First Guitar Lesson Text Version p1 of 2         (c)2000 David Raleigh Arnold
20060106  http://www.openguitar.com   GNU Lic. Free to use and reproduce.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learning to keep time *is* learning to read music, *and a lot more*. 

[1-1] (g) is the 3rd string. Sound it with the RH thumb.
Count:   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4    1 Stop the sound
String:|(g)      |         |         |         ||    on "1".
Note:  | O       | O       | O       | O       || = Double bar = end.
       |         |         |         |         ||   Precedes any count.
       |
       | = Bar = Whatever is next is on count one, *always*.

If you played example [1-1] correctly, you counted 1234 four times and
each time when you said "1" you played the open 3rd string.

          o = Half note. Give it a time value of 2 counts.
[1-2]     |
    Count:   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4    1 Stop the sound
    String:|(g)      |         |         |         ||    on "1".
    Note:  | o   o   | o   o   | o   o   | o   o   ||
           | |   |   | |   |   | |   |   | |   |   ||

Practice as slowly as you can in order to build and maintain control.

[1-3]      Count:   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4    1
           String:|(g)      |         |         |         ||
           Note:  | o   o   | O       | o   o   | O       ||
                  | |   |   |         | |   |   |         ||

(b) = open 2nd string. Use right hand index finger. The left side of tip
(side next to thumb) moves as straight across a string to sound it as
the thumb does. Keep the index well to the right of the thumb. Put the
thumb on the (g) string. Do not touch the top of the instrument.

[1-4]
Count:   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4
String:|(b)      |         |         |         | = This is not a double
Note:  | O       | o   o   | O       | o   o   | bar and not the end. Go
       |         | |   |   |         | |   |   | to the next line... 

Count:   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4   1 2 3 4    1 Stop the  
        (b)      |         |         |         ||   sound 
Note:    o   o   | o   o   | O       | O       ||   on "1".
         |   |   | |   |   |         |         ||

     The quarter note is like the half, but it has a black head: *
[1-5]
Count:    1  2  3  4    1  2  3  4 = Quarter notes are one count.  1
Pitch:    b           | g  g  g  g  | g     b     | g  g  g     ||
Note:     O           | *  *  *  *  | o     o     | *  *  o     ||
                      | |  |  |  |  | |     |     | |  |  |     ||
[1-6]
Count:    1  2  3  4                                               1
Pitch:    g     b  b  | b  b  b     | g     g  g  | g           ||
Note:     o     *  *  | *  *  o     | o     *  *  | O           ||
          |     |  |  | |  |  |     | |     |  |  |             ||