The Absolute Basics Guitar Lesson
The Absolute Basics
In this lesson, Mr. Steve Eulberg welcomes you to the acoustic guitar by thoroughly covering its physicalities and how each part affects your sound. Steve also teaches how to tune your guitar using the piano as a reference. Finally, he covers finger positioning and correct placement. These concepts are essential to left hand technique.
Taught by Steve Eulberg in Basic Guitar with Steve Eulberg seriesLength: 45:09Difficulty: 0.5 of 5
String References and Notes: Steve also references the first notes of the strings by chord name: Starting at the thickest string and going down, they are:
| Weight | Name | # of String | Sound |  |
| Thickest | Low E | 6th String | Lowest | |
| Thicker | A | 5th String | Lower | |
| Thick | D | 4th String | Mid | |
| Medium | G | 3rd String | High | |
| Thinner | B | 2nd String | Higher | |
| Thinnest | High E | 1st String | Highest |
It is vital to know that the thicker the string, the lower the pitch. And while this default note structure holds true, playing any chord on the fret board shortens the strings.
Tuning your Guitar:
- Pitch Pipe: Pitch pipe is a pipe that you can buy at your local music store. Blow into it to produce a reference tone. The guitar string is then tuned to this tone.
- Tuning Fork: With a tuning fork, you are tuning one string, usually the 5th or 6th, then tuning all of the other strings to that one. If you are tuning the 5th string, you will be using an A 440 tuning fork.
- Electronic Tuner: Electronic tuners are widely available at music stores, and are probably the easiest method to tune a guitar. The tuner listens to the pitch of each string as you strum it, one at a time, and uses an easily understandable display to let you know if your pitch is too high or too low.
- The Intellitouch is a tuner that clips to the headstock of your instrument. Since the Intellitouch tunes via vibration, rather than pitch, tuning a guitar in a noisy room proved to be a simple task.
In reference of Steve's lessons, both current and in the future, he will refer to your fingers as numbers, with the index finger being #1, middle finger being #2, ring finger being #3, and the pinky being #4. It is important to note that these fingers will align with the fret board for the exercise in this chapter.
Reference the image to left for a visual of this important factor of the role of the left hand.
Please learn, practice, and master the exercise Steve performs during this chapter. While it may seem very basic and simple, be sure that you can play it accurately, quickly, and consistently.
Steve recommends that you have the pad of your thumb resting on the back of the guitar. As your fingers are moving from the high strings to the low strings you can slide your thumb down, ensuring that you are still benefiting from the strength it has to offer. Chapter 5: (05:40) Right Hand Technique and Guitar Picks The Right Hand
- While playing guitar many people only focus on the left hand, and neglect the right hand which is equally as important. Please pay careful attention to this chapter as it adds information you can use through your entire career as a guitar player.
- Playing with your Thumb
- Playing with a Pick
- Method 1
- Method 2
There are two basic methods for basic left hand use in guitar playing:
- The thumb can be used to play individual strings and strum chords, and is a great way to start out your playing experience. In later lessons we will cover using all the fingers on your left hand, but for now the thumb is the focus.
- Most, if not all, guitarists use a pick in their playing at one time or another. People sometimes use a pick for increase volume, convenience or simply enjoyment. Picks come in many shapes and sizes, and the size and thickness of a pick is completely based on personal preference. There are two basic ways to hold a pick.
- One is to have all of your fingers curled under and to have your thumb holding the pick so just the point of the pick is sticking out. Be sure to see the example in the video if you are having trouble visualizing this. This is not Steve's preferred method but that does not mean it will not be of use to you.
- The second method is holding the pick between your thumb and your index and pointer fingers. The pick is still at an angle in this position. Again, see Scene 5 in the video for a visual representation of this pick holding method.
While playing with a pick, make sure you are not holding it with a death grip. That can cause hand cramps and overall is not ergonomic.
While playing right now, only pick down. In future lessons Steve will go over alternate picking, picking in different directions and the likes but for a beginner you should just concentrate on down picking and down strumming.
While picking many people like to keep one or two fingers anchored on the pick guard of their guitar. This can help keep track of where your fingers are and give an overall more stable feeling. This is not a requirement, nor necessarily recommended, but if it is something that makes playing easier for you do it, if it feels as if it is hindering your movement do not.
Practice the basics of left hand guitar playing, because it will greatly help your playing in the future.
- Musical Alphabet
Musical Alphabet has 7 notes before the start repeating. A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Between certain notes, there is another note called a sharp or a flat. For instance, between A and B you have a A sharp or B flat. They are the exact same note, the name just varies depending on which direction you are coming from. For instance going from A to B it would be an A Sharp, but going from B to A would be an B Flat.
There are not sharps or flats between every note, so it is very important to memorize which notes have a sharp or flat between them and which do not.
So it would look like this with the sharps and flats included. A | A Sharp or B Flat | B | C | C Sharp or D Flat | D | D Sharp or E Flat | E | F | F Sharp or G Flat | G.
Piano and How it Relates
- On the Piano, the A, B, C, D, E, F and G notes are all white keys. The sharp or flats that come between these notes are the black keys.
On a guitar, as you know, there are no white or black keys. Each fret on a guitar is a half step, meaning if you strike the D string open you would be playing a D note, and if you played the D string at the first fret you would be playing a D sharp.
Tuning With a Piano
- If you have ever played the Piano chances are you already know the middle C note. If you move up two white keys you have an E note which is the exact same E that you have on your guitar on the open high E string.
What does this mean? Go down two E notes and you will have an E th at matches your low E string. Well, you can play the E on the piano and then tune your low E string to match it, which is great for tuning your guitar if you do not have a tuner, or simply making sure you are in tune with the piano. You might be thinking that having the E note does not help you tune your whole guitar, but if you remember the "Magic of the 5th fret" tuning method, you will realize the only note you absolutely need in tune is the low E string. After that, you can tune the rest of your guitar simply using the 5th fret method. Alternatively you could play each individual note on the piano and match them to the guitar strings as well, but the 5th fret method is more convenient.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Guitar with Steve Eulberg
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsPhase 1 Acoustic Lessons with Steve Eulberg is a great place to begin your journey as a guitarist. With over 30 years of playing experience, Steve appreciates the importance of beginning your guitar training the correct way - no bad habits! These lessons are not just for acoustic players. Electric guitarists will receive the same benefits from this lesson series.
Lesson 1
The Absolute Basics
You will learn the parts of the guitar and how they function. Steve also discusses the importance of technique.
Length: 45:09 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Your First Chords
Three simple chords will literally enable you to play millions of songs. In this lesson, you will learn the primary chords for the key of G.
Length: 40:00 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Strumming Technique
Now that Steve has taught some chords, he will go over the proper methods of strumming and right hand technique.
Length: 42:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
All About Chords
This lesson is all about the various aspects of chords.
Length: 39:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Theory
Steve explains how basic triads are formed in this lesson. He also explains the relationship between scales and chords.
Length: 40:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Intro to Fingerpicking
Steve Eulberg introduces you to the wonderful world of fingerpicking.
