The E Chord Guitar Lesson
The E Chord
Eve Goldberg introduces the E chord. She explains how it is played and provides some exercises designed to improve your chord changing abilities.
Taught by Eve Goldberg in Basic Acoustic Guitar seriesLength: 21:54Difficulty: 0.5 of 5
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Acoustic Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsThe acoustic guitar is one of the most beloved instruments in the world. Eve Goldberg will guide you on your guitar playing journey.
Lesson 1
Introduction to the Guitar
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the acoustic guitar. She talks about the parts of the guitar, the string names, and tuning.
Length: 27:16 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Learning the A Chord
In this lesson, Eve Goldberg introduces the first chord in this series, the A chord. She also shows how this chord can be used to play a simple song.
Length: 22:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
The E Chord
Eve Goldberg introduces the E chord. She explains how it is played and provides some exercises designed to improve your chord changing abilities.
Length: 21:54 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Swing Low with 2 Chords
Eve Goldberg returns to the song "Swing Low" and talks about playing it with two chords instead of one.
Length: 16:20 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Boom-Chuck Strum
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Length: 15:56 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Boom-Chuck and Swing Low
Eve Goldberg teaches how the boom-chuck strum can be applied to the song "Swing Low."
Length: 8:16 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
The D Chord
In this lesson, Eve introduces the D chord. You will also learn how to switch from the D chord to the A chord while applying the boom-chuck strum.
Length: 16:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Little Birdy
Eve teaches the song "Little Birdy," which is a great tune to practice changing from the D chord to the A chord with your boom-chuck strum.
Length: 23:54 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
You will learn the The Carter Family song "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes" in this lesson.
Length: 32:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Songs and Capos
Eve talks about 3 chord songs and demonstrates a few as an example. She also introduces the capo.
Length: 10:36 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Capo and Keys
Eve continues her discussion on capos. She explains how to find a key by using a piano keyboard drawing.
Length: 12:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Flatpicks
Eve introduces the flatpick. She explains the proper way to hold it and strum.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
A to D Bass Run
Eve shows you how to to compliment your boom-chuck strum by adding an A to D bass run.
Length: 14:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
E to A Bass Run
In this lesson, Eve furthers your knowledge of bass runs by teaching the E to A bass run.
Length: 22:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Review and Practice
Eve continues her discussion of bass runs and also covers some great practicing techniques.
Length: 22:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The G Chord
Eve introduces the G chord and practices changing to and from other chords you have learned. This is important for the next song you will learn.
Length: 14:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Gold Watch and Chain
Eve teaches the song "Gold Watch and Chain" using the G chord you learned in the last lesson.
Length: 19:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Boom-Chucka Strum
Eve shows you how to add a little spice to your standard boom-chuck strum in this lesson.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Boom-a-Chucka Strum
You've learned the Boom-Chuck strum. You've learned the Boom-Chucka strum. Now you will learn the Boom-a-Chucka strum. Have fun!
Length: 13:16 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Incorporating the A to D Bass Run
Eve shows how to incorporate the A to D bass run into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 18:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to A Bass Run
Get ready for a new run! Eve teaches the D to A bass run in this lesson.
Length: 30:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to G Bass Run
Learn how to add even more flavor to "Gold Watch and Chain" by including a bass run from D to G.
Length: 20:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
G to D Bass Run
Learn the G to D bass run and incorporate it into the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 29:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Putting It Together
Eve encourages you to take all of the tools you've learned thus far and apply them to the song "Gold Watch and Chain."
Length: 16:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hobo's Lullaby
Eve introduces a new song called "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 15:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Hobo's Lullaby Fingerpicking
Eve introduces fingerpicking in this lesson by using the song "Hobo's Lullaby" as an example.
Length: 24:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: D to G
Eve adds a D to G bass run into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: A to D
Eve adds the bass run from A to D into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 16:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Adding Bass Runs: G to A
Eve adds the bass run from G to A into the song "Hobo's Lullaby."
