Lesson 8- How To Play Basic Songs

The following video will teach you how to read chords from a “fake” book. Or, guitar music notation. After watching the video, try learning these Easy Songs To Play On Guitar……..

We are going to be teaching you the basics of reading a music diagram. Note: I said a diagram. We will not be teaching you how to read music. So, take a deep breath and relax.

The first technique we need to approach is rhythm. If you don’t have rhythm? You’re not going to sound that good. Let’s take a look at a diagram we’ve put together for you to learn how rhythm is approached and noted on a music stave (diagram used to write music and tablature).

Down would indicate a down stroke with your pick hand and a Down+up would indicate strumming down and then immediately strumming the strings upward from the down stroke.

• From the previous lesson on playing the chords, start by playing the G chord in measure(strumming patterns between the bar lines) one and count…… Down, Down+up,Down.
• Continue with the C Chord Down, Down+up,Down and so on………….

Note: The chord is always played at the exact point it is located within the measure.

This is basically how rhythm is noted on a stave. We will be putting together practicing diagrams & schedules in a later lesson. Practice it over and over again trying different strumming patterns. Now that you know a little bit about basic rhythm…… Let’s dive into a song!

Song: Blowin’ in the wind
Artist: Bob Dylan (1963)

Use Strum No. 1 from video 1
  G        C            D        G
   How many roads must a man walk down, Before you
    C          G    G        C           D
    call him a man, How many Seas must a white dove
   G               C             D             G
   sail before she sleeps in the sand, Yes and how
        C              D          G
   many times must the cannoballs fly before they're
   C       G
   forever banned,
chorus.  C            D         G              C
        The answer my friend  is blowin in the wind
                      D             G
        The answer is blowin in the wind
  Harmonica refrain:C D G C  D G
                G        C           D         G
        Yes and how many years can a mountian exist
                     C             G            G
        befroe it is washed to the sea, Yes and how
             C              D      G
        many years can some people exist before
                C             D             G
        they,er allowed to be free, Yes and how many
        C           D            G
        times can a man turn his head and pretend
                 C          G
        that he just doesnt see
chorus w/harmonica refrain
                G        C           D        G
        Yes and how many time must a man look up
                      C       G             G
        before he can see the sky,  Yes and how
             C         D       G
        many ears must one man have befor he can
        C           D            G        C
        hear people cry, yes and how many deaths will
           D           G                   C
        it take til he knows that too many people have
             G
        have died

The song above is one of the best universal songs that most people know and is easy to learn. You can also see these beginner guitar songs on our site, or you can find many of your favorite songs at ultimate-guitar that are put into this format if you’d prefer. However, I’d encourage you to stay with more simpler songs to not move too quickly and risk giving up due to difficulty.

When playing songs, the chord name is always located above the word where the chord change needs to be made. Also, you want to constantly be keeping a smooth rhythm (unless the song has strumming breaks). This is done by continuing to strum when making chord changes. If you pause to change chords it will sound broken up and un-smooth.

Many songs also have minor chords in them. You will need to practice the same technique as CAGED. However, you will practice it as C,Am,G,Em,Dm. I purposely left out Cm and Gm due to the fact they’re barre chords. Barre chords are a more advanced chord that take more finger strength. Click here to learn more about barre chords.

Keep practicing different songs to get this technique down. Since you won’t be playing songs note for note and just playing chords….. it would help to practice singing along with the song.

If you’ve made it to this point? You’re well on your way to becoming a guitarist.