The focus of this lesson is nurturing the ability to change between chords in a quick and accurate fashion. Steve uses two techniques which he calls "pivoting" and "sliding" to facilitate improvement.
Taught by Steve Eulberg in Beginner Guitar with Steve Eulberg 2015 seriesLength: 8:25Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
If you are a beginner to the guitar or looking to brush up your skills, this series is for you. This beginner series starts off pretending you have never touched a guitar and gets you playing in no time. The skills in this series will be the foundation for your guitar-playing career.
Lesson 1
Steve Eulberg introduces his beginner course and talks about who the course is for and what will be taught. He also demonstrates several beautiful pieces of music to get your blood moving. It's time to...
Length: 5:06 Difficulty: 2.5 FREELesson 2
Steve introduces you to the wonderful world of the acoustic guitar. He talks about the instrument, its parts, and considerations when purchasing one.
Length: 8:46 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 3
Steve introduces the classical guitar in all of its nylon-stringed glory. He discusses the parts of the instrument and talks about how it differs from the traditional steel-stringed acoustic.
Length: 9:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
Steve Eulberg introduces the 12 string guitar and talks about its merits and the differences between it and a 6 string guitar.
Length: 6:57 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
Steve Eulberg introduces the electric guitar. He talks about all of its parts and explains what makes it different from the acoustic offerings.
Length: 8:53 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 6
In this lesson Steve Eulberg delves into the mysterious and wonderful world of strings. He talks about the standard tuning on the guitar and moves on to introduce the concept of string physics. Don't worry,...
Length: 12:58 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 7
Before you play your first chord, your guitar must be in tune. In this lesson, Steve talks about a simple, effective and free way to tune using the magical properties of the 5th fret.
Length: 7:30 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
It isn't always possible to tune by ear or using the magic of the 5th fret method. Whether it's a noisy room, or you simply are not comfortable doing it, having a tuning device can be valuable. Steve talks...
Length: 14:18 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 9
It may seem like a tedious subject for a lesson, but learning how to properly hold guitar can make you a better player and prevent unnecessary strain and pain.
Length: 5:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 10
In this lesson Steve introduces the left hand, or fretting hand. He talks about how to properly play notes on the fretboard and gives you an exercise to build your dexterity and accuracy.
Length: 15:11 Difficulty: 0.0 Members OnlyLesson 11
In this lesson Steve talks about the role of the right hand, or the picking hand. He discusses proper placement, demonstrates the use of a pick and thumbpick, and talks about alternate picking.
Length: 21:48 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 12
Steve guides you through getting your fingers on the fretboard and playing your first chord. Don't be intimidated; this version of the G major chord only requires you to use one finger!
Length: 12:09 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 13
Steve Eulberg introduces your second chord, the C. He teaches a 1 finger version of the chord that you will be strumming in literally no time.
Length: 5:30 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 14
Steve Eulberg takes the one finger G and C chords from the previous lessons and combines them in an easy song we are all familiar with.
Length: 7:25 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 15
Steve moves on to teach the D7 chord, which is your first chord that makes use of three fingers at once! Don't worry though, if you've followed the lessons up until now, this will be cake for you! You...
Length: 8:20 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 16
The focus of this lesson is nurturing the ability to change between chords in a quick and accurate fashion. Steve uses two techniques which he calls "pivoting" and "sliding" to facilitate improvement.
Length: 8:25 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 17
Steve moves on and talks about transitioning between two chords that do not have any fretted fingers in common. He uses a technique he calls "hover fingers" to accomplish this task.
Length: 4:32 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 18
Steve talks about his five-pronged approach to practicing. He also explains how he would recommend making use of the JamPlay progress report for the best results.
Length: 12:41 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 19
As a guitar player you will be assaulted with a wide variety of written resources, ranging from tablature to chord charts. In this lesson, Steve introduces the most common sources, so you won't be left...
Length: 10:13 Difficulty: 1.0 Members OnlyLesson 20
If you know three chords, you can play thousands of songs. In this lesson, Steve demonstrates how three chords can be use to conquer the folk genre using the song "This Land is Your Land".
Length: 14:17 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
Steve Eulberg explains how learning three chords allows you to play most bluegrass songs.
