Your Plectrum

Guitar Book
A SIMPLE WAY FOR BEGINNERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED AND FAILED

By

Arvind Raj R G

Volume 1

Chords and
Strumming
This book is free of cost, you can download / print for personal use . But you
cannot sell this book for commercial use without consulting and getting the
prior permission from the author that is me.
Arvind RAJ
 GUITAR FATE BOARD

GUITAR FRETBOARD DIAGRAM

1st String is the thinnest string and the 6th String is the thickest

Guitar Tuning
EBGDAE in the order of 1st to the 6th String
Playing the chords will be easier and transposing to a scale which is comfortable to the singer

12 Notes and Octaves

Primary Notes
A B C D E F G

Sharp Notes
A# X C# D# X F# G#

Bb Db Eb Gb Ab

b - > Called as Flat

Order of the Notes

Sharp style order - A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#
Flat style order - A Bb B C Cb D Eb E F Gb G Ab

Guitars have basically 4 octaves

Octaves can be directly correlated to the human voice
Bass octave suits male vocalists
Middle octave suits female vocalists
Higher Octave suits child vocalists

Octaves Travel across the strings also in vertical ways in the guitar fret board.
5th Note of one particular string will be the open note of its next string, except the second string which
takes open note as ‘b’ from the 4th note on 3rd string.
Types of Guitarist
Rhythm and Lead

Finger Numbers
Note : Here on the numbers inside the fretboard represents the finger numbers
1 - index
2 - middle
3 - ring
4 - small

Basic Finger exercises

8 basic exercises
1234
4321
1324
4231
1432
4123
1243
4312

Open Chords

Em - E Minor

E - E Major

Am - A Minor
A - A Major

C - C Major

D - D Major

Dm - D Minor

G - G Major 3 Finger Position

 G - G Major 4 Finger Position

Cadd9

How To Practice The Chords Initially

In the beginning when you learn to play the chords, you need to make sue you are holding the necessary fingers on the fretboard
correctly and not muting the strings above or below. to get the correct sound of the chords you have to play the chords string by
string. this method is called as arpeggios.
E Minor E Major A Minor A Major
Down Picking String 654 654 543 543
Numbers
Up Picking String 123 123 123 123
Numbers
C Major D Major D Minor G Major
Down Picking String 543 432 432 654
Numbers

Up Picking String 123 123 123 123

Numbers

Famous Open Chord Progressions

These are the open chord progressions that are used in many of the popular guitar songs.
Moving forward we will use these chords as base for learning the strumming patterns.

Strumming
Right Way To Strum
Strumming involves both the usage of your forearm and wrist.
if you keep your wrist rigid you will not get a smooth strumming sound.
When you play the down stroke apart from moving your forarm down ,
you have to rotate your wrist little outwards and strum down in a cross angle . you will notice the strum-
ming action very smooth . simillarly when you strum up aprt from moving your forearem up, you need to rotate
your wrist little inwards and strum in a cross angle not straight for a smooth upward strum action.
 10 Strumming Patterns with respective Complexity
D - Down Stroke
U - Up Stroke
Timing is very important in strumming. Lets take seconds notice how synchronised the timing between each second
is right. similarly lets start off slowly with first strumming pattern that is you D D D D , Play Each D / Second.

For example Eminor play D D D D

1)

Note : Students will gradually understand how stumming basically carries the tempo of the entire song and
provides the basic percurssion needed for the style of the song.

Going Forward we will practice the rest of the strumming exercises with these 4 open chord progressions.

Main Strumming Patterns

x2 Means that box has to be played twice for the chord

Start with first chord set, ex) C, Am, Dm, G, C

Pattern #1

First count you play Down stroke for count 1, then you dont play anything for the count 2, then play Down-
stroke for 3rd count and Upstroke for the 4th count. repeat the whole process once again, then move to the next
chord and continue the same process.
Note: The Usual mistake students make while repeating a pattern is that they will give some extra time gap be-
fore the repetation. This is wrong. If their is a time gap then the music is inturrupted, so the count should continue like
1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 . Their is no extra gap between the counts ‘4’ and next ‘1’. Then you make a move to the next chord.
Initially the chord changing time will be more for the beginners , but dont worry the students will gradually pickup the
phase with more practice. Remember practice makes perfect.
Now you know what the merged box means, you need to play that stroke for the count that merged box starts
with and dont play any stroke for the remaning count(s) within that merged box.
Pattern #2

Pattern #3

Pattern #4

Pattern #5

Pattern #6

Pattern #7

Pattern #8

Pattern #9

Pattern #10
Easy Way to Shift between chords

When you on the last count of the strumming pattern play the open strings in D or U whatever is their and shift to
the next chord and continue the whole strumming pattern from the begining for the next chord.

Try to shift between the chords during the last Up stroke for all the chord progression

Song Example For Strumming Pattern

VInnaithandi Varuvaaya - Hosanna

G Em C D (Version 1)

G Em7 Cadd9 D (Version 2)

Em7 - E Minor 7

New Set Of Open Chord Progressions

1) Em C D Am Em
2) G D Am C G
3) E A C D E
4) Dm Am Em A Dm

Use these new open chords as well when you practise.

Right Hand Muting

This is a different percussive style of playing guitar rhythm, where you will use your right hand to mute all the
strings at various time intervals to create a beautiful rhythmic guitar backing. ‘X’ represent muting the strings with
your right hand.

Pattern #1
 Pattern #2

Pattern #3

Pattern #4

Pattern #5

Pattern #6

Barre Chords
You can play other forms of chords accross the fretboard by barring one particular fret and applying a chord
shape after that with the remaining fingers.

How to put the Barre

The following images will demonstrate how to put barre on the 3rd fret

1)This is the barring shape

2)Place it above the 3rd fret gently with a straight fingerwith thumb on back of the 3rd fret

3)Now by twisting the first finger press both thumb and the first finger together

4)Notice the finger is straight and not bent in anyway, also the finger should be little
above the fret board like this.
5)Top View

6)Hope this clears any doubt in barring

1. Finger should be little above

2. Finger should be straight
3. Finger should twist to your left little bit
4. Finger should never bend

Put your first finger(index finger) on the fifth fret and press the entire fret of 6 strings with it supported by your
thumb on the back of your fret board. Now pluck all the strings with your right hand and make sure your get the full
sound of each string, you should not get a buzz or muted sound while plucking. It takes some time to get the barre cor-
rectly. But it it will happen eventually , you have to keep practising. the trick is you have to apply the pressure near the
left side of your finger, you should not press the finger flat against the fret board. the finger should be little twisted and
pressue should fall across the left side of the index finger i.e) your barring finger.
4 Basic Shape Chords

E Major, E Minor, A Minor and A Major

O - Open String

E Major Shape Chord

Start with the above chord shape and press the strings with your thumb supporting at the back of your
fretboard and play all the six strings, you should get a clean sound. Then slide your 2,3,4 fingers to the next cor-
ressponding frets, remember not jumping your need to slide by taking the pressure off on all the three fingers
then move to the next corressponding frets and then apply the pressure back on the three fingers and repeat the
exercise. Sliding the fingers is very important part of this exercise. Do this exercise till your 2nd finger comes to
11th fret and then slide backwards one fret and do the exercise until your 2nd finger reached the second fret.

E Minor Shape Chord

Now take away your second finger , apply your 3rd and 4th finger as per the diagram below. Now start
the exercise from the second fret and procedd till 12th fret and repeat the exercise in the same fashion one
one fret by coming backwards untill your 3rd and 4th finger reaches the 3rd fret. sliding method is must in all
the barre shape chod exercises.
 A Minor Shape Chord

Apply the fingers are per the below image and start the exercise from 2nd fret to 11th fret then from 11th
fret to second fret. sliding is must while to the next fret .

