Chord Diagrams Used in This Book
Chords are learned with the help of a chord diagram. This will show you exactly where to place your left hand fingers in order to play a particular chord. A chord diagram is a grid of horizontal and vertical lines representing the strings and frets of the guitar, shown as follows:
Left Hand Fingering
The black dots show you where to place your left hand fingers. The white number tells you which finger to place on the string just before the fret. If there is no dot on a string, you play it as an open (not fretted) string.
The other chord diagram symbols used in this book are summarized with the following two chord shapes.
A dotted string indicates that string is not to be strummed. An X on the string indicates that string is to dampened by another finger lightly touching it. The string is still strummed as a part of the chord but it is not heard.
A small bar connecting several black dots indicates they are held down by the same finger. This is called barring.
Scale Diagrams Used in This Book
Tablature
Tablature is a method of indicating the position of notes on the fretboard. There are six "tab" lines each representing one of the six strings on the guitar.
When a number is placed on one of the lines, it indicates the fret location of the note e.g.:
This indicates the seventh fret of the 5th string (an E note).
This indicates the 3rd string open (a G note).
Tablature Symbols
The Hammer-On
The 1st note is played but the 2nd note is produced by hammering on the left hand finger, which plays the 2nd note. See lesson 3.
The Pull-Off
The 1st note is played but the 2nd note is produced by pulling off the left hand finger to sound the 2nd note. See lesson 3.
The Slide
Play the 1st note and while maintaining the pressure on the string slide to the 2nd note. See lesson 3.
The Bend
The note is played by the left hand finger which bends the string (to the pitch of the note in brackets). See lesson 3.
The Release Bend
This technique involves playing the string whilst bent, then returning the string to its normal position. See lesson 3.
Vibrato
The finger frets the note and moves the finger back and forth in the direction of the adjacent strings. See lesson 3.
Staccato
The note is cut short by releasing the pressure in the left hand immediately after the note is played.
The Rake
The playing of three or four notes on different strings very quickly from the lowest to the highest note. See lesson 5.
