Here are some really common mistakes made by new guitarists. As you practice and learn how to play guitar please keep them in mind.
Remember to tune your guitar first and warm-up your hands.
Be patient. Mastering any instrument takes a lot of practice.
Practice slowly and watch your hands to have good guitar technique.
Practice with a metronome to have a steady feel for tempo and keeping the beat.
Change your chords on the the beat. Better to play slowly in rhythm than fast and miss a chord.
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Guitar lesson software such as eMedia Guitar Methodhelps you learn how to play guitar faster. It provides a mix of great beginner guitar lessons by qualified teachers from leading music schools, and interactive music technology that gets you playing quickly. The Animated Fretboard and interactive guitar notation lets you see which notes to play, while the software listens to you and displays whether you’re actually playing the right note. Plus you learn hit songs like Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and Rock’n Me.
Simply playing the same two songs over and over will not make you progress. Have a clear idea of what you need to practice. In general, consider putting time aside for these three areas:
Improve guitar technique and strengthen your fingers. Remember that everyone needs to warm-up before playing and performing. Ways to do that effectively are to practice playing scales in different positions on the neck, changing between chords in common chord progressions, picking and fingerpicking, and playing in-tempo with a metronome. Start SLOWLY. Try to play CLEANLY without extra noise from accidentally hitting open strings, or accidentally muting notes by not holding down a note on the fret properly. Getting good tone will help make you a great player.
Practice songs and repertoire. Once you are all warmed-up, now is the time to practice the songs you know. Don’t rush them, but make sure that you are cleanly changing chords, hearing all the notes, and playing it at tempo without pausing.
Learn something new. Stretch yourself with a new technique, song, or musical style. Learn music theory and train your ear.
Learn Faster with eMedia’s Interactive Beginner Guitar Lessons!
Guitar lesson software such as eMedia Guitar Methodhelps you learn how to play guitar faster. It provides a mix of great beginner guitar lessons by qualified teachers from leading music schools, and interactive music technology that gets you playing quickly. The Animated Fretboard and interactive guitar notation lets you see which notes to play, while the software listens to you and displays whether you’re actually playing the right note. Plus you learn hit songs like Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and Rock’n Me.
A combination of three or more tones sounded simultaneously.
Clef
This musical symbol is used to indicate the pitch of written notes. There are primarily three clefs used in modern music as seen below:
Dynamics
The loud and soft variations within a musical piece.
Head
A slang term for the main melody, often used in jazz.
Larghetto
Indication that the music should be played at a tempo not quite so slow as largo. 60 – 65 ticks per minute.
Largo
Indication that the music should be played slowly, in a broad manner. 40 – 59 ticks per minute.
Major Chord
A chord with three notes called a triad, that combines the first, third, and fifth notes of a major scale. Major chords have a happy or cheerful sound.
Measures
Sections of music organized with a certain number of beats determined by the time signature. For example, one measure in 4/4 time might be made up of four quarter (1/4) notes, or 8 eighth (1/8th) notes.
Melody
A rhythmically organized sequence of single tones so related to one another as to make up a particular musical phrase or idea.
Metronome
A device that marks time at a steady beat in adjustable intervals, to help keep a steady beat while playing music.
Minor Chord
A chord with three notes called a triad, that combines the first, flatted third, and fifth notes of a major scale. Minor chords have a darker, melancholy sound.
Moderato
Moderate, as in a moderate speed. 108 – 119 ticks per minute.
Muting
Touching played strings lightly to deaden their sound.
Neck
Section of the guitar that includes the fretboard and carries the strings from the body to the head of the guitar.
Note
A single sound, or its representation in music notation. This corresponds to a musical frequency. For example the a middle A note is 440 Hz.
Nut
Raised bar at the top of the fretboard that supports the strings and stops their vibration, as they run to the head of the guitar.
Octave
The same note up or down 12 half-steps, which is also equal to twice, or half of its frequency. For example, a middle A at 440 Hz., up 12 half-steps is still an A note but sounds higher as it is at 880 Hz.
Palm muting
A technique in which the palm of the right hand is laid on the strings just above the bridge, so that the strings are slightly muffled; this is different from muting, where the strings are deadened.
Pitch
A distinct musical note. This also corresponds to a frequency. For example, Concert A is 440 Hz.
