Let's Play Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (00:32) Intro Music Jim gets things started with some intro music in the key of D. In this lesson, you will learn how to play this basic intro tune. Through teaching this song, Jim will train you on the basics of playing with other guitarists. Get tuned up and ready for another great Phase 1 lesson! Chapter 2: (05:31) Let's Play It's very important to play with other musicians as often as possible regardless of your ability level. This will help enforce the rhythmic clarity and musicality of your playing. Chances are, you'll notice some flaws in your rhythm that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Playing with other musicians will help iron out these discrepancies.

Jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny preaches that the best way to improve your musical abilities is to be the least talented member in your band. Playing with more talented musicians forces and inspires you to become a better player yourself.

At about 1:30 Jim performs the intro music once again this time at a much slower tempo. Watch him perform this tune several times until you have the sound of the melody in your head.

Within the context of most guitar duets, one guitarist provides the rhythmic accompaniment while the other plays the melody. Often in the course of a duet, these roles will reverse. In this lesson, you will perform the role of rhythmic accompaniment while Jim plays the melody. The melody line is the focal point of any musical arrangement. For this reason, some basic guidelines must be observed when supporting a melody with any sort of rhythmic accompaniment.

1. The rhythm part is ALWAYS subordinate to the melody line. Therefore, the accompaniment should NEVER be louder than the melody.
2. If you make a mistake, don't worry about it. Just keep going. Everyone makes mistakes. The most important thing to focus on when supporting a melody line is rhythm. For example, if you strike a wrong note in a chord, do not let it faze you. Keep chugging away at a constant rhythmic pule. If the time feel is lost, the music falls apart.

The tune discussed in this lesson is played in the key of D major. Review the primary triads (I, IV, and V chords) for this key.

I chord = D
IV chord = G
V chord = A

Note: Open the Supplemental Content tab for diagrams of these chords.

The rhythm accompaniment consists of four measures. Once you reach the end of the progression, repeat back to the beginning. Here is a measure by measure breakdown of the chords:

Measure 1: D
Measure 2: G
Measure 3: A
Measure 4: D

To spice up the accompaniment, play the bass root note of the chord on beats 1 and 3. On beats 2 and 4, use a downstrum to strum the remaining strings in the chord.

Note: Open "Key of D Tab" in "Supplemental Content" for tablature to the rhythm accompaniment.

Before you attempt to play along with Jim, practice this chord progression repeatedly until you have mastered it. Always practice with a metronome! Start the metronome at a very slow tempo. Around 60 beats per minute is a good place to start. Every note you play should line up perfectly with the click of the metronome. Once you have mastered the progression at this tempo, move the metronome up one notch. Repeat this process until you have reached 90 beats per minute. This is close to the tempo at which Jim performs the tune.

At about 3:15 into this scene, he gives you an opportunity to practice the progression while he plays the melody. At about 4:30 Jim performs the tune at an allegro (fast) tempo. The metronome marking for this particular tempo is around 150 beats per minute. If you are just beginning to get acquainted with performing chord changes, this tempo will be way too fast for you at this point in time. Chapter 3: (04:56) The Keys of G and A In this scene, Jim transposes the song into two other keys for additional practice. "Transpose" simply means to shift to another key. The tune is first transposed to the key of G major. Review the primary triads (I, IV, and V chords) for this key.

I chord = G
IV chord = C
V chord = D

The rhythm accompaniment follows the same pattern when played in the keys of G and A. Beats 1 and 3 feature the bass root note of the chord. On beats 2 and 4, strum the remaining strings in the chord. Repeat the same process you followed in the previous scene to learn the rhythm progression in the key of G. Remember to practice along with your metronome! When you are ready, play the rhythm while Jim plays the melody at about 1:20. At 1:45, he plays the progression at a much quicker tempo.

Note: Open the Supplemental Content tab for tablature to this progression in the key of G.

Once you have sufficiently mastered the chord progression in G, repeat the same process with the key of A major. Here are the primary triads in this key:

I chord = A
IV chord = D
V chord = E

To simultaneously play the melody and chords in this key, Jim must use some alternate shapes of these chords. Notice how he plays the A chord by barring his first finger across the second fret. Alternate chord shapes are discussed in greater detail in later lessons.

Note: Open the "Supplemental Content" tab for tablature to the rhythm progression in the key of A. Chapter 4: (09:08) Adding Some Flavor Jim demonstrates how to spice up the rhythm pattern by adding one simple upstrum. In the previous scenes, beats 2 and 4 featured a downstrum. In the new pattern, beat 2 remains unchanged. However, an upstrum is added to beat 4. Now, this final beat is comprised of two eighth notes. On the first eighth note, play a downstrum of the chord. On the second eighth note (the “and” beat of 4) strum the chord in an upward direction. Listen to Jim carefully to get a feel for this new rhythm.

Practice the rhythm as slowly as possible to begin with. Strive for accuracy and clarity instead of speed. Isolate the strumming pattern with each chord before you put the whole progression together. Make sure that you are only strumming the appropriate strings when performing an upstrum. All of the strumming motion should come from the wrist, not the forearm.

Note: Open the "Supplemental Content" tab for tablature to this new rhythm in the key of D major.

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