Length: 19:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
The D Doodad
Eve Goldberg finishes up her lessons on "Hobo's Lullaby" by adding one final technique: The D Doodad.
Length: 30:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Careless Love Introduction
Eve Goldberg continues her beginner series with another amazing song called "Careless Love."
Length: 12:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion on "Careless Love" with a lesson about the pattern and chord changes of the song.
Length: 16:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
G Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve Goldberg takes a look at the G chord fingerpicking pattern for the song "Careless Love."
Length: 14:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
D Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve Goldberg continues "Careless Love" with a lesson about the fingerpicking pattern for the D chord.
Length: 16:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
C Chord Fingerpicking Pattern
Eve teaches a Travis style picking pattern for the C chord. She also explains how to make the change from the C to the G pattern.
Length: 10:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Careless Love Wrap-Up
Eve wraps up "Careless Love" with a lesson about putting the whole song together.
Length: 16:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad Introduction
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 11:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Part 2: Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg reviews the chord structure for the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 13:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Part 3: Hammer-on Introduction
Eve Goldberg returns to "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson all about the hammer-on.
Length: 9:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Part 4: C Chord Hammer-on
Eve Goldberg continues her discussion of the hammer-on. She explains how a hammer-on can be used within a C major chord and the importance of timing.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 5: G Chord Hammer-on
Eve adds the G chord hammer-on to the song "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad."
Length: 15:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Part 6: Bass Runs
Eve gives a quick review of what you have learned so far in "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she dives into some bass runs that can be added to the chord progression.
Length: 13:54 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 7: G to C Bass Run
Eve plays the G to C run in the song "Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad." Then, she breaks it down for practice.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 8: C to G Bass Run
Eve taught the G to C bass run in the last lesson. In this lesson, she teaches you how to go from C back to G.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 9: G to Em Transition
Eve Goldberg covers a transitional chord between G and Em that functions like a bass run.
Length: 16:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Part 10: All Together
Eve Goldberg wraps up "Goin' Down this Road Feelin' Bad" with a lesson that combines all the techniques you have learned in the song.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Introduction
Eve Goldberg introduces a new song called "Stewball" in this lesson. Get started with a little history and some basic concepts.
Length: 10:11 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Part 2: Chord Structure
Eve Goldberg talks about the chord structure for the song "Stewball" in this lesson.
Length: 11:48 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Stewball Part 3: Strum Variations
Eve Goldberg wraps up the song "Stewball" with some strum pattern variations.
Length: 15:08 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
About Eve Goldberg
View Full Biography
Imagine a kitchen party where Mother Maybelle Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Patsy Cline show up, and you begin to get a sense of what it feels like inside songwriter Eve Goldberg's head. Never one to restrict herself to one genre of music, Eve has performed her trademark mixture of folk, blues, country, bluegrass, old time, and jazz in venues ranging from small house concerts to the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington DC since 1990.
Eve was born in the Boston area but has called Toronto, Ontario home since 1981. As a child, she was dragged to folk concerts by the likes of The Weavers, Doc Watson, Arlo Guthrie, the Watersons, and countless others. Eventually it sank in, and as a teenager she began to devour all kinds of contemporary and traditional roots music. She began performing in 1990, and hasn't looked back since. Along the way she's earned the respect of legendary musicians like Peggy Seeger, Geoff Muldaur, and Penny Lang.
Her watercolour voice and solid guitar style has become a favourite at festivals, folk clubs, and concert series across Canada and the US. With an equal passion for traditional music, and for the art of songwriting and interpretation, Eve's performances are intimate and relaxed, moving effortlessly from folk classics to original gems, all wrapped up in her clear, pure voice and dynamic guitar playing. She has released two albums to widespread acclaim -- 1998's "Ever Brightening Day" released on her own Sweet Patootie Music label, and 2003's "Crossing the Water," released by The Borealis Recording Company. Her instrumental tune "Watermelon Sorbet" was used for years as the opening theme to the popular CBC national radio show "Richardson's Roundup."