Power chords
Chords that use only the two lowest strings of a normal chord; indicated by the symbol “5” (e.g. “A5” for an A power chord). The chords are created using the first and fifth steps of a major or minor scale.
Prestissimo
Very fast indeed. Faster than presto. 181 – 208 ticks per minute.
Presto
Fast. Indication that the music be played at a fast tempo. 168 – 180 ticks per minute.
Reference notes
Properly tuned notes used to tune another instrument by comparison.
Rhythm
A regular pattern formed by a series of notes of differing duration and stress.
Riff
A short musical phrase that a song is based on.
Root
The note from which a chord is built. For example, the root of the A minor chord is the A note.
Staff or Stave
A set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different pitch. With percussion instruments the lines and spaces represent different percussive sounds (bass drum, cymbals, etc.)
Syncopation
Stressing a beat which is normally weak.
Guitar Tabs or Tablature
A system of notation using letters and symbols to indicate playing directions (See Lesson 88).
Tempo
Rate of speed at which music is played, usually expressed in Beats Per Minute (BPM).
Tie
A curved line connecting two identically-pitched notes, implying that only the first note is to be plucked, but sustained for the entire duration of the two notes combined.
Triad
This is a chord that uses the first note of a scale (called the Root), combined with the third note and the fifth note.
As you learn how to play guitar and keyboard, learning basic chord theory will help you become a better player. A musician with a solid understanding of chord theory can use more varied chord voicings for accompaniment and more easily improvise solos and melodies to match a chord progression. Bass players will also use chord theory to create their bass parts.
What is a Chord?
A chord is the simultaneous sounding of three or more notes. Played together, they create what is referred to as harmony. The sound of a chord is based on the relationship of pitches between each of the notes, which are called intervals. Generally the intervals that chords use are the notes found on every other note of a scale. Any chord can be built on any note by using the appropriate formula provided for that particular chord. The notes in a chord are usually played at the same time, but occasionally are played in rapid succession as with arpeggios.
The three broad categories of chords are:
Triads: major, minor, diminished and augmented.
Seventh chords (and other four-tone chords): major, minor, diminished, augmented and dominant.
Extended chords: ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords: major, minor, diminished, augmented and dominant.
Suspended chords are treated as a special type of chord. All chords can be altered. Note that the octave, which is the same note played higher or lower (e.g., the low E and high E in an E chord), is usually found in chord voicings played on polyphonic instruments like guitar or piano and is not considered a separate interval.
You will find that certain styles of music tend to us particular types of chords and voicings. You can learn much more about guitar chord theory and its applications in eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method, while piano and keyboard players can learn more about chords on their instrument with eMedia Intermediate Piano and Keyboard Method.
Triads
The most common chords are triads. A triad contains three notes commonly built on every other note of a scale. For example, take the C major scale: Begin with the note C and add two more notes in the scale, skipping every other note. The result is a C major triad (C, E, and G). The notes of a triad are numbered from the bottom upward 1, 3, 5. The first note (1) is called the root or tonic. The next note is called the third, and the top note is called the fifth. So for a C chord; the root is C, the third is E and the fifth is a G note.
As shown in the example, the root determines the name of the chord. Although the root is commonly played on the bottom (the lowest note of the chord), sometimes the notes of a chord are rearranged. These chords are called inversions.
Major Chords
A major triad is a chord made up of the root, third, and the fifth of a major scale. In the C major chord, the notes are C, E, and G. The major chord is often abbreviated using the capital letter of the root note — in this case C. When you hear play a C chord, you are being asked to play a C major chord. Major triads can be built on any note using this formula: root + major third + minor third (root + M3 + m3).
Minor Chords
Minor triads are chords made up of the root, third, and fifth of a natural minor scale. You could also consider it the first, flatted third, and fifth notes of a major scale. The notes of the C minor chord are C, Eb, and G. The abbreviated symbol of a minor chord is the capital letter of the root followed by a smallm for minor. So, a C minor triad is written Cm. Minor chords can be built on any note using the formula root + minor third + Major third (root + m3 + M3).
Suspended Chords
Suspended chords are chords where one note is eliminated (usually the third) and replaced with another note (usually the fourth or second note of the scale). Suspended chords are abbreviated as sus, often with a number added to designate the replacement note. The C suspended fourth chord would be written as Csus4.
