The 1 Day Guitar Hack For Beginners -Learn 4 Chords -Learn 2 Strumming Patterns -Play 8 Songs -Impress Your Friends -More Fun Than Tipping Cows -BONUS - Rockstar Stance The Ultimate GuitarHack Welcome to the best and most simple guitar training you’ll ever use ! Are you ready to learn a new skill?! Practice and get used to saying this phrase: “Yeah well I just picked up the guitar last week, learnt a few chords, now I can play a few songs. It’s pretty easy once you know how.” Here are the songs we’ll be learning for the purposes of picking up the skill. (If you want others, I’ll release a 2.0 a bit later in the year - let me know your requests in the comments.) 1. Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry) 2. I’m Yours (Jason Mraz) 3. Apologize (One Republic) 4. Down Under (Men at Work) 5. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley) 6.Fall at Your Feet (Crowded House) 7. Let It Be (The Beatles) 8. You’re Beautiful (James Blunt) First things first! You only need to know 4 chords to do this, and they’re easy ones. There are some horrifying ones I don’t even want to ever do - but I’m happy sticking with the easy ones for now! They get me what I want, which is to be able to play a few songs and have a jam with people when the opportunity presents itself. There are 3 steps to this guide: Step 1:The 4 Chords Step 2:4 Strumming patterns (you don’t need to learn them, with strumming you can do what you want, but they’re good to watch) Step 3: Learning the songs one at a time. That’s it! Easy. So get your guitar handy and lets get started. [Part 0 - TUNING. If you need to tune your guitar, watch this video.] PART 1: 4 CHORDS (Time recommended: 1-2 hours) C, G , A minor (Am) F Once you have mastered these four (which will take you only a few minutes each) you’ll have almost all you need, to play the 13 songs. Remember, throughout the whole process, the tips of your fingers will get a bit sore. (Especially if you have a steel string guitar.) In the diagrams below, the vertical lines represent strings, and the spaces between the horizontal lines represent frets. You’ll need to know this a) when tuning and b) every time you want to form a chord. You’ll see this chord uses 3 strings and also the first 3 frets. You should be looking at the above diagram as if you were holding your guitar out in front of you, facing you. (Do not actually do this - it’s just so you can get an idea.) You can have your guitar sit on your left or right knee - most people go for the right knee but it doesn’t matter. You want to be using your middle three fingers of your left hand. Your pointing finger will be on (1), then you add the second one and the third. Once you’re pushing down on those strings, it’s a good idea to use your right thumb and strum each string, to make sure each one sounds clear and clean. If any of them sound muffled, it’ll be because your fat fingers aren’t pushing down on the right one-and only the right one. Practice getting your fingers into position, take them off and put them back on a few times. Strum all the strings each time. (Extra tip - try to leave out the lowest/deepest string. It’s unnecessary.) This chord uses 3 strings again, but this time only the second and third frets. You want to use the same 3 fingers as you used for the C chord, and this time your middle finger will be on (3) and your pointing finger will be on (2) Get excited when you strum this chord - it’s a good chord. You should strum all the strings as well. Optional: Take the rock star stance. (Note I am not playing a G - I am playing Am which is coming up next.) We’re using the first two frets again, and 3 strings. This is an awesome chord and my personal favorite - your left pointing finger is going on (1) and middle finger (2). (Please see caught in action in above image.) Practice strumming just with your thumb, between the 3 chords you now know. Again, two frets, three strings. Extra tip: Leave out the bottom/deepest string again. Optional: Bite the ends of the fingers on your left and and tell them to keep their s*%& together, there’s only one chord to go. AND: If you’re feeling like this, it’s OK. If you feel like taking a break: watch this short video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRXUXXo87-o I hate to break it to you - this guide is more likely to turn you into an iguana than play the guitar like this. Maybe learning these 4 chords could light a fire within you, causing you to practice like crazy for the next 10,000 hours and maybe then we’ll see you on a viral youtube clip. However - you’re more likely going to be like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1bt6NBatY Sigh. If only he had this simple guide. MOVING ON! Last chord! Give yourself a high five (not right now, you’re busy.) And it’s a bit different to the others. Put your pointing finger across