Notes on the 1st String
The E Note
To play the E note, pick the open 1st string.
The F Note
Play the F note with the first finger of your left hand just behind the first fret of the 1st string.
The G Note
Play the G note with the third finger of your left hand just behind the third fret of the 1st string.
You now know two G notes. The open 3rd string and the third fret of the 1st string. These two G notes are said to be an octave apart.
As a general rule:
- Play notes on the first fret with your first finger.
- Play notes on the second fret with your second finger.
- Play notes on the third fret with your third finger.
The Whole Note
This is a whole note. It lasts for four beats. There is one whole note in one bar of * time.
The Whole Rest
This is a whole rest. It indicates one bar of silence. A whole rest in * time indicates four beats of silence.
A Riff is a pattern of notes that is repeated. The following example contains a two bar riff played twice. The example is then ended by a whole note (G note).
Marianne is a Caribbean folk song. It contains a whole rest in bars 4, 8, 12 and 16.
The Eighth Note
This is an eighth note. It lasts for half a count. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time. When eighth notes are joined together the tails are replaced by one beam.
Counting Aloud Symbol
This is the symbol for counting aloud. It means there are words below the count numbers, which are to be pronounced out loud to help you keep time.
The two dots at the end of the staff before the double bar lines are called a repeat sign and mean that you play the exercise again from the start.