Length: 51:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Bringing it Together
Steve starts to weave the strings of the past lessons together.
Length: 47:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chords, Keys and Relationships
This episode delves further in the realm of chords, scales, keys and the relationships between them. You will also learn some new chords.
Length: 34:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Barre Chords
This lesson covers power chords and barre chords. You will learn how these chords are formed and how to apply them.
Length: 38:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tools for Guitar
Steve explains how basic tools such as the metronome, capo, and picks aid your guitar playing. Enjoy!
Length: 27:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Playing Lead and Scales
This lesson gets you into the basics of playing melodies on the guitar. Playing melodies and solos is often referred to as "lead guitar."
Length: 45:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hand Stretches
Steve demonstrates some great stretches for the hands, wrists and upper arms.
Length: 8:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Different Guitars
Steve discusses the difference between the steel string acoustic, classical, and 12 string guitars.
Length: 12:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Changing Guitar Strings
This lesson is all about changing guitar strings. This process can be very frustrating, but it doesn't have to be. Learn some great tips from Steve.
Length: 37:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Timing and Tempo
Steve Eulberg delves into the wonderful world of rhythm and time signatures.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
Circle of Fifths
Steve Eulberg introduces the Circle of Fifths. He demonstrates a song that features a Circle of Fifths progression.
Length: 15:30 Difficulty: 2.5 FREE
Clearing Up Confusion
In this lesson Steve attempts to clear up some confusion with previous lessons. He will talk about reading tablature, note names, chord names and more.
Length: 15:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Review and Moving On
Steve Eulberg does a quick review of this lesson series and talks about moving on.
Length: 12:44 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Completing Lessons
Steve answers the popular question, "When should I move on to the next lesson?" by sharing his personal goals and some important advice.
Length: 6:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Steve Eulberg
View Full Biography
An Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Steve Eulberg weaves mountain and hammered dulcimers with a variety of unusual instruments to create thought-provoking, smile-inducing, toe-tapping acoustic experiences.
He has sung and composed for religious communities, union halls, picket lines, inter-faith retreats, mountain-top youth camps, as well as the more familiar venues: clubs, coffeehouses, bookstores, festivals, charity benefits and showcase concerts.
Born and raised in the German-heritage town of Pemberville, Ohio, Steve was exposed to a variety of music in his home. Early piano lessons were followed by trumpet in school band, and he became self-taught on ukelele and guitar and harmonica. Mandolin was added at Capital University where, while majoring in History, he studied Ear Training, Voice and took Arranging lessons from the Conservatory of Music.
While at college, he first heard hammered and mountain dulcimers, building his first mountain dulcimer just before his final year. Seminary training took him the west side of Denver where he built his first hammered dulcimer. With these instruments, he was able to give voice to the Scottish, English and Irish traditions to which he is also heir.
Following marriage in 1985 to Connie Winter-Eulberg he settled in Kansas City, Missouri. There he worked cross-culturally in a church of African-Americans, Latinos and European Americans, with music being a primary organizing tool. He moved with his family in 1997 to be nestled beside the Rocky Mountains in Fort Coillins, Colorado.
Founder of Owl Mountain Music, Inc. he teaches and performs extensively in Colorado and Wyoming with tours across the US and the UK. He delights in introducing the “sweet music†of dulcimers to people in diverse settings and in addition to his own recordings, has included dulcimers in a variety of session work for other musicians.
In 2000 he was commissioned to create a choral composition featuring dulcimers for the Rainbow Chorus in Fort Collins. It was recorded in the same year (BEGINNINGS). He is currently at work on a commissioned symphony that will feature hammered dulcimer and Australian didjeridu.
Eulberg passionately believes that music crosses cultural and language barriers because music builds community. Influenced by a variety of ethnic styles, his music weaves vital lyric with rap, rock, folk, gospel and blues. Audiences of all ages respond well to his presentation and to his warm sense of humor.
Steve is a member of Local 1000 (AFM), The Folk Alliance, BMI and BWAAG (Better World Artists and Activist's Guild).
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Pamela Goldsmith
Pamela brings a cap to her first 13 JamPlay lessons with another original etude inspired by the great Leo Brouwer. This is...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Lincoln
Today, Mark takes in depth look at strumming. He explains pressure and positioning among other technical aspects.
Free LessonSeries Details
Kaki King
In lesson 6, Kaki discusses how the left and right hands can work together or independently of each other to create different...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jessica Baron
Jessica kindly introduces herself, her background, and her approach to this series.
Free LessonSeries Details
David Anthony
David teaches two separate chord progressions to get you acquainted with performing chord changes. These progressions sound...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kroos
Free LessonSeries Details
Nick Amodeo
Nick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.
Free LessonSeries Details
Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jim Deeming
Jim Deeming walks you through the process of changing your strings. He gives some excellent tips on this important process.
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Brad Henecke
Brad Henecke explains the construction of diminished seventh chords. He also provides a diminished chord exercise.
Free LessonSeries Details
Matt Brown
Matt begins to discuss and demonstrate the harmonic minor scale.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jane Miller
Jane Miller talks about chord solos in part one of this fascinating mini-series.
Free LessonSeries Details
David Wallimann
This is a crucial lesson that explains tablature, how to read it, and why it's important.
Free LessonSeries Details
Nick Greathouse
Nick starts his series with Alternate Picking part 1. Improve your timing, speed, and execution with this important lesson.
Free LessonSeries Details
DJ Phillips
Learn a handful of new blues techniques while learning to play Stevie Ray Vaughn's "The House Is Rockin'".
Free LessonSeries Details
Eric Madis
In this lesson Eric talks about playing basic lead in the Memphis Blues style.
Free LessonSeries Details
Kris Norris
Kris analyzes different pick sizes and their effect on his playing. Using a slow motion camera, he is able to point out the...
Free LessonSeries Details
James Malone
James explains how to tap arpeggios for extended musical reach.
Free LessonSeries Details
Lauren Passarelli
Lauren Passarelli offers up her wisdom on purchasing a guitar. She also includes information regarding proper setup and care....
Free LessonSeries DetailsAdditional Lesson Features Available to Members
While we have attempted to provide you with an accurate rendition of our video lesson experience, there are some features which
require a membership with us!
Custom Progress Reporting
At JamPlay, we give you the ability to monitor your own progress for any lesson! If you watch one of our lessons and feel as though you understand around half of it, mark your progress at 50%. This adds the lesson to your customized Progress Report, and gives you an incredible ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.
Progressive Bookmarking
With thousands of lessons at your fingertips, JamPlay can be a touch intimidating to a first-time user. With Progressive Bookmarking, we give you the ability to systematically bookmark sections of any lessons you are working on to quickly access later. After all, what is the point of all this content if it isn't easy to use?
Save Your Notes
JamPlay also gives you the ability to leave notes for yourself on any lesson. Just like in any educational system, taking your own notes while learning gives you the ability to highlight the instruction that is important to you. Leave your notes, and we store them in our database for you to reference each and everytime you come back to the lesson.
