Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
With your Host Bob Harris
Hello Fellow Guitarist,
Thank you for downloading “Let’s Play Guitars Together” the continuation of the series “Fingerpicking for Beginners featured at YouTube. If you have taken all 12 lessons,
then it’s time to put it all together!
In THIS NEXT STEP, we’re NOT going to learn another finger pattern or more chords
(okay maybe one more chord) but we are going to perfect what we already learned.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Anyone will tell you- the way to get better on the guitar is to PRACTICE. But practice
can be......... BORING (kind of like playing tennis by yourself against a wall).
So instead of doing it by yourself, I devised a way for us to do it together, and this is a
lot more fun! Now here’s the best part- this course will actually help you become a better guitarist... NO KIDDING! And what you learn here will carry over and prepare you
for every new song you play in the future!
That’s me recording at my studio Ampersand Records USA. We specialize in Acoustic Music. (Long
list of famous players that I have recorded and played with over the years, from Bob Dylan to producing a Johnny Cash record! (The Great Lost Performance- Check it out)
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
About The Course:
(If you haven’t done so already, download this PDF file, and save it to your desktop (or wherever
you can remember where it is!). You may also want to print it out to be able to reference the visuals
while watching the videos.)
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Features 18 instruction “Play along videos” which includes a visible click track.
Start off very slow, and work our way up to speed.
Flow charts of each chord we learned in Fingerpicking For Beginners.
Play the song from Fingerpicking For Beginners together!
Important Insights into the Metronome
Learning how to read Tablature
Understanding how to ready sheet music
A vital “missing chord” mini lessons included
And much more!
Maneuvering:
There’s 2 places you can access the
learning videos:
1. Best Place- this guide- by clicking on
the link below each video, it will take
you to watch at YouTube.
2. Youtube - will have a link below each
video in the description area to the
next lesson and the previous one.
Questions- Help? Please e mail me at Acousticguitarvideos@gmail.com
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Before we get started, I highly recommend starting at the first video and
go through each lesson in order Step By Step and NOT SKIPPING AROUND! Although what I
am showing you (when you get there) may look and sound soooo slow and easy (even if you
are more advanced), don’t skip.. you will be missing out on being a better guitarist!
WHY SO SLOW? The very slow speeds are the most
difficult to play with but the most important. The
reason for that is the fact that you have to “wait” a
longer time for the next beat to happen. Once you
get your guitar in your hands for the first lesson and
play along with me, you will know what I’m talking
about! “Feeling” this slow rhythm for most people
may not come naturally, but with repetition the cadence will become familiar. Slow takes great patience and skill, much more than the medium tempos. But it’s the slow speeds or “tempos” as they are
called in music that makes your hands “remember”
the most effectively. This is a Phenomenon called
“muscle memory” that we are going to be developing here.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
The first thing we are going to learn about is the metronome.
The Metronome
There’s no need for a history lesson here, but this wind-up device is something that you folks around my age for sure have seen as kids sitting on top of
a piano.
The metronome produces an audible click sound which typically represents
downbeats. The whole purpose of it is to train the musician to play “in time.”
The metronome also has adjustable number marking settings called BPM
(beats per minute).
The goal when playing with a metronome is to play our notes as close to when
the metronome is sounding off/clicking. Doing so means that your notes become evenly spaced. When you achieve this, you simply sound professional
(even if you only know a few chords or play a simple pattern!).
This is the single main difference between a “good” and “bad” guitarist, those
that play in good time and those that do not. And “good time” is something
that every Beginner Guitarist should learn- and as soon as possible.
Professional musicians that we admire as “great” most likely practiced diligently with a metronome, drum machine or click track. And all music that we
enjoy, be it folk, pop, jazz, rock to classical, all obeys the rule of timing. To
become a good guitarist, you will soon learn that it’s not only just about playing the notes, but when to play them that count the most!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
One of many benefits to practicing with a metronome is, it will be easier
to play with other people!
Imagine for a moment a group of musicians that are playing a song but
all at different speeds. That would sound like #@*!&^, noise, air pollution I tell ya! Playing out of time is similar to an actor not “hitting the
mark,” or showing up at 2pm for a 1 pm appointment (perhaps worse).
