FREE GUITAR / BASS / UKULELE LESSON

HOWDY friends!

For those interested in guitar (or ukulele or electric bass.......or any of our workshops, from songwriting to improvisation to basic keyboard to social drumming and more), I thought I'd make this free mini lesson available so you can get a little taste of how we approach things! The GUITAR VIDEO IS AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE (but the parts of the lessons are not on video, so be sure to read the entire lessons below)....or, if the video isn't displaying properly, you can view it HERE. 

ALSO....the BASS video is HERE and the UKULELE video is HERE.

If you are interested in lessons, contact me directly at sdmusiclab@gmail.com or visit our website for info on the system, instructors (me, Paulie, & JD), needs-based scholarship program, lessons options (group class, private lessons, real-time, pre-recorded, in-person, vitrtual, etc), and more: www.sdmlguitar.com 

Let's break in down into several areas. Several of these items will also be on the video below.

Bass & ukulele can do the following also (but bass alters to notes rather than chords [with varying degrees of added difficulty based on skill/knowledge] and ukulele & bass alter picking to strings 1-2-3-4).

First, dexterity! We'll start with a basic finger exercise to warm up & increase fret-hand coordination, flexibility, and endurance. (On video)

Next, we'll do a simple rhythm drill, where we start with a basic strum pattern to master (and for those who already have this, a more challenging addition). This is also on the video.

Following that, let's drill any scale(s) you know at tempo with (for using pick) all down strokes 8 cycles through followed by all up strokes 8 cycles through OR (with fingers) using thumb only for 8 cycles followed by finger only for 8 cycles. We do NOT do this on video, since you may not know any scales if you are new to guitar. But if not, pause the video and take a few minutes for some scale work!

OK, now let's run through our basic open chord drill (C A G E D Am Dm Em A7 B7 C7 D7 E7 G7 Am7 Bm7 Dm7 Em7), to which you can also add other open chords and/or barre chords. We do this on the video, so if you don't know any chords yet (or only a few), you can always skip this section until later.

The next thing we want to do is a simple picking pattern. The picking pattern is one that can be done with pick OR fingers. Simple 8th note pattern as follows: strings 5 - 2 - 4 - 3 (if using fingers, thumb handles strings 4 and 5). We do this on the video, also.

The last thiing we want to do are a few songs! See the song charts below (this section is NOT on video), and if you have any difficulty with the charts, let me know! 

"Hurt" - Johnny Cash version

(simplified)
intro
Am - - - /C - D - /Am - - - /C - D - /

verse
Am - - - /C - D - /Am - - - /C - D - /
Am - - - /C - D - /Am - - - /C - D -/
repeat

transition
G - - - /

chorus
Am - - - /Fmj7 - - - /C - - - /G - - - /
Am7 - - - /Fmj7 - - - /C - - - /G - - - /
Am7 - - - /Fmj7 - - - /G - - - /G - - - /
Am7 - - - /Fmj7 - - - /G - - - /
(return to intro)

"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz"
EZ version - capo @fret 4

G - - - /G - - - /D - - - /D - - - /
Em - - - /Em - - - /C - - - /C - - -
repeat
transition chord: A7 - - - /

Barre chord version

B - - - /B - - - /F# - - - /F# - - - /
G#m - - - /G#m - - - /E - - - /E - - - /
repeat
transition chord: C#7 - - - /

"Rainbow Connection" Kermit the Frog
intro:
A - - /D - - (repeat)

verse:
A- - /F#m - - /Bm(7) - - /E(7) - - /
A - - /F#m - -/Bm(7) - - /E(7) - - /
repeat
chorus:
Bm - - /Bm - - /Bm7 - - /Bm7 - - /
C#m - - /C#m - - /C#m7 - - /Gdim7 - - /
Bm - - /E7 - - /C#m - - /F#7 - - /
Bm - - /E7 - - /
(return to intro)

(does not include transition & key change)