes downward, and an
Upstroke starts at the 1st String and goes Upward.
These two strumming techniques will cover 90% of your entire guitar playing needs.
Typically they are played together and alternated. But for now, all I want you to focus on
is a Downstroke, ok?
Your next chord is called an A7 Chord, and it looks like this:
6 5
4 3
2 1
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Notice how your 1st and 2nd fingers are placed almost the same way they were on the D
major chord and on the same fret, but you have moved them to different strings? Also
notice that you are playing all but one string.
Now again, practice strumming the A7 chord just like you did the D chord. Practice with
down strokes and focus on getting a clear sound from each string.
A7
A7
A7
A7
Your entire lesson for Day Two is to practice fingering your D chord and your A7 chord.
You should also practice going back and forth between them. Strum four times on each
chord then go to the other. Continue this for 30 to 45 minutes or until your fingers are too
sore. Push Yourself! It will pay huge dividends very quickly.
D
A7
D
A7
D
A7
D
A7
These two chords are very common, and yet not too difficult to play. In fact, if you think
about it, you are already playing guitar! Congratulations!!! In our next lesson, I'm going to
show you a new chord that is also among the most popular.
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Chapter IV: The G Chord
Before I show you the next two chords, I want you to review what you've already
learned. First, let's review your tuning.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is for you to keep your guitar tuned, and to
train your ear. There are some people with perfect pitch, or the ability to memorize and
identify the precise pitch of any tone they hear, but I'm going to assume you're not one of
them.
Make sure you tune your guitar every single time you start playing. Even if you have not
touched your guitar since you last played it, you may need to tune it. Believe it or not,
weather and air pressure can have an effect on tuning.
So use the method you learned in chapter two to tune your guitar. Remember to tune up
to the desired pitch.
Now spend about 5-10 minutes practicing your D major and your A7 chord. Remember
practice moving back and forth between the chords so you can condition your fingers.
D
A7
D
A7
You’re doing great! Let’s learn a new chord today. Your next chord is called a G Major
Chord or G Chord, and it looks like this:
For your next exercise I would like you to practice playing between your D chord and
your G chord. You should spend about 15 minutes on this chord progression with the
same emphasis as in the previous exercises on finger placement rather than speed.
D
G
D
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Then practice moving from your A7 chord to your G chord:
A7
G
A7
G
Take your time and go slow. Don’t worry about how fast you’re going. There is a very
good principle to remember: If you want to go fast, go slow. In other words, if you take
the time to do it correctly from the start, no matter how slow you are moving, you will
learn quicker and therefore you will be able to faster easily.
Now with these three chords I'm going to teach you your first song! I like to think of this
as your reward for making so much progress so quickly. I’m sure you may have heard it
before:
MARGARITAVILLE
By Jimmy Buffet
VERSE
D
A7
Nibbling on sponge cake, watching the sun bake, all them tourists covered with oil,
A7
Strumming my six string, on my front porch swing, smellin’ those shrimp they’re
D
beginnin’ to boil.
CHORUS
G
A7
D
Wasting away again in Margaritaville.
G
A7
D
Looking for my lost shaker of salt.
G
A7
D
A7
G
Some people claim that there’s a wo-man to blame,
A7
D
But I know, yeah it could be my fault.
Here is another song to work on using these same three chords. This time though, watch
out for the fast changes between the A7 and the G chords. And if you feel really daring,
go ahead and practice the alternating Downstroke/Upstroke strumming technique:
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
BAD MOON RISING
By Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
INTRO (Showing Up and Down Strokes)
D
A7
G
D
D
VERSE
D
A7 G
D
A7
G
D
I see a bad moon arisin’; I see troubles on the way.
D
A7
I see
earth-quakes and lightning; I see, bad times today.
G
D
A7 G
D
CHORUS
G
D
Well don't go round tonight, cuz it's bound to take your life,
A7
G
D
There's a bad moon on the rise.
VERSE
D
A7
G
D
A7
G
D
I hear hur-ri-canes a blowin'; I know the end is coming soon.
