Play Along with Mark Lincoln Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (12:49) Learning the Chords Review
Please review and practice the following before moving on:

1. Warm up the body.
2. Single note hum.
3. Three note hum.
4. Hum "me-me-me-me" to "mah-mah-mah-mah" to "me-ma-me-ma" to "mo-mo-mo-mo."
5. Wake up the breath with "sah-sah-sah" long and sustained then five times staccato.
6. "Sah" in five note descending scales then five note ascending scales.
7. Start softly with each then gradually get louder and louder, faster and faster until you reach the volume and speed that you feel you will be using during the performance.
8. Practice singing along with guitar rhythms that you'e been using in the last few lessons or with material that you've discovered on your own and apply the steps described above to your playing.
9. Relax and enjoy!

As we've discussed in previous lessons, combining strumming and picking single notes and can be a great way to mingle different sounds and make your playing more dynamic. Coupling different techniques together like picking and strumming can also help to build the emotion in a given song and provide needed structure and variety. Over the last couple weeks, we've been talking about utilizing structure to build the emotion and find points to "boom" or sing passionately over the last couple weeks. Today's lesson will show you how to apply these concepts to a popular song - "From The Beginning" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.

We're going to use the following chords for today's exercises:

Am9 (5th fret)
E_0_
B_0_
G_5_
D_5_
A_0_
E_x_

Place your first finger on the D-string, 5th fret and your second finger on the G-string, 5th fret.

Dadd9/11/A (3rd fret)
E_0_
B_3_
G_0_
D_4_
A_0_
E_x_

Place your first finger on the B-string, 3rd fret and your second finger on the D-string, 4th fret.

Dm7 (5th fret)
E_5_
B_6_
G_5_
D_0_
A_x_
E_x_

This chord can be played by placing your first finger on the G-string, 5th fret, your second finger on the E-string, 5th fret, and your third finger on the B-string, 6th fret.

Dm6 (3rd fret)
E_5_
B_3_
G_4_
D_3_
A_5_
E_x_

This chord is best played by barring strings A through E on the 3rd fret. Then, place your second finger on the G-string, 4th fret, your third finger on the A-string, 5th fret and your pinky on the high E-string on the 5th fret. This one will stretch your hand out a little!

G major (3rd fret)
E_3_
B_3_
G_4_
D_5_
A_x_
E_x_

This chord is simply a mini-barre G chord played on the 3rd fret and is best played by barring the B and E-strings on the 3rd fret, your second finger on the G-string, 4th fret, and your third or ring finger on the D-string, 5th fret.

Fadd9 E_3_
B_1_
G_2_
D_3_
A_x_
E_x_

This chord can be played by placing your first finger on the B-string, 1st fret, your second finger on the G-string, 2nd fret, your third finger on the D-string, 3rd fret, and your pinky on the high E-string on the 3rd fret as well.

Cmaj9/B
E_0_
B_1_
G_0_
D_0_
A_2_
E_x_

This C chord can be played by placing your first finger on the B-string on the 1st fret and your second finger on the A-string, 2nd fret.

E7sus4(b9)
E_0_
B_3_
G_2_
D_3_
A_2_
E_0_

Finally, this chord is best played by placing your first finger on the A-string, 2nd fret, your second finger on the G-string, 2nd fret, your third finger on the D-string, 3rd fret and your pinky on the B-string, 3rd fret. Or...

You can barre the D, G, B and high E strings and use your second finger to hold down the D-string, 3rd fret and your third finger to hold down the B-string on the 3rd. Some people find this latter technique to be easier than the former due to the difficulty level of this chord. Some of these chords may be fairly challenging, but please familiarize yourself with all of them thoroughly and get comfortable with strumming them. I will show you in the video how to form these chords in the simplest and most natural way possible, but you will still need to find your own way as well.

On top of combining picking and strumming, this particular song also incorporates a couple other techniques of note:

Bending - Bending notes is a fairly simple technique that can be accomplished simply by applying upward or downward pressure on a particular string or strings. Most guitar players accomplish this feat with two or three fingers. However, single finger bends are certainly possible with more finger strength. We will be using the single-finger variety in this song. Watch me in the video for more insight into this technique.

Hammering - hammering is a technique that we've discussed previously in this series. It is also a fairly simple technique that can be accomplished by "hammering" or pushing a given finger down sharply and with some force upon the fretboard so that a particular note will sound. This is considered the opposite of the "pull-off" technique. Once again, I'll be sure to highlight this technique in the video and demonstrate its application in the song.

Due to time and space restraints, I am not showing the introduction to the song nor the conclusion. I simply want to show you how to coordinate the techniques that we've discussed thus far and the fine points of singing and playing it simultaneously. Please make sure that you have warmed your voice up adequately before attempting this song! Chapter 2: (11:15) Playing the Song

From The Beginning by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer



Am9            Dadd9,11/A

Might have been things I missed


C    Cmaj9    Fmaj9     G            Dm7

But don't be unkind, it don't mean I'm blind


Am9        Dadd9,11/A

Perhaps there's a thing or two


C         Cmaj9     Fmaj9    G           Dm7

I think of lying in bed, I shouldn't have said


 Am9 Dadd9,11/A  Am9 Dadd9,11/A



         Dm7     Dm6

You see it's all clear


    Dm7        E7sus4(b9)

You were meant to be here


        Am9       Dadd9,11/A

>From the beginning



Am9        Dadd9,11/A

Well maybe I might have changed


C   Cmaj9    F      G             Dm7

And not been so cruel, not been such a fool


Am9            Dadd9,11/A

But after what's done is done


C Cmaj9         F       G                 Dm7

I just can't recall, it doesn't matter at all



  Am9 Dadd9,11/A  Am9 Dadd9,11/A


         Dm7    Dm6

You see it's all clear


     Dm7        E7sus4(b9)

You were meant to be here


       Am9         Dadd9,11/A

>From the beginning

This song should be played at a moderate tempo with a relaxed feel. The hammer-on should be played within the Dadd9,11/A chord, with your second finger hammering onto the D-string 4th fret. The bend should be played before the beginning chords of each verse. Subsequently, they mark the initiation of each verse. Watch me in the video for timing and also how to effectively incorporate the vocals with the rhythm. This song is challenging but not impossible, so give it a chance and try to find the groove that is intrinsic to the rhythm.

Member Comments about this Lesson

Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.