Learn to

Play the Guitar

By Michael E. Roman
Roman

Instructor: Mr. Roman

Playing the guitar is an amazing skill. Keep in mind that great guitar
players spend countless hours and years becoming great. It does not happen in
the first month or year of playing.
You should use your class time to the fullest advantage. This means you
should begin practicing as soon as you arrive each class period. You should
practice each song until you master it. You know a song is mastered when you
can play it rhythmically and without error 4-5 times in a row. All of this practice
will help you become a good guitar player.
Good luck and have fun!

Name________________________ www.romanmusic.org
 1
Positions When Playing the Guitar
Do you think you would laugh if you saw a professional basketball player
shooting a basketball from his waist? I think I would. If a player used that
position to shoot, his shots would be blocked quite easily.

The short example above illustrates the point that in any activity the positions you
use can be extremely important. This is definitely true for the guitar.

Below you will find a picture showing you the correct position for your hands
when you are playing the guitar. You will also find a picture representing the
fretboard of the guitar, the part of the guitar where you place your fingers.

Frets
These lines
represent the
strings of the
Fingers are guitar. The
curved. arrow points
to the 1st
string, or
high E string.
Thumb should be kept straight. E A D G B E

These lines represent the frets

of the guitar. The frets are the
thin metal bars that you find
going across the neck of the
guitar. The arrow points to
the first fret.

**Please keep track of these positions as you are playing. Part of your
evaluations will be how well you control your fingers as you play.
© 2007 Michael E. Roman
3 Guitar Songs in Tablature
**Tablature is a system of notating music that uses
numbers to represent the fret where a finger should
be placed to make the correct sound.

M.E.R.
Twinkle, Twinkle- A melody by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
** For these exercises, use your middle finger to play each note. Remember to support with your thumb.
Fine
0 0 7 7 9 9 7 5 5 4 4 2 2 0
T
A
B

D.C. al Fine
7 7 5 5 4 4 2 7 7 5 5 4 4 2

James Bond Theme

2 3 4 3 2 3 4 3
0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 2 2 2

0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 2 0

G Scale- One Octave **For this exercise, use the same finger as is indicated by the fret number.

0 2 3 3 2 0
0 1 3 3 1 0
0 2 2 0

Before moving on, rate yourself on these three things, 4 being the best:
1. I am using the correct body and hand positions 1 2 3 4
2. I am keeping a steady beat 1 2 3 4
3. I am playing as beautifully as I can, without any buzzes or other extra noises 1 2 3 4

©2007
 4
Write Your Own Song with Tablature
Use the tablature lines below to create your own song.
Remember, the numbers you write correspond to the M.E.R
fret you want pressed down. Please include a title
for your song.

(title)______________________________

E
B
G
T
D A
A
E
B

©2007 Michael E. Roman

5
Music Theory Basics
We will use the basics to learn how to read
music for the guitar.
READING NOTES: M.E.R.
The notes on the lines of the staff make this phrase:

Every Guitar Beginner Does Fine

œ œ œ
&c œ œ œ œ œ œ
Œ Ó
E G B D F D B G E

The notes on the spaces spell FACE.

4 œ œ œ œ œ œ
&4 œ œ
F A C E E C A F

BASIC RHYTHMS

˙ ˙
Half-notes get 2 beats each.
œ œ œ œ
Quarter notes get 1 beat each.

& c ∑
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Eighth notes get 1/2 a beat each. A whole note gets 4 beats.
4 ∑ w
&4
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 3 4

©2007
 6
Theory Classwork
Directions: Label the notes below. Write the letter name on the blank line.

œ œ œ
&c œ œ
Ex. 1
œ œ œ
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4œ œ œ œ
&4 œ œ œ œ
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Directions: Draw a shape around the half notes.

Ex. 2
c œ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ
&

Directions: Draw a shape around the quarter notes.

4 œ œ ˙ œ œ œ
œ œ Œ
Ex. 3
&4

Directions: Draw a shape around the eighth notes.

Ex. 4
c œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ
&

©2007
 `
7
Notes on the First String
M.E.R.

_
1st string 0 E is open

E is played on the 1st open string.

c œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ w

`
1&

_
1 F- Use the first finger to play F.
F is played on the 1st
string, 1st fret.

4œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙
2&4
Play F and E together.

œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
3&c
G is played on the
1st string, 3rd fret.

4œ œ œ œ ˙
_` ˙
3 G- Use the third finger to play G.

œ œ œ œ w
4 &4

Playing the First

Play E, F, and G
in the same song.

œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
5&c Œ

©2007
 8
Music Theory Basics Review and Practice
Use your new knowledge to complete the exercises below.

Draw a shape around the half notes.

Ex. 5
c œ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ
&

Draw a shape around the quarter notes.

Ex. 6
œ œ œ œ Œ ˙ œ œ œ
&

Draw a shape around the eighth notes.

Ex. 7
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ
&

Ex. 8 Draw a rhythm tree.

Plan a skit to demonstrate to the class what the different rhythms are. | or |
Write your explanation here: __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

©2007
 9

`
Notes on the Second String
M.E.R.
2nd String

_
0 B is open.