Now the good news is... everyone has a
heartbeat (unless you are a zombie...
hummm, hope not, nurse, check to see if
this guitarist has a pulse..).
We can all feel the music!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Okay, let’s get started.
Let’s Play Guitars Together: Welcome
If you haven’t taken
Fingerpicking For Begin-
ners Lesson 1, Click Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPdtuAQZ674
click this link
This first video is an introduction welcome vid where I discuss what we’re
going to be doing. When you click on the link, it will send you to You-
Tube. Keep this guide open to reference the printed material if you’d
like.
Lesson 1: Understanding the Chart and Metronome
In this video, I explain the
chart on the next page...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl6cdQ1egVQ
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Chord we are playing
refresher lesson if you need it
FLOW CHART
T
1
I
4
{
I
T
2
I
3
I T M T
& 3 & 4
I I I I
2 4 1 3
All 8 beats = 1 measure
I
&
I
2
Fingers 1 measure
Counting 1 measure
Metronome 1 measure
Strings we pluck 1 measure
}
TAB
_______________0_________ first string
_________3__________3____ second string
______2__________2_______ third string
0___________0____________ fourth string
_________________________fifth string
_________________________sixth string
The Tablature is pretty easy to understand, I can even do it!
The strait lines are the strings looking from the guitar players vantage point (right handed guitarist).
The numbers not only show what strings we are playing in order from left to right, but also tell which
frets we are pressing on.
So in this case, we first hit (pluck) the open (0) 4th string, then 2 frets up on the third string, 3 frets
up on the 2nd string, open O on the forth string, open 0 and the first string, 2 frets up on the 3rd
string, and 3 frets up on the 2nd string. The only downfall of tablature is it doesn’t show you what the
rhythm is.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 2: D Chord 50 BPM
Get your guitar! We are only going
to play a D Chord on the left
hand, but this lesson is all about
the right hand, trying to play ex-
actly when the click sounds off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUyGASUjt6E
If you need a guitar tuner, I recommend some free one’s that work in the iPhone/iPad.
Not sure about other device apps but I heard from students that there’s good free
downloads with almost any device. I primarily use a “clip on” the headstock tuner and I
included links to two of them as well. Go to the last two pages of this guide to check
out tuners.
Lesson 3: D Chord 60 to 70 BPM
Little faster now, but only if
you are ready! We are at-
tempting an even flow with all
of our notes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_DDrrd_LmQ
Questions- Help? Please e mail me at Acousticguitarvideos@gmail.com
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 4: D Chord 80 to 110 BPM
These tempos (speeds)
should be easier to play along
with! Don’t feel that you have
to go to the next video until
you are playing these slow
tempos okay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLXv84C_E_w
Lesson 5: D Chord 120 to 150
As I say in the video, I hope
you can see where we’re going
here with this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yhq69bOBL8
Before we move on....
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Are you feeling the rhythm and having some fun with this? Okay, I will
be the first to admit that playing accurately with a metronome (click
track) is not that easy... as it can take great concentration to play
along, especially at the slower speeds. One thing to do if you are having major troubles is to try clapping your hands in time with the click
track, snapping your fingers or tapping your foot. Get acclimated to the
pulse and try to anticipate when the beat is going to come around
again. Try doing this with your eyes closed. Don’t, I say DON’T get discouraged, as this can take some time to get used to. But the more you
do it, the easier it will get!
So Here’s a BIG THUMBS UP to YOU! (this cat is quite good at
clawhammer guitar I heard).
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Next set of lessons, we are going to add the A5 Chord, and here is
the chart for this Chord. Same exact right hand pattern as the D,
but now on different strings. See Fingerpicking For Beginners Lesson 2 for a refresher on how to play the A5 Chord if you need it:
FLOW CHART
T
1
I
5
I
T
2
I
4
I T M T I
& 3 & 4 &
I I I I I
3 5 2 4 3
Fingers
Counting
Metronome
Strings we pluck A5
TAB
_________________________
_______________0_________
_________2___________2___
______2__________2_______
0___________0____________
_________________________
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 6: D to A5 50 & 60 BPM
In the video, you can see that I
put the D and the A5 chord in
the flow chart to look at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DYgILZ0gVA
Lesson 7- D to A5 70 to 90 BPM
Seems a little different now
than when you first played it,
right? The rules of groove and
timing changes everything!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4wJRU3QBJ0
Lesson 8- D to A5 100 to 150 BPM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ut8zKUoVEI
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Are you getting the “Hang of it” yet?