A Major Shape Chord

Use 3rd or 4th finger to barre the 2,3,4 strings. Watch the procedure on the video Plectrum Guitar Les-
sons 07 to understand more easily. To get the correct way of putting your finger to barre the 3 strings first keep
away your guitar for a while and listen. First press your 3rd or 4th finger with your thumb and make sure the top
nuckle bone bends inwards , now your will notice a shape of your respective finger. This is the shape you have to
apply when barring the 2,3,4 strings with your 3rd or 4th finger. Then only you will not mute the 1st string during
the process while barring the above 3 strings.
 4th Finger Barre Shape 3rd Finger Barre Shape

First practise this on the 5th fret once you understood the technique then start the exercise from 3rd fret
to 7th fret then from 7th fret to 3rd fret. sliding is must while moving to the next fret.

A Person should first master the above forms of shapes in barre chords. First Figure is 4th finger bent to get A
major shape and second figure is 3rd finger bent. Once that is done then playing guitarbecomes more easier throughout
the fret board.

Barre Exercises

Once you are able to get the sound from all the strings without any buzz noise or muted sounds then you are
on the right way. all the exercises below uses the four chord shapes that we have seen in the previous topic.

Now take E Major Bar chord shape and apply on the 6th fret, then put the bar on the 5th fret. follow the below
exercises.
Slide One Fret

Now Apply pressure on all the fingers and play all the strings, the sound be clean and sustained , it
should not be muted or buzz sound. Once it is done release the pressure away from the fingers but dont take
away your fingers from the strings, your fingers should still be touching the guitar strings with the chord shape
and the bar across the 5th fret , but you shoud have released the pressue on the strings. now gently , slide all
your fingers to the next fret and apply the pressue. Play all the strings and then release the pressure and slide
to the next fret and repeat this exercise. now you should be on the 7th fret. once you finish this exercise on the
7th fret , repeat this exercise by sliding backwards on each fret until you reach the 3rd fret. then from 3rd fret to
5th fret. the exercise is completed.

Slide Two Frets

The procedures for doing this exercise is same as the previous exercise, except you will me sliding two
frets and then you do the exercise. you should start from 5th fret to 7th to 5th to 3rd to 5th fret. This is the order
for this exercise.

Now Repeat the Slide one and Slide two fret exercises for Eminor, A Minor and finally with the A Major Barre
chord Shape.

Additional Barre Chord Exercises

Type 1

Ex 1 : Start from first fret. Apply All the four barre chord shapes one by one. Everytime you apply
a barre chord shape you play the downstroke, once done with all 4 bare chord shapes slide to the next
fret. Repeat this exercise untill you reach 10th fret then from 10th fret to 1st by sliding one one fret back-
wards.

Ex 2 : Repeat the whole exercise by sliding two frets.

Type 2

Ex 1: Start from first fret, apply E Major Barre chord Shape and play down stroke, then slide to
the next fret and apply A Minor Barre chord shape and play the down stroke. Then slide to the next fret
and apply E Major Barre chord Shape and play down stroke and repeat the exercise between changing
from E major to A Minor Barre chord shapes respectively. the thing is what ever barre chord shape you
played on the current fret, you should not play the same chord shape on the next fret, you need to
change to a differnt chord shape. DO this until your barring finger reaches the 10th fret then from 10 fret
repeat the exercise until you reach the 1st fret.

Ex2: Repeat Ex1 by sliding 2 frets.

Ex3: Repeat Ex1 and Ex2 with E Minor and A Major Barre Chord Shapes respectively.
Understanding Barre Chord Names

Practice the below chord progressions in picking style (no strumming)

Chord shape, String number

E,6 - F#m,6 - G#m,6 - A,5

B,5 - C#m,5 - B,6 - E,5

Dm,5 - C,5 - A#,5 - A,5

D,5 - C,6 - A#,6 - A,6
Gm,6 - Am,6 - A#m,6 - Cm,5

Left Hand Muting & Shifting Of Chords

In this topic we will see while playing the barre chord how to apply muting and play strumming. when you come
across the X mark you have to play that respective Down or Up stroke by releasing the pressure from the fingers of
your left hand but still the fingers should be touching the strings.

You will play the following exercises starting from 5th Fret E Minor Barre Chord Shape then 3rd fret and 1st fret
and then back to 3rd fret you play E Major Barre Chord Shape then goto 5th fret and play E Minor Barre Chord Shape.