D
A7
G
D
A7
G
D
I feel
rivers over-flowing; I hear the voice of rage & ruin.
REPEAT CHORUS
SOLO (Chords are the same as VERSE.)
VERSE
D
A7
G
D
A7
G
D
Hope you got your things together; Hope you are quite prepared to die.
D
A7
G
D
A7
G
D
Looks like we're in for nasty weather; One eye is takin' for an eye
REPEAT CHORUS 2x
END
You have already come a long way! Your Day Three lesson is to practice your D, A7,
and G Chords and also to practice these songs. Our next lesson is going to introduce
you to a couple more very widely used chords.
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Chapter V: The E Major and E minor Chords
In this chapter I'm going to introduce you to the E major and E minor chords. At this point
you might be asking yourself, “Why is one a major and one a minor chord?”
Well, without going into a lot of theory, all chords contain three or more notes, and in the
case of the major and minor chord, the only difference is a slight change in one note.
You will see and hear this slight change very shortly.
The E Major Chord is also the basis for what is known as the first barre chord, which I
have reserved for more advanced lessons, because it requires you to hold two or three
strings with one finger.
I will show you a similar chord later on in this lesson however, and you will at least have
a basic understanding of barre chords. Meanwhile, you will be playing these chords in
what is called the open position, or with open strings.
So here we go with our next lesson. Your E chord looks like this:
And here is the E minor chord:
Again, you need to practice these chords by putting your fingers into position, and
strumming with down strokes. Focus on producing clear notes. Take your fingers off of
the fretboard, rest for a moment, and then place your fingers back into the E chord
position. Do this repeatedly for at least 5-10 minutes.
E
E
E
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Do the same exercise with both the E chord and the E minor chord.
Em
Em
Em
Em
Next, it is time to practice moving from chord to chord. Start with you E chord and then
go to your Em chord and back. Practice this for about 5 minutes:
E
Em
E
Em
Do you notice how only one note is changing, but yet how much different each chord
sounds? This is the difference between a major chord and a minor chord we discussed
earlier!
Next practice moving from your E chord to the D chord:
E
D
E
D
This is a great progression used in many popular tunes. Next, go from your E chord to
your A7 chord. Do this again for at least 5 minutes:
E
A7
E
A7
Now I want you to practice moving between you G Chord and your Em Chord:
G
Em
G
Em
D
Em
Em
A7
Practice going from D to E minor:
D
Em
Practice going from Em to A7:
Em
A7
Do you feel worked out? I hope so. These chord changes or progressions are all parts of
various songs that I have dissected to create exercises for you. They may even sound
like songs you know.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Today, and as often as possible after you complete this course, you are to practice these
chords. In our next chapter, I will be displaying more chords for you to learn, and a few
more easy songs to learn.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Chapter VI: The C Major and A minor Chords
In this chapter I am going to show you the next two most popular chords. With these two
chords you will have effectively learned the chords used most often in popular music.
Even though these are the most common chords, keep in mind that there is more than
one way to play a chord on the fretboard, and if I were to show you every chord and
every position, then you wouldn't be playing in seven days, so I opted for these primary
ones.
So here are your next chords. Your first is the C major or C chord and it looks like this:
6 5 4 3 2 1
As in previous exercises, you need to practice this by putting your fingers into position,
and strumming with down strokes. Focus on producing clear notes. Take your fingers off
of the fretboard, rest for a moment, and then place your fingers back into the C chord
position. Do this repeatedly for at least 5-10 minutes.
C
C
C
C
Your next chord is called the A minor chord and it looks like this:
Notice how you finger this chord? It is just like the E major chord but on the strings below
it.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Now you are to practice playing the A minor chord with your usual down strokes:
C
C
C
C
Next, it is time to practice your C to A minor chord progression:
C
Am
C
Am
As in the other exercises, practice this progression for 5-10 minutes.
Next, we’re going to incorporate these new chords into a few other common chord
progressions:
G
Em
C
D
G
Em
C
D
And your next chord progression:
G
C
Am
D
G
C
Am
D
Do these sound familiar? They have been used in many popular songs over the years
and no doubt will continued to be used in future hit songs...maybe yours, who knows?