Check out this invention... This
would certainly force you to
arch your fingers!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Next set of lessons, we are going to add the Em Chord, and here is
the chart for this Chord. I put the A5 chord in the flow chart as well
to show you that the only difference on the right hand is- we are
plucking the 6th string (E note) instead of the 5th string A note.
Everything else on the right hand stays the same. It’s this bass
“root” note (6th string) that gives the Em the proper sound. See
Fingerpicking For Beginners Lesson 3 for a refresher on how to play
the Em Chord if you need it:
T
1
I
5
6
I
T
2
I
4
4
I T M T
& 3 & 4
I I I I
3 5 2 4
3 6 2 4
I
&
I
3
3
Fingers
Counting
Metronome
Strings we pluck A5
Strings we pluck Em
TAB
_________________________
_______________0_________
_________0___________0___
______2__________2_______
_________________________
0__________0_____________
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 9: D , A5, Em 50 to 60 BPM
I now realize I messed this
video up, labeled it wrong and
skipped over 70. Not to worry,
as it’s no big deal (we’ve had a
lot of 70 already!!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bANBumj1pR4
Lesson 10- D, A5, Em- 80 to 100 BP
Keep going, we are getting
closer to playing “That Song”!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spP03zl94LY
Lesson 11- D, A5, Em-110 to 150 BPM
You are probably noticing that
with every new chord change
and every new tempo, a new
challenge arises. So don’t be
afraid to stay on one tempo
for a while!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi0kCXq4Sjs
____________________________________________
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
This next set of lessons we are going to add the G Chord, flow chart
below. I also put the Em chord in the flow chart as well to show you
that the strings we are plucking on the right hand are the same as
the Em.
Refresher and Tips to Change from Em to G
Here’s some more insight for
changing from the Em to G
plus a good practice advice
for changing smoothly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbZTiqCzcDM
T
1
I
6
6
I
T
2
I
4
4
I T M T I Fingers
& 3 & 4 & Counting
I I I I I Metronome
3 6 2 4 3 Strings we pluck Em
3 6 2 4 3 Strings we pluck G
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Easy G Chord TAB
_________________________
_______________0_________
_________0___________0___
______0__________0_______
_________________________
3__________3_____________
Tab for the entire song looks like this:
D
A5
Em
G
_____________0_____3___________________________________________________________________
________3_______2_________________0________________________________________0___________
____2_________________________2__________2________0____0_____0________0__________0_____
0__________0_______________2__________2________2__________2________0__________0________
________________________0_______0______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________3______3___________ 3_______3______________
some of the guitars at the studio!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
News about my family...
Last year was difficult for us as my Dad passed
away in September, my mom suffered a severe
stroke, and my dear wife Lucy diagnosed with a
highly malignant rare form of endrimetrial cancer
(papillary serous carcinoma).
On December 2nd a scan revealed the cancer was in
stage 2. Being rejected for treatment by that hospital
for insurance reasons, we were forced to go to another
hospital where another scan (just two weeks later) showed the cancer spread to near stage 4.
On December 22 despite the bleak prognosis of 5 to 10% survival rate for this aggressive can-
cer, we opted for treatment. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult this has been- not knowing if
she would make it at all.
Fast forward to July 2016.... Miracles do happen! I want to thank the great doctors at
St. Barnabus Hospital in Livingston New Jersey for their amazing care and treatment.
Mainly I want to give credit and thanks to the Lord for healing my wife, as
she is now in remission and very close to being cancer free!
All the prayers and positive thoughts from everyone have helped so
much
I feel my students part of my family too, can I ask you...
Please Pray for Lucy
We are also in serious debt due to our insurance not covering a lot of the treatments- You can
donate what you wish. But if you are only going to choose one thing to help, let it be the
prayers. Even if you don’t pray, Lucy and I know first hand your prayers will work. Thank you
in advance- bob!
Click here to help us
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 12- D, A5, Em, G- 50 to 70 BPM
We are almost there. Hands
don’t fail me now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9nN9Wewe2k
Lesson 13: D, A5, Em, G, 80 to 100 BPM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHCgS7X5EMQ
Lesson 14: D Chord 120 to 150 BPM
By now I’m hoping that your
right hand is chugging along
like a motor and your brain is
not working so hard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud7NvpN-rv0
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Good going on getting this far! It’s time to play the whole song!
This time with the click track ladder starting at 50 Beats Per
Minute (BPM) we’re not going to pause at all. We’re just going
to keep going until the click stops at 150BPM! No pausing creates a new challenge, as it takes some stamina and added con-
centration to make it all the way through- especially the slower
tempos (speeds).
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Lesson 15: Tips for Changing G to D
Just a quick refresher on this
change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4oBpuWMmbU
“That Song” by bob harris (couldn’t think of a better title!)
T
1
I
4
5
6
6
I
T
2
I
3
4
4
4
I T M T
& 3 & 4
I I I I
2 4 1 3
3 5 2 4
3 6 2 4
3 6 2 4
I
&
I
2
3
3
3
Fingers
Counting
Metronome
Strings we pluck D
Strings we pluck A5
Strings we pluck Em
Strings we pluck G
Lesson 16: Whole Song Ladder!!!!!!
No visual guitar in this song,
because I recorded it along
with the click. In the description area at YouTube (below
Video) I’ve included start times
of each tempo that you can
click on and go directly to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnslziO0L7U
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
CONGRATULATIONS- YOU MADE IT!
THE CROWD ROARS!
But guess what? We’re not done just yet! I know we’ve been
practicing and playing together, but how about trying it by
yourself, with just the click track? (Oh, come on, it’s good for
you!)
Lesson 17: Whole Song Ladder Just Click
Guess what? This click
track is not only good for
practicing with “That
Song,” but is good for any
song!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CIdc79ymDY
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
So as I keep saying, hope you can see where this is going! I am
preparing you for more music., and to start, it’s important that
you understand how a music chart works.
Here’s my own Simple Music Chart for “That Song”
D
////
A5
////
Em
////
G
//// repeat
This 4 beat “bar” / icon located below each chord represents the 4 downbeats per measure (1,2,3,4) and doesn’t show the ands (1&2&3&4&). In a
piece of sheet music however, you will not see these bar icons (this is just
to help explain things!)
T
1
I
4
5
6
6
/
I
T
2
I
3
4
4
4
/
I T M T
& 3 & 4
I I I I
2 4 1 3
3 5 2 4
3 6 2 4
3 6 2 4
/
/
I
&
I
2
3
3
3
Fingers
Counting
Metronome
Strings we pluck D
Strings we pluck A5
Strings we pluck Em
Strings we pluck G
Four Downbeats Per Measure Bar Icons
Standard Sheet music would typically look like this
(see next page)
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
From 1 orange line to the next represents 1 measure. (I colored this in
myself to explain it)
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
/
/
/
/
/
/
/ /
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/ /
/
/
/
/
/ /
/
/
/
/
/
Next we have the 4 beats per measure.
/
/
/
/
Four Downbeats Per Measure Bar Icons
The green arrow points to the time signature and this tells us that
there is 4 beats (downbeats) per measure.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
6
6
4
5
6
3
4
4
6
3
3
2 4
5
6
3
2 4
2 4
5
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
6
3
3
4
5
2
3
2 4
4
5
3
5
4
2 4
3
6
1 3
2
2 4
3 6
4
4
3
5
2 4
4
3
6
3
2
4
3
6
3
2 4
3
1 3
2
2 4
3
The G C G above the music staff are the chords to the
song. The numbers I added below the music staff are
the strings we play for each chord... The flow chart I
made up corresponds to the sheet music.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
There’s 3 chords in this song, and the music chart
shows you what chords to play and when. The flow pattern to this song looks like this:
T
1
I
I
T
2
I
/
/
6
5
6
5
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
I
&
I
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
T
3
I
M T
& 4
I I
/
/
6
5
6
5
6
5
4
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
I Fingers
& Counting
I Metronome
Four Downbeats Per Measure Bar Icons
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
Strings we pluck G
Strings we pluck C
Strings we pluck G
Strings we pluck C
Strings we pluck G
Strings we pluck C
Strings we pluck D
Strings we pluck D
If you knew how to play a C Chord, you would be able to play this
song with the same basic pattern we are learning (plus many thousands of other songs!!!) So, let’s learn a C Chord from the ground up!
How To Play a C Chord Lesson 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNuVw3YLx0
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
How To Play a C Chord Lesson 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0v_1P3iRhg
How To Play a C Chord Lesson 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lRoWKZkA0
I sure hope that helped ... and now you can play a C Chord. So with the flow chart from
the last page and the sheet music, you have the tools to be able to play Leaving On A
Jet Plane!
I was able to find another chart of this song with Chord diagrams above the music staff.
So why not give it a try? Also, don’t forget to use the click track to practice with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CIdc79ymDY
My advice is to first play this song without worrying about keeping good rhythm, and
then when you are ready, give the song the Metronome Ladder Treatment!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Important final thoughts...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZJB0ECF5eE
My goal for you in this course is to
make you a better guitarist, right from
where you are at now, and prepare
you for more music. The journey
never ends my friend, and this is the
beauty and mystery of music.
On stage with my Guitar Heros- Dan Crary and Beppe Gambetta (I’m on the right)
That’s me far left in Japan with Fiddle Legend Vassar Clements (played in his band for 15 years)
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Here’s some more helpful tools
Whole song Ladder (Audio Version).
Just Click 50 - 150 (Audio Version)
Guitar & Click 160-260 (Audio Version)
Rate this course and tell me a little bit about yourself!
Here’s some questions that I’d like you to answer to help me determine how to
improve this course- Click Here
Need Extra Help?
I do give private lessons, but chances are we don’t live close. So I’ve found that
the Skype Guitar Lessons are the next best thing, as I can see what you are doing
and be able to help you personally. Just e mail me at
Acousticguitarvideos@gmail.com if you are interested!
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Tuning Your Guitar:
Having your guitar “In Tune” is very important. Most pros today will use a tuner that clips on to the
headstock of their guitar. But you can of course use any type including a free Iphone app. If you don’t
have a tuner, here’s some choices:
Free Tuner for Iphone:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/guitartuna-guitar-tuner-for/id527588389?mt=8
This tuner uses the microphone in your iphone to recognize pitch.
Advantages:
1. Great for beginners as it guides you to the correct notes.
2. It’s free
Disadvantages:
1. Can’t tune with a capo or different tunings
2. Have to bring the phone along with the guitar
Free Chromatic Tuner for Iphone:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-chromatic-tuner-pano/id449780743?mt=8
This tuner uses the microphone in your iphone to recognize pitch.
Advantages:
1. Can tune all notes in different keys.
2. It’s free
Disadvantages:
1. May be difficult as a beginner to use a chromatic tuner
and can’t tell what pitch each of the strings are supposed to be.
2. Have to bring the phone along with the guitar
Snark SN-1 Tuner
Best Price $8.34 with free shipping
This tuner available at Amazon.com is a physical tuner that you clip on to
the headstock of the guitar.
Advantages:
1. Great for beginners as it guides you to the correct notes.
2. Goes with the guitar and works anywhere.
Disadvantages:
1. It says you can tune with a Capo but it might be more difficult than a
chromatic tuner which can tune all notes.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!
Snark SN-2 All Instrument Clip-On Chromatic Tuner
Best Price $11.19 with free shipping
This tuner is similar to the one above except it can tune all notes.
Advantages:
1. Can tune in any key and with a Capo
2. Goes with the guitar and works anywhere
Disadvantages:
1. May be difficult to use a chromatic tuner if you are a beginner and can’t
tell what pitch each of the strings are supposed to be.
Fingerpicking for Beginners- Let’s Play Guitars Together!