Join the Thousands of Members at JamPlay
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Are you talking about from the top down is lowest to highest And from the bottom up is the highest?
Scene 2 in 13:13 of the video.
Good first lesson. I've always had difficulty using my little finger to depress a string but his gives a great exercise to improve dexterity. Thanks.
Good first lesson. I've always had difficulty using my little finger to depress a string but his gives a great exercise to improve dexterity. Thanks.
Hi Steve I just started here at Jamplay although I have been playing for 2 years . Anyways I like your fretting exercise to build strength and dexterity. My problem is whenever I try to fret the open strings from high to low and high , my thumb won't properly go up and down on the neck to help fret the notes and I would also notice that my elbow would start to turn and draw inward to my body.
My first lesson and I thought you did a great job. My questions are what do the dots in between the frets mean and across the top where my left hand holds the strings? Thanks, Jack
Hi JW, the dots are called position markers and usually mark the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets (depending on your builders design.) Steve
my guitar broke while tuninning
My first lesson and I thought you did a great job. My questions are what do the dots in between the frets mean and across the top where my left hand holds the strings? Thanks, Jack
12/19/11... Just did my first lesson today and it seemed to go very well. I have an old Fender that a friend of my son gave me. Had to fix E6 screw. If I get good enough with it I'll buy a new one.
This is realy GREAT. My fingers aren't cooperating just yet. My goal is to run through the finger exercises as smoothly as you demonstrated.
Wow, this is the first guitar lesson I've had since I was 19. And then, I only did like 3-4 or so and was taken away because of a family tragedy. In those days, I had an old Kay Archtop guitar, which had a broken head and horrible action. Now, I have a Fender Strat with a Ibanez amp. Totally different! I am hopefully embarking on what a life-long desire to play guitar; one that has eluded me until now, when I'm in my mid 40's!!
Awesome!
Awesome!
This is my first online session and I am quite pleased with his teaching and sense of humour. Up to this time, I have had four 1/2h private sessions that showed me 6 chords, but not the theory and fundamentals. I look forward to proceeding through the lessons and when I can strum different chords together to make a song. I know patience, practice, and time.
solid first lesson. I especially like the section where he shows you where the notes of the strings are relative to a piano.
helpful lesson, nicely organized!
helpful lesson, nicely organized!
Where i need to be. How proficient with the exercise before I take on lesson 2?
HI ACMEFLYER, take a look at this lesson for some cues: http://www.jamplay.com/members/guitar/phase1/steve-eulberg-1/lesson19.html
Great lesson! I'm sure this will provide a very solid beginning for me.
Like the lesson.Just need to practise the finger exercise before to next lesson.Thanks.
I've been trying to self-teach for 30+ years off and on. Learned more in this 45 minutes than many many hours of other teachers/studies. The teachers I've had before assumed you already knew which strings were where, which way was up/down, and nobody ever told me about the fingering exercises. Great job. Can't wait for lesson 2.
On music sheet for the fingering exercise I am confused as to what the 1st quarter note in the 2nd bar is -- Starting with the first note in the first bar I start with the low E, then F, F#, G for the first bar. Then the first note in the second bar if it is sharp would be what? My dilema is this. A follows G and it is not a sharp key. And there is no G# so what is the first note of the second bar? Please help.
There is a G# my mistake. I may have got the idea that there is no G# from a G chord lesson or a C chord lesson. And then I may have gotten # and b, sharp and flat confused with major and minor chords. But I think lesson 5 may have cleared up major and minor chords. And one of the last 3 lessons clearing up confusion explained where the sharp notes fall. Thank you so much for explaining that an A Sharp and B Flat are the same note and that all sharps and flats have 2 names depending on who is calling them the higher or lower note on either side. Thank you for pointing out that there is no B sharp or C flat. And for pointing out that there is no E sharp or F flat. And that even though they are sometimes referred to they don't exist and what the person is really talking about is the next chord, I forgot how that was referred to? But I'm starting to get it. It will sure take a lot of repetition to get this down to a point where I can use it in my playing.
I am learning a whole lot more than I did in the first 10 pages of a book. You taught me something that seemed impossible to teach me, and that is learning how to tune the guitar. Also, you go into good depth on finger oplacement too, which shows one of the signs of a great teacher.
Great first lesson steve. I'm not really a beginner but am a lazy self teacher so this was good, and it purged a few bad habits of mine viz a viz doing scales. I tend to move a finger up the neck rather than using all 4 fingers as you do in the video. Good stuff, I will practice that!
I'm not a very beginner but learnt a lot from the first lesson.
Your a great teacher i have a guestion though i can't memorize where my fingers go?
13 Minutes in: "Have I completely lost my mind? Maybe." I like this guy already. Looking forward to learning with you Steve.
Thank you so much for this brilliant first lesson Steve!! I've really enjoyed it and I'm leading much faster than I'd expected :) you're a fabulous teacher!!! :D
I really enjoyed my first lesson here. I have a question on using a pic with my nylon classical acoustic guitar (my first guitar). Some sources say to never use a pic with this type of guitar other say the opposite. Any thoughts on this?
Nice detail and instruction on this lesson. I finally learned the proper postion for my left hand. I have been having difficulty with finger placement and I hope this will help me.
I was surprised how little control I have of my fingers, the pinky in particular. I am sure going to need to practice, very good lesson, going to be back for sure.
Getting faster with the fingering exercises. I am surprised how it helps with learning on how to stretch my fingers as I somewhat small hands.
Excellent!
Hi Steve, Perry from OSLC FC. I have a couple of nerdy engineer/geek comments. The physics of string vibration depend on mass of the string, length, and tension. You said "size" instead of "mass", which is almost right. :) For example, steel strings have a smaller size than nylon strings, but have about the same mass - go ahead and weigh them if you want. Your main point - fretting to change length, and therefore tone - is nonetheless 100% correct. Strings can vibrate at any integer harmonic. Striking the string at the 12th fret results in the string vibrating mostly at the fundamental - it's rather boring because there are no interesting overtones. Striking the string close to the bridge results in mostly overtones (high tones) and sounds "tinny". The point is that the guitarist selects the amount and relative strength of the overtones based on where they strum. Strumming over the sound hole sounds good because it has a more balanced mix of overtones. These integer harmonics add specific interesting things - 1st harmonic = root. 2nd harmonic = octave, 3rd harmonic = octave-V, 4th = 2nd octave, 5th = 2nd octave-III, 6th harmonic = 2nd octave V. Everything above that is fairly low energy compared to the rest. It tends to mush together as non-specific "string noise" or gets absorbed by the sound board. However, this is all for naught - despite understanding the physics, I still don't play as well as you. :) Peace, Steve.
Howdy neighbor! Thanks for the Physics lesson and leading me deeper into my understanding of how and why the strings behave like they do!
I was thinking the same thing.
Hi Steve.....I'm a newbie. I'm 70 years old and just starting out. I'm old enough to have learned patience so I'm not rushing anything. My question is 'when should I try to start learning notation, as it seems that just using tabluture will not be enough to get full enjoyment from playing. Any suggestions?
