Lesson 2: Strings and Sunrises
Now that we can play on three strings, we can make some really cool music.
Start by playing C with your first finger on the B string.
Then play open G.
Now, play D on the B with your 3rd finger.
Again play the G string.
Leave your fingers down while you play.
Plucking with only your pointer finger, play what is on the chart below:
B string
C C D D
G string
G G G G
You can do the same thing with open E.
You will have to be on the tippy-tips of your fingers on the B string.
E string
E E E E
B string
C C D D
Start by playing C with your first finger on the B string.
Then play open G.
Now, play D on the B with your 3rd finger.
Again play the G string.
Leave your fingers down while you play.
Plucking with only your pointer finger, play what is on the chart below:
B string
C C D D
G string
G G G G
You can do the same thing with open E.
You will have to be on the tippy-tips of your fingers on the B string.
E string
E E E E
B string
C C D D
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This exercise helps refine left-hand technique and sounds great. Only the B string notes are fretted. In the first example, these fretted notes are alternated with the open G string. You should strive for an even tempo. Since you are using rest strokes, your finger will be on the G string after sounding the B. Both exercise can be played using only the pointer finger in the right hand. Going from the B string to the E is a little trickier. You have to really be on the tips of your left hand fingers in order to get the E string to ring out clearly. The pointer finger rest stroke works here as well. After you sound the E string, your RH finger will be set up for the B.
An ostinato is a repeated rhythmic phrase with only one or two pitches. Try playing these ostinato patterns on landmark notes. Remember to start with a count off.
Ostinatos are repeated, so when you get to the end of the line, start back at the beginning again.That is what this symbol :|| tells you.
Now try playing the first pattern, while someone else plays,claps, or sings the second pattern.
Now try playing the first pattern, while someone else plays,claps, or sings the second pattern.
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An ostinato is a short, repeated rhythmic phrase. Ostinatos are a great way to practice rhythmic skills. In this case, we are also using the ostinato to remember where are landmark pitches are written. You can hear a recording of these three ostinato patterns on the website. There are also recordings of the ostinatos played in combination. Keep reviewing the landmark pitches, they are the foundation for much of the reading coming later in this book. If your child doesn’t seem confident with them, make flash cards with the treble clef notes on them (see the website for a how to video). Once you can play each line try putting them together. It is easy to trick yourself into thinking that you are playing a rhythm correctly, only to find out that when you put it with another rhythm you are not. By fitting rhythms together you can really hear the value of different rhythms.
So far we have learned quarter notes (ta’s) and half notes (too’s).
Today, we are going to look at whole notes.
A whole note is an open oval.
Whole notes are held for four counts.We write rhythms in equal sections called measures. You can think of measures like boxes that a certain number of notes will fit in. Some notes (quarter notes, for example) take less space, while others (whole notes) take up more.
To start we are going to group notes in four beat measures. We call this 4/4 time. When we count off, instead of saying “1,2,ready,go” we will say “1,2,3,4” and keep counting “1,2,3,4” as we go .
A bar-line, (|) shows the beginning and end of the measures.
So ta-ta-too is:
Today, we are going to look at whole notes.
A whole note is an open oval.
Whole notes are held for four counts.We write rhythms in equal sections called measures. You can think of measures like boxes that a certain number of notes will fit in. Some notes (quarter notes, for example) take less space, while others (whole notes) take up more.
To start we are going to group notes in four beat measures. We call this 4/4 time. When we count off, instead of saying “1,2,ready,go” we will say “1,2,3,4” and keep counting “1,2,3,4” as we go .
A bar-line, (|) shows the beginning and end of the measures.
So ta-ta-too is:
Clap through the rhythm below, while counting the beats aloud (don’t forget the countoff).
What is this the rhythm to?
That’s right! It’s the rhythm to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The songs Peanut Butter and Jelly are both in 4/4 time as well.
Use a blank page to write the rhythm to the songs.
The chart will remind how many counts each note gets.
That’s right! It’s the rhythm to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The songs Peanut Butter and Jelly are both in 4/4 time as well.
