Beginner Guitar Lesson 16

Beginner Guitar Song

Welcome to the first beginner guitar lesson that deal with finger style guitar techniques.

In beginner guitar lesson 16 we’re gonna learn a completely new song which I have tested on hundreds of beginner students, all but one managed to play this song within 10 minutes!

In the video below we see both me and Sam playing the same song using different right hand techniques.

What is important to point out here (and the reason we recorded it) is that both these styles are right. Neither is better nor worse in themselves and many guitar players have become famous using much more unorthodox techniques, that’s for sure!

What I’m trying to say here is that you are going to have to find your own way. It’s all down to hand size and what naturally feels better.

Let’s have a look at the different techniques before I continue discussing the advantages and disadvantages with both techniques.

Classically inspired right hand technique

Up until 0:48 we hear Samantha play using a classically inspired right hand technique.

The hand is floating and in the same place letting the fingers do all the work in plucking the strings.

Sam has nails which affect the angle of the hand but also the sound, producing a more treble heavy sound than what the skin of the finger would produce on its own.

Folk inspired right hand technique

Early folk players used finger picks instead of nails which made their hand have a different angle towards the string, but still with a similar sound a nail produce.

Using the same angle as you would have with finger picks but only using the fingers, without any nails is what you hear me play.

Between 0:48 and 1:25 you see how the hand is much closer to the strings, I also have different amount of fingers in contact with the strings not played.

Up until 1:07 I rest my little finger on the top of the guitar. Post 1:07 I use combination of floating and muting style.

The sound produced using the flesh of the finger is much more warm and dull than the sound of nails or finger picks.

Try all techniques discussed in order to find out which one is right for you and your hand.

Get more tips on right hand finger style techniques, including specific exercises for each finger style song in the eBook Acoustic Finger Style Guitar.

Beginner Guitar Song Chords

The chords used are demonstrated in the video above from 1:27 til the end.

As I said in the beginning; I have taught this song to hundreds of beginners and they can all do it, none of them would understand the chord structure or extensions that have been put in place, but as a beginner, you don’t have to!

In order to just get playing, use the TAB displayed below and the video.

Beginner Guitar Song TAB, part 1 – Basic idea

Beginner Guitar Song TAB, part 2 – Bass variation

Beginner Guitar Song TAB, part 3 – Bass variation 2

Beginner Guitar Song TAB, part 4 – Chord variation 1

Returning Advanced students

Maybe you are not a beginner on guitar, just on finger style and you want to know more about the chords played in the “Beginner Guitar Song”.

To work out what the chords are, the rabbit hole goes deep…

Play around with Chordacus, look for these clues

Emaj7, D shape

G#m7, Gm shape

F#m7, Em shape

B9, C shape

If you have read the Guitar Conspiracy and can’t get enough of roman numerals, check the SWS in the key of E.

You should end up with: I – III – II – V.

If you read the Conspiracy back to back you would now think to yourself, that’s: Ionian, Phrygian, Dorian and Mixolydian!

Next up is Beginner Guitar Lesson 17.

Happy playing!

Dan (your guitar guru)