Author: guitartakespractice

Lesson Two – “Groovin’ Blues”

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Performance Notes:

  • This song is written in Tablature
  • The top line is the bottom string.  Numbers are frets (not fingers).
  • I suggest you use your first finger to play all the notes at the second fret.  Play frets three and four with your second and third fingers respectively.
  • Each note should ring for the same length of time.  I highly recommend you use a metronome and set it at a low speed (try 50 bpm).  Play one note for every click of your metronome.
  • Memorize the first 8 notes and learn to play them before moving on.
  • The first 8 notes of the third line will require extra practice.
  • Watch the video below for a demonstration of the “Groovin’ Blues.”

Lesson Five – Understanding Rhythm

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Please read through this lesson.  This lesson is more about music than it is about the guitar.  This lesson could be a chapter in any music book for any instrument.  Here are the main things I would like for you to get out of this Lesson:

  • Be able to identify in music a whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth note (and the corresponding rests).
  • Know what the top and bottom number of a time signature stand for.
  • Know the value of a whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth note in 4/4 time and 3/4 time.
  • Try the rhythm exercises given at the end of the Lesson using the chord of your choice.

Guitar Takes Practice

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This blog is devoted to all the students that are learning to play guitar with the book, “I’ve Always Wanted to PLAY GUITAR” by Rich Hawthorne and Mike McKenna.  Our hope with this blog is to provide additional practice tips for each lesson in our book, helpful videos to demonstrate the material, and most of all to encourage you to stick with it!  Mike and I have always thought of ourselves as students of the guitar, even though we have been playing for over 30 years!  You really never stop being a student, there’s more music then there is time.  That’s ok, though, it’s what keeps  learning music fun and exciting, and its never boring.  Music does take practice.  Check this blog often, we want to be your companions on your musical journey.

Rich Hawthorne