Length: 12:06 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 22
Steve advances his assault on the free people of planet Earth by showing how three chords can be used to conquer the blues.
Length: 5:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 23
Steve demonstrates how three chords can be used to dominate the rock genre. He uses the song "Bad Moon Rising" as a demonstration.
Length: 5:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
Steve shows how knowing three chords can be used to play gospel music.
Length: 6:47 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
Now that Steve has covered 5 genres of music that you can dominate with a mere three chords, we will move on and learn an extremely valuable tip about switching chords.
Length: 9:57 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 26
Think of this like bootcamp, but for strumming and rhythm playing. Steve introduces a few new chords to practice with, and then helps you get your strum on with new and exciting patterns.
Length: 15:50 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 27
Strumming in 4/4 time is an invaluable and fun skill, but alas it is time to move on. In this lesson, Steve teaches 3/4 time and shows how it can be used.
Length: 7:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 28
Steve teaches the song "Over the Waves" as an example of how to strum in 3/4 time.
Length: 3:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 29
Steve is back with some more strumming goodness. He introduces what he calls a "fan strum," or what most guitarist refer to as 'rolled' chords.
Length: 4:58 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
It's time to return to the world of picking single notes, the precursor to busting out some sweet lead guitar. In this lesson Steve teaches a single string exercise that will take you from the first fret...
Length: 4:49 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
Now that you've practiced playing the frets in order it is time to skip around! This challenging exercise will have your fingers reeling and your mind beginning for mercy, but don't let them win. This...
Length: 3:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 32
Steve brings an old exercise back from the dead and breathes new life into it. The goal of this lesson, and exercise, is to focus on making the transition between two strings seamless.
Length: 4:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 33
Don't let the terms scale and music theory drive a black wedge of fear deep into your soul. They exist to make the guitar easier, and once understood, are valuable tools. In this lesson Steve introduces...
Length: 11:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 34
In this lesson, Steve talks a bit about how chords are made, but more importantly how they relate to each other. This lesson serves as a very basic introduction to the I-IV-V chord progression, which is...
Length: 8:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 35
In this lesson Steve Eulberg talks about minor chords and explains how they relate to major chords, how the minor chords in any key can be figured out using only your hands, and how they work with the...
Length: 5:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 36
Now that you've learned a slew of new chords, Steve Eulberg takes a look at them and sees if any can make use of a "pivot finger" to expedite the process of transitioning between them.
Length: 3:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 37
In this lesson Steve covers several chords built from a D root note.
Length: 11:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 38
With the D family of chords firmly in our rearview mirror, it is now time to move on to A. Steve teaches the popular open position A chord and its many variants.
Length: 9:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 39
This time around Steve takes a look at the G family of chords. As with previous lessons, he explores the many variations of this wonderful chord.
Length: 6:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 40
Now it's time to delve into the mysterious world of the C family of chords. Steve teaches all of the common variations of this extended family.
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 41
Steve moves on to the E family of chords. Memorizing all of these chord families is a challenge, but don't worry, we are nearing the home stretch!
Length: 7:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 42
Steve takes a break from the punishing chord lessons he has been serving up day after day to examine two exercises designed to increase the power of your pinky.
Length: 5:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 43
You've been dreading this for months, perhaps even years, but we can't run any longer. It's time to learn the dreaded barre chord. Surprisingly this isn't as difficult as you have been told, and has uses...
Length: 11:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 44
Now that you've learned the E shape barre chord, it's time to ratchet up the difficult a notch. This time around Steve teaches the A shape. While this only requires a 5 string barre, fingering can be more...
Length: 10:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 45
Steve talks about exercises and stretches that are useful for protecting your hands and wrists from strain and overuse.
Length: 12:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 46
Though it may sound complicated, the circle of 5ths can be a very useful tool, and can be learned quicker than expected. Steve covers this topic in today's lesson.
Length: 9:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 47
Steve brings together your understanding of music, theory and the understanding of keys. He combines these skills with useful chord progressions. Get ready! This is a test of your skills and knowledge.
Length: 5:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 48
Steve takes the chord progression from the previous lesson and transposes it to the key of A. Again, this lesson combines your knowledge of music theory and keys with the ability to strum and play chords.