This rounds out the primary chords in the lesson and the foundation of your 7-day
course. In addition to these new chords, you are to review and practice the previously
learned chord progressions for the remainder of today.
In our next chapter I'm going to give you a few tricks to enhance some of the chords
you've already mastered, and add a little spice to your sound.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Chapter VII: Cool & Easy Chords
Remember your first chord you learned? That's right, the D major chord. Well, here is a
neat little chord you can use in conjunction with your D chord. It is called the Dsus4
chord. Don't worry though; it's a lot easier to play than the name might lead you to
believe.
First, I want you to play your D chord as you would normally. Then without changing any
of your finger positions, place your pinky finger on the 1st string, third fret and strum. It
would look like this:
Notice that all you have done is changed one note! It is a very sweet sounding chord
progression used all the time. Now practice this progression for 5-10 minutes:
D
Dsus4
D
Dsus4
Along with this chord is another very cool chord. This is used a lot in rock as a power
chord, especially with lots of distortion and it is called the A major chord. We talked a
little about this earlier in the course. It is another version of a barre chord.
It is probably going to take some extra practice time because it requires that you hold
three strings with one finger, namely your index finger. But when you are successful you
will have learned probably the most prominent rock power chord in use today. It looks
like this:
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Practice playing this like the other chords, where you finger the chord, strum several
times, release the chord, then re-finger the chord. This helps to train and condition your
finger(s). Also note that you are intentionally muting the 1st string with your finger.
A
A
A
A
Now that you have that one mastered, here is the Asus4 chord. Just like the Dsus4 this
one requires changing just one note:
What do you say we put these together and see how they sound:
A
Asus4
A
Asus4
Practice this over and over for 5-10 minutes or more.
Next step is to put all these chords together and play with them:
A
Asus4
A
Asus4
D
Dsus4
D
Dsus4
I have always been a big fan of sus4 chords. They can really add some beautiful sounds
to your music.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Now I'm going to show you one more very cool chord. It also has a really impressive
name. So after you learn it make sure to tell your friends how good a guitar player you've
become because you know a Cadd9 chord, or a Dsus4 chord. They’ll be sure to be
impressed! It is also very easy to play and sounds great in between a D chord and a G
chord:
You know the drill. Practice this with downstrokes for about 5 minutes:
C(add9)
C(add9)
C(add9)
C(add9)
OK, here is your next chord progression. Does it sound like anything you've heard
before?
D
C(add9)
G
G
D
C(add9)
G
G
This is completes your sixth day of learning. I hope you are really feeling good about
how far you've come in such little time. I guarantee you will use these chords over and
over again as you play and learn.
If you look back now on where you've come from, I'm sure you will see that you have
made tremendous progress. You now know how to select the right guitar and what to
look for based upon the style you want to play. You have learned how to tune your
guitar. And best of all, you have learned some very important primary chords as well as
some pretty cool ones.
Your final lesson will be filled with a couple of basic songs that are easy to play using the
chords you have just learned. I also will give you some parting words of wisdom and
encouragement to keep you going and learning about the guitar and the joys of playing
this most spectacular instrument.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Chapter VIII: Additional Chord Progressions & Songs
In this, our final chapter, we are going to provide some songs and progressions for you
to practice these chords with. First, here are some additional progressions very common
to today's music:
E
D
A
G
E
D
A
G
Practice these chord progressions daily. Here is another:
A
Asus4
G
D
A
Asus4
G
D
Your next progress goes like this:
D
Dsus4
C
G
D
Dsus4
C
G
There is a virtual limitless combination of these chords you can put together to create
songs. Feel free to experiment with you own chord progressions. You might be
pleasantly surprised.
Finally, I’m going to show you a couple of more songs that you can play that are fairly
easy to learn using the chords you’ve learned in this course.
In this first song you can substitute the A Chord with an A7 Chord if you find it easier to
play.
