L E V E L I
Module II
In Module II you’ll begin to strengthen and stretch your fingers with a warm-up exercise. You’ll also improve your strumming technique, add two strumming patterns, and learn a new song.
Lesson
1
Warm-Up Exercise
THIS EXERCISE is the best thing you can do, not only to warm up, but also to develop stretch, strength, and sustain. Every detail in it is important, so watch the video carefully several times and take notes. If you’re a complete beginner, start with only the first half of this exercise (1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1). Begin every practice session with at least 5 minutes of it—and be sure you cover all of the frets on all six strings!
IT’S EASY to unknowingly make a mistake one day and then end up practicing that mistake day after day. To avoid this problem, revisit the video or your notes every few days to make sure you’re still doing it correctly. Keep notes of your metrome speed, so you can start each day at the tempo you left off on the previous day. Remember, this is not an exercise for speed. Don’t rush!
Lesson
2
Your Second Song
IT’S TIME to learn another song! The second song in Getting Started, Careless Love, will add the G chord to your vocabulary and introduce you to the bass/strum accompaniment technique. Practice the technique by striking the bass string (string 4, 5, or 6) that is the root of the chord, then strumming down in the usual fashion. Keep the rhythm steady (bass/down/bass/down) throughout the song.
If you don’t have Getting Started, choose a song that uses the D, G, and A chords and is in 4/4 time. Remember to learn to sing the song first, then add the chords. Memorize your song as soon as possible.
If you accidentally hit the wrong bass string, don’t let it stop you. Keep a steady beat and keep going!
Lesson
3
Sing!
SING—even if (or maybe especially if) you don’t want to or will never do it in front of anyone! As you learned in Module I, you need to sing with the songs that you’re learning, so that you can fully understand them, play the rhythm accurately, memorize them correctly and quickly and more. But you’ll benefit from singing more songs than just the ones you’re playing on guitar. (Reread this: ET3 Sing)
You can’t start developing the skills that are most important in guitar—memorization, pitch sense, and rhythmic sense—too soon, and learning to sing a lot of songs is the best way to do that. Choose songs you like and learn to sing them, including the lyrics. Keep time by clapping or tapping on a drum.
LEARNING AND PRACTICING the correct melodic rhythm is the most important step in the process so don’t skip it!
Listen to the recording repeatedly while analyzing the number of beats in between the vocal parts. Sing with the recording, then with a metronome or while you’re clapping.
If you can’t make it work or you’re not sure if you’re doing it correctly, I can help you.
Lesson
4
Your Third Song
LEARN to play your next song. The third song in Getting Started introduces the C chord. It’s in the key of G, has the chords G, C, and D, and uses the bass/down strum.
Each new song you learn at this stage should have one or more new first position chords and and/or accompaniment techniques or patterns.
AFTER WARMING UP each day, spend about 80% of your practice time on your new song and 20% on the ones you already know.
By practicing your old songs, you’ll build a repertoire and ensure that you remember all of the chords and techniques you’ve learned. In addition, you’ll continue to see improvements on your old songs.
Lesson
5
The Metronome
THE METRONOME is an essential tool and the sooner you discover and benefit from it, the better! Use this video to master working with it.
Be focused and patient in your practice. Never rush, and count out loud whenever it’s necessary.
ALTHOUGH you won’t want to use the metronome on everything you play, you should use it with at least one thing daily. It will be essential when working our rhythmic challenges and new songs and you should always use it on the warm-up exercise.
Keep this article handy for a quick synopsis or refresher.
Lesson
6
Strum Patterns
USE THIS LESSON to learn how to refine your strumming and begin building your collection of strumming patterns. Don’t get in a hurry to learn all all of the patterns at once. Just learn the first pattern, practicing it with the metronome until it’s easy and smooth. When you’re comfortable with it, start using it in songs. (You’ll use the first one in the fourth song in Getting Started, Circle Be Unbroken.)
REVIEW the instructions in the lesson. It’s important to understand and practice using down strokes ( / ) on the beat and up strokes ( V ) in between the beats. Refer back to the lesson when you’re ready for new patterns—and feel free to make up your own!
Lesson
7
The Capo
GRAB A CAPO and learn how it can help you! The first part of this article will help you learn how to choose a capo how to place it on your guitar. The end of the article will be useful in understanding how to use it in your playing.
Begin by experimenting with the placement of the capo on the fretboard and taking note of how it affects your ability to sing easily (or not) in the key that you’re used to playing the song in.
ONCE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE with placing the capo on your guitar and using it to find suitable keys, you’ll probably still have some questions. You’ll find answers in the rest of the article. but also this video lesson, where I give you a thorough explanation of using the capo in vaious situations.
As usual, you’ll do best by watching the video multiple times.
Lesson
8
DO YOU STRUGGLE to hit the right string with your pick? Take some time in each practice session for a few weeks to work on that skill. Start by striking each string, in sucession, four times, using alternating down/up strokes. Then progress to two strokes per strings and finally, one. That means you’ll be using a down stroke for the 6th string, and up for the 5th string, a down for the 4th, and so on.
FINDING THE RIGHT STRING gets more challenging when you’re skipping strings. You can make string skipping easier by using this lesson for your daily pick execises. Learn one really well before you go to the next. Once you’re comfortable with them, be sure to revisit them occasionally to stay sharp.
Lesson
9
Resolving Excess Tension
PLAYING GUITAR CAM BE PHYSICALLY TAXING and you’ll need some tactics to be comfortable and ensure guitar playing longevity. Read this article several times and practice the principles and exercises until they become natural to you and you’re able to benefit from them in all you play.
WHEN YOU’RE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES, it may take some muscle to get a clean sound. But tension in your hands and arms can not only result in pain and discomfort, it can also compromise your sound and speed. For these reasons, I developed this simple exercise to help you play with less pressure. Return to this exercise often. It’s important and I’ve never met a guitar player who didn’t need it!
You should feel pretty good about yourself right now. You’ve not only made it past the beginning stage, you have a great foundation for an unlimited future in your guitar playing! Ready to go on to Module III? Click here!
Quick Links: Level I: module I; module II; module III / Level II: module I; module II; module III / Level III: module I; module II; module III