Strumming The

Strings

Let’s Play The Guitar!

Getting Started

Parts of the Guitar:

Taking Care of Your Guitar: 1. Remember to always treat your instrument gently. Guitars are delicate.

2. Take care when handling the instrument to always support the neck and body.

3. Be careful not to bump the guitar on anything!

4. Do not twist or play with the tuning pegs – this will knock the guitar out of tune.

How To Hold the Guitar:

Sitting on the Floor

Sitting on a Chair

The First Chord:

3-String C Chord Helpful Tips: When playing a chord it is very important to press down on the string with just the tip of your finger. You will have to press a lot harder than you think. Remember to place your finger directly behind the fret for the best sound. Practice makes perfect! Don’t be discouraged if the chord doesn’t ring properly the first time!

Try using the C Chord to play this song.

The Second Chord:

3-String G7 Chord

Use the C & G7 Chords to play some songs.

Helpful Tips: When changing from one chord to the next, move your fingers as quickly as possible. Think about where your fingers are moving to before it’s time to change chords. Also, continue playing the same chord until you see a new chord symbol.

Banjo Sam North Carolina Folk Song

Verse 1: C G7 C Catfish, catfish, goin’ up stream, catfish, catfish where you been? C G7 C G7 C I grabbed that catfish by the snout, I pulled that catfish wrong-side out! Yo-ho! Banjo Sam! Verse 2: C G7 C As I was goin’ through the field, a black snake bit me on the heel. C G7 C G7 C I grabbed a stick, and done my best, then ran my head in a hornet’s nest! Yo-ho! Banjo Sam!

The Third Chord:

3-String G Chord

Helpful Tips: Use your ring finger to play the G chord. This way when you go to switch quickly from G to another chord (like G7 or C) you simply have to change fingers rather than slide from one fret to the next. This will also help to build up muscles in your ring finger that will help you play more difficult chords in the future.

More Songs Using C, G, & G7 Chords: Helpful Tips: Try as hard as you can to watch the music as much as you can – even though you’ll want to look at the guitar. This way you’ll know when the next chord change is coming up! Practice, practice, practice! This is very difficult in the beginning, but the sooner you make it a habit, the better off you’ll be!

The Fourth Chord:

4-String D Chord Helpful Tips: Now that we are using 3 fingers to play the D chord, make sure you’re careful to only use the tips of your fingers as you press the strings. Remember to press down good and hard! Check to make sure each note is ringing by plucking each string individually. Be careful not to hit the low E string when you strum (the A string is part of the chord and won’t sound bad if you strum it).

More Songs Using D Chords:

The Old Brass Wagon American Folk Song

Verse 1: G D Circle to the left, old brass wagon; Circle to the left, old brass wagon; G D G Circle to the left, old brass wagon – you’re the one my darling! Verse 2: G D Swing, oh, swing, old brass wagon; Swing, oh, swing, old brass wagon; G D G Swing, oh, swing, old brass wagon – you’re the one my darling! Verse 3: G D Walk it up and down, old brass wagon; Walk it up and down, old brass wagon; G D G Walk it up and down, old brass wagon – you’re the one my darling!

If You’re Happy and You Know it!

Traditional

G D If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands! G If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands! C G If you’re happy and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it! D G If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands!

Hound Dog Recorded by Elvis Presley; By Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber

Verse 1: G You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, crying all the time. C G You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, crying all the time. D C G Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine! Verse 2: G They said you was high classed, but that was just a lie. C G They said you was high classed, but that was just a lie. D C G Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine!

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes Traditional

G Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes! D Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes! G C Eyes and ears and mouth and nose, D G Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!

She’ll Be Coming ‘Round The Mountain Traditional Folk Song

Verse 1: G She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes, (G) D She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes, G She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain C She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain, D G She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes. Verse 2: G Oh, we’ll all go out to meet her when she comes, (G) D Oh, we’ll all go out to meet her when she comes, G Oh, we’ll all go out to meet her, C Oh, we’ll all go out to meet her, D G Oh, we’ll all go out to meet her when she comes.

The Fifth Chord:

6-String E Minor Chord

Helpful Tips: Press the strings firmly to make sure each note of the E Minor chord rings. Remember, E Minor chords are written as “Em” in the music.

More Songs Using Em Chords:

Don’t Worry, Be Happy Words and music by Bobby McFerrin

Verse: D Em Here’s a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note. G D Don’t worry, Be happy. D Em In every life we have some trouble, But when you worry you make it double. G D Don’t worry, Be happy. Refrain: D Em G Oooooooooooooooo, Don’t worry. Ooooooo D Be happy. Oooooooo. Don’t worry, be happy. (Repeat)

More Songs Using C, G, D, & Em Chords:

Jingle Bells Traditional

Refrain: G Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, C G D Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey, G Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, C G D G Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Verse: G C Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, D G O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way, C Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright, D G What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight, oh – (Refrain)

The Sixth Chord:

5-String A Chord Helpful Tips: Squish your fingers together when playing the A chord. They all should fit inside the 2nd Fret! It takes practice, practice, & even a little more practice to get each note to ring properly!

