How to Play Guitar Overnight

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By Gonzo
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Using a special tuning method called "Open D", I will show even the musically-challenge how to play any song you want on the guitar.

A few days (or hours, depending on how well you catch on) of practice and you'll be able to play almost any song you want.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Guitar
A Really Flimsy Pick (I use a Jim Dunlop .38 mm nylon pick)

Step 1

Tune your guitar to Open D tuning. There are several ways to do this. You can use a piano or keyboard, if you have one handy. If not, you will want to follow my instructions:

* Tune the top string of the guitar down to D. Continue to tune while alternating your strumming between the top string and the fourth string simultaneously. When the tones match, you are there!

* The second string needs to be tuned down to A. To acheive this, tune while alternating your strumming of the second string and the fifth string. When the tones match, you are there!

* The third string needs to be tuned down to an F#. To achieve this, tune while alternating your strumming of the third string and the fourth string (holding it down in the fourth fret). When the tones match, you are there!

* The sixth string needs to be tuned down to a D. To achieve this, tune while alternating your strumming of the sixth string and the fourth string. When the tones, match you are there!

After completely this step, move on to STEP 2.
Step 2

Now, you have your guitar in Open D tuning! Congratulations, you are need ready to learn chords.

Chords in this tuning is easy, because each chord is represented by a barring (placing your index finger or thumb over the entire fret).

Open strum (touching no fret) is always the key of D.
2nd fret is always the key of E.
3rd fret is always the key of F.
5th fret is always the key of G.
7th fret is always the key of A.
9th fret is always the key of B.
10th fret is always the key of C.

The minor chords are as follows:
B minor is achieved by placing your index finger on the second string and your ring finger on the fifth in the second fret.
G minor is achieved by placing your index finger on the second string, your middle finger on the fourth string and your ring finger on the fifth string in the first fret.
D minor is achieved by placing your index finger on the third string and your middle finger on the fourth string in the third fret.

Am and Em are a bit more complicated, but not much.

A minor is achieved by barring the first three strings with your thumb, the bottom two strings with your ring finger (in the 7th fret) and holding down the fourth string with your middle finger one fret up (in this case, the 6th fret).

E minor is achieved by barring the first three strings with your thumb, the bottow two strings with your ring finger (in the 2nd fret), and holding down the fourth string with your middle finger one fret up (in this case, the 1st fret).

Now you have all the major and minor chords you need to play.
Step 3

Now you are ready!

Find a song of your choice (something simple at first would be reasonable) and strum at your own speed until comfortable.

You should be able to do it comfortably in 24 hours or less!

Comments

mediamaniac said

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