Sailorman, given your description of your learning style I'd start learning to read musical notation right now. Try the Theory 101 lessons that I have in the skills section. I look forward to hearing about your progress.
Wonderful lesson. It is very informative and easy to understand. Although I'm not exactly a beginner, this was some great refreshing information.
seems like a good choice of teacher, very understandable! just signed up after trying to self teach on and off and never sticking with it! however now ive found this place i hope i can make it stick! good luck to other fellow new guitarists!
I really appreciate the finger exercises. Great lesson for a beginner,
Hi Everyone! I think was a great lesson! Mr Steve! Finally with this site i found an step by step system to learn play the guitar, and the only reason i updated 90% and not a 100% in the lesson is because my first language is Spanish and was little difficult to me understand some terms and concepts in English but for the rest i enjoyed the lesson!
I've been playing 20 years and as far as first lessons go to a beginner this guy sounds like a fantastic teacher , he even showed some stuff I forgot.Just joined but very impressed so far
I signed up for a 7 day trial to see what this jamplay is like. I want to learn the guitar and I really liked this first lesson. I also got a lot of insight from reading the chats. Thanks for your expertise, Steve.
this guy Steve Eulberg is the best teacher of this website, I was taking a look to the others and there is no one like this teacher. "BRAVO Steve Eulberg"
Hi! i just joined and am surprised with how much I forgot as a rusty beginner.. lol! Your lesson was clear and not too wordy. it has inspired me to continue and PRACTICE!! However, the video has some issues of stopping and restarting. FYI
I have a 7 day free trial with Jam play and picked this lesson just to see what it was about. As someone with the attention span of a gnat, I was really suprised how 45 minutes seemed to fly by and keep me interested. I started learning to play guitar back in september and learned more from this one lesson than I have in 4 months. I learned excersises, how to stretch my fingers and also how to tune without a tuner. I also learned the different parts of the guitar. Thank you steve for this lesson it was a lesson worth watching.
I have messed around on the guitar before and was pretty confident that I could skip this. However, I watched it anyway to make sure I knew my basics through and through. Turns out it was a good idea :) thanks Steve you're a damn good teacher. Nice and slow. I'm going to keep coming back to you
Steve you are the best.You must have taken teaching psychology you are very good at it
AWESOME lesson! thanks for the tips. = )
Does anybody else have a problem with your pinky on the 4th fret during the exercise?
I also have problems with all my fingers and my fingertips are sore......I iced them up LOL :)
i have a problem with all my fingers actually.. lol
Hi, I'm curious about tuning to 440 Hertz - what does this mean? Is it possible to have a few guitars playing together, tuned to say 480 Hz and still sound OK?
I kept getting this error, when i tried to play this video, can someone please tell me if they have had the same error occur, or can one of the site admins please offer me a solution, thankyou.................... Video not found: http://media-ecl.jamplay.com/member-videos/1/1-900k-scene1.flv?f51f38fef15b2ac18c08df9d5072dd2a8a2cfea9d6e509abc4860fe57f042f80ba
You need to clear your cache. Nothing has been removed :(
I too have been having the same problem and am curious about an answer too. My only thoughts can be that maybe this 1 lesson was the only lesson in the series and when they added extra lessons they cut this last scene since it doesn't make sense. But I don't know the true answer. ;B
Hi Steve, Stupid question, I know what I am doing wrong? When I trying to the 1234 finger placement and then strum the string no matter how light I press the string I am not getting a tone just thudding sound. The only way I am getting a tone is to release the string entirely. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Vick, sounds like you are muting the string. This can happen if you don't press the string all the way down, put another finger against the string, or put any part of your finger on the fret (instead of directly behind the fret.) Try moving your fingers slightly, see what improves the sound, then do more of that.
Did you get any message from steve? It sounds like your finger is overlapping near another string or the finger isnt pushing down tight enough, or too close to the fret either behind or ahead of the note you want to play, try that lesson again, listen carefully to him. Enjoy.
Are you making sure to play just behind the fret, and not push on the actual top of the fret? also make sure your finger is too flat and running along all of the strings, you want to make sure your fingers are arched and only touching the strings and frets you want them too.
Thanks Steve, enjoyed the first lesson...now i need to practice
just picked up guitar today. im a lefty if just wanted to know if reversing everything is fine or if there is something i'll miss Thanks
i have a question about when I should proceed to the second lesson. I just finished the first lesson yesterday and have started practicing the notes you showed us, but at what point should I move to the next lesson and at what point in each lesson do you suggest I move to the next lesson? Thanks for your help
Have been wanting to lean forever and decided to go for it. The lesson was great, clear and easy to follow. Awesome job guys!
Steve, your instructions are clear and concise. I'm going to enjoy working with you. I've only completed the 1st three scenes of the 1st chapter, but the chromatic scale is a good place to start. I'm glad I didn't try to learn by myself for too long before I started these lessons. The last thing I want is bad habits. Thank you.
Awesome first lesson - Thanks Steve! I have been playing on and off for a long time and never mastered timing, plus picked up many sloppy habits hence doing all these lessons. Already learning to relax my death grip of the pick and to rely on my ears rather than my eyes. Awesome lesson, learnt a lot from it. Now I just have to meet my exit criteria of doing the exercise consistently at 120bpm!
Hi steve, im 14 and i just found my moms old guitar and litterally dusted it off and decided i wanted to play it, i was having trouble learning on my own but then i found this, great lesson, learned a lot thanks. P.S. this lesson is better and cheaper than any other lesson i could find online.
finger tae bo lol!
Hi,Steve. I just started to playing guitar and took a year account on this site because it's a great site and your lesson is great too. I'm educated pianist and Hammond organist from Holland and now I want to play guitar as wel in order to write and arrange songs when I 'm more educated in guitarplaying. Looking forward to your next lesson. Tom.
Hi Steve, this first lesson has been of a great interest, but, after each lesson do we get some kind of homework or excersice to perform before any upper step? Do we get some kind of evaluation?
Hi steve, im doing the fingering exercise im having some trouble trying to reach when i try to fret 3 and 4. while lowering my 3 finger it just wants to be close of my 2 finger, same with my 4 finger, when try to fret it justs wants to be close to my 3 finger. im working really hard on this, trying to stretch them apart. while doing this exercise should i worry if when fretting my fingers sometimes blocks to string below it?. so i get a clean tone on my current string but if i strum the string below it sounds bad...
Good for you for paying close attention to the movement of your fingers! That will serve you well as you continue to progress. Remember that you can lift up the fingers that aren't playing (but you don't need to lift them too high) that sometimes can help your other fingers reach better. Developing finger independence, and then interdependence is sometimes a new activity for ones hands, so be patient AND persistent. I wouldn't worry about the fingers accidentally touching an adjacent string when playing the exercises, but when you are fingering chords, pay close attention to that!
Hi Steve, Stupid question....I do not know what I am doing wrong? When I trying to the 1234 finger placement and then strum the string no matter how light I press the string I am not getting a tone just thudding sound. The only way I am getting a tone is to release the string entirely. What am I doing wrong?
