Will Schmid - Essential Elements for Guitar, Book 1 (Music Instruction): Comprehensive Guitar Method

Some basic tips on keeping your instrument in good working condition:

• Wipe down the strings with a dry cloth every time you are done playing; this will increase string life.
• Never keep your guitar in the car or outside overnight; extreme temperatures could cause extreme damage to your instrument.
• Store your instrument in a room-temperature environment.
• If your guitar is cold from being transported outside, allow it to warm up in a room-temperature environment in its case first before playing.

It is important to keep the guitar silent when the teacher is speaking to the class.

Follow the directions below when instructed to go to the Rest Position.

• Lay the guitar flat across your lap with the strings facing down.
• Lay your hands on the back of the guitar.
• Stay quiet and still until the teacher asks you to go to the Playing Position.

There are several ways to hold the guitar comfortably. Pictured here are two typical seated positions. Observe the following general guidelines in forming your playing posture.

• Position your body, arms, and legs in such a way that you avoid tension.
• If you feel tension creeping into your playing, you probably need to reassess your position.
• Tilt the neck of the guitar slightly upwardsnever down.
• Avoid slanting the top of the guitar so that you can see better. Balance your weight evenly from left to right. Sit straight (but not rigid).

Tuning means setting the correct pitch (highness or lowness of sound) of each string. To tune your guitar, you will adjust the pitch of each string by turning the corresponding tuning key on the head of the instrument. Tightening a string raises a pitch, and loosening it lowers the pitch. See page 92 for different tuning methods.

The strings are numbered 1 through 6 beginning with the thinnest string (the one closest to your knee). Tune each string in sequence by listening to the correct pitch and slowly turning the tuning key until the sound of the string matches the pitch.

This book is designed for use with any type of guitaracoustic or electric. Any of these guitars can be adapted for use in a wide variety of styles of music. Take some time getting familiar with the individual parts of your guitar as shown on this page.

ACOUSTIC

Steel-String

Nylon-String (Classical)

ELECTRIC