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tone bars to hear
guitar string sound
tone bars to hear
guitar string sound
Music Notes
When playing music on any string instrument, you
generally play through chords. Even a 'lead' player
will play through chords note by note when playing
'riffs' or scales. It is important to learn chords, but
it is equally important to know what chords fit in the
'key' you are playing in. Listed below are the major
keys and the associated chords, including a minor
chord related to that key. These are major keys,
minor keys will be discussed later.
generally play through chords. Even a 'lead' player
will play through chords note by note when playing
'riffs' or scales. It is important to learn chords, but
it is equally important to know what chords fit in the
'key' you are playing in. Listed below are the major
keys and the associated chords, including a minor
chord related to that key. These are major keys,
minor keys will be discussed later.
| · | Key of A A F#m D E or E7 |
| · | Key of B B Gm E F# or F#7 |
| · | Key of C C Am F G or G7 |
| · | Key of D D Bm G A or A7 |
| · | Key of E E C#m A B or B7 |
| · | Key of F F Dm Bb C or C7 |
| · | Key of G G Em C D or D7 |
Hey! What key are we in?
If you are a starter, you will soon learn that the most
popular guitar key is G. Next would be C. Then D.
E comes in fourth. A is popular with bluegrass folks.
F is considered a hard chord to make on the guitar
at least for newcomers. However, lots of folks sing
in that key, and after all, it is part of the C key.
You gotta learn it any way!
popular guitar key is G. Next would be C. Then D.
E comes in fourth. A is popular with bluegrass folks.
F is considered a hard chord to make on the guitar
at least for newcomers. However, lots of folks sing
in that key, and after all, it is part of the C key.
You gotta learn it any way!
Tune your guitar to any keyboard or piano
by locating E, A, D, G, B, E
by locating E, A, D, G, B, E
Using A Capo
A Capo (KA-Poe) is a clamp on device which raises the
pitch of the guitar strings. It does this by shortening the
strings. This can be helpful when you may want to use
a different set of chords to play, instead of the root key.
For example: The song is in the key of 'A'. You'd rather
play the 'G' chord set because the song sounds better,
and you can play that lead break in 'G' but not in 'A'.
But, the pitch is too low for the singers in G. No prob.
Just put the Capo on the second fret of the guitar and
play the G chord set. You are now in A. That is because
the G has been moved down two frets, or two half steps
(G#, A). The same would apply if the song is in D and
you want to play the C chord set. Again, place the
Capo on the second fret, play the C chord set. You
are now in D. Here is a great one! The tune is in the
dredded 'F' key. Do what I usually do; capo first fret
and play the E chord set. Ah, much better! This works
because E has been moved up in pitch by a half step,
so it becomes F. (there is no E# in the scales).
Here's one more. The song is in E, but you like to play
D instead. Capo second fret, and play D. The D chord
is now E. The more you use the capo, the easier it
will be to understand it. I NEVER CALL IT A CHEATER!
It is a tool! Use it with confidence!
pitch of the guitar strings. It does this by shortening the
strings. This can be helpful when you may want to use
a different set of chords to play, instead of the root key.
For example: The song is in the key of 'A'. You'd rather
play the 'G' chord set because the song sounds better,
and you can play that lead break in 'G' but not in 'A'.
But, the pitch is too low for the singers in G. No prob.
Just put the Capo on the second fret of the guitar and
play the G chord set. You are now in A. That is because
the G has been moved down two frets, or two half steps
(G#, A). The same would apply if the song is in D and
you want to play the C chord set. Again, place the
Capo on the second fret, play the C chord set. You
are now in D. Here is a great one! The tune is in the
dredded 'F' key. Do what I usually do; capo first fret
and play the E chord set. Ah, much better! This works
because E has been moved up in pitch by a half step,
so it becomes F. (there is no E# in the scales).
Here's one more. The song is in E, but you like to play
D instead. Capo second fret, and play D. The D chord
is now E. The more you use the capo, the easier it
will be to understand it. I NEVER CALL IT A CHEATER!
It is a tool! Use it with confidence!
Strum through each set in the order above with
two strums per chord. This is good practice for
a newcomer. If you have problems with keys A,B
F, see the section to the left about using a capo.
two strums per chord. This is good practice for
a newcomer. If you have problems with keys A,B
F, see the section to the left about using a capo.
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There's a light at the river, a light at the river, there's a light at the river I can see
My Lord will stand, and hold in His hand , a light at the river for me
My Lord will stand, and hold in His hand , a light at the river for me
Here is and old gospel favorite called 'There's A Light At The River' . I will soon add an mp3 to illustrate some common 'bluegrass' style techniques, such as 'hammers' and 'double stops'.
Double stops is the act of playing two notes of a chord in harmony. Usually, the first and third but can be
first and 5th also. I will use this method when playing gospel music or if another guitar is playing the chords.
'hammers' is playing a string or note and then 'hammering' down on that string two frets down. This is a
real 'bluegrass' style and is used extensively in guitar playing.
'pull off' is the opposite of the hammer. You strike a note then pull it off to the open string.
first and 5th also. I will use this method when playing gospel music or if another guitar is playing the chords.
'hammers' is playing a string or note and then 'hammering' down on that string two frets down. This is a
real 'bluegrass' style and is used extensively in guitar playing.
'pull off' is the opposite of the hammer. You strike a note then pull it off to the open string.
Tip: take your guitar and visit some of the events and jams
listed on my 'events' page. You will meet people of all levels
of experience and surely learn something new. You could
even join in and 'sit in' and play along. This is a great way
to improve your skills while having fun doing it.
listed on my 'events' page. You will meet people of all levels
of experience and surely learn something new. You could
even join in and 'sit in' and play along. This is a great way
to improve your skills while having fun doing it.
Capo (ka-poe)
A B7 C D E F G
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CAPO
FRET
1 Bb C7 C# D# F F# G#
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2 B C#7 D E F# G A
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3 C D7 D# F G G# A#
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4 C# D#7 E F# G# A B
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5 D E7 F G A Bb C
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CAPO
FRET
1 Bb C7 C# D# F F# G#
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2 B C#7 D E F# G A
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3 C D7 D# F G G# A#
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4 C# D#7 E F# G# A B
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5 D E7 F G A Bb C
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CHORD: example: a 'C' chord , with capo on 2nd fret becomes a 'D' chord
example: a 'G' chord, with capo on 2nd fret becomes an 'A' chord
example: a 'G' chord, with capo on 2nd fret becomes an 'A' chord
Check out the
Capo chart below
Capo chart below
329.80 hz
246.92 hz
195.92 hz
146.72 hz
110.00 hz
82.4 hz