STARTING GUITAR

LESSON 1

MATT FINN
 THE ANATOMY OF
THE GUITAR

Headstock - This is the top of the guitar, it holds the Tuning pegs in place, at the head of the
instrument. Dependant on the make and type of guitar, it can be made in different shapes and
decorated with different patterns to signify who designed the guitar.

Tuning Keys (or Pegs) - This is the mechanism that is used to hold the strings in place at
the top of the instrument, turning the keys (or pegs) either tightens or loosens the strings and
allows for the instrument to be tuned to the correct pitch for that string.

Nut - This part is designed to guide the strings that have come from the saddle up to the
tuning pegs. They have grooves set in them, in order to hold the strings in place, and reduce
buzzing from the strings.

Frets - These metallic bars, set into the fret board, are set at intervals to give the player
marks of where each note is on the fretboard.

Position Markers - These. usually mother of pearl dots, set in the fret board, mark the
points at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th and 15th fret, they help the guitarist to visually see where
they are on the guitar.

Neck - The neck of a guitar includes the guitar’s frets, fretboard, tuning keys, headstock, and
truss rod. The wood used to make the fretboard will usually differ from the wood in the rest of
the neck.
Fretboard - is the top part of the neck of the guitar between the headstock and the body.

Soundhole - allows the sound from the guitar to travel more freely.

Pickguard - is a piece of plastic or other (often laminated) material that is placed on the gui-
tar below the sound hole to prevent scratching from plectrums.Body - this is the part of the
guitar where the sound is made. Inside is a set of struts, placed in such a way that the body
vibrates differently for each guitar (shown below). The body also holds the bridge, and saddle,
so that the strings can be fed up the neck of the guitar

Strings - these are stretched across the body and up the neck of the guitar, in varying
thicknesses and at various tensions, in order to be tuned to different pitches. When fingers are
placed in the correct patterns, chords and notes are created.

Bridge - A bridge is a device that supports the strings on a stringed musical instrument and
transmits the vibration of those strings to another structural component of the instrument—
typically a soundboard, such as the top of a guitar or violin—which transfers the sound to the
surrounding air.

Saddle - A guitar saddle is designed to transfer the vibrations through the bridge into the top
wood of the guitar.

String Pegs - String Pegs are responsible for keeping your strings lined up horizontally. But
even more important than that, the bridge pins carry a lot of the vibrations - and, by exten-
sion, the sound - from your acoustic guitar strings down into the instrument’s body.
 TUNING YOUR
GUITAR

The guitar is tuned, starting from the lowest string, to the notes E, A, D, G, B and E.

The easiest way of doing this is with a guitar tuner, either a physical one, or with an app.

By turning the tuning pegs up or down, you can bring the guitar into tune.

Another way is shown below, for if you can get someone to play the low E note, and then tune
each string individually from there.
 PLUCKING THE
STRINGS

The guitar can either be played with your fingers or thumb, with a set of finger picks, or with
a plectrum.

However you wish to play the guitar is a personal preference. Playing with your fingers gives
the most versatility, as you can switch between strumming, and finger picking most easily.
The issue with playing with your fingers is that it can cause pain whilst you are learning, and
make you less inclined to practice.

Thumb picks or finger picks are useful again for finger picking, they can be used also to
strum, but their original intention was so that you can make your finger picking louder.

The final option, the plectrum, is useful for strumming the guitar, as it reduces the pain el-
ement, whilst making the guitar louder. As you progress, the plectrum can be used for some
picking elements as well as strumming.
 FIRST CHORDS
G, C, D

These are the first 3 chords that you need to learn for the guitar.

The G chord is played by placing your fingers on these particular strings, and then strum all 6
strings. The C chord, again by placing your fingers on the notes, but by not playing the low E
string. The D chord, by not playing the low E and A string.

To begin with, play each chord through, until you get the feel of it.

EXERCISE
Practice changing between chords. getting the shape from the G to the C, C to the D, D, to G.
 FIRST SONG -
KNOCKING ON
HEAVENS’S DOOR
[Intro]
GDC

[Verse]
G D C
Mama take this badge off of me
G D C
I can’t use it anymore
G D C
It’s getting dark, too dark to see
G D C
I feel I’m knockin on heaven’s door

[Chorus]
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door

[Verse]
G D C
Mama put my guns in the ground
G D C
I can’t shoot them anymore
G D C
That long black cloud is comin’ down
G D C
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door

[Chorus]
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
G D C
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door

[Outro]
G D C
G
 HOMEWORK
Practice, Practice, Practice!

1. Learn the names of the parts of the guitar

2. Practice tuning the guitar, checking if it is in tune, and

3. Practice the G, C and D chords, changing between them.

4. Practice the song, learning to switch between the chords,

ENJOY YOURSELF!!