I just notice something. None of these comments has any feed-back. Last time "steveeulberg" replied to any one was Oct 4 th 2007. Not sure of the other lessons yet. But why comment if the "teacher is going to respond???
Hi turbo, I understand your frustration with my lack of response, but as the site has grown, and with 15 hours of live Q&A sessions, I simply haven't been able to monitor the comments of each individual lesson. You can send me questions that will alert me either through the forum, or through the jamplay community messages link. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Hey, sorry about that. Since the teachers started doing live sessions they end up commenting on the lessons and such less because most students come into the chats to get feedback. I would recommend if you have a pertinent question posting it in Steve's forum, the general forum, or asking in the chat. THe comments are a great way to interact with other members, leave your feedback and such, but it's not the best way to communicate with the teacher, partly because it's hard for them to keep track of comments on all of the different lessons.
Hi all. Does anyone have an mnemonic to remember the strings i.e. "Richard of York gave battle in vain" roygbiv? I'll come to remember them eventually but now I'm a complete noob! Thanks!
The two ways that I've seen that I've remembered, depending on if you are going up or down the strings are: (E)very(B)ody (G)ets (D)runk (A)t (E)aster or (E)at (A)t (D)inner, (G)et (B)ig (E)arly
easter bunny gets drunk at easter frm thinest to thickest
Please forgive me I missed the mnemonic in the video!
Starting with the low E (thickest string) "Eddy Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddy" (EADGBE) or one that I use, it's a little silly but it works for me "Eat After Dinner Greedy Baby Eat".
great one dewin!
After having taken some "live in person" lessons I feel like I know more about my guitar and have a better understanding of what my hands are going to be doing.
Thanks Steve. Finally I think I found the right guitar coarse. Very impressed. I Play 40 years ago (Beginner) but stoped and now that I am retired I want to learn again. I still remember a few chords but my hand needs to excercise alot. Also When can I expect to get those finger calasas back .LOL
Thanks Steve, I look forward to following along. I have played around a little before, but nice to have your lessons here to get me going agin!
Steve, I really enjoy the way you present the material. Also glad to see so many other people getting started at the same time.
I am a beginner and enjoyed my first lesson. i look forward to being able to play for our 1st baby in September B) Thx again
Steve, great first lesson, I'm looking forward to learning how to play the utilizing JamPlay.
Great lesson Steve, thanks for all the info and the honesty of the learning process. Most sites tell you that it is so easy to learn how to play a guitar. Well.... most of us know this is not so and will take a lot of practice and patience but i am committed to learn and with you as a teacher i will get there. Thanks!
Very clear and concise. easy on the ear! excellet teacher.
I have been playing for 2 years and wanted to hear the basics again. I agree with others that Steve was very clear and easy to learn from.
Great lesson. This was a very good refresher for me.
I have been playing off and on for over thirty years but alone mostly. Living in a foreign land, it is hard to find someone to play with. The first lesson really cleared up a lot of stuff I have been dying to ask someone, thanks Steve! Can't wait to keep on truckin thru these lessons! It is a Goldmine! Thanks so much!
Steve: Excellent first lesson. I've been playing the guitar for ... hmm, five whole days (!) and viewing your lesson today has made me more confident. Not sure I'll even be a pick user (too clanky) and I need to grown my thumb nail a tad, perhaps, but I'll get there in the end. I echo another user who said you;re a born teacher. Amen to that! All the best from the UK.
great lesson very helpful see u on your next lesson
you are great steve i really like how you teach very understandable
Great first lesson and Steve you are a born teacher.
No music background. Decided to try the Guitar. Found Jamplay, subscribed and am so glad I did. Gone through lesson 1 twice and I can really tell a difference. Looking forward to lesson two! TB
Excellent first lesson! I have been trying to learn for a while now, but all lessons seem to jump straight into learning a few of the major chords. I have huge trouble with my finger placement killing the fresh "ringing" of the notes. I think this exercise is precisely what I needed to get past that problem. Thanks!
Steve, Great teaching - ive been wanting guitar lessons for years. I have always picked around but never been able to play a full song...so im starting from the beginning...my wife told me not to waste my money but i think she will be suprised after a few months of this!
this was a good reminder for me
I was looking for a school to learn how to play and i have found it
I enjoyed this lesson and have practised the finger exercise. It is very useful in getting my fingers to know where to go on the frets and to practise accuracy and speed. Thank You. Michael Hunziker
Steve, During your tuning demonstration where you used a pitch fork to tune the A string. Then you held down that string at the 5th fret and tuned the D string to that. That's fine since that's the D note. But then you matched the E string to the A string while holding down the 5th fret. How does that work? You seem to be matching the E string to a D note just like you did for the D string! This is unclear on the video what you are doing. What did I miss? This is about 9 minutes into Lesson One, scene 2. Rick
wow, that was very helpful, thank you so much.
Steve I started quitar lessons since October 2008.I discovered Jamplay before 1 week. I decided to watch the 1st lesson evethough I was not so begginer. I learned many new things, as the right position of the fingers of the left hand very closed to the frets for good sound.My instructor in the school never showed to me. I apologise for my english. I am from Greece. Thanks.
Steve, I am in my second day of lessons with you and i noticed how hard it is to use the pinky properly when playing my guitar. Do you have any hints to stretch it out easier to play on the fourth fret?
oops..did not mean to add anything.
Thanks for this lesson. As I begintermediate, I was reviewing this video and discovered that I was doing the TaeBo when I shouldn't have been!
Steve, enjoyed my first lesson with JamPlay! I've had a few guitar lessons on the basics but learned lot of new things from you today, especially about tuning. Awesome beginning! Thanks! Donna
I'm not "new" to the guitar. There has been a long period between when I last played and today. I find returning to the beginning very refreshing and you can alway pick up something new or fix a bad habit. Steve, I can see already that you are great teacher and I look forward to taking all of your lessons and improving my playing ability. Thank, Jerry
there is a music note that i don't know it is a quarter note but there is three notes on one bar could you teach it to me?
Steve, I have been teaching myself for about one year using a Hal Leonard lesson book. From the very beginning I was determined to understand the theory and structure of music and I wanted to be able to read and play melody. I appreciate your teaching style and the presentation of lesson material in musical note form. To me the note form is easier for me to follow. The tablature presentation does not tell me what note I am playing or what kind of note it is (ie whole half etc.) or the tempo of the piece. Thank you! John
Fingers hurt. But it feels good getting it right. having a pretty tough time getting the pinky to curl so only the tip hits the string, especially on the lower strings when i have to reach up for it.
Man my fingers hurt. I hope it doesn't take long for them to toughen up.
just so anxious to learn. steve seems like a great teacher. hopefully join the music ministry at my church. God BLess
This is definitely what I was looking for. I`m currently on a mission for the German Marines in Lebanon and I bought a guitar to fill my little freetime with something useful. I dreamed of playing guitar eversince. Today I watched your first lesson and I practised nearly 4 hours. I just couldn`t stop, because it`s so much fun, seeing how I´m getting better and better in that first exercise. Thank you for that. I´ll keep practising hard, I promise :-)
Very good way to start. I need to sign my son up for t hree months free. Thanks Steve, "AJ" (littleboy)
Thanks - Good lesson - I'll work on the fingering exercise.
