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How to Play Guitar…
Darren Ray Evans
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The last slide has a return to beginning
button.
Slide 31 contains an audio playback button.
At the bottom right hand corner of each slide
is a previous page button and a next page
button.
Guitar Origins
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The guitar is a part of the lute family and is
what is called a "composite chordophone."
Taking its roots in Spain, it cannot be proven
to have existed in a form similar to the
modern guitar any earlier than the 1400's, but
there are a variety of theories surrounding its
origins.
lute © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Guitar Origins
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The guitar first emerged
in Spain, and was most
likely invented by the
people in the Malaga
region. The theory that
the guitar may have
had some Egyptian
ancestors is supported
by the Moors' visit in
the Middle Ages.
Spanish guitar © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Construction
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A guitar is comprised of craftsmanship and an
understanding of sound and music.
Anatomy © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Electric Guitar
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The first attempts at an
amplified instrument did
not come until the
development of
electrical amplification
by the radio industry in
the 1920s. One of the
earliest innovators was
Lloyd Loar, an
engineer at Gibson
Guitar Company.
Electric guitar © Darren Ray
Evans. Used with permission The
Guitar Handbook
The Innovators
All © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Tablature
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Tablature is a short hand
version of notation. There is
no time signature or tempo
in tab, just finger positioning.
One must listen to song to
acquire timing. The 6 lines
represent the 6 strings of a
guitar. The large E or 6
string is the bottom line on
tablature.
Tab © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The
Guitar Handbook
Notation
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Music notation is an
representation of the
position (where) of notes,
time signature (when) and
tempo (speed) in which the
notes are played. There
are 12 notes in an octave.
The notes are named A B
C D E F G. There are
#=sharps and b=flats
between each notes
except B and C, E and F,
completing 12 notes.
Tab © Darren Ray Evans. Used Notation with permission
The Guitar Handbook
In the following slide follow the 5thor A string left to right for 12 note example.
Tuning
5th string= A,
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A#/Bb,
B,
C,
C#/Db,
D,
In order for you to begin to
play, you must tune your
instrument. There are
different ways of tuning.
There is harmonic tuning at
the 5th and 7th fret or with a
piano. This acquires skill
and an ear for tonality. A
tuner is most accurate.
D#/Eb,
E,
F,
F#/Gb, G,
G#/Ab, A
neck and keys © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Picking Styles
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Picking hand can use a
plectrum (guitar pick) to strike
the strings or fingers and
thumb. Plectrum technique
requires a concentrated up
and down motion single note
progression or a wide
sweeping motion for rhythm
chords.
Picking © Darren Ray
Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar
Handbook
Modes
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There are 7 basic modes that make up guitar scales
(solos). These patterns are comprised of 7 tones
(diatonic); 2 semi-tones and 5 full tones. Any one of
the 7 modes can be played in any key (the 12 notes)
keeping that the pattern remains the same.
The 2 scales that all other scales (modes) are
related to are the major (Ionian) and minor (Aeolian).
We will examine the modes (patterns) and how they
are used.
Dorian
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This is a minor mode. It differs from natural minor
in that the 6th note is sharpened. The Dorian mode
is named after the Dorian Greeks.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission
The Guitar Handbook
Phrygian
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This is another minor identical to natural minor
except for a flatted 2nd note. It is also known in
Arabic and in the Middle East as the Kurd mode.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Lydian
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This is a major scale. It differs from the diatonic
major (Ionian) in it has a sharpened 4th note. The
Lydian mode is named after the ancient kingdom
of Lydia in Anatolia.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Mixolydian
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This major scale has a flattened 7th note. The ancient Greek
Mixolydian mode was invented by Sappho, the 7th century
B.C. poet and musician. This mode is used in blues and
jazz.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Locrian
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All notes in this scale are flattened except the tonic
1st and 4th. Of the seven modes this one is used in
jazz music as well as being pentacle in Hindu and
Japanese music.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission
The Guitar Handbook
Ionian
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This is the diatonic major scale. This is the basic
scale of major modes.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission
The Guitar Handbook
Aeolian
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This is the natural minor scale in which all others
minor modes are based.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Bar Chord Major
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Bar chords are
fundamental in hard
rock. Once you learn
the finger position, one
can slide this fingering
up and down the neck
accomplishing 12 major
chords. The root is the
1st finger on the 6
string.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Solo Run Major
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This run or pattern can be used in any key as long
as you start at the tonic or root note on six string.
This run is used with the major bar chord. The run
beginning with the root of the bar chord. This
example is of the open E major.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Bar Chord Minor
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The minor bar chord
has the same fingering
as major bar chord
except you raise your
second finger releasing
the third string to the
barred number one
finger.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission
The Guitar Handbook
Solo Run Minor
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The minor run is another pattern that works with
minor chords or keys. This run begins with the open
E minor.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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A Major and A minor: Common chords, major chords
are used for uplifting music as minors express sad
tonality.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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B 7th: This cord is
usually used in
transitions rather than a
lead chord.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans.
Used with permission The
Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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C Major : Popular chord in
modern and classical music.
The chord can be used as a
walking progression. Plays
well with all chords
especially A minor.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans.
Used with permission The
Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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D Major and minor:
These chords have a
bright ringing tone. D
Major, C major, and G
major are used
sequentially in many
pop hits.
Chart ©
Darren Ray
Evans. Used
with
permission
The Guitar
Handbook
Open Chords
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E Major, E minor, and E 7th: As seen in the charts
there is little difference in finger position between
these chords. These are used as power chords as
well as open chords.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with permission The Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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F Major chord: This
chords finger position is
similar to C Major; and
can be played in the
same position as a bar
chord.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans. Used with
permission The Guitar Handbook
Open Chords
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G Major: This one of
the most widely used
chords in modern music
as well as classical
periods. Its tone is
considered placid and
beautiful.
Chart © Darren Ray Evans.
Used with permission The
Guitar Handbook
Credits and References:
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All photos and charts from The Guitar
Handbook, Ralph Denyer; Borzoi Book
publishing, New York, New York, 1988.
Andantino: Matteo Carcassi (1792-1853)
Heart to Heart: Laura Pool (2001)
Instincto: Frequencia (2002)