Intro to guitar 1/2 -- how learning the guitar works, how to strum a guitar

Part 1 = This vid;
Part 2 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_xXX66nwkk

This video talks about how it's easy to learn to play the guitar and you don't have to "focus" or anything special. I teach the fingering of the E major chord (frets: 022100). I also trouble shoot issues with the guitar.

In a follow up video I show you:
1) How I strum
2) How to mute
3) a chord progression that you can practice with.
-if you already know the E major chord you can probably skip to the next vid.

My set up:
Strings: Phosor Bronze, mediums (.013-.056), new
Guitar: Taylor (model 214, ~2006?)

NOTES: If you use lighter strings (which you should totally start out with) your strumming might sound a little less choppy and cool-like, so don't worry if you're using lights and not getting a cool sound. Also, my guitar is just magic and sounding fresh. You should head into a guitar shop and mess around with the $700+ guitars. I probably wouldn't have kept practicing if I didn't have such a nice guitar.

Would-be lesson plan:
-How to tune up?

-How chord diagrams work
-How chord tab works (022100, etc.)

-How to finger the E power chord
-*How chords slide up and down the neck
-*How you use your barre with power chords

-How to finger the E major chord
-*How you can slide the E major chord up to an F major
-*How to barre that chord

-How to ensure that you're holding everything down enough
-How your finger tips should hurt, but they callus after a while

Second Vid on strumming
-Two chords to strum
-How to practice going between chords

-Right hand strumming
-*Nails hit strings at same time (keep them flat)
-*Point nails at a slight angle
-*Use thumb

-Explain strumming notation (arrows)

-A basic up/down strumming...

-Muting with palm
-muting with pinky
-*those cool harmonics

-Display advanced strumming pattern with mutes (arrows)
-*demonstrate advanced strumming

-etc....

-Explain how learning the guitar involves those 4 things that take a week, no matter how much you play that week just as long as it's 3-5mins a day.

-Explain that as your strings get grimy and old, they get harder to tune right, sound worse, and ring harmonics less. (find citations)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• intro
• to
• guitar
• beginner
• how
• strum
• cathode0edu

[crash9321]

Does it work with electric guitars

[Cathode0]

@crash9321 yeah, as long as you use standard tuning (EADGBE) the instruments are mostly identical (electric and acoustic). Note though, that finger-picking on electric doesn't sound as good as flat picking on electric (from what I've noticed). There's probably foot pedals that make it cooler and amp settings but I don't know too much about that.

[Cathode0]

mediums .013-.056

Phosphor Bronze (mine are made by D'Addario)

I just restrung about 2 weeks ago so they're pretty fresh.

[sirsilwil]

@froznic no it's normal if you play alot your fingers will get tough then the strings won't hurt he probably has caluses (no idea how to spell it.)i have caluses and my fingers don't hurt anymore

[Cathode0]

@froznic I've heard that stuff before (I heard peroxide before actually). But I've never tried it, I just played as much as I could stand at first until finally I lost my sense of feeling =P

[froznic]

@froznic Never mind.. Apparently I have to bathe my fingertips in rubbing alcohol every 10 minutes! 

[froznic]

So um.. I've started learning but apparently having shorter fingers makes this a bigger pain then it would be with longer fingers.. Not to mention the fact that I feel like the strings are going through my fingers just to make it not sound all messed up.. Is that normal? Cuz after 30 seconds of pushing the strings in I have to take a break for 20 minutes for my fingers to stop stinging.. You make it look like it doesn't hurt at all.. Am I losing my mind?

[siege86]

wow i got something major outta this vid bro thanks, its a lot easier to slide using your pinky and ring finger.

[yarrboots]

you're a really good teacher! i know nothing about playing guitar... i dusted mine off and i'll start playing that E chord. thanks for posting!

[hatagata]

what kind of strings do you use?