These notes are to be played in the fifth position.  Here are a few practice tips:

• In the fifth position play the following notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B,  and C
• These are the notes of the C major scale.  These are the notes of the first exercise on the following page.
• I recommend that you play this scale as an exercise.
• As a technical exercise, be sure you play on the tips of your fingers and keep your thumb low on the neck.
• As a rhythm exercise, put your metronome at a very low speed and practice playing one note/click (quarter notes), two notes/click (eighth notes), three notes/click (triplets), and four notes/click (sixteenth notes).  Be sure to use down and up strokes when playing more than one note/click.

Keep the following in mind when practicing “Ode to Joy.”

• This piece works great in the open, third, and fifth positions.
• Learn it in the open position first and then try the other positions.
• Melody is everything!  If you can play all the notes in the right order, great!  However, what did it sound like?  Be sure to play legato (smooth).  Try to move smoothly from one note to the next.

Keep in mind the following as you play through the exercises and songs in this lesson:

This lessons will teach you how to find the natural notes on the guitar.  On the piano, the natural notes are all the white keys.  Be sure to read this lesson and then fill in the neck diagram with all the natural notes up to the 12th fret.  You can check your work by looking at the completed neck diagram at the end of the lesson.  No peeking!  Do your homework first!

This is a great lesson to read; especially if you have no background in reading music.  This lesson will teach you about standard notation.  This is the “industry standard” for notating music. Basically, this lesson has nothing to do with the guitar.  It’s more about music than it is about the guitar.

Be sure to do the note quiz at the end of the lesson.

• You need to learn the D7 chord to play through this song.
• This song is in 4/4 time.
• Keep it simple at first.  Strum once in each measure and count to four (whole notes).  If a measure doesn’t have a chord in it, strum the chord you’re holding again.
• Now, strum down on all four beats (quarter notes).  Don’t stop your hand from strumming.
• Finally, try one of the 4/4 patterns given at the beginning of this lesson.

We are taking the “campfire” approach to playing “Scarborough Fair.”  All we need are chords and a strumming pattern and we can make music.  Keep in mind the following when practicing this song:

• This song is in 3/4 time.  Use a 3/4 strumming pattern.
• Keep it simple at first.  Try strumming once in every measure.  This will give you plenty of time to get to the next chord.  When you can do this, try strumming on all three beats, and then try a 3/4 strumming pattern.
• I know its difficult, but don’t stop your strumming hand even if you don’t like the sound of your chords.  Train yourself to get all the way through the song.
• Watch the video below for a demonstration of the 3/4 strumming pattern.
• The second video is a demonstration of the entire song using the 3/4 strumming pattern.

This Lesson is about putting a cool strumming pattern behind your chord.  Call it a “groove.”  You will also work on what I like to call the “Campfire” approach to playing songs.  Keep the following in mind when working through this Lesson:

Keep the following in mind when working through Lesson Four:

• Memorize each chord.  Know it by name and know how to hold it.
• Check to make sure each of the notes of the chord work.
• Play on the very tips of your fingers. Do not extend your fingers.  Instead, bend each joint.
• Use the proper finger!
• When switching chords, be sure to strum the chord on the beat that it shows up.  Even if you don’t have it completely down, strum it anyways!  You’re not just working on holding chords, you’re working on rhythm too.