Use a blank page to write the rhythm to the songs.
The chart will remind how many counts each note gets.
Remember each measure can only have four beats. The bar lines (|) show you where the measures are.
After you have written the rhythms play the songs, counting 1,2,3,4 as you go.
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In order to make rhythms easier to read and internalize, they are divided into groups of equal length. You can think of it like storing things in boxes. In music the box is the measure. The things that you put in the box are the rhythms. In a measure of 4/4 time you have room for four beats. So you could put four quarter notes (this is why they are called quarter notes) in a measure of 4/4 time. If you use half notes, you can only fit two in a 4/4 measure (hence the half). And, no surprise, whole notes takes up all four beats of the measure. 4/4 is not the only meter (size of box) there is, but for now, it serves as a good basis for learning rhythmic values and how measures work. A more hands on way to think of how rhythms fit in measures is to use Legos (see the video on the website, for more on how to do this). Once we understand meter and measures, we can add the meter to our countoff, so 1-2-ready-go becomes 1-2-3-4. You can practice this while clapping through the example given. Finally, see if you can write the rhythms for Peanut Butter or Jelly (note: they are the same). You can check your answer against this chart.
You will write the rhythms for the first time through this unit. After that, practice the songs using the 1-2-3-4 count-off.
Last lesson we learned the pentatonic scale. Now we are going to make small patterns out of it.
First, we will play a three note pattern, starting on open G.
G A B | A B D|
What do you think comes next?
B D E
So the three note pattern is
First, we will play a three note pattern, starting on open G.
G A B | A B D|
What do you think comes next?
B D E
So the three note pattern is
This pattern goes up in pitch. Now try going back down using the same three note pattern.
Start on the G on the E string:
Start on the G on the E string:
This pattern goes down in pitch. We can do the same sort of up and down patterns using four notes instead of three.
And going down:
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Remember the pentatonic scale is a five note scale. In this case, we have two G’s: the open string and the G on the E string. These two G’s form the top and the bottom of the scale with the G string being the lowest sounding pitch and the G on the E string being the highest. While practicing the scale in patterns is a great way to learn the scale, it is also a way to start learning how to improvise. One of the mistakes musicians make when beginning to improvise is to simply play up and down scales. By breaking it into small patterns, you start to hear more possibilities within the scale. It also really helps you focus on particular sections of the scale.
Here is a new song using the pentatonic scale!
Remember, 4/4 means that there are four beats in each measure, so count off 1,2,3,4.You probably won’t be able to play it perfectly the first time. That is OK!
Remember, 4/4 means that there are four beats in each measure, so count off 1,2,3,4.You probably won’t be able to play it perfectly the first time. That is OK!
What is the form of this song?Do you see any sections that are the same? Start by learning each section of the form. Then try putting it all together.
So: You can also practice this with a metronome. Set your metronome to 90 beats per minute.Once you can play the chords with 4 counts in between, try doing just 3 counts, then 2, then 1.
So: You can also practice this with a metronome. Set your metronome to 90 beats per minute.Once you can play the chords with 4 counts in between, try doing just 3 counts, then 2, then 1.
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Sunrise is written with the pentatonic scale. It is in 4/4 time, meaning that there are four beats to a measure.
In the beginning, you won’t be able to play it evenly in time and that is OK. The form of the song could be called A,B,C,B with each line being one letter. But most musicians would take note of the similarities in the first and second line and call both the A section. When you have two sections that are similar you can use the prime (‘) symbol to show that one section is slightly different.
So the form of this song is A,A’,B,A’. Studying the form can really help make practicing easier. It breaks songs down into small, manageable chunks. People in general, and children in particular, are fairly resistant to working in sections.
We will explore some ways to do this as we go forward. But for now be sure to point out where the different sections of the form are and at least try to practice the song by sections.
In the beginning, you won’t be able to play it evenly in time and that is OK. The form of the song could be called A,B,C,B with each line being one letter. But most musicians would take note of the similarities in the first and second line and call both the A section. When you have two sections that are similar you can use the prime (‘) symbol to show that one section is slightly different.
