Hank Aberle - Easy Folk Songs for the Guitar with Downloadable MP3s

The Parts of the Guitar Easy Folk Songs for the Guitar with Downloadable MP3s Hank Aberle Dover Publications, Inc. Mineola, New York All songs available as downloadable MP3s! Go to: http://www.doverpublications.com/0486493482 to access these files. Copyright Copyright 2014 by Dover Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Bibliographical NoteEasy Folk Songs for the Guitar with Downloadable MP3s is a new work, first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 2014. The publisher would like to thank John Yaff of Ipsilon Music Press, New York, for his invaluable assistance.

Music and text edited and engraved by Ipsilon Music Press, New York. Photo Credits Photography by Jon Legge, Coventry University, UK Guitarist: Richard Tucker, Coventry, UK International Standard Book NumbereISBN-13: 978-0-486-79666-6 Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation 49348201 2014 www.doverpublications.com CONTENTSHolding the Guitar Its important to feel comfortable with the instrument. Below are the two positions most often used by guitarists. Try them both and decide which one feels right for you. Here, the guitar rests on the right leg. Here, the guitar rests on the left leg, raised up by a guitar foot stool (available at most guitar shops).

Alternatively, you could use a couple of thick books. Identifying the Strings / Tuning The guitar strings are identified either by number or by note name. The 6th string is the thickest, the 1st string is the thinnest. Always remember to check that the guitar is in tune before you start to play. You can purchase an electric tuner from your local music shop, or you can tune the guitar to itself using the method described below: Tuning the Guitar to Itself While pressing down on the 6th string, 5th fret, pluck the string and compare it to the 5th open string. They should sound like the same note.

Once they are tuned in unison, try pressing down on the 5th string, 5th fret, and comparing it with the open 4th string. Repeat for all strings except when comparing the 3rd string to the 2nd. This should be done by pressing down on the 3rd string, 4th fret, while comparing it to the second open string. The Right Hand Before attempting your first song, it is important to get familiar with the strumming patterns for the right hand. Here, the right hand is shown with the thumb placed on the 6th string, while the fingers are drawn into the palm. The thumb (T) plucks the 6th string and the fingers are then extended downward across the strings to create the strum (S).

Using the right hand only, try a strumming pattern on the open strings as shown in the tablature below for two 4/4 measures. The six lines represent the guitar strings. The bottom line represents the 6th string and the top line represents the 1st string. In these two measures, try alternating the thumb between the 6th and 4th strings. Playing a Chord Chords are played by pressing on the strings with the left hand, then plucking and strumming with the right hand. The D Chord This is the chord diagram for the D chord. The D Chord This is the chord diagram for the D chord.

The strings 16 are shown vertically while the frets are shown horizontally. The X indicates that the string is not used, and the O indicates that the string is played in its open position. Now try fingering the D chord: Press firmly onto the strings with your fingertips, as shown in the diagram, using the fingers indicated on the black dots. Be sure not to touch any adjacent strings. If not done properly, buzzing and/or muting may occur. Be patient, though, as a lot of practice will be necessary for the development of the muscles in your fingers.

When you are certain you are fingering the chord properly, you may proceed to pluck and strum with your right hand. Use this pattern: Below you will find two measures of guitar tablature in 4/4. This represents both the fingering of the left hand and the pattern of plucking and strumming of the right hand. There are 6 strings shown. The bottom string corresponds to the 6th (thickest) string of the guitar. The numbers show the frets that are used by the left hand in an alternating bass pattern.

The thumb (T) plucks the open 4th string and the downward strum (S) is on the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings. The thumb alternates between the open 4th and open 5th strings. The A7 Chord Try playing the A7 chord (diagram at left). Skip to My Lou After you have played the song through several times, try singing along. Now try playing this next song using an alternating bass string pattern: