In this episode I go over a new type of strumming pattern. This one adds bass notes to the chords and gives you some more polished, professional sounds than the more basic patterns we’ve done in earlier episodes.

Hold down a G chord with your left hand. Bass note is on the 6th string.

|----3--3--3--|
|----0--0--0--|
|----0--0--0--|
|----0--0--0--|
|-------------|
|-3-----------|

Hold a G chord for the first measure and a C chord for the second measure. Bass note for a C chord is on the 5th string.

|----3--3--3--|----0--0--0--|
|----0--0--0--|----1--1--1--|
|----0--0--0--|----0--0--0--|
|----0--0--0--|----2--2--2--|
|-------------|-3-----------|
|-3-----------|-------------|

Bass, chord, bass, chord pattern

|----3-----3--|----0-----0--|
|----0-----0--|----1-----1--|
|----0-----0--|----0-----0--|
|----0-----0--|----2-----2--|
|-------------|-3-----3-----|
|-3-----3-----|-------------|

The “cowboy” rhythm pattern

|----3--3--|
|----0--0--|
|----0--0--|
|----0--0--|
|----------|
|-3--------|

Bass, chord, alternate bass, chord pattern. The alternate bass for a G chord is on the 4th string.

|----3-----3--|
|----0-----0--|
|----0-----0--|
|----0--0--0--|
|-------------|
|-3-----------|

How to do alternate bass with a cowboy rhythm

|----3--3--|----3--3--|
|----0--0--|----0--0--|
|----0--0--|----0--0--|
|----0--0--|-0--0--0--|
|----------|----------|
|-3--------|----------|

Adding a quick upstroke on the “and” between the 2nd and 3rd beat
|----3-3----3-3-|
|----0-3----0-3-|
|----0------0---|
|----0---0--0---|
|---------------|
|-3-------------|

Adding a quick upstroke to the cowboy pattern

|----3--3-3-|----3--3-3-|
|----0--0-0-|----0--0-0-|
|----0--0---|----0--0---|
|----0--0---|-0--0--0---|
|-----------|-----------|
|-3---------|-----------|

The alternate bass note for a D chord is on the 5th string

|----2-----2--|
|----3-----3--|
|----2-----2--|
|-0-----------|
|-------0-----|
|-------------|

D chord cowboy pattern with alternating bass

|----2--2--|----2--2--|
|----3--3--|----3--3--|
|----2--2--|----2--2--|
|-0--------|----------|
|----------|-0--------|
|----------|----------|

The alternate bass for a C chord is on the 6th string, 3rd fret. You need to move your third finger to do this.

|----0-----0----|
|----1-----1----|
|----0-----0----|
|----2-----2----|
|-3-------------|
|-------3-------|

 

 Beginning Guitar Podcast Episode 13 [16:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Blues Solo

Section A

|-----------------|-----3-0-3-0---0-|
|-----------------|-------------3---|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2-2-4-4-2-2-4-4-|-2---------------|
|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-0---------------|

| | | | | | | |

Section B

|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------0-----|
|-2-2-4-4-2-2-4-4-|-2---2---2---2---|
|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-0---------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|

| | | | | | | |

Section C

|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
|-----------------|-----------------|

| | | | | | | |

Section D

|-----3-0---------|-------0---------|
|---------3-0---0-|-------0---------|
|-------------2---|---0-1-----------|
|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|-----------------|
|-0---------------|-0---------------|

| | | | | | | |

Play sections in this order:
A A B A C D

Repeat after me answers

Tip: Pick Strokes
Usually you will use very small (about 2-3 mm) pick strokes.
Anchoring the pinky on the pickguard will stabilize your picking hand and give you a point of reference which makes it easier to find the string you are looking for.

 

 How to play guitar - Beginning Guitar Episode 12 [14:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Three string F chord

Four string F chord

Video – hints for playing bar chords on guitar

Continue Reading »

 

 Free Guitar Lessons - Beginning Guitar Podcast Episode 10 [17:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode:

Chord Patterns

A more complex strum pattern for chords. I do this with the four-string G chord you learned earlier:

D DU UD
1&2&3&4&

After mastering the pattern try using it to play this progression:

G G7 C C

Continue Reading »

 

 Begining Guitar 6 [13:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this epsiode:

Notes on the 5th and 6th strings

5th string: open = A, 2nd fret = B, 3rd fret = C

6th string: open = E, 1st fret = F, 3rd fret = G

Playing with good timing

Recommended guitars for beginners:

Squier Stop Dreaming Start Playing Affinity Special Strat Pack With Fender Frontman 15G Amp Black This guitar and amp package includes a Squier Affinity Stratocaster and a Fender Frontman 15G amp, an electronic tuner, Hal Leonard instructional DVD, instrument cable, gig bag, guitar strap, pick sampler and stereo headphones. This is the electric guitar and amp that I recommend to my students. Great feel and sound for the price.

This is the acoustic guitar that I recommend to my students. I own the Wine Red version. Another great guitar for the money. I use it for gigging, teaching and playing around the house.

Washburn D100DL Acoustic Guitar Mahogany Mahogany Finish (Shown)

Washburn D100DL Acoustic Guitar Trans Wine Red Red Finish

Washburn D100DL Acoustic Guitar Black Black Finish

Repeat After Me Answers

 

 Beginning Guitar Episode 3 [15:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download