More Songs Using A Chords:

Three Little Birds Words & Music by Bob Marley

Refrain: D G D Don’t worry, about a thing, ‘cause every little thing’s gonna be alright. G D Singing don’t worry, about a thing, ‘cause every little thing’s gonna be alright. Verse: A Rise up this morning, smile with the rising sun; Em G Three little birds sit by my doorstep, D A Singin’ sweet songs of melodies pure and true, G D Singin’: “This is my message to you-hoo-hoo!” (Singin’....)

Do Wah Diddy Diddy Words & Music By Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich

A D A D A There he was just a walkin’ down the street. Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do” A D A D A Poppin’ his fingers and a shufflin’ his feet. Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do” A He looked good, (He looked good). He looked fine, (He looked fine). A He looked good, he looked fine, and I nearly lost my mind. A D A Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do!” (Repeat 4 X)

The Seventh Chord:

5-String A7 Chord

Helpful Tips: To change from an A Chord to and A7, simply lift up your second finger!

Do Wah Diddy Diddy Revisited Words & Music By Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich

A D A D A There he was just a walkin’ down the street. Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do” A D A D A Poppin’ his fingers and a shufflin’ his feet. Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do” A He looked good, (He looked good). He looked fine, (He looked fine). A A7 He looked good, he looked fine, and I nearly lost my mind. A D A Singing: “Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do!” (Repeat 4 X)

Rocky Mountain American Folk Song

Verse 1: D A7 Rocky mountain, rocky mountain, rocky mountain high; D A7 D When you’re on that rocky mountain, hang your head and cry. Refrain: D A7 Do, do, do, do, Do remember me. D A7 D Do, do, do, do, Do remember me. Verse 2: D A7 Sunny valley, sunny valley, sunny valley low; D A7 D When you’re in that sunny valley, sing it soft and slow. (Refrain)

More Songs Using C, G, D, Em A, & A7 Chords:

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Words & Music by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, & Luigi Creatore

Refrain: D G Wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh, D A7 O-wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh, o-wim-o-weh. (Repeat – With Descant!) Verse 1: D G D A7 In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. D G D A7 In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. Verse 2: D G D A7 Near the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight. D G D A7 Near the village, the quiet village, the lion sleeps tonight. Verse 3: D G D A7 Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling, the lion sleeps tonight. D G D A7 Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling, the lion sleeps tonight.

Cumberland Gap Kentucky Folk Song

Verse 1: D G D G D Lay down, boys, take a little nap. Lay down, boys, take a little nap. D G D G D Lay down, boys, take a little nap – forty-one miles to the Cumberland Gap. Refrain: D G D Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap! Oooooo, Oooooo G A7 D Way low down in the Cumberland Gap. Verse 2: D G D G D Cumberland Gap is a mighty fine place. Cumberland Gap is a mighty fine place. D G D G D Cumberland Gap is a mighty fine place – three kinds of water to wash your face. Verse 3: D G D G D Cumberland Gap with its cliffs and rocks, Cumberland Gap with its cliffs and rocks. D G D G D Cumberland Gap with its cliffs and rocks – home of the panther, the bear, and the fox. Verse 4: D G D G D Me and my wife and my wife’s Grandpap, Me and my wife and my wife’s Grandpap, D G D G D Me and my wife and my wife’s Grandpap – we raise cain at the Cumberland Gap!

Frosty The Snowman By Walter Rollins & Steve Nelson

G C G Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul C G D With a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. G C G Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say C G D G He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day. C G D G There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, D For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around. G C G Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be C G D G And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me. G D Thumpity thump thump, thumpity thump thump look at Frosty go. G Thumpity thump thump, thumpity thump thump over the hills of snow.

This Land Is Your Land Words & Music By Woody Guthrie

Verse 1: G D As I was walking that ribbon of highway, A D I saw above me that endless skyway, G D A7 D I saw below me that golden valley – this land was made for you and me. Refrain: G D A D This land is your land, this land is my land, from California to the New York Island. G D A7 D From the redwood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters – this land was made for you and me. Verse 2: G D I’ve roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps, A D To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts. G D A7 D And all around me a voice came sounding – “this land was made for you and me.” Verse 3: G D When the sun comes shining, and I was strolling, A D And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling. G D A7 D As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting – “this land was made for you and me!”

Helpful Tips: Try playing some of the songs in this book using complete C & G Chords using the diagrams below. Remember, the easier version is part of the complete version! (All the other chords we’ve learned are already “complete” chords.)