Thanks Steve. I am taking my time with the first lesson. I want to stay with the left finger exercise until it feels very comfortable.
Thanks Steve - got more for the last 45 minutes than I have from the last 5 years. Cant wait to master the fingering and move on to the next part. So far so good - brilliant !!
Your instructions, Steve, is helpful and reassuring. Your demeanor is exactly what I was looking for and look forward to my next lesson. Learning the guitar has been a boyhood dream of mine, dating back to my air guitar days, jamming to Alex Lifeson and Eddie Van Halen. Will I ever be that good? Who knows but the determination is up to me but I'll leave the foundation of guitar play up to you.
I have been playing the same six chords for so many years and thought I had a good idea of what I was doing. HA!!! After watching and following Steve's first lesson I know I can learn and lose my bad habits at the same time. I "knew" up was down and down was up but it was never explained why. This is gonna be fun.
Steve--wonderful lessons--I just began playing 2 weeks ago and this is very helpful for a beginner. I am retired and all of my kids play guitar amongst other things and I finally have the time to learn something other than work
Just a small point of correction. The bridge is the piece of wood that is glued to the top of the guitar and has bridge pin holes drilled into it as well as a slot for the saddle. The saddle is a piece of plastic, tusq, or bone that sits in the saddle slot on the bridge. As far as I know the two terms (bridge & saddle) are not interchangeable. Thank you Steve for your great teaching style.
Hi Steve, Great intruction been wanting to learn for a few months, tested many options and found this site with your learning the perfect system. looking forward to many more hrs with your guidance. Cheers Scotty.
Never mind. Got my answer in the next part.
Good start, Steve. I'm looking forward to more! Question -- are you using a pick in the very first lesson? If not, why not?
Tonight was my first night and I have to admit I was a little skeptical of an online guitar instructor. However, it is so easy to follow along with the video, I can do this at work or home. I could never find an instructor willing to come to me, the way this program does. Steve also makes it so easy to follow along and truly learn whats going on. Amazing
that was a great. i have plenty of practice needed on my left hand!!!!
Thanks Steve! This was a thorough lesson! I'm in a rudiments of music class in college that is based on the piano. Your lesson is helping me tie some things together.
Very helpful. Making me wish I would have had someone like you around 9 years ago. Good job!
Hi, Steve . It was really a nice lesson and and very fun. I learn a lot . Thanks
Hi Steve, Just started up, great lessons Steve. Two questions, does my thumb rest on top of the fretboard or pushed up against the back of the fretboard? And also, my wrist/forearm ache now from reaching around I think to get to the low strings, is this normal? maybe I have too small hands for this because seems a long distance from fret 1 to fret 4 without moving the wrist when doing the warm up exercise, what do you think?
Hi steve,I have been practising playing the guitar for the past 6 months and I have learned to play a couple of songs (easy ones) so far as I was being self thaught. Glad I enrolled to your lessons as I feel more confident when I follow your lessons and practice. Keep up the good work. Thanks and greetings from the tiny island of Malta.
Hi Steve. Great lesson, well presented. Given me hope back after many months trying to teach myself. I'd just like to clarify something though. I've got the first left-hand exercise, do you want us to be able to do that without being able to tell when we change strings before we move on? Thanks.
It's ok, I should've read the info first. Newbie mistake, sorry folks.
Hi, Steve. Can you enclose a closeup of how you hold the pick? It's a little hard to see on the video...
Point your finger at the pc screen. Now place the pick so that the 'pointy' bit is also towards the monitor. Bring your finger round so that it's relaxed, now place your thumb across horizontally. Here's a good picture of what i mean http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-001-ChordsPicksBeginners.php
co-signed
Just completed this and already got my money's worth. Awesome.
Great lesson 1 for beginner. Thanks.
Wow, you got some great lessons here! I have been playing for 3 years now, and I am just at intermidiate level, because I have only had thoughs crappy 30min lessons that you talkabout in the description of this site. This year, I am realy starting to practice though and have improved greatly! I was thinking of going back for lessons, but this site has so much detail in it's lessons, and you can learn at your own pace, on your own time, which is nice. I'm going to do every level from start to finsh, as I am sure that I have missed some basic begginer skills in my learning, that will help me grow as a guitar player. Once again great site, I have been looking for something like this, for a long time!
Great lesson! I actually feel as if I can learn to play this thing! LOL! Thanks
Hi Steve, This a great way to do guitar lessons. I've been "playing at" guitar for quite a long time and you are the first instructor I've had that is so detailed. Also if I have difficulty with a lesson I can read the comments or just click off and practice until I get it down. Thanks
Hey Steve, Great lesson!! I am trying to do the exercise and my left wrist and forearm kill when trying to get to the lower strings. Am I doing something wrong? Thumb is where it should be. I just started playin but I am lefty tryin to play a right handed guitar. Does this matter? Thanks
Great lesson Steve. I look forward to the next.
Great lesson, I learned a lot. I just started playing the guitar and I hope to learn a lot from you Steve, thanks!
Hey Steve!!! Thanks sooo much! I play guitar for 8 years now.. But I just took some basic lessons from a friend of my family.... 7 years I thought I could learn it all myself.... I can... But hey how wrong is it to think that everything you do is the best... I now know that going back to busic and building a strong foundation is the most important thing there is !!!! Thanks from beautiful Holland!
Steve, I appreciate your sense of humor that comes out in your lessons. You are very articulate and pay close attention to details. I feel I get my money's worth and more from your teaching skills. Thanks.
Hi Steve. This is Chris from Devon, England. I wasn't going to participate in the message board, but then I thought about it and realized that it should be part of the teacher-pupil relationship. If I am enjoying your lessons I should tell you, so that you get feedback, as would happen in any lessons environment and I urge all guitarists who are enjoying their Jamplay lessons to do the same. I returned to the guitar after 30 years, bought one and then panicked. What do I do now? Then I discovered Jamplay and can see this being a lifelong obsession. Now I am religiously going through all the beginner lessons from all the instructors to try and correct bad habits picked up a long time ago. I have enjoyed ALL the instructors lessons and am nearing the end of phase I, having already learned so much more than I thought I would be able to. Steve, I believe you were born to teach. I love the little things, such as marvelling at the `magic' fingers that curl from different lengths to the same length and telling one hand to relax and thanking it for learning and explaining to it that it is now time to let the other hand do some learning. Priceless! You obviously excel at teaching children, which we all are when we pick up a guitar. Please keep on doing what you do the way you do it and Jamplay, could we please have some more film of instructors from their own homes like the early ones with Steve. For those of us overseas it gives us a little insight into what life is like in the USA and also makes us feel like we are actually going to the instructor's home for the early practices. Congratulations Jamplay. Best website EVER and `keep on truckin' (old Hippie expression which means `don't you dare stop now Jamplay'). Chris
i must say that i am very happy so far...very detailed lessons...very profesionally teached...even better than a private teacher....thank you Steve...Very well done!!!
