Lesson 2 - G Major chord and Fretboard Notes

Today we are going to move on to the next chord, the G Major chord.  We are also going to start with an exercise to work out the fingers and learn the notes at the head end of the neck.

Here’s the chord of this lesson.  Put your middle finger behind the third fret on the low E string, your index finger behind the second fret on the A string, next three strings are open, and then your ring finger behind the third fret on the high e string.  Then strum all six strings.  Just like last lesson work through it until you can make every note sound without buzzing.

The second part of this lesson deals with learning a little of the fretboard.

I’m going to try not to overload you with music theory through this course, but a little basic theory is necessary. So let’s start with the alphabet.  The notes in order from A to A are as follows:

A   A#   B   C   C#   D   D#   E   F   F#   G   G#   A

The “#” in music means sharp.  So we have “A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D…. etc”.  Note that there is no sharp between B and C, and between E and F.  Just cuz.

So, now you are going to play all the notes in “open position” (the first four frets and open strings).  Music is made up of ‘half steps’. Each letter above is a half step apart.  A# is a half step above A. C is a half step above B.  And so forth.  Each fret on a guitar is a half step.  If we look at the low E string, if it is plucked without being fretted, we hear an E note.  Put your first finger behind the 1^st fret and pluck – we hear an F.  Put your second finger behind the 2^nd fret and pluck – an F# is produced.

So the exercise for this lesson is below:

Here is how this lesson will work:

Pluck the open Low E string, and out loud say “E”.  If you can sing the “E” note in unison with plucking it, even better.  Then put your 1^st finger down behind the first fret on the low E string and say or sing “F”.  Next, while leaving your first finger behind the first fret, put your second finger down on the low E string behind the second fret and say/sing “F sharp”.   Leave the first two fingers where they are and add your ring finger on the low E string behind the third fret saying and/or singing “G”, then, again leaving all previous fingers holding down the low E string, add the pinky finger down behind the 4^th fret and say/sing “G sharp”.

After G#, you will lift all your fingers and repeat with the open A string, saying/singing the musical alphabet.  All string will be done the same with the exception of the g string, on which you will only use three fingers before going to the b string.  And remember… there are no sharps between B and C, and between E and F.

This exercise does a few things.  First, it ingrains the musical alphabet names in your head, second, if you sing the notes it helps to instill the sound of the notes in your head and helps you to recognize half steps.  Thirdly by leaving your fingers down on the fretboard as you continue, you stretch out your hand.  Only, make sure that each note rings without buzzing before going to the next note.  Finally, this exercise will help build calluses on all your fingers which will help you to quickly stop crying like a little girl every time you go to practice.

The focus now is to aim for perfection.  You need to make sure you can press down and form these chords and do these exercises clearly, without buzzing notes.  Take the time now to learn to do this so that later you can concentrate on having real fun with this.  The good news is we are two lessons from actually playing about a million songs.  Don’t believe me??  Think it’s too soon?? NEVER!!!  Keep working hard and within another two weeks I’ll have you playing songs, not just building calluses and singing weird alphabets!