THE D PROGRESSION

D (I)

G (IV)
o

A7 (V7)

5 R

In this unit, you will learn a I - IV - V7 progression in each key. For the key of D, those chords are D - G - A7.

To change easily from D to A7, move

fingers 1 and 2 AT THE SAME TIME.
Notice that they are in the same
RELATIVE position for both chords.
x

In changing from D to G, finger 3 is

RELATIVE, as shown below. Place this
finger first, then place fingers 1 and 2.
Eventually, all fingers will move together.

Changing from G to A7,

finger 1 is RELATIVE;
move it to the adjacent string,
then place finger 2.

D (I)

G (IV)

D (I)

2
3

A7 (V7)

G (IV)

5 R

A7 (V7)

2
3

5 R
o

Strum with DOWN STROKES.

Use CD, if desired.

Practice 2-chord changes first: D - A7, D - G, G - A7 until all are smooth.

Then practice D - G - A7 - D.

AUDIO
NOTES

PRACTICE PROCEDURES

One accompaniment track, using the

strum pattern at right, is provided
for each progression in this unit. The
tempo is slow. When a progression
has been mastered at this speed, you
may choose to use Track 3, a faster,
generic rhythm track applicable to all
unit progressions.

C L A S S G U I TA R R E S O U R C E S

H . O . T. H A N D S - O N T R A I N I N G

I
/

IV
/

V7
/

I
/

I
/ /

IV
/ /

V7
/ /

I
/ /

I
/ / /

IV
/ / /

V7
/ / /

I
/ / /

I
/ / / /

IV
/ / / /

V7
/ / / /

I
/ / / /

TRACK

SL O W

TRACK

FASTER

4/4 time (also called common time)

D. C. AL FINE: Go back to the

beginning and play to Fine
TACET: Do not play

Repeat

Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

Strum Pattern: Straight Strum

Count off: 1-2-3-4 1-2-

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

TRACK

TRACK

Strum Pattern: Straight Strum

Count off: 1-2-3-4-

FORMAL ASSESSMENT ITEMS

Skill Proficiency 1:
Play a I - IV - V7 - I progression in the
key of D, using four strums per chord.
(Proficiency 1 scoring rubric)

Trio Strum Recital 1:

With two classmates, count off and
perform 1 tune on page 10 and 1 tune
from page 11 during an in-class recital.
(Recital 1 scoring rubric)

Written Assessment:
Do CHORD WORK SHEET 1.
WRITTEN TEST 1

UNI T 1 : PL AYI NG RHY TH M GU I TA R

11

UNIT ONE

FINE (fee-nay): The end

PL AYIN G
R H YT H M G U ITA R

This box contains musical

markings found in the songs
on this page. For each song,
locate and understand
markings before playing.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BASS GUITAR

The four open strings of a standard electric bass have the same letter names as strings 6, 5, 4 and 3 on your acoustic guitar.
The content of the following pages is to be played on your guitar.

Parts of an
Electric Bass
TUNING
PEG

Bass Guitar open strings

Acoustic Guitar open strings

5 4
STRING

4 3 2
STRING

HEAD

NUT

NECK
FRETS

Fretting Single Notes on a Bass

Bass lines are usually made up of single notes. Study the charts
below. Learn the notes on strings 6, 5 and 4 as shown. MEMORIZE
FINGER ASSIGNMENTS AND NOTE NAMES following the
procedures on the next page.

STRAP
BUTTON

1
BODY

3
PICKUPS

STRINGS

VOLUME
& TONE
KNOBS

BRIDGE

STRAP
BUTTON

42

PICKUP
SELECTOR
SWITCH

C L A S S G U I TA R R E S O U R C E S

H . O . T. H A N D S - O N T R A I N I N G

F
2

= 1 beat

h or = 2 beats

w or = 4 beats

In order to correctly count the music you play, it helps to write in the counting beneath the notes and rests. This is easy to do.
EACH HALF-BEAT IS REPRESENTED BY ONE WRITTEN SYMBOL (either a number or +). THEREFORE, IN ONE
MEASURE OF 4/4 TIME, YOU WILL ALWAYS WRITE: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +. When you see +, say and.
Study the line below. Then clap the rhythm while counting aloud.

44

Perform the four rhythm lines below: clap and count aloud.

44
4
4

Write in the counting for the next two lines, then tap them.

44
44

j j

ACTION WRITER: Create a 4-measure rhythm line below. Use the 4/4 time signature.

UNI T 2: PL AYI N G TH E MEL O D Y

47

UNIT TWO

q or

Your first songs will contain a 4 as the bottom number

of the time signature. The notes and rests will receive the
beats indicated in the graphic at right. Memorize this.

PL AYIN G T HE ME L O DY

e or = 1/2 beat

HOW TO COUNT WHEN q = 1 BEAT

MELODIES USING NOTES ON STRINGS 6 AND 5 ONLY

Write in the counting below all lines. (Use + only in lines containing 8th notes.) Do not write in the names of notes. Play as directed.
STRING 6 NOTES: Tech Tip: adjust guitar neck angle to 45 to comfortably place fingers 1 and 3.
A

&

w w w
E

STRING 5 NOTES: Tech Tip: for a clean tone, place tips of finger 2 and 3 just behind the fretwire.
B

&

w w w
A

4
&4

3
&4

2
&4

CHALLENGE MELODIES

&c
&

&c

FORMAL ASSESSMENT ITEMS

Skill Proficiency 6: Play lines 1-3 above with accurate notes and rhythms. (Proficiency 6 scoring rubric)

52

C L A S S G U I TA R R E S O U R C E S

H . O . T. H A N D S - O N T R A I N I N G

11

MAJOR SCALES and Their

Relationship to CHORDS

UNIT

Chords are derived from scales. The scale is built first and chords are then
constructed on each of the seven pitches of the scale. The basic chord is called
a TRIAD.
A TRIAD IS A CHORD CONSISTING OF THREE NOTES.
FIFTH: this note is a fifth above the root.
THIRD: this note is a third above the root.
ROOT: the note on which the chord is built.
You know that the distance from one note to
another is called an INTERVAL. You have already
used whole and half-step intervals to construct
major scales. Two new intervals, the third and
fifth, will be found by counting FROM THE CHORD
ROOT. Follow the steps.

x
NOTES:
INTERVAL:

E F
3 (third)

1 To find the third: say the letter name of the root and the following
two notes. The third note you named is a THIRD above the root
(measures 1 and 3 below).
2 To find the fifth: say the letter name of the root and the following
four notes. The fifth note you named is a FIFTH above the root
(measures 2 and 4 below).

x x x

x x x

D E F G A
5 (fifth)

G
F
3 (third)

E F G A B
5 (fifth)

Now stack up the ROOT, THIRD and FIFTH to create the TRIAD. These are called ROOT POSITION triads because the root is on
the bottom of the chord with the third and fifth above it. Notice that all root position triads are lined up on either consecutive
lines or consecutive spaces. There are no exceptions.
5
3
R

F TRIAD

G TRIAD

A handy tool for chord construction is the CHORD ALPHABET.

G-B-D-F-A-C-E
Any three pitches in order form a triad: i. e. GBD, CEG, EGB. Memorize the chord alphabet.

UNI T 1 1 : MAJOR SCAL E S A N D CH O R D S

107

UNIT ELEVEN

5
3
R

M AJ O R S C AL ES

5
3
R
C TRIAD