Length: 7:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 49
Steve continues with his "bringing it together" theme. This time he ventures into the key of G. He introduces new ways to strum this chord, and once again talks about transposition.
Length: 9:45 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 50
Steve continues in the theme of his previous lessons and brings everything together in the key of C.
Length: 10:03 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 51
In this lesson Steve takes a look at the key of E, and brings together all of your past lessons to understand this key and how to play progressions in it.
Length: 10:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 52
In this lesson we introduce the CAPO, a fabulous tool that can be used to change the key of your guitar on the fly. Steve talks about what it is, how it is used and why this is important.
Length: 8:04 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 53
Scales can seem a daunting and confusing topic, created only to stifle young musicians. But never worry, even this indomitable beast can be tamed. The major scale can easily be conquered by learning a...
Length: 7:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 54
Steve introduces the concept of fingerpicking, and teaches a basic picking pattern.
Length: 9:32 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 55
Steve introduces a fingerpicking pattern that sounds quite complex, but in all reality isn't that difficult to play. That, my friends, is the beauty of fingerstyle.
Length: 4:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 56
Steve returns to the world of fingerpicking and introduces a new platter that he dubs "the pinch-pluck". This is slightly more difficult than the last pattern, but the rich, complex sound is worth it.
Length: 6:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 57
In this lesson Steve talks about one of the core tenets of fingerpicking: using your thumb to create an alternating bassline. This is when the guitar truly starts to sound like more than one instrument.
Length: 4:14 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 58
It's time to return to the world of scales. This time we take a look at the major pentatonic scale. Don't worry; this one is easy, it's just a major scale with two notes removed.
Length: 5:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 59
Steve moves on to teach the minor pentatonic scale. Like the major before it, this scale can be mastered by learning a simple pattern and moving it up and down the neck.
Length: 6:36 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).
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Mitch teaches his interpretation of the classic "Cannonball Rag." This song provides beginning and intermediate guitarists...
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Free LessonSeries DetailsLesson 40 takes a deeper look at slash chords. Mark discusses why they're called slash chords, and how they are formed.
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Free LessonSeries DetailsErik expounds on the many possibilities of open tunings and the new harmonics that you can use in them. He explains what...
Free LessonSeries DetailsIn this lesson, Freebo covers the basics of right hand technique. This lesson is essential for all up and coming bassists.
Free LessonSeries DetailsSteve Eulberg does a quick review of this lesson series and talks about moving on.
Free LessonSeries DetailsTrace Bundy talks about the different ways you can use multiple capos to enhance your playing.
Free LessonSeries DetailsOur electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock song by Jethro Tull. Released on the album of the same name in 1971, this song features...
Free LessonSeries DetailsThis is a crucial lesson that explains tablature, how to read it, and why it's important.
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Free LessonSeries DetailsWelcome to Inside and Out with Jeff Marshall! In this lesson series, Jeff takes a bottom up approach to fret board proficiency....
Free LessonSeries DetailsLearn a handful of new blues techniques while learning to play Stevie Ray Vaughn's "The House Is Rockin'".
Free LessonSeries DetailsKris analyzes different pick sizes and their effect on his playing. Using a slow motion camera, he is able to point out the...
Free LessonSeries DetailsLesson 25 from Glen presents a detailed exercise that firmly builds up fret hand dexterity for both speed and accuracy.
Free LessonSeries DetailsBorn in 1986 and hailing from Brazil, Andre showed musical inclination at an early age. Influenced by native Brazilian Jazz...
Free LessonSeries DetailsDave "David J" Weiner returns with a lesson on how to play with style and attitude. He covers all the basic techniques you'll...
Free LessonSeries DetailsKnown around the world for his inspirational approach to guitar instruction, Musician's Institute veteran Daniel Gilbert...
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Mike H.
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I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
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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.Fretting the b string on the first fret needs some tough skin. My tone is good for the first few strums but then the string sinks into my skin because it's too soft.
after playing everyday it will harden the tips of your fingers up.
how do you do it so fast?,thank you!
This is really hard on the fingers without callouses built up yet :)
I'm experiencing the same thing..
This is really hard on the fingers without callouses built up yet :)
This video is missing. When I click on it I get the same D7 video as the previous lesson!