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Mr. Tambourine Man
By The Byrds
INTRO: D G A
CHORUS
G
A
D
G
Hey! Mister Tambourine Man, play a song for me.
D
G
A
Asus4 A
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to.
G
A
D
G
Hey! Mister Tambourine Man, play a song for me.
D
G
A
D
Dsus4 D
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you.
VERSE
G
A
D
G
Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into the sand.
D
G
D
G
Em
A
Asus4
Vanished from my hand, left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping!
G
A
D
G
D
G
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet, I have no one to meet.
D
G
Em
A
Asus4
A
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE
G
A
D
G
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship,
D
G
D
G
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel the grip,
D
G
D
G
A
Asus4
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels to be wandering,
G
A
D
G
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade,
D
G
D
G
Into my own parade cast your dancing spell my way,
G
A
Asus4 A
I promise to go under it.
REPEAT CHORUS 2X
END
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A
A
Play Guitar in 7 Days
How about a Pink Floyd Song? This is arguably one of the most played songs ever. It’s
called, Wish You Were Here. If you’re familiar with the songs you will also hear a lot of
sus4 chords, mostly on and around the D chord.
WISH YOU WERE HERE
By Pink Floyd
INTRO:
Em / G / Em / G / Em / Am / Em / Am / G / G
VERSE
C
D
Am
G
So, so you think you can tell, heaven from hell? Blue skies from pain?
D
C
Am
Can you tell a green field, from a cold steel rain? A smile from a veil?
G
C
D
Do you think you can tell? Did they get you to trade, your heroes for ghosts?
Am
G
D
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change,
C
Am
G
And did you exchange, a walk-on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage...
(Guitar solo - repeat intro)
C
D
How I wish, how I wish you were here,
Am
G
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year,
D
C
Am
Running over the same old ground, what have we found - the same old fears?
G
Wish you were here.
REPEAT INTRO AND FADE
END
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
Our Next song is from Eric Clapton called Tulsa Time. It only has two chords, but it can
be a lot of fun to play.
TULSA TIME
Chords of this song are: G and D
VERSE
G
D
Well I don't know who I am driving in a Pontiac just about the rules my mind
D
G
I was going nowhere zone maybe only California even no living to find.
G
D
My mama called me crazy, my daddy said I'm lazy, gonna show 'em all this time
D
G
'cause you know I eat no pudding I don't need no modern school only just walking land.
CHORUS
G
D
Living on Tulsa time, Living on Tulsa time,
D
Well I'll sit my arms back to it 'cause you call me ?????????????
G
living on Tulsa time.
(Solo: slide guitar)
VERSE
G
D
So hear I wasn't in hurry well thinking I was doing good talking on a telephone line,
they don't want me in no movies ain't nobody sings a song, promising my baby’s doing
G
fine
G
D
So then I started thinking, then I got the weekend, I really had a flash this time,
D
G
that I ain't no Xmas greeny, that nobody would be greeting, sing 'em all Tulsa time.
REPEAT CHORUS 2X
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Play Guitar in 7 Days
A Final Word: There are an unlimited number of songs available to you with these few
chords. And no doubt there will be many more written in the near future, maybe even
one of your own! This was only a sample of the possibilities now available to you.
This course was intended to get you playing guitar in a very short time. I'm sure you
realize there is an entire world of guitar playing that we have not even touched-on here
in this book. There are many different styles, many different techniques, and many
different areas of guitar playing left for you to explore.
I want to encourage you to look for new lessons. With the Internet There is now available
to you an unlimited resource for education and instruction. One of the reasons I started
www.guitars-on-line.com was to create a place where beginning and advanced guitarists
could come together and share their experiences, best practices, and to provide a place
where musicians could get quality instruction and gear at a great price.
As we close on this course, my advice to you is to next work on scales and also some
basic music theory. Experiment with styles like Fingerpicking, Bluegrass, or Classical.
Try different guitars and accessories and see if they feel good to your hands & fingers,
and how they sound.
I also want to congratulate you on completing this course. You are now an official guitar
player! I want to thank you for purchasing this course and I wish you the best of success
in your guitar adventures.
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