the two top strings on the first fret. You may have to turn your hand a wee bit sideways to push the strings down effectively. STRUM with your THUMB. Practice changing between those four chords. Optional: Shout “YEAH!” for each chord. Bonus points: Be in the rockstar stance while you do it. HOLY COW we are almost ready to learn a song! There is just one tidbit to learn before we get started. PART 2: STRUM YOUR FACE OFF OK guys this is super easy. If you want to use a pick from here on out, you can. I don’t - I have always found them hard to use and I keep dropping them or losing them. Do whatever you want here - I have fingernails so I just use those, or you could suck it up like a real man (or woman) and strum with your fingers. I strum down with the fingernails of my right hand, and up with the thumbnail. Check out the videos of me doing the songs. to learn how to strum - as long as you’re keeping with the rhythm, it doesn’t matter how you do it. I’d start just strumming in a downwards motion once for each chord as you change through them. Take a break now and watch the videos. Obviously I’m no pro! But I’ve learned pretty quickly on my own, quite a few songs just using a few chords. Check out the Youtube channel here PART 3: PLAYING SOME EFFING SONGS! Watch the accompanying videos - and let’s get straight into it. Song 1:SAVE TONIGHT Eagle Eye Cherry OK. From here on out, my commentary is going to be written in red. The key here is to play the songs SLOWLY. You need to get used to changing chords. For the first one, just strum with your thumb. Make yourself a slow remix of this song. Why not? Intro AM F C G AM F C G AM F C G Go on and close the curtains, cause all we need is candlelight AM F C G You and me, and a bottle of wine, AM F C G Gonna hold you tonight, uh huh AM F C G AM F C G Well you know, I’m going away, and how I wish, I wish it weren’t so AM F C G So take this wine, and drink with me AM F CG Let’s delay our misery AM F C G Save tonight and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Save tonight and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G AM F C G There’s a log on the fire, and it burns, like me for you AM F C G Tomorrow comes with one desire, AM F C G To take me away, it’s true AM F C G AM F C G Well it ain’t easy to say goodbye, darling please, don’t start to cry AM F CG Cause girl you know I got to go...oh AM F CG And lord I wish it wasn’t so... AM F C G Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Save tonight and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Tomorrow comes to take me away AM F C G I wish that I, that I could stay AM F CG Girl you know I got to go AM F CG And lord I wish it wasn’t so AM F C G Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn AM FC G Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Tomorrow I’ll be gone AM F C G Tomorrow I’ll be gone AM FCG Save Tonight AM FCG Save Tonight AM FCG How was that? Did you love it? Let’s move on to the next one while you’re on a roll. SONG #2: I’M YOURS Jason Mraz C Well you done done me and you bet I felt it G I tried to be chill but your so hot that I melted Am I fell right through the cracks F And I'm tryin' to get back C Before the cool done run out I'll be givin it my bestest G And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention Am F I reckon it's again my turn, to win some or learn some C G Am But I won't hesitate no more, no more F It cannot wait, I'm yours C G Well open up your mind and see like me Am Open up your plans and damn your free F Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love C G Listen to the music people dance and sing Am We're just one big family F It's your godforsaken right to be loved loved loved loved Loved C G Am So I won't hesitate no more, no more F It cannot wait, I'm yours C G There's no need to complicate our time is short Am F This is our fate, I'm yours C, G, Am F (let yourself just make some random sounds - have fun) C Scooch on over closer dear G And I will nibble your ear Am F Oh, dontcha wanna C G AM F (this is where you can let your voice run free, like a gazelle) C I've been spending way too long checkin my tongue in the mirror G And bending over backwards just to try and see it clearer Am But my breath fogged up the glass F So I drew a new face and I laughed C I guess what I be saying is there ain't no better reason G To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons A It's what we aim to do F Our name is our virtue C G Am But I won't hesitate no more, no more F It cannot wait, I'm yours C G Open up your mind and see like me Am Open up your plans and damn your free F Look into your heart and you'll find the sky is yours C G Am So please don't please don't please don't F There's no need to complicate C Cause our time is short G Am And this is this is this is our fate F I'm yours You just completed