How to Play Octaves On Guitar

Have you ever wanted to play octaves on a guitar, but never knew how to? Well, in how to play octaves on a guitar, I am going to show you in easy to understand tab form just how to do it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• guitar

1. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Pick up your guitar and play the G note on the low E string as seen in the photo and play it 8 times in a steady rhythm. Then go to the D string and play the G note on that string, again eight times in rhythm, as seen in the photo above. You have now played the G note in octaves.

2. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now play the A note on the low E string eight times in rhythm, then go to the A note on the D string and play that eight times in rhythm, as seen in the photo above.

3. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now go to the D note on the low E string, and even though the photo shows to play the notes four times each, play it eight times in rhythm. Then go to the D string and play the D note eight times there as well. This is how you play octaves in single notes on a guitar.

4. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now try mixing it up a bit in a quick 1, 4, 5 progression using the notes D, G, and A - if you are new to the guitar, this might take a little practice to get your hands switching smoothly and keeping the rhythm/beat going, but just keep at it. The photo above will help you find all the notes.

5. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now look more closely at the photo in step 4. You should be seeing a pattern develop. The intervals, or spaces between the octaves stays the same, no matter where you play the pattern. As long as your playing these with the root or low note based on the low E or A string, the next octave of that note will be two strings down and two frets to the right.

6. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now I want you to really look at the photo above. This is how we play two octaves together for a really cool sound. Again, this is in an easy 1, 4, 5 type progression using the D, G, and A notes. There is just one important thing you have to do here, the empty A string has to be muted. In order to mute it, you will have to lightly lean your pointer finger on your left hand (if your right handed) against the A string, just lightly, so it does not right out with the other two strings you will be playing.

7. 
   How to play octaves on a guitar

   Now practice playing step 6 until you feel comfortable with it and you can change positions cleanly while keeping a rhythm going. This is the hardest part of learning to play guitar and sounding good at it, it takes many hours of practice.

8. 
   How to play octaves on guitar

   Now look at the photo above. I now want you to play out this 1, 4, 5 progression out using out octaves, just like before, but now we are going to bring in some new strings. The photo will help you play this out. This is the octave notes of A, D, and E. Even though we are now playing across more strings, remember to mute the middle string so it does not ring out.

9. 

   Now I want you to practice this for 10 to 15 minutes a day, until you get it down. Day's that you don't practice this exercise, practice something else, but try to get some playing time in every day. Now that the shapes have become clear to you, move them around the neck to different positions and see what cool sounds you can put together.

Tips & Warnings

• It is so important to practice a little bit each day. It will come, with time.
• if you do not know how to read tablature, then see my article on how to read guitar tablature.
• When first starting out on guitar, your fingers will get very tender and sore for the first 3 to 4 weeks. This will go away with daily practice.

[motherNN]

on 10/26/2009 tutorial for guitar beginners, well done.5*

[greatgreat8]

on 10/24/2009 will pass this information on, thanks 5*