Steve..your an EXCELLENT teacher...It's harder than people think to be a teacher.. Not to discredit or disrespect the other teachers on this site, but you really are NO.#1. Your the best for all beginners.. Thanks
Hey, Steve! I like your front door :P
Awesomelesson Steve, really enjoyed it. It wasn't boreing ordry.I've learned alot. Thanks Steve.
Was awesome - I had a great start from a friend's instruction, however this went into more depth and helped me develop better technique
Outstanding lesson! Kudos to Steve!!
Thank you so much, Steve. With constant deployments I haven't been able to find someone with time to teach me. You and this site have given me the chance to do something I've always wanted to, play the guitar.
nice lesson
I am so glad I found this website. I plan to cancel my local lessons and concentrate on this site. Steve is a really good teacher and takes his time explaining every aspect. This is what I haven't found with my local experience. Great job
Just finished watching the first lesson. Had an issue with the video stopping and jumping to the next segment. I switched from "High Quality" to "Medium Quality" and everything went smoothly. Can't wait to watch the 2nd lesson. Still practicing the first. Arthritis in my thumbs is a bummer. thanks again. Ron
Did it always skip at the same time? Do you by any chance know which scene it was jumping on?
vnvb
The skip occured at 0:42 into third segment (more detail of thumb and pointers on previous exercise).
Really enjoying your lessons Steve. My problem is with the right hand. I do OK with the fretting but have a lot of difficulty picking the correct string with my picking hand. Any suggestions? Thanks and looking forward to lesson 2. Jim
I've been messing around for a few years on my guitar, took a few group lessons & did some learning on my own. It's good to go back to the basics before any bad habits start to form. This video kept me interested and has inspired me to start practicing my finger exercises. Can't wait for the next lesson!
I thought it was a great lesson, but I'm one of those person who gets bored very easy when I don't get it right in the first servral tries. I can't get m thumb to be in the back of the neck like you suggest,instead I find myself craddling the neck to reach the low strings. I will practice your leasson for a few hours and see how it goes. I really hope that I can do it.
Great first lesson. I look forward to the next.
I loved Lesson 1. Great information at a good pace!
Really enjoyed the first lesson - now it's practice, practice. Love it.
I was sort of Skeptical about even joining jamplay, but I'm glad I did! Just the first lesson was awesome info I never knew and it goes way more in depth than what I expected. P.S Steve your a good teacher, I look foward to your other lessons.
Hi Steve, I'm playing guitar now for a half year, and was just playing around with chords, and didn't like to do finger exercises... I liked playing guitar that much, that I am doing those finger exercises now, and they are going better and better... so I followed the course from the first lesson, and learned things I didn't know (such as: a G chord exists always from G, B and D notes). Thanx for your great way of teaching.
Steve, great to get back to basics. Learning a lot.
Video Problem Guys? Try this first before you think there's anything more going on in your PC. You can do this before you contact Jamplay or not... up to you. Problems With The Internet Steps to cleanup IE browser: 1.Open an Internet Explorer Page. 2.Click on Tools and click on Internet Options. 3.Click on Delete cookies 4.Click on Delete files with a check mark on delete all offline content. 5.Click on Clear History. 6.Click on the Security tab and click on Default Level. 7.Click on the Programs tab and click on Reset Web Settings (Uncheck the option for resetting the home page). 8.Click on the advanced tab and click on Restore Default and uncheck the box that says, "Enable third party browser extension (requires restart). 9.Restart the computer. 10.Again, Open an Internet Explorer Page. 11.Click on Tools and click on Internet Options. 12.Click on the Settings tab that is next to Delete files. 13.Click on View files 14.In the window "temporary Internet Files, Right click on each program file and choose delete (each should be removed individually). 15.Click on View Objects. 16.In the window "Downloaded Program Files, Right click on each program file and choose Remove (each should be removed individually). If you don't want to do this, then next option will be to call HPor what ever name brand PC you have and ask them to do a non-destructive system recovery. 2.Try an online virus scan: Go to www.housecall.anitvirus.com Click on scan now, its free.. note: this website may offer a 30day free trial.. "do not download it" don't worry it's safe too. Choose location, highlight 'united states', and click on GO Put a check mark against 'my computer' and also put a check mark in 'autoclean' and then click on SCAN After completing the scan, try to delete the virus if any and restart the computer and try to open the application if your still having problem send a message. spider
There something wrong with the video... it stop when it get's to a certain point in the beginning! I have high speed internet and double check the connections and it was find.
The same thing happen to me. so i just turn off my connection on & off again
When this happen to me.. before I jump into things and assume it's my computer or the network because this kind of stuff.. if you know it... it will drive you crazy and it you don't know it .. you want to throw your PC out the window!... clean out you history and cookies.... if your still having this issue I'll send instructions so you don't F*** up your pc. send me a message if this happens again and I'll try to help you but before you do. contact custermer service at jamplay... if everythings checks ok than contact your ISP. There's more to do when cleaning out your pc but I'm not going to write all this info for nothing.. "meaning wasting my time"! The Outcome of my problem was my pc but before I drove myself crazy I wanted to make sure there wasn't a problem on there end. spider :)
I can't find anything wrong :(
Are you having issues with Scene 1? I can't seem to find anything wrong.
I have been an on again off again player for several years. Although I knew all the information in this lesson, I decided to watch it again just to familiarize myself with the instructional style of the teacher. I was pleased with the overall presentation and I found it interesting enough to watch even though it was old school for me.
I have been playing for a year now and came across jamplay. I decided to enrol and watch and brush up on the beginner section. I can assure you that it has been eyeopening and i have now corrected a couple of bad habits and started playing the beginner exercises again rather that miss them out when practicing. all in all very helpful and informative aswell as good instruction. Im signing off now to watch the next section. Thanks Steve and Jamplay.
thanks steve! i recently bought my first accoustic guitar and i've enjoyed ever second of learning all the basics in order to play! thanks alot! and great teaching job!
Steve, I've had a guitar sitting in its case for over 3 years and I randomly came across jamplay and watched the free lesson. After seeing the pace and attention to detail I've joined up and renewed my interest in learning the guitar. Thanks for this. Also it makes a big difference being available through the forums, for absolute beginners like myself its very helpful (although this is my first post I've naturally read some of your replies). Cheers.
Steve, you're one heck of a teacher. I found your approach in how you explained the basics really excellent. I was playing my guitar along with you, doing the exercises as you showed them. That made it so clear for me. I look forward to your other lessons! I have one question though: the snares on my guitar keep vibrating for a long time after I strum them. Also sometimes while practicing and releasing the strings with my left hand, this causes the strings to vibrate rather loudly. Is there any way to avoid that?