your second song! WELL DONE! If you have any questions or queries, feel free to email me on guitar@becky.co.nz, or just keep going until you forget about it! Haha just kidding. Let’s do another song! SONG 3: APOLOGIZE One Republic [Intro] Am F C G Am F C G [Verse] Am I'm holding on your rope, F C G Got me ten feet off the ground Am F C G And I'm hearing what you say but I just can't make a sound Am You tell me that you need me F CG Then you go and cut me down, but wait Am You tell me that you're sorry F C G Didn't think I'd turn around, and say... [Chorus] Am F C G That it's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G [Verse] Am F I'd take another chance, take a fall C G Take a shot for you Am F And I need you like a heart needs a beat C G But it's nothing new - yeah Am F I loved you with the fire red C G Now it's turning blue, and you say... Am F C "Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you G But I'm afraid... [Chorus] Am F C G That it's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G Am F C G Am Am F C G It's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late Am F C G I said it's too late to apologize, yeahAm F C G I said it's too late to apologize, yeahAm F C I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet... off the ground... 3rd song down! How are we going? Do you feel like a rock star? NO? I GET IT - there will be things you’re struggling with, chords you keep screwing up, bits where the timing is messed up. You know how some performers smash their guitars at the end of a show? THIS IS NOT WHY :) Play the songs again. The most important thing here is chord transition that means how quickly you can get from one chord to another chord. Don’t worry that you have to keep stopping. Everyone was there once. Just play it slowly. Play the bit you find hard slowly many times. And (Yoda voice) “easy, it will become.” Song 4: LAND DOWN UNDER Men At Work INTRO Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2 Verse: Am G Am FG Traveling in a fried-out combie Am G Am FG On a hippie trail, head full of zombie Am G Am FG I met a strange lady, she made me nervous Am G Am FG She took me in and gave me breakfast C G Am FG "Do you come from a land down under? And she said! C G Am FG Where women glow and men plunder? C G Am FG Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? C G Am FG You better run, you better take cover." (Oh Yeah) Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2 Am G Am FG Buying bread from a man in Brussels Am G Am FG He was six foot four and full of muscles Am G Am FG I said, "Do you speak my language Brother?" Am G Am FG He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich And he said, Chorus: C G Am FG "I come from a land down under C G Am FG Where beer does flow and men chunder (and women too) C G Am FG Can't you hear the thunder? C G Am FG You better run, you better take cover." Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2 Verse : Am G Am FG Lying in a den in Bombay Am G Am FG With a slack jaw, and not a lot to say Am G Am FG I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me Am G Am FG Because I come from the land of plenty?" And he said, Chorus: C G Am FG "Oh! Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah) C G Am FG Where women glow and men plunder? C G Am FG Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? C G Am FG You better run, you better take cover." (Cause we are) C G Am FG Living in a land down under? C G Am FG Where women glow and men plunder? C G Am FG Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? C G Am FG You better run, you better take cover." Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x4 Song 5: NO WOMAN NO CRY Bob Marley C G Am F No woman, no cry, C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F No woman, no cry, C F C G No woman, no cry. Said, said, C G Am F Said I remember when we used to sit C G Am F In the government yard in Trenchtown C G Am F Ob - Observing the hypocrites, yeah, C G Am F Mingle with the good people We meet, yeah, C G Am F Good friends We have or good friends we've lost C G Am F Along the way, yeah! C G Am F In this great future, you can't forget your past C G Am So dry your tears I say F C G Am F No woman, no cry, C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F Here little darling don't shed no tears C F C G No woman, no cry. Said, said, C G Am F Said I remember when we used to sit C G Am F In the government yard in Trenchtown C G Am F And then Georgie would make the fire light C G Ami F As it was like a wood burning through the night C G Am F Then We would cook cornmeal porridge C G Am F Of which I'll share with You C G Am F My feet is my only carriage, and so C G Am F I've got to push on through. But while am gone C G Am F Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright. C G Am F Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright. C G Am F Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright. C G Am F Everything's gonna be alright .... Everything's gonna be alright so C G Am F No woman, no cry, C F C G No woman, no cry C G Am F No my little sister don't shed no tears C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F Said I remember when we used to sit C G Am F In the government yard in Trenchtown C G Am F And then Georgie would make the fire light C G Am F As it was like a wood burning through the night C G Am F Then We would cook corn meal porridge C G Am F Of which I'll share with You C G Am F My feet is my only carriage, and so C G Am F I've got to push on through. But while am gone C G Am F No woman, no cry, C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F Oh my little darlin' don't shed no tears C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F Little darlin' don't shed no tears C F C G No woman, no cry. C G Am F Little sister don't shed no tears C F C G No woman, no cry. SONG 6: Fall At Your Feet CROWDED HOUSE Am I’m really close tonight C G And I feel like I’m moving inside her Am Lying in the dark C G And I think that I’m beginning to know her Am Let it go C I’ll be there when you call Am G Am F And whenever I fall at your feet C G Am F You let your tears rain down on me C G Am F Whenever I touch your slow turning pain Am You’re hiding from me now C G There’s something in the way that you’re talking Am Words don’t sound right C G Am But I hear them all moving inside you, go C I’ll be there when you call Am G Am F And whenever I fall at your feet C G Am F You let your tears rain down on me C G Am F Whenever I touch your slow turning pain C G The finger of blame has turned upon itself Am G And I’m more than willing to offer myself C G Do you want my presence or need my help Am F Who knows where that might lead C G Am F I fall C G The finger of blame has turned upon itself Am G And I’m more than willing to offer myself C G Do you want my presence or need my help Am F Who knows where that might lead C G Am F I fall C At your feet Song 7: Let It Be THE BEATLES CG When I find myself in times of trouble Am F Mother Mary comes to me CGFC Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. CG And in my hour of darkness Am F She is standing right in front of me CGFC Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. CHORUS 1 : Am G F C Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. CGFC Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. CG And when the broken hearted people Am F Living in the world agree, CGFC There will be an answer, let it be. CG For though they may be parted there is Am F Still a chance that they will see CGFC There will be an answer, let it be. CHORUS 2 : Am G F C Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. CGFC Yeah, There will be an answer, let it be. Am G F C Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. CGFC Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. CG And when the night is cloudy, Am F There is still a light that shines on me. CGFC Shine until tomorrow, let it be. CG I wake up to the sound of music Am F Mother Mary comes to me CGFC There will be no sorrow, let it be. SONG 8: YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL James Blunt C My life is brilliant G My love is pure Am I saw an angel F Of that I'm sure C She smiled at me on the subway G She was with another man Am But I won't lose no sleep on that F 'Cause I've got a plan Chorus: F G You're beautiful C You're beautiful F G C You're beautiful, it's true F G I saw your face C Am In a crowded place F G Am And I don't know what to do F G C 'Cause I'll never be with you C Yes, she caught my eye AG As we walked on by Am She could see from my face that I was F Flying high C G And I don't think that I'll see her again Am F But we shared a moment that will last to the end F AG You're beautiful C You're beautiful F G C You're beautiful, it's true C G I saw your face C Am In a crowded place F G Am And I don't know what to do F G C 'Cause I'll never be with you F C F C F C G La-la-la-la La-la-la-la La-la-la-la La-a (haha yessssssss go for it) F G You're beautiful C You're beautiful F G C You're beautiful, it's true F G There must be an angel C Am With a smile on her face F G Am When she thought up that I should be with you F G Am But it's time to face the truth F G C I will never be with you OK We’ve reached the end of the last song, but your practice is not over! You can now play 8 songs on the guitar! The key is muscle memory. Just keep practicing and you’ll get faster and more confident. Thanks for using this guide and we’d love to hear your feedback. You can email us on guitar@becky.co.nz You probably feel like this right now. Thanks for giving this guide a go! Check out more cool stuff by going to www.lifestyleninja.com