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Here is how we get the proper position in the right hand:
-Make a spyglass: This puts your hands in the appropriate position for holding the pick. The only adjustment that we have to make is to move the thumb from the tip of the pointer finger to the topside (or outside) of the pointer finger.
-Place the pick: Place the pick on the topside of the pointer finger so that the tip of the pick is pointing the same direction as the finger. When done properly the pick looks like an extension of the pointer finger. A common misconception is that the pick should be pinched high up by the pointer finger and thumb, in the same way fancy people pick up snacks at a party. It is very important for the pick to feel like a slight, natural extension of the pointer finger, so only a small section of the pick should stick out from the finger.
-Scratch yourself with your bionic finger: Okay, this one seems a little silly, but kids love it and it is a great way to practice playing motion. Once you are holding your pick comfortably, you can scratch your other hand with the pick. While you are doing this pay attention to where you are moving from. When picking you want to move from the wrist.
Moving from your wrist, push the pick down and across the G string.
Picking down each time, play the G string 3 times and say “down and in” as you pick.
Let the B string stop the pick.
Keep practicing your chop, drop, and roll to get in the right position every time.
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This is our introduction to playing with the pick. There are a lot of steps to this one, so here is what we want to watch for:
CHOP: This is a little counterintuitive because in this stage the pick is not pointing at the strings. The idea is to get your hands in the right position. The pinky side of your hand should be resting across the strings vertically. It also sets your hand at the proper angle for picking.
DROP: Twist the wrist towards the guitar to bring the pick to the strings. We will start by playing the G string. You can pick the strings from this position, but you will get a muted sound since your palm is still resting on the strings.
ROLL: Here we roll the heel of the hand onto the thickest string, lifting the pinky and palm off of the strings. The part of your hand that connects the palm of your hand to your thumb will still contact the thickest string.Now, you can pick the strings easily by moving your wrist.While playing with the pick is different from playing with the fingers, some of the same ideas apply:
-Anchoring the heel of your hand: In the same way we anchor the thumb in finger playing, we anchor the heel of the hand when playing with the pick. This encourages you to pick from the wrist and also helps you orient yourself without looking at your hand.
Note: Eventually, you will learn to feel each string and will want to release the anchor we set here. But in the beginning it is important to have things stabilized with the anchor.
-Pushing/pulling down and in: About two books ago we learned the rest stroke. Pulling the string until it released and sounded and then resting your finger in the neighboring string, gave us a full and controlled sound. The same is true of the pick, only we are pushing down and in instead of pulling.
Be careful to be picking in toward the instrument and not out and away from the strings. This is why we say down and in when picking.
Then try playing it, using fingers to pluck the strings. (We’ll try it with the pick later).
Do the same thing with the second line: Clap the rhythm, then try playing it, using your fingers to pluck the strings.
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This is the first half of the song, Go Tell Aunt Rhody; we will learn the rest next week.
When learning a new song, a good strategy is to break it into pieces. First, we will break it down into four measure lines. Then we will practice the rhythm, followed by the pitches in each line.
Here are the pitch names and how to count the rhythm, please do not write this in the notation, doing so will slow the learning process.
As with any new song, the goal is to get comfortable with the material. It will not be perfect the first time and that is okay.
This is how you play it:
It is called D7:
When you move from A minor to D7, it looks like this:
-The 3rd finger moves from 2nd fret on the G string to 2nd fret on the E.
-The 2nd finger moves from 2nd fret on the D string to 2nd fret on the G string.
-The 1st finger doesn’t move at all!
Then try putting a metronome on at 90 beats per minute.
-Play the a minor chord.
-Count to four while changing to the D7 chord.
-When you get to four, play the D7 chord.
Once you can do it in four counts, try 3, then 2, then 1!
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As always, we want to practice chords with a few key concepts in mind:
-Stay close to the strings and move from one chord to another.
-Use the time that you are counting to move your fingers into place for the next chord.
-Don’t be afraid to practice one finger motion at a time. For example, the 3rd finger moves from the second fret of the G string to the second fret on the E string. Practice this motion by itself until it is comfortable then start adding in the other fingers.
These are eighth notes:
One way to get used to counting eighth notes and quarter notes evenly is to use your thumb and fingers!
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To practice hearing and feeling the difference between these notes we use a special kind of clapping. Instead of just hitting our hands together we, hold one hand steady and then rock the hand back and forth between the fingers and the thumb. This creates the subdivision of the beat into eighth-notes.
Just to remind you, here are the notes in the lower register:
You will have to get on the tips of your fingers!
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The open D string is written in the space just below the staff.
As always, clap through the rhythms the first time, then try playing the notes. Be sure that you give yourself a count-off when you start.
The notes are provided here, but do not write them in to the book.
C D C D | E D | E E D E | D E ||
E F E | F G G | F E D | D E ||
G F E | F G G | F E D | E F G ||