X mark represents muting and also it means you have to make a move during that duration of muting to the next
fret.
Order of frets for playing the below 8 types of exercises

Warmup
5(E Major) -> 3(E Major) -> 1(E Major) ->3(E Major) -> 5(E Major)
A Major G Major F Major G Major A Major

now a small change

5(E Minor) -> 3(E Major) -> 1(E Major) ->3(E Major) -> 5(E Minor)
A Minor G Major F Major G Major A Minor
Ex 1:

Ex 2:

Ex 3:

Ex 4:

Ex 5:

Ex 6:

Ex 7:
 Ex 8:

Ex 9:

Ex 10:

Example Songs which involves all the techniques that we have learned so far

Time to use the F chord

1) Natpukulle from Chennai 600028

Techniques involved are open to barre chord and barre to open chord with right
hand muting.

First practice with count 3 and 4, which is ‘Am’ with Right hand muting and then
to ‘F’ chord respectively . similary for ‘G’ to ‘C’ chord on count 3 and 4 respectively.

Am F G C

Mute with your Right Hand on the ‘X’ marks and on count ‘4’ change to the next
chord
 2) New York Nagaram from Silunu Oru Kadhal

Techniques involved are open to barre chord and barre to open chord. First prac-
tise with simple chord pattern D 2 D U with last Down and Upstroke as open strings,
except ‘F’ chord to ‘C’ chord where you will be Keeping the 3rd finger intact on the
string while rest of the fingers are away from the string with Down and UP stroke
then move to the next chord.

Am F C G

3) Engeyum Kadhal From Engeyum Kadhal

Techniques involved are, style 2 open to barre chord and barre to open chord, but
style 1 is purely chord shifting between barre chords.

F C Dm Am
(most of the song)

Strumming Style 1(for barre chords way)

Strumming Style 2(for open chords way)

F C Dm
Oh Paarkamal Konjam Pesamal Poonalum
Am Bb
Ullam Thaangathu Thaangathe
F Gm C
Kangal Thaan Ingu Thoongathe
 5 Guitar Strumming Patterns that will make you a Good Rhythm Guitarist
Each chord progression will have their own strumming pattern to be practised with. The first row in the box is
the fret number, the second row is shape of the chord that you need to apply and the third row is the actual name of the
chord that you will be playing. In the following chord progressions we will be mixing barre and open chords together.

1) The Most Famous Chord Progression In The World

Eagles - Hotel California

[Verse]
Bm F#7
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
A E
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
G D
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Em
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
F#
I had to stop for the night

Bm F#7
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell
A
And I was thinking to myself
E
This could be heaven or this could be hell
G D
Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way
Em
There were voices down the corridor,
F#
I thought I heard them say...

[Chorus]
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California.
F#7 Bm
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em F#
Any time of year, (any time of year) You can find it here

[Verse]
Bm F#7
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, She got the Mercedes bends
A E
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys she calls friends
G D
How they danced in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Em F#
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

Bm F#7
So I called up the captain; Please bring me my wine (he said)
A E
We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
G D
and still those voices are calling from far away
Em
Wake you up in the middle of the night
F#
Just to hear them say...

[Chorus]
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California.
F#7 Bm
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
G D
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em F#
What a nice surprise, (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis

[Verse]
Bm F#7
Mirrors on the ceiling; the pink champagne on ice (and she said)
A E
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
G D
and in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast
Em
They stab it with their steely knives but they
F#
just can't kill the beast

Bm F#7
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
A E
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
G D
"Relax" said the night man; we are programmed to receive
Em
You can check out any time you like
F#7
But you can never leave...

2) Soft Ballad
The chord progression right above have a slight variation while playing the strumming pattern No.) 2

Play the whole thing for ‘Em’

Play the First 6 Counts for ‘G’ and the rest of the counts for ‘D’

3) Swing Rhythm

During the count 7, make the transition to the next chord and play the Upstroke of the 8th count and continue
playing the new chord until the count 7 and repeat this process.

