Pick Up The Guitar

Pick Up the Guitar is a straightforward introduction to playing the guitar for absolute beginners and for players who want to progress beyond simply strumming chords and begin playing recognisable tunes.

No previous musical knowledge is required. The book takes a practical, uncomplicated approach, introducing the essentials of the instrument before moving on to strumming, picking and playing melodies. Rather than overwhelming the beginner with unnecessary theory, the emphasis is on developing useful playing skills and getting music from the guitar.

The early sections cover getting to know the guitar, tuning, replacing strings and the basic techniques of the left and right hands. Simple tablature is introduced as an accessible way of reading the music without requiring knowledge of standard musical notation.

Players are then guided through the basic right-hand strum and the techniques needed to play tunes. Further sections introduce lead-in notes, double strumming, waltz-time accompaniment and fingerpicking, allowing the learner to gradually expand both rhythm and melody-playing skills.

As the course progresses, it explores more about picking tunes, including picking off the beat, before introducing the use of a capo and providing information about the notes on the guitar.

Key Features:

• Designed for absolute beginners
• No previous musical knowledge required
• Straightforward, practical approach to learning guitar
• Helps players progress from strumming chords to playing tunes
• Introduces the parts and basic workings of the guitar
• Explains how to tune the guitar
• Includes guidance on replacing strings
• Covers basic left-hand and right-hand technique
• Introduces easy-to-follow guitar tablature
• Explains how to play recognisable tunes
• Covers basic and double strumming
• Introduces strumming in waltz time
• Introduces fingerpicking
• Covers picking tunes and picking off the beat
• Explains the use of a capo
• Includes information about notes on the guitar
• Suitable for self-directed learning and developing beginners
• Includes a FREE Hamcor Publishing Treble Clef Key Signature Bookmark

Pick Up the Guitar provides an accessible starting point for anyone who wants to make music on the guitar without first having to learn musical theory. Beginning with the essentials and progressing into tune playing, strumming and fingerpicking, it gives new players a practical foundation from which to develop their guitar playing.

The tunes are:

*** EXCLUSIVE FREE BOOKMARK OFFER ***

Every Pick Up the Guitar music book includes a FREE Hamcor Publishing Guitar Scales Bookmark a practical reference tool featuring essential guitar scale and mode patterns for practice and study.

• Premium 350gsm silk card, laminated and printed on both sides
• 210mm 55mm
• Six scales and modes on the front and six on the reverse
• 12 movable scale shapes that can be played all over the neck
• Root notes highlighted by both shape and colour for easy reference
• Ideal for guitarists, students and teachers
• A useful companion for lessons, practice, improvisation and scale study