STARTING GUITAR
LESSON 16
MATT FINN
Can you
draw the chords?
Em A
F D7
G C
Am E
Stretch Those
Fingers
Stretch #1
Put our your hand in front of you with your palm facing away. Grab your fingers with your
other hand and gently pull towards yourself. You don’t want it to hurt, but you should make
sure you’re pulling hard enough to feel the stretch. Hold it for 20 or 30 seconds then switch to
the other arm. Be sure to go back and forth a few times.
Stretch #2
This stretch is a speedier alternative to the first stretch we looked at. Spread all your fin-
gers apart and put them together tip to tip. Gently push your hands together until you feel a
stretch. Hold it for 20 or 30 seconds, shake it out, and do it again a few times.
Stretch #3
For the next stretch, we’ll target a different area of our arm. Reach out your arm with your
palm facing downwards and make a fist. Then grab your fist with your other hand and gen-
tly pull downwards towards the floor. The same things apply with this stretch. Don’t pull too
hard and hold it for 20 or 30 seconds. Switch hands and go back and forth a couple of times.
Stretch #4
The last stretch we’ll look at is actually more of a massage than a stretch. Grab one of your
fingers between your thumb and index finger. While pulling, roll your finger back and forth.
This will really help limber up the individual finger. Do this for all of your fingers and be care-
ful not to pull or roll too violently.
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Remember to play only one string at a time and one note at a time! It is
so important to stretch your fingers and to exercise them, as it means
that you will get stronger and be able to fret the guitar better all the time.
Another way
to play...
Bm
A New Chord
and an Old Song
Dm
This weeks chord is the last that we will learn for now in the D family.
It is a D minor. It still has some of the D shape but with the finger on the top string being on the first fret.
Add this chord to your arsenal and it will be useful for future weeks.
Practice going between each chord you have learnt up until now....
Finally for this week, we have a new song to work through!
This song is by a famous Punk Rock act, called Green Day. It is a slower, acoustic track. But it is a really good
one for you to learn.
The rhythm for it is printed below.
Let’s Play a Song!!!
HOMEWORK
PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
1. Practice G, A, Am, Bm, C, D, D7, Dm, Em, E, F and chords. Practice
moving between them.
2. Exercise your fingers so that they become more comfortable on the
fretboard.
3.Practice your strokes, try out the new ones and see how you get on. They
will take more practice and patience.
4. Stretch your fingers, its important that they are looked after!
5. Have a look back at some of the past songs and choose one to work on!
6. ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!
