Notes on the First String

E F F# G


0
1 2 3

(# = sharp)

E F & G Etude #1
Play slowly and evenly making your notes sound long and connected. Use downstrokes throughout.
        1       
0

               
3 0 1 3 0


The thick double barline indicates the end of a piece.

E F & G Etude #2

           


           


Note: When a sharp sign (#) appears before a note it applies to all of the notes of that pitch in that
measure. The barline cancels out the sharp as does the natural (§) sign. Natual is just another way
of expressing the pitch is no longer a sharp or flat..

Etude Combining F & F#

   
F# thoughout Return to playing F §

1
    2
   1   

Alternating F# and F §
3 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 
0
1 
0
3 2 1 
0


2
Rhythm
*A beat is the basic pulse or heartbeat of a piece of music.
Notes:

     
Quarter Notes each receive 1 beat.* Half Notes each receive 2 beats.

 
Dotted Half Notes receive 3 beats. Whole Notes receive 4 beats.


Rests:
Quarter Rests receive 1 beat. Half Rests receive 2 beats. Whole rests each receive 4 beats.

   

Time Signatures
The numbers at the beginning of a song are called a time signature.

 
Songs in 4/4 always have a total of 4 beats in each measure.
     
    

  
Songs in 3/4 always have a total 3 beats in each measure.
    
 
Now go back and fill in the missing time signatures for the previous songs!

Key Signatures
Some songs have a sharp (#) or flat (b) at the at beginning of the piece. This is called a key signature.
The sharp or flat applies to all notes of that pitch unless otherwise indicated. In this case, all F notes

      
will be played as F#'s.
      
 
Keep playing F#'s throughout...
 Three Simple Tunes 3

Hovercraft
     
Try to keep your left-hand fingers hovering just over the frets when you lift them to play the open E.
       


           


Rest in Piece
Keep counting internally when you get to the rests and be sure to stop the notes from ringing over into the
rests. Also, check out the key signature. This song has F#'s in it!
       
 

     
    

Blues Breakdown
It's always a good idea to examine the time signature and key signature before you begin to play a new piece.

      


     


     

4 Notes on the Second String
B C D

 
 
0 1 3

B C & D Etude #1
Play slowly and evenly making your notes sound long and connected. Use downstrokes throughout.

   
0 1

                

          
3 0 1 3 0

     

All six natural notes you've learned so far. Be sure to memorize them. Try saying each note name out
loud as you play it.
  
        
    
0 1 3 0 1 3 3 1 0 3 1 0
 Notes on the Third String 5

G A

0 2

  

G & A Etude
Be sure to use only your second finger for the A.
0   
  
2

              

0 2 0 2 0

               

All of the natural notes you've learned so far.

   3 1 0  
          

0 2 0 1 3 0 1 3 3 1 0 2 0

    

You now know enough notes to play a G Major scale. Many of the melodies we will learn are based on
these notes.

        
        

The same notes are with the F§ make up the C Major scale, just not starting and ending from the C.

                 
6 Notes on the Fourth String
D E F F#
4fr

0 2 3 4

    

D E & F Etude
Always your second finger for the E and your third for the F.

    
0
2 3

                
0 2 3 0

           

All of the natural notes you've learned so far.

   
   1 3

0 2 3 0 2 0 1 3 0

     
3   
   
1


0


3 1 0 2 0 3 2 0

     
 Notes on the Fifth String 7
A B C


0 2 3


  

A B & C Etude
As with notes on the fourth string, always use your second finger for the B and your third for the C.
   
0
2 3


               
0 2 3 0


          
All of the natural notes you've learned so far.
    
  1 3
 
0 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 3 0

    
   
3    
    
1 0


3 1 0 2 0 3 2 0 3 2 0

        

Minor Key Round

See if you recognize this familiar melody presented here in a minor tonality.


          
    

      
     
8 Notes on the Sixth String
E F F# G


0 1 2 3


   

Low E F & G Etude

   
0
1 3


               
0 1 3 0


          
All of the natural notes you've learned so far.
     
     
0 1 3 0 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 3 0 1 3

     
     
3 1 0     
     
3 1 0 2 0 3 2 0 3 2 0 3 1 0

           

We now have enough notes to play a two-octave G Major Scale.

    
    
    
 

    
          