So the form of this song is A,A’,B,A’. Studying the form can really help make practicing easier. It breaks songs down into small, manageable chunks. People in general, and children in particular, are fairly resistant to working in sections.
We will explore some ways to do this as we go forward. But for now be sure to point out where the different sections of the form are and at least try to practice the song by sections.
A chord is when you play more than one note at a time. On guitar, we play chords by quickly running our right thumb across the strings in a downward motion.
-Put you right hand in playing position.
-Now lift your thumb from the thickest string.
-Strum the strings, by running you fingers down from the thickest string to the high open E string, plucking each string on your way down.
This is not a great sounding chord!
In order to get good sounding chords, we will have to only use certain strings.
This time start with your right hand thumb on the G string and strum down: G, B, E.
This is called an E minor chord. Minor chords have a darker or sadder sound. To make a chord that sounds happier or brighter we will need to use our left hand.
-Play the G on the E string.
-Now strum again from the open G string: G, B, G on the E string.
-This is called the G major chord.
-Chords can be written on the staff, with the notes stacked up on top of one another:
-Put you right hand in playing position.
-Now lift your thumb from the thickest string.
-Strum the strings, by running you fingers down from the thickest string to the high open E string, plucking each string on your way down.
This is not a great sounding chord!
In order to get good sounding chords, we will have to only use certain strings.
This time start with your right hand thumb on the G string and strum down: G, B, E.
This is called an E minor chord. Minor chords have a darker or sadder sound. To make a chord that sounds happier or brighter we will need to use our left hand.
-Play the G on the E string.
-Now strum again from the open G string: G, B, G on the E string.
-This is called the G major chord.
-Chords can be written on the staff, with the notes stacked up on top of one another:
Chords can also be written with something called a chord box.
A chord box is like a map of the guitar fretboard.
Here is the chord box for e minor:
A chord box is like a map of the guitar fretboard.
Here is the chord box for e minor:
Chord box for G Major
Chord box for G Major
When you play chords, make sure to be on the tips of your left-hand fingers, so that all three of the strings you are strumming ring out clearly.
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When you play more than one note at a time, you get a chord. Playing chords is one of the most important skills a guitar player can develop. For now, we play chords by strumming down the strings with the right hand thumb.
Only Three Strings
One of the biggest challenge people face when learning to play chords is only playing certain strings. In the case of the chords we are learning in this lesson, you should only be strumming the bottom three strings (the G, B, and E). Of course, to do this you have to move your thumb off of the thickest string and start strumming from G.
Major or Minor
If you strum those three open strings you will get an E minor chord. In music we have different qualities of chord. Minor chords are sadder sounding, while major chords (like the C and G you learn in this lesson) have a happier sound to them.
Leave Room
When playing the C and G chord, you have to be certain to be on the very tips of your left-hand fingers, so that your fingers are not coming in contact with the open strings. If they do touch the open strings, it will stop the string and you won’t get a clear sound. We will learn rhythmic strumming patterns for chords and how to change between different chords quickly later on. We will also learn how to use chords to create accompaniments to songs. For now, get used to playing these three chords.
Only Three Strings
One of the biggest challenge people face when learning to play chords is only playing certain strings. In the case of the chords we are learning in this lesson, you should only be strumming the bottom three strings (the G, B, and E). Of course, to do this you have to move your thumb off of the thickest string and start strumming from G.
Major or Minor
If you strum those three open strings you will get an E minor chord. In music we have different qualities of chord. Minor chords are sadder sounding, while major chords (like the C and G you learn in this lesson) have a happier sound to them.
Leave Room
When playing the C and G chord, you have to be certain to be on the very tips of your left-hand fingers, so that your fingers are not coming in contact with the open strings. If they do touch the open strings, it will stop the string and you won’t get a clear sound. We will learn rhythmic strumming patterns for chords and how to change between different chords quickly later on. We will also learn how to use chords to create accompaniments to songs. For now, get used to playing these three chords.