B is played on the
œ œ œ œ
2nd open string.

6 &c œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

C is played on the 2nd

string, 1st fret. _` 1 C- Use the first finger to play C.

44 œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
7 &

8 & c
D is played on the
2nd string, 3rd fret.
œ œ œ œ ˙
_`
˙
3 D- Use the third finger to play D.

œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙

Play B, C, and D
in the same song. Playing the Second
4œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
9 & 4

Play B, C, D, E, F,
and G in the same song. Playing the First and Second
œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
10 & c

©2007
 What is a Dotted Note? ©. 10

When you add a dot to a note, the dot increases the value of the note
by half of the original value. A quarter note with a dot would
receive 1 1/2 beats (1 beat + 1/2 beat = 1 1/2 beats).

Play the example below:

Dotted Quarter Notes Introduction and Eighth Note Review

œ œ œ.
œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ œ ˙
11 & œ . J J J J ˙ J

Now play Love Me Tender, paying close attention to the dotted quarter notes.
This song also has two eighth notes. Can you find them and circle them?

Love Me Tender- notes include B,C,D,E,F,G

4 œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ. œ œ œ ˙
b œ ˙
12 & 4 J
Love me ten - der, Love me sweet, Ne - ver let me go - -

œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ. œ œ œ ˙
&b œ J Ó
You have made my life com - plete, And I love you so.

Check Your Playing

Before moving on, rate yourself on these three things, 4 being the best:
1. I am using the correct body and hand positions 1 2 3 4
2. I am keeping a steady beat 1 2 3 4
3. I am playing as beautifully as I can, without any buzzes or
other extra noises 1 2 3 4
Bonus: Explain to your neighber dotted notes. | or | Plan a skit with your neighbor to
explain dotted notes.
©2007
 11
Music Theory Basics Review and Practice
Use your new knowledge to complete the exercises below.

READING NOTES:
Fill in the blank. The notes on the lines of the staff make this phrase:

____________________________________________

Fill in the blank. The notes on the spaces spell ___________.

Directions: Label the notes.

œ œ œ ˙
&c œ œ œ Œ
Ex. 9
œ œ œ
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ N ___

œ œ œ œ
&œ œ œ œ
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

˙
Directions: Finish these words by labeling the notes.
Ex. 10
4 œ
&4 ˙ ˙ Œ œ Œ ˙
___ I ___ R ___ ___ ___ I ___

œ ˙ Ó œ œ œ
&œ œ œ œ
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ R ___ ___ ___ ___

©2007
 12

`
Notes on the Third String
3rd String M.E.R.

_
0 G is open.

G is played on the 3rd

open string. G's Parade
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
13 & c œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙

A is played on the 3rd

string, 2nd fret.
`
_ 2 A- Use the second finger to play A.

Quest for A
œ œ œ œ
14 & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

U
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
& ˙
Bonus:What do you think
the sign on this note means?

Let's play a song that uses

all the notes and rhythms
we have learned so far
Singing Silent Praises
œ œ œ. œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
15 & J œ

œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ w
& J œ œ œ œ
©2007
 13
F# and "Owl in the Air"
MER

If we learn one new note, F sharp, then we can play this

hummable tune.

F# is played on the
first string, second fret.
_` 2 Use the second finger
to play F#.

Owl in the Air

Em Em
# 3 œ. œ œ ˙
Guitar & 4œ J œ

Em Em
3
# œ. œ œ œ œ
& J œ

©2007
 ``` Let's Play Chords
14

_
Em
A chord is three or more notes
strummed at the same time M.E.R.
Em is played on the top three open strings.
For this example, you strum once for each quarter
note rhythm marking written on the staff.
Em
&c Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û

```
_
G7
1 G7 is played with your first finger on the first
fret, on the first string.

4Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û
G7

&4

Let's combine G7 and Em. Strum quarter notes as evenly as you can.
The melody written on the staff below is for a partner to play.

Back and Forth

œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
G7 Em Em G7

& c œ œ
œ œ

©2007
 ``
15
Let's Play More Chords
A chord is three or more notes

_
C M.E.R.
strummed at the same time
1
C is played with your first finger on the first fret
of the second string. Remember, strum one downstroke
for each quarter note rhythm marking on the staff.

C
&c Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û
```
_
Am 0
1 Am is played with your first finger on the first fret
2
of the second string, and your second finger on the
second fret of the third string.

& 44 Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û
Am

* Let's combine C, Em, Am, and G7. Strum quarter notes as evenly
as you can. The melody written on the staff below is for a
partner to play.
Bring them Back
C Am Em G7 C

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
&c œ œ œ œ œ w ..
What do you think the ^
new symbol at the end
©2007 of the song means?
 16
Write Your Own Songs
Name___________________________

Use the space provided below to write you own songs using the
notes and rythms you have learned so far. Make sure each measure
has the correct (4) number of beats.

Title__________________________________

&c

&

Title__________________________________

4
&4

&

©2007