Her latest album "A Kinder Season" was released in September 2007 on Borealis Records (US Release: Jan 9, 2007). Recorded in the months after her mother's death, the album is a remarkable personal testament to the joy and hope that lurks somewhere beyond the heartache, and the sweetness that can be found even in the bitterest seasons of life. Produced by Ken Whiteley, "A Kinder Season" features twelve new originals that firmly establish Eve as a compelling and thoughtful writer whose songs draw honey from the rock of human experience. As legendary blues musician Geoff Muldaur put it, "As far as I'm concerned, Eve Goldberg is on the verge of riches. Big name folks would want to get hold of this stuff."
In January 2008, Eve released "The Streets of Burma," a song inspired by the peaceful demonstrations of monks and nuns in Burma in September 2007. Since then, Amnesty International Canada has used the song as part of its campaign to free U Gambira, one of the monks arrested following his participation in the protests. Visitors to www.amnesty.ca/streetsofburma/ can listen to a preview of the song, find out more about the situation in Burma, sign an e-postcard to help free U Gambira, and if they want, download the song in exchange for a donation to Amnesty International Canada.
"A pure and pleasing voice and a performance style that know no bounds."
- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
"...one of the most promising young singers in the Canadian folk scene"
- Alistair Brown, Greenman Review
"Wow! Ever Brightening Day is one of the best albums I've heard this year!"
- Back Porch Music Distribution
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Eve, Terrific for the beginner! You were @ winter folk camp this year and a gal named Sally said to me "you need to pick up one of Eve's cards for jamplay, I took her beginner class @ folk camp a couple years ago and she's terrific"! Terrific you are and I'm grateful to be here. Thank you for being so patient and encouraging; have just finished lesson 3 and look forward to completing the rest.
Eve, Terrific for the beginner! You were @ winter folk camp this year and a gal named Sally said to me "you need to pick up one of Eve's cards for jamplay, I took her beginner class @ folk camp a couple years ago and she's terrific"! Terrific you are and I'm grateful to be here. Thank you for being so patient and encouraging; have just finished lesson 3 and look forward to completing the rest.
Hi Eve, This lesson (and the first two) were really great! I was getting really frustrated trying to learn on my own and am so grateful to have found JamPlay. Your calm and kind presentation was so helpful and I am able to pick up the chords quickly. Thank you thank you thank you!
Eve, I have been trying to learn guitar for about 2 months now. I was starting to feel completely overwhelmed. I'm so glad I found jamplay & your sessions. Learning A (both ways) and now E make me feel like I might get this after all. For me it is purely for my own enjoyment, thank you for making this fun and enjoyable!
Hey Eve, Thanks, thanks and thanks for the classes your first lesson is very true, I had try to learn guitar a few times, but it never work out... so I really appreciate the classes the way that you speak so clear, thanks a lot...
Hello Eve, & thank you for speaking plainly, knowing what's going through my head (panic), & throwing in a bit of humor... Don't know what got into me, but 8 days ago I got a guitar. (a tad late in life since I'm 61)... But I like learning & now know what some others feel when I talk computers. (lost)... My fingers also seem to have minds of their own. ('cept my ring finger which doesn't have one at all)... Tried some of the other instructors, but I like the way you explain things... Tried that alt A, but just can't get it (neighbor thought I was making a rude gesture)... Plus my left wrist is held together by steel plates & a bunch of screws, so it gets kind of sore... What I want to ask is, how long is a good time between lessons? Or to practice. (feel like a 10 yr old asking this)... I'm stuck at home a lot, so I've been doing hours at a time every day. Is there a sort of a timetable that's best? Thanks again.
awesome lesson. The alternate A was the answer for me.
i agree her voice is soothing and she is reasssuring....very cool
Hi Eve! I notice in the first lesson using Swing Low you are strumming all strings for the A chord and in some you are not strumming the 6th string. Is that intentional?
