Guitarsecrets.com: Guitar lesson 1 learning the Guitar fretboard

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Guitar Tuning
Guitar Fretboard
Pentatonic scale

Guitar Exercises
Guitar Tablature Triplets
Hammer-ons
Am Grouping

4th string root guitar chords and related guitar scales

Major Scale Theory
Guitar Modes in C major

Guitar Lesson 1
Learn about the fretboard.
Guitar Lesson 2
Guitar fretboard continued.
Guitar Lesson 3
Guitar picking Exercises.
Guitar Lesson 4
Guitar picking and fretting exercises.
Guitar Lesson 5
Learning the A minor pentatonic scale.
Guitar Lesson 17B Learn the modes in the key of C major.

Guitar Lesson 18 Constructing the major scales.

Guitar Lesson 18B
Key Signatures.

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Guitar Lesson 1

Guitar Fretboard and strings

The image below is a picture of the guitar fretboard. To understand how this diagram works, you need to hold the guitar out in front of you. The strings on the guitar should be directed towards your face. This view should be the exact view that the image below depicts. Look at the image below and visualize that the picture is your guitar facing you.

Each dot on the guitar fretboard represents the different frets on the guitar, look below. The first dot is on the 3rd fret, the second dot is on the 5th fret, the third dot is on the 7th fret and so on all the way up the fretboard. Most guitars will have these dots, but some may not.

E A D G B E. These are the 6 strings that make up the guitar. Notice the colors, each string has its own color. these colors will be illustrated on some images to help learn the strings and with placement of the notes to the particular string. Each string and color should be memorized. You may have noticed that there are two E strings? One is the Low E which is the Red E and the largest string, look above. The other E string is the High E string which is the thinnest string, check that string out. Each string is at times referenced by number in our lessons. These numbers are standard throughout the industry and they are as follows:

_{High E string} _{1st string} _Thinnest

_{B string} _{2nd
string}

_{G string} _{3rd string}

_{D
string} _{4th string}

_{A
string} 5th string

_{Low
E} _{6th string} _Fattest

You should now know what 6 strings E A D G B and E make up the guitar.

It is vital to know every note on the fretboard and that will be covered in the next lesson. Here's a link to the blank illustrations of the guitar fretboard, you will use these illustrations to fill in all the notes of the fretboard. Click on the blank illustration link above, print out these illustrations and have them handy to fill in each note as you study the following lessons. Then return back to this page.

Guitar lesson Assignments:

Before we begin, I would like to let you know our CD ROM a Visual Learning Experience is highly recommended. Yes, we have tons of lessons here on the site, but you will find more valuable information on the CD ROM, so order yours today.

In our next lesson, you will use the illustrations you've printed out to fill in all the notes of the fretboard ascending. Find the guitar fretboard illustrations here.

Once all the notes are filled in, circle all the A C D E and G notes these are the notes of Am pentatonic scale we will be learning later down the road.

Once you study the next lesson, try to fill in all the notes from memory.

Begin to memorize the A and C note positions on the guitar fretboard.

Since this is our first lesson, I'm not overly concerned with tuning, but you can review it.

We will begin to write an original song and the first part has been posted. I have written out the tablature for it and it will be coming up in lesson 7 or so. The chords used in this progression are the Am, F and G so pay particular attention to those chords in the open position chord chapter. You can play this progression with both the acoustic or electric guitar. Lead guitar has been added to this progression below.

Listen to our slow song beefed up a little for the electric guitar. This lead guitar part is played using the Am pentatonic scale, root note fret. The root note fret is the 5th fret for Am pentatonic. The pentatonic scale is one of the most important scales to learn as it is used in practically all types of music. Listen how the lead guitar part is played over the Am, F and G progression above. This is the object of playing the guitar, that is being able to play with other instruments. This is what our CD ROM is all about, we will teach you how to properly use the scales and chords together. This is a must for both the acoustic and electric guitar player.

Lesson 2 will now cover the fretboard notes and placement.

Good luck,

From The Jam Room

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