Seventh Chords
Seventh chords are the most common four-note chords. Like triads, they are built on every other note of a scale, but they have a fourth note:
There are major seventh, minor seventh, diminished seventh, augmented seventh and dominant seventh chords. There is also the seventh chord with a suspended fourth, sometimes called a suspended seventh chord. Any seventh chord can be built on any note using the correct formula.
If you see 7 attached to a chord name (for example, A7), it is a seventh or dominant seventh chord. A7 is the shorthand spelling of the A seventh or A dominant seventh chord. The same rule applies to minor chords. For example, an A minor seventh chord would appear as Am7. The seventh note is the most common color note, used heavily in blues and rock music. If there is a capital M or a triangle (∆) in front of a number (such as with an AM7 or A∆7 chord), it is a major seventh chord.
Other Chords
Seeing other numbers next to chords (e.g., 6, 9, 11, 13) indicate extended chords that follow the same naming conventions and formula you saw with seventh chords. These chords include the basic notes of the major or minor triads plus one or more color notes. Extended chords are used largely in jazz and some classical music. You can also find the 9th and 7#9 (often called the Hendrix chord, as it was used in popular songs by Jimi Hendrix) used in blues, rock, funk, and pop styles. However, you don’t often see more complex extended chords in these music genres.
A diminished chord is a minor chord with a fifth that is only two and 1/2 steps higher than the root. An augmented chord is a major chord with a fifth that is four whole steps higher than the root.
Using Chord Theory
Each chord has a certain character that composers use to make songs invoke happiness, sadness, tension, and other emotions. Chords are strung together to create chord progressions, and the chord progressions for the basis of songs and other compositions. Another way that chords are used creatively is by using variations on a triad to add color to the chord progression. For example, if a chord progression indicates that you play a C chord for 8 measures, you might play a C for four measures and then a C7 for the second four measures.
To understand all the ways that chord theory can enhance your own playing you should investigate eMedia Intermediate Guitar Method,eMedia Intermediate Piano and Keyboard Method, and eMedia Bass Method. The curriculums were designed by highly qualified, professional teachers. They utilize interactivity to help you identify intervals by ear and teach chord theory to help you improvise solos and enhance your playing.
This introduces you some basics about reading standard music notation. It is the only music notation for all instruments used internationally today. Horizontal lines to indicate the relative pitches of notes first appeared in the 11th century. This system has developed and evolved over time and has outlived all other forms of music notation invented in the last 3,000 years. As you learn how to read music notation, you are building on what generations of musicians have built to communicate their musical ideas across the centuries.
Musical Clefs
Standard music notation uses clefs placed on five horizontal lines (called the staff) to identify the pitch. Clefs include:
The G or treble clef (for high-sounding instruments, and used for guitar transcriptions)
The F or bass clef (for low-sounding instruments)
The movable C clef (which can be placed anywhere on the staff to indicate the position of the middle C).
Here are the way the different clefs look in music notation:
This graphic shows the musical clefs used in modern music notation.
Staff
All guitar music is written in a range identified by the treble or G clef. The treble clef appears at the beginning of each staff line. The notes are written on the lines and in the four spaces between the lines.
Notes and Pitch
Notes appear on the staff to indicate pitch. Each line and space has a name, and a note appearing on a line or space takes that name. The notes on the lines are named E, G, B, D and F. (Remember this by saying “Every Good Baby Does Fine.”)
The notes in the spaces are F, A, C and E. (Remember this because it spells “FACE.”)
The musical alphabet uses the first seven letters of our alphabet: A B C D E F G. After this, the notes repeat: A B C D E F G. This second set sounds an octave higher. In other words, the distance from the A note up through the following seven notes is called an octave.
When played on a guitar, notes in standard music notation sound one octave lower than they would if played on a piano.
If a note is needed above or below the staff, ledger lines are added.
Rhythmic Values
Notes that look different are held for different amounts of time and are counted as divisions against the time signature. For example, in 4/4 time there would be 4 quarter notes in one measure and each quarter note would be played for 1 beat.
A whole note equals four quarter notes. So, it would be held for a whole measure (four counts/beats) in 4/4 time.
A half note equals two quarter notes and is held for two counts.
A quarter note usually gets one beat/count (see Time Signatures).
An eighth note equals half of a quarter note,and gets 1/2 a beat.
Consecutive eighth notes are usually connected by a line.
In this example, you would play one note on the downbeat and the next note on the upbeat.