Hi Steve, enjoying the lesson. Have 1 question so far..when I play the exercise in this first lesson..when I play the 4th fret on the 3rd string and then play the open 2nd string , it sounds almost the same... I have an electronic tuner and it says my guitar is in tune. Could you please tell me what I'm doing wrong. Apart from that I'm soooo enjoying my lesson here ion Western Australia. How great is it to be able to sit in front of your pc and get personal lessons from the other side of the world? Thanks jamplay!
Steve, I was never able to finish lession 1 due to both session 6 and session 7 never being able to play. I'm not sure what was going on but it would begin for about 2 seconds with the music along with the narrative but abruptly end. Was/is something going on on your side? January 6th. Other than that the lesson was helpful.
Hi Steve, I decided that it was high time I learnt to play so bought an electric guitar. I then found this site and I have to say I'm very impressed. I do have a couple of questions, I guess that all the principles are the same between electric and acoustic and following the acoustics lessons isn't the wrong thing to do? Also I'm a little unsure when it is right to move on to lesson 2, I guess once I have mastered the 1,2,3,4 fret excercise?
Great lesson Steve, very easy to follow - mentally that is, it's the 'physical' part of playing that I need to go over and over. Thanks.
Greeting from Iceland. One thing I noticed when Steve was explaining the thumb placement on the neck was that if you use the thumb on the back of the neck you can use entire arc of the wrist to reach the fretboard. But if you rest the base of the thumb on the back of the neck you lose that extra reach your wrist can give you.
Great Lessons Steve, really enjoyed it. I started learning few months ago, after watching this video i feel that i have missed a few good habits, glad i have signed up.
Just finished the first lesson. As my first time playing guitar I loved the way Steve approaches teaching. Easy and fun demeanor. I'm going to take a few more days learning the fingering excercises before moving on, but I must say so far I'm very impressed!
Hi Steve! I am so excited! I just did my first 3 lessons with you, and the moment a question comes to my mind, the next thing you say is the answer! I understand everything you are saying, it is so clear, and the pace is great. I can't wait to start lesson 4! (I have been playing on my own for a few years) I was at an amazing teepee party last night with lots of guitarists and drummers and though I left my guitar in the car last night, I know that next time, I will have the confidence to play with them. Thanks so much!
Just a quick "Thanks for the first lesson" comment :) I was hoping to find true beginner lessons here on Jamplay and... well I'm glad I've signed up. The pacing is just great.
These lessons are at a great place for me as a beginner, that is why I signed up!
Glad to hear it! If you enjoyed this lesson you're in for a treat! This entire series is great!
Steve.Marcus from Australia.Good lesson but want your veiw on pick v thumb.I started a few months ago on my own with a pick.When i use my thumb it sounds dead or flat.Not strong like the pick..?????????
I have the same thing, is that suppose to happen that way?
i cant seem to remember all the frets and where they are is lesson is so wrong
Steve is a great teacher i think i'm gonna stick with him through my 1st phase lessons
Steve, you tune your guitar with the "magic of the 5th fret." I've been doing the same thing using the 7th fret. When I try the 5th fret, it doesn't sound right to my ear. What am I missing?
Great first lesson, Steve. I took lessons about 20 years ago and am happy that my son wants to play (he's 9). I found this site and thought it was wonderful that we can advance at our own pace and have fun together learning! I homeschool, so we are using your lessons as part of our weekly music class! Thanks so much I can't wait to move on! Kim and Zac
tx, tcwithjt! S
love ur lesson...seriously:rockout:
Hi Jackie, I'm glad to hear that the desire to play has been re-awakened and that you have the motivation and energy to move forward. Please don't hesitate to ask questions! BTW! I love London and would love to come over the pond again! (Although the laws against live music in pubs are pretty nasty. Why DO people go to pubs anyway? To drink? --ha!) Steve
You are most welcome eagleraven! Steve
Thanks for the lesson Steve. I just bought my guitar 2 days ago and already I feel I have progressed some. I took up guitar for a couple of reasons one being is I want to play a song at my wedding for my fiancee which is coming up next year as a surprised and two I've always wanted to learn guitar. Anyways, Ill master that exercise and move on to the next lesson. Once again thanks Steve
Dear Steve! I really enjoyed the first lesson. I am returning to guitar playing after more than thirty years. I know some things about the basics and wondered whether to do the first lesson. I am really pleased I did as you are a great teacher and it was good to get to know you. You also have given me confidence and enthusiasm to continue and succeed. It feels very personal as if you are here in London England as my personal teacher. Great! Thanks so much and looking forward to the next lesson soon. Best wishes Jackie
Hi williams_702, nothing like the experience of some results to help keep your momentum going, is there? If you keep trying to play then you're on the right track. You are most welcome! Steve
Hi Steve, Just signed up a week ago and already feeling the benefit of your easy style of instruction.. Ive tried a few times to get into playing the guitar but never stuck at it..Your enthusiasm keeps me going. Many thanks
You're welcome, alpha! thanks for the feedback. Cheers, Steve
thank you for your rich lesson, very well detailed and super good communication
;) hi steve i have just joined the playjam i am playing a year i am from ireland me name is johnny ican play chords but i wanted to start right at the basics great lesson i watch it and very informative and enjoyed it after i watched it i went on to the second lesson thanks steve really enjoying the course so far kind regards john from the emerald isle of IRELAND ;)
Jsanderlin, David Anthony also explains it in his early lessons if you need more information. Basically, just understand that you can play the same exact note on different strings. So for instance, the 5th fret on the E string sounds exactly the same as the open A string, they are the same note. So knowing that, if you play them both at the same time you can make sure they are perfectly in tune with each other by matching the pitch perfectly. Does that make sense?
The lesson explaining the "fifth fret" concept was not clear, it was very difficult to follow. Is there any written information regarding it's use?
jimjim58, I'm glad to hear of your continued interested and renewed enthusiasm. Don't forget that we "play" music (although we may work hard at it!) Steve
Thanks Steve! I began lessons about 35 years ago and stopped after about a year because the instructor had no enthusiasm, but I tried on and off to teach myself. Now I have you and you make the lessons interesting and informative and fun! I will be taking my time and practice lots before moving on to the next lesson. I want to be good, and I just need to practice, practice, practice! Thanks again!
Hi mav67, good to hear--and you are welcome! Steve
Thanks for the lesson Steve. I have been spending far too long trying to teach myself and have picked up a lot of bad habits on the way. The whole intention is to go back to the beginning and try to eliminate these bad habits before I go in too deep. The lesson was informative and not nearly as boring as I thought it would be. Once again I just wanted to say thank you and I promise you that I will be practicing like a demon.
dsimms, thanks for the feedback. Steve
Oops! sorry to miss-address you, nbunce! Steve
Hi dsimms, thanks for the feedback! Steve
just finished first lesson, thanks Steve good work!!
Good beginning, not boring and learned plenty Thanks Steve Danny
I'll make sure Steve reads this message :)
Glad you enjoyed it. Any questions? As Steve sometimes stresses, it is crucial you master one lesson before moving on to the next (as it usually builds on the previous lesson).
Cheers for the lesson Steve, enjoyed it. I just need to practise your exercise before moving onto your next lesson.