4) Ballad Style
 5)

ILAYANILLA from Payanangal Mudivathillai

Strumming Pattern

Practice this stumming pattern between the chords C and Dm first.

[Chorus]
C Dm C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey Ithayam Varai Nanaigirathey
C F A# A Dm
Ulaa Poagum Maegam Kanaa Kaanumae... Vizhaa Kaanumae Vaanamae
C Dm C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey Ithayam Varai Nanaigirathey
C F A# A Dm
Ulaa Poagum Maegam Kanaa Kaanumae... Vizhaa Kaanumae Vaanamae
C Dm C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey Ithayam Varai Nanaigirathey

[Verse 1]
C Dm
Varum Vazhiyil Panimazhaiyil Paruva Nilaa Thinam Nanaiyum
F G C
Mugileduthu Mugam Thudaithu Vidiyumvarai Nadai Pazhagum
C Dm
Varum Vazhiyil Panimazhaiyil Paruva Nilaa Thinam Nanaiyum
F G C
Mugileduthu Mugam Thudaithu Vidiyumvarai Nadai Pazhagum
Dm
Vanaveethiyil Maega Oorvalam Kaanum Pothilae Aaruthal Tharum
C A# A Dm
Paruvamagal Vizhigalilae Kanavu Varum

[Chorus]
C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey
C F A# A Dm
Ulaa Poagum Maegam Kanaa Kaanumae Vizhaa Kaanumae Vaanamae
C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey

[Verse 2]
C Dm
Mugilinangal Alaigirathey Mugavarigal Tholainthanavø
F G C
Mugavarigal Thavariyathaal Azhuthidumø Athu Mazhaiyø
C Dm
Mugilinangal Alaigirathey Mugavarigal Thølainthanavø
F G C
Mugavarigal Thavariyathaal Azhuthidumø Athu Mazhaiyø
Dm
Neelavaanilae Velli Oødaigal Orugindrathey Ènna Jaadaigal
C A# A
Vinveliyil Vithaithathu Yaar Navamanigal

[Chorus]
C Dm C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey Ithayam Varai Nanaigirathey
C F A# A Dm
Ulaa Poagum Maegam Kanaa Kaanumae... Vizhaa Kaanumae Vaanamae
C Dm C Dm
Ilaya Nilaa Pozhigirathey Ithayam Varai Nanaigirathey

Enthan Kanmunne from Nanban (Tamil Movie)

Oohoo (C)hoo (Am/B)hoo (Am)hoo ..

(Em)hoo (Am)hoo (F)hoo..
(Am)Naana..(Dm)Naa naa na (G)naa
Oohoo (C)hoo...(Am/B)hoo (Am)hoo ..
(Em)hoo (Am)hoo (F)hoo..
(Dm)Naana Naa naa na (C)naa

Endhan (C)Kan (Am/B)Mun(Am)nae (Em)Kan (Am)Mun(F)nae

(Am)Kaanaa(Dm)mal Ponae(G)nae..
Yaarum (C)Paar(Am/B)ka(Am)tha (Em)Vin(Am)mee(F)naai
(Dm)Veenaai Naan Aanae(C)nae..

(C)Idhayam (Dm)Kizhiyum (Am)Oli (G)Kaetaen

(C)Idhaiyoo (Dm)Edhaiyoo (Am)Ethir (G)Paarthaen
(Am)Mazhai Kaetkiraen Enai Erikiraai
(G)Oli Kaetkiraen (F)Vizhigalai Parikiraai
(C)Kanavai Kanavai (G)Kalaiththaayae (F)Thodarnthida Viduvaa(C)ya
(C)Valigal Valigal (G)Koduththaayae.. Nee (F)Urangida Viduvaa(C)ya.

Oohoo (C)hoo (Am/B)hoo (Am)hoo ..

(Em)hoo (Am)hoo (F)hoo..
(Am)Naana..(Dm)Naa naa na (G)naa
Oohoo (C)hoo...(Am/B)hoo (Am)hoo ..
(Em)hoo (Am)hoo (F)hoo..
(Dm)Naana Naa naa na (C)naa