LESSON 3

In this lesson we will:

Review lessons 1 and 2
Learn new tuning methods
Learn to alternate bass strings on the pick strum
Learn some new chords
Learn a new song

You should find this lesson a little easier than the first two lessons. This will give you the opportunity to consolidate what you have learned so far.

I do hope that your 4/4 strum and 4/4 pick strum are getting easier and more enjoyable. Please keep working on them because these strums and the variation you will learn in this lesson are all interchangeable and can be applied to all your songs so far. Please note that if you are still finding the pick strum difficult, you may continue to use the basic 4/4 strum for this lesson's song. You should, however, continue to practice the pick strum. Picking will be covered in later lessons and it is important that you progress at a speed that you are comfortable with.

If some of the more difficult chords are still buzzing please re-check your sitting position and left hand position and persevere. Also, make sure that your fingernails are kept short. The chords will also become easier to hold once your fingertips toughen up.

I trust the capo is helping you to adjust the pitch of the songs. Try different settings to make sure that the pitch suits your voice.

Tuning methods

Here are a couple of methods of tuning your guitar without electronic aids.

Pitch Pipe

A pitch pipe is like a small harmonica with six notes - one for each guitar string:

Pitch pipe illustration

E = lowest or sixth string
A = fifth string
D = fourth string
G = third string
B = second string
E = first (highest) string

Blow the hole for the sixth string and then turn the guitar tuning knob for the sixth string until the string sounds the same as the pitch pipe. Do this for all six strings.

Fifth fret tuning

If it still isn't in tune, and as a double check, use the following technique which assumes that, at least, the sixth string is in tune:

Hold down the sixth string at the fifth fret. Play sixth and fifth strings with the right hand. If they are in tune they will sound the same. If not, tighten or loosen the fifth string knob - slowly! - until the two strings sound the same.
Hold the fifth string at the fifth fret and play 5 and 4 together. Adjust 4 until it sounds the same as 5.
Hold the fourth string at the fifth fret and play 4 and 3 together. Adjust 3 until it sounds the same as 4.
Hold the third string at the fourth fret and play 3 and 2. Adjust 2.
Hold the second string at the fifth fret and play 2 and 1. Adjust 1.

It does help to learn which string belongs to which knob and which way to turn the knob to higher or lower the pitch of the string - so that when you play a pair of strings you are able to adjust the pitch while the sound is still in your mind.

If you use this method of tuning at the fifth fret please ensure that you make your adjustments of the strings slowly and carefully - if you overdo an adjustment you could easily snap a string.

Alternating bass strings on the pick strum

Picking alternating bass strings with the pick strum you learned in Lesson 2 greatly improves the sound quality of the strum. (Click on the strum diagram above to hear how it should sound.)

The bass strings to alternate depend on the chord you are holding and are explained in the following table.

Chords Bass strings Comments

A, A7, Am, Am7, C, C7, B7 Pick 5^th then 4^th string

D, D7, Dm, Dm7 Pick 4^th then 5^thstring Note that 6^th string is discordant - don't play it.

F, Fm6 Can only pick 4^th string 5^th and 6^th strings discordant.

E, E7, Em, Em7, G, G7 Pick 6^th then 5^th OR
6^th and 4^th OR
6^th, 5^th and 4^th if you have three picks on the chord
All three bass strings sound good with these chords.

Practice the pick strum with all the chords you have learned so far, alternating the bass strings according to the table above.

A comprehensive chord chart will be included in the next lesson.

Some New Chords

Here are two new chords for you to learn in this lesson. You may not need them for this lesson's song, but you will come across them very soon.

Click on these chords to hear how they should sound. B7 is not very difficult but it is the first chord you have come across requiring the use of four fingers.

F is unfortunately a nasty and very common chord! It is also a thin chord in that you can only play the first four strings. At a later stage you will learn a much richer barred F chord but in the meanwhile please persevere with this one.

Tips for holding the F chord

F chord illustration

Your first finger falls over the first two strings. Let it fall back a little onto its outside edge and make sure that your thumb is directly in line behind it - to squeeze it to the neck of the guitar and so exert more pressure on these strings.

Keep practicing it until you get a clear sound.

Your New Songs

Here are the words and chords of the songs that accompany this lesson. Please choose the song you know best to practice with this lesson initially. You are, of course, welcome to try all of them.

A sound file showing how the song should be played as well as the new chords are included within each song.

Learn your new chords without strumming. Practice putting them on and taking them off repeatedly until your fingers know exactly where to go.
Then concentrate on getting the chords on with as few buzzes and clunks as possible.
Practice changing the chords in the sequence they come in your new song doing, say, two strums on each chord.
Now you should be ready to start strumming and singing your new song.
Further instructions are included within each song.

Feedback from Joni

While the original intention of the paid course was to include personalized feedback from Joni on your progress and any problems you may experience, this no longer applies to these free lessons.

However, if you have found the lesson useful, Joni would appreciate an email from you on shuter@mweb.co.za

Obtaining the Next Lesson

We strongly recommend that you spend at least one week on this lesson before obtaining the next lesson. If you try to proceed too quickly, you may well develop some bad habits that will be difficult to correct at a later stage.

Having said all that, you are still at liberty to proceed at your own pace if you wish.

Lesson 4 will introduce a Variation on the 4/4 strum, new chords including a comprehensive chord chart showing most of the chords that you will learn during this course, and new songs. The songs are

For the Good Times - Kris Kristofferson
Let it Be - John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack

To get lesson 4, please click here.

Return to Joni's Guitar School Home Page

Chords	Bass strings	Comments
A, A7, Am, Am7, C, C7, B7	Pick 5^th then 4^th string
D, D7, Dm, Dm7	Pick 4^th then 5^thstring	Note that 6^th string is discordant - don't play it.
F, Fm6	Can only pick 4^th string	5^th and 6^th strings discordant.
E, E7, Em, Em7, G, G7	Pick 6^th then 5^th OR 6^th and 4^th OR 6^th, 5^th and 4^th if you have three picks on the chord	All three bass strings sound good with these chords.