A sixteenth note equals half of an eighth note.
Consecutive sixteenth notes are usually connected by two lines.
A dot added to any note increases its rhythmic value by one-half the original.
Thus, if a quarter note gets one beat, then a dotted half note gets three beats, a dotted quarter note gets 1 1/2 beats and a dotted eighth note gets three-quarters of a beat. The graphic below illustrates this.
Rests
Rests are periods of silence in music. Just as there is a variety of notes to indicate different lengths of sound, there are matching rests to indicate different lengths of silence.
A whole rest is a measured silence equal to a whole note in duration. This also indicates a full measure of rest in any time signature.
A half rest is equal to a half note in duration.
A quarter rest is equal to a quarter note in duration.
An eighth rest is equal to an eighth note in duration.
A sixteenth rest is equal to a sixteenth note in duration.
How to Read Music “Sentences” – How Measures and Markings Help Organize Notes
For written music, very small sections of music are organized into easily recognizable groups of beats or pulses. These small sections are called bars or measures and are indicated by a line across the staff. Time signatures indicate how many beats are grouped in each measure.
The time signature is found at the beginning of a piece of music and is given as two numbers, one on top of the other. The top number tells you how many beats per measure and the bottom number tells you the time value of each beat.
The end of a piece is indicated by two lines. Barline Ending double barline
Time Signatures
At the beginning of most songs is a time signature. Time signatures are divided into two basic types: simple and compound. Simple time signatures include 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4.
The top number of the time signature indicates how many counts per measure. The bottom number indicates what note receives one count (i.e. 4 means the quarter note gets one count and 8 would mean the eighth note gets one count). For example, the signature 2/4 tells you that there are two beats per measure and each quarter note gets one beat.
In 4/4, there are four counts to a measure and the quarter note receives one count. In 3/4, three counts are to a measure and the quarter note receives one count.
Notice on the next screen that the first beat of each measure is marked with an accent, since the strong or accented pulse is at the beginning of each bar.
Simple Time Signatures
The time signature 4/4 is often called common time and is often abbreviated with a “C” in place of 4/4.
4/4 time is considered a Simple Quadruple time signature.
3/4 Time is a Simple Triple time signature.
Compound Time Signatures
In the previous lesson, we learned that all simple time signatures are grouped with one strong beat per measure. Compound time signatures include those that have more than one strong pulse per measure and are divisible by three. Compound time signatures include 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 and 6/4. The time signature 6/8, for example, tells you that there are six beats per measure with each eighth note getting one beat. Additionally, 6/8 usually implies accented pulses on beats one and four. Thus, the time signature will feel like two groups of three beats with an accented beat beginning each group of three. Other compound signatures are given on the next screen. Notice there is more than one strong pulse per measure for each of these time signatures.
Asymmetrical Time Signatures
Asymmetrical signatures are rare in most popular music, but they can be found in some non-Western folk music and in jazz and classical music. Asymmetrical time signatures include those such as 5/4, 7/8 and 11/8, all of which possess unequal division of accented pulses. The signature 5/4, for example, is not divisible into even, symmetrical groups, but will be divided into asymmetrical patterns of either 3 + 2 or 2 + 3.
Tempo Marking
Here are the three most basic tempo markings:
Adagio, which means “Slow, (or leisurely)”
Andante, or “Walking pace”
Allegro which is “Fast (or brisk)”
You will also find tempo markings which are used for changes of speeds:
rit. or ritard. (ritardando)means that you should gradually play slower and slower.
acc. or accel. (accelerando) implies that you should start playing faster and faster.
Dynamic Markings
Dynamic signs tell you the volume level at which the music should be played: loudly, softly, or in between. Dynamics create expression in music. Dynamic signs can be found throughout a musical composition. On the piano you usually see these in the space between the two staffs or underneath. A dynamic sign is in effect until the next dynamic sign appears.
Guitar lesson software such as eMedia Guitar Method helps you learn how to play guitar faster. It provides a mix of great beginner guitar lessons by qualified teachers from leading music schools, and interactive music technology that gets you playing quickly. The Animated Fretboard and interactive guitar notation lets you see which notes to play, while the software listens to you and displays whether you’re actually playing the right note. Plus you learn hit songs like 
A whole rest is a measured silence equal to a whole note in duration. This also indicates a full measure of rest in any time signature.
