Five Fret Alphabet

Skill Building Guitar Course from Dave Yauk

Many guitar players get nice and comfortable once they learn their basic chords, maybe a few scales and some strum patterns. But it is easy to get stuck and bored after learning the basics. Dave sticks primarily to the first five frets of the guitar, takes those simple, familiar chords and concepts and helps you get musical with them! Bring what you know and you'll be amazed what you can do with what you have. This series is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate rhythm acoustic guitar players.

20 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

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Full Course Breakdown

Many guitar players get nice and comfortable once they learn their basic chords, maybe a few scales and some strum patterns. But it is easy to get stuck and bored after learning the basics. Dave sticks primarily to the first five frets of the guitar, takes those simple, familiar chords and concepts and helps you get musical with them! Bring what you know and you'll be amazed what you can do with what you have. This series is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate rhythm acoustic guitar players.

1

Five Fret Alphabet Introduction

Welcome to the Five Fret Alphabet! In this series, Dave sticks primarily to the first five frets of the guitar, takes many simple, familiar chords and concepts and helps you get musical with them! Bring what you know and you'll be amazed what you can do with what you have. This series is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate rhythm acoustic guitar players.

3:11 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

2

Scales and Chords Hold Hands

Learn a simple mini song that illustrates just how intertwined scales and chords really are. Dave uses a G chord paired with a G scale to drive the point home.

13:30 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
3

Chord Stories

Chords chained together, or chord progressions give off a certain vibe or mood. Combine a group of chords with a rhythm and you've got a nice little package. Dave explores creative ways to combine chords together to tell a story.

11:46 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

4

Compound Words

Take your chord progressions and your strumming and start looking at notes you can add to your basic 'farmer' shapes. This will add lots of interest and further the artistic expression of your playing!

14:56 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

5

Ninths & Layers

In the beginning stages of his discussion on extensions, Dave demonstrates how powerful and tasty the 9th can be in various settings. It's a great tone to add if you want to sound unique!

17:14 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

6

Sliding Second Class

In the last lesson, Dave introduced the concept of inversions and used various applications over 9th chords. In this lesson, Dave will look at sounds centered around 2nd inversion chords.

9:20 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

7

A My Goodness

You'll get a chance to look at the A minor chord shape and how to add flavor through extensions.

14:54 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

8

Hot Fridge

Look at chord harmony and extensions based off of the third degree of the G major scale in this lesson. Dave discusses what kinds of chord flavors are inspired by this degree and gives you some rules to break!

11:40 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

9

Landslide Travis

Take the accumulation of what you've been learning so far in this series and apply it to a nice travis picking idea.

11:47 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

10

Nine's & Licks

Continuing with the in-depth pursuit of sounds involving the ninth, Dave looks at adding a few licks to an otherwise basic chord progression.

11:47 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

Metallic Nines

Everyone needs a bit of Metallica in their playing... Right? Dave pulls from the widely successful rock band to illustrate how the ninth shows itself in so many diverse ways.

7:43 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

12

Pregnant Resolve

Now we begin looking at the 7th family of extensions. Learn how this unique tone can lead your chord progression like no other note can.

11:19 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

13

Folk Fourths

Learn about how the suspended 4th can create tight chord transitions and glue certain chords together for a nice, folky sound.

8:47 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

14

Four's A Movin'

Work more with the 4th. Learn how it plays a part in nice resolution from the major or minor third. Then, learn a nice riff and chord progression that drives the point home.

10:35 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

15

Key Up, Suspended Up

Dial the energy up a little bit and continue the quest to understand and apply the suspended 4th. Learn another cool riff that will help you internalize the role of the suspended 4th!

9:13 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

16

Accidentally Suspended

Take a look at the "IV" chord and its interaction with the suspended 4th. You'll hear some familiar and not so familiar sounds.

8:41 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

17

You're Free

Explore the suspended flavor with relationship to the "V" chord now. You'll learn a nice way to resolve back to your home, or "I" chord.

7:38 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

18

Seal Suspension

The music of Seal is packed full of artistic ways to use suspended chords. Dave shares an example of how he plays with the suspended chord and both the major and minor 3rd to create a truly signature sound.

8:25 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

19

Seventh Time's a Charm

Spend some time looking at how the 7th tone can spice up your chords and progressions. It functions as a note that leads you from chord to chord.

10:35 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

20

Playing in the Minors

Dave focuses on the 'native' minor chords that are present in the major scale. He'll deal with a few typical use cases and help explain their role in complete chord progressions.

10:27 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

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  • Playing since 1987
  • 89 lessons at JamPlay
Versatile songwriter and educator Dave Yauk brings his "everyman" approach to guitar lessons. Beginners, intermediate acoustic players and songwriters alike will appreciate Dave's down-to-earth teaching style.

Versatile songwriter and educator Dave Yauk brings his "everyman" approach to guitar lessons. Beginners, intermediate acoustic players and songwriters alike will appreciate Dave's down-to-earth teaching style.
Reviews & Feedback 89/100 with 76 ratings
dsomer

Great way to take a simple major scale and make it sound nice. I look forward to learning more. Nice lesson.

LuvSatch

Love the Analogies. They help me understand the bigger picture!

Mchrist

this is a very good series of lessons as they put together everything. chords to notes, notes to chords, rhythms and theory. The plus side is the teacher is interesting to listen to as explain things in a very easy way. im really enjoying thi

jwm0318

This is the lesson I have been looking for! Excellent-thanks!