Hi fleo, The "home note" for the A chord is an A note, and that's the open 5th string that is part of the chord. So many people strum their A chord starting on the 5th string, because it sounds good to have that A note at the bottom of the chord. But the open 6th string is an E note, which is another note in the A chord. So it also will sound fine with the A chord. Some people are very particular and ALWAYS play the A starting on the 5th string -- but I feel like when you are strumming the way we are in this lesson, it doesn't really matter that much. Later when you learn the boom-chuck strum it will become much more important.
Eve, I love your approach to teaching. When you discuss the difficulties that I may encounter playing the chords, you make me feel so much better (you really do a great with your words of encouragement throughout the lesson). Thank you!
Thanks Jean!
Eve, I guess I must have larger [fatter?] then average fingers. When playing the E chord my third finger is lightly touching the third string and wrecking the chord - it doesn't seem to matter how I adjust the finger it still causes a problem. But I have noticed that my larger than average second finger can simultaneously fret the 4th and 5th strings giving a clean chord sound - which means just using my first and second fingers for the E chord. This also makes it simpler when changing chords. Do you foresee a problem down the road with other styles/techniques if I play the chord as I described -- is this a bad habit I want to stop before it beomes second nature? I'm primarily interested in learning how to fingerpick later. Thanks, -bill-
Hi Bill, again, sorry for taking so long to answer. I would be surprised if there was no possible way to make the chord in the standard way. There are many many guitar players with big fingers who seem to be able to find just the right spot to press with in order to avoid the other strings. One thing you might want to check is whether you are curving your fingers enough so that your fingers are perpendicular to the neck of the guitar. Your thumb position will affect your ability to do that, so double check that you are keeping your thumb in a good spot behind the neck, too. Of course, you also want to do that "wiggle and squish" thing and make sure you are getting your fingers nice and tight with each other and all that. Having said all that, without seeing what you are doing, it's impossible for me to give you definitive advice. And ultimately there is nothing wrong with the fingering you are describing. So, if you are totally frustrated and you don't see any other way to do it, I would say your alternate fingering is the way to go.
Eve, as someone that has picked up the guitar, your teaching is excellent ,so detailed...thanks
Thanks Donb!
Eve, Thanks for the info regarding the alternate A fingering. I have large hands and long fingers and I often have had difficulty with the 'proper' fingerings I've seen in chord books. Is there any rule or suggestion you can share regarding chord fingering. Often I can find a more comfortable way to play a chord than what shows in the book, but I can't shake the feeling that "I'm doing it wrong" I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. Thanks, Jay
Hi Jayk, thanks for the feedback and the question. First, although everyone's hands are different, most people are eventually able to make the recommended fingerings - sometimes it takes a while to find the right place on the tip of your finger, or the right angle of your hand, or whatever. I know many people with VERY big fingers who are able to do normal chord fingerings, so if I were you I wouldn't totally give up on the fingerings you see in books. Having said that, there are always different ways to do things and if you find a fingering that works for you, there's no law that says you can't use it. Most common fingerings are used because they help with efficiency and conserving effort in some way, so keep in mind that a new fingering that you create could potentially be harder to get to or from which will slow you down. Hope that's helpful!
Eve, your point about panic is something that never occurred to me and that is so true when you are learning, and aren't we all. Boy I wish someone told me that 10 years ago. Always great to check out beginner lessons and see some of the things you missed along the way.
Hi Telecurtis, I'm glad that was a useful thing to think about. I find most people are able to learn much faster if they can manage the panic levels!
Hello everyone, Thanks for the positive feedback! And electrix, it's nice to hear that the alternate fingering is working for you. There's actually a few other ways of making the A that might come in handy for you eventually. I wonder if I could post them somewhere on the site for you...
Eve. Thanks for the alternate finger placement for the A chord. I have big fingers and multiple fingers on the same fret can be challanging. Not only is it more comfortable, the results are more consistant.
The whole reason I took up the guitar was to get out of my left brain and into my right; I think Eve's comments about focusing on listening and feeling rather than on that inner voice of critique and panic is spot-on. Thanks!
Eve is very good at calming me when I'm having trouble forming chords. It's encouraging to hear her describe the exact problems I'm having. Thanks Eve.