LEARN & PLAY

INSTRUCTIONAL BOOK

ROCK GUITAR
LEARN NOTES, CHORDS, RHYTHMS, LICKS, AND SONGS PLAY-ALONG AUDIO CD
WITH EXERCISES AND SONGS

LEARN & PLAY ROCK GUITAR

FOR

ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC
BY DEBBIE CAVALIER

AND

First Act Inc. 745 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116

First Act and the First Act logo are trademarks of First Act Inc. Copyright 2009 First Act Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

CONTENTS
MEET yOUR GUITAR HOLdING THE GUITAR GETTING IN TUNE MUSIC THEORy ANd NOTATION RHyTHM GUITAR CHORdS STRUM THIS! THE OpEN pOSITION CHORd SOURCE pOwER CHORdS pOwER CHORd BLUES pOwER CHORd GROOvES MORE pOwER CHORdS MOvE IT ON OvER! MORE GROOvES THE 6TH pOwER BOOGIE BLUES LEAd GUITAR RIFF BLUES MELOdIC LICKS ANd TRICKS ITS ONLy ROCK N ROLL

M E E T yO U R G U ITA R !
INTROdUCTION
Playing the guitar is a lot of fun, and the Learn & Play Guitar method is a great way to get started. Youll learn the chords and melodies to lots of well-known songs, as well as the tools needed to play hundreds of popular music titles. The Learn & Play Guitar method will give you the skills to add music making to your life.

ABOUT THE Cd
The accompanying CD contains orchestrated playalong tracks to go along with the lessons. When you play along with these recordings, the accompaniment ranges from a click track to a full-on rock band with drums, bass, and guitar.

When you see the CD icon, go to the track shown to play along.

pARTS OF A GUITAR

Headstock Tuning Keys

F I R ST A C T

Headstock Tuning Keys Nut Neck Frets

F I R ST A C T

Nut Neck Frets

Soundhole Pickguard Strings Pickup Bridge Tone/Volume Controls Input Jack Strings Bridge

Electric Guitar
3

Acoustic Guitar

H O L d M E!
HOLdING THE GUITAR
Hold the guitar in a comfortable sitting or standing position. Make sure the body of the guitar is not tilted. Avoid slanting it to look over at the strings. The neck of the guitar should be angled slightly upwards.

F I R ST

ACT

STANdING

SITTING

Your left hand thumb should rest comfortably behind the neck of the guitar. Try not to let your left hand palm touch the back of the neck.

THE pICK
Hold the pick firmly with your right hand, between your thumb and your pointer finger. Use the tip of the pick to play the strings.

FINGER NUMBERS
Your left hand or "fretting" fingers are numbered 1 though 4 from your pointer to your little finger.
2nd 1st

3rd 4th

G E T TI N G I N T U N E
TU n i nG Tip
TUNING
Tuning your guitar corrects the pitch for each string. Pitch means how high or low a musical sound is. Adjust the pitch by tightening or loosening the strings using the tuning keys located on the head stock. There are four ways you can tune your guitar: 1. Tune up with the tuning track on the CD. The recording on track 1 plays each string twice, from the lowest pitch to the highest. Tune your guitar by playing the same string as the recording and adjusting your tuning keys. Adjust each string until it sounds the same as the recording. 2. Tune up to a piano or keyboard. Play the keys one at a time, and tune each corresponding string.
A good tuning rule to remember: the tighter the string, the higher the pitch.

STRING

6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st

NOTE

A d

MIDDLE C

E 6

A 5

D 4

G 3

B 2

E 1

STRING

3. Use an electronic tuner. An electronic tuner detects the pitch of each string, and indicates if the pitch is too high or too low. 4. Tune the instrument to itself; this is called relative tuning: E String First, tune the 6th string to an E on a piano or a keyboard, or any other instrument that is already in tune. A String Press the 6th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open 5th string to it by turning the 5th tuning key until the two strings sound the same. D String Press the 5th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open 4th string to it by turning the 4th tuning key. G String Press the 4th string behind the 5th fret and tune the open 3rd string to it by turning the 4th tuning key. B String Press the 3rd string behind the 4th fret and tune the open 2nd string to it by turning the 2nd tuning key. E String Press the 2nd string behind the 5th fret and tune the open 1st string to it by turning the 1st tuning key. A d G 6 E 5 A 4 d 3 G 2 B 1 E

M US I C T H EO Ry A N d N O TATI O N
A SOLId FOUNdATION
The next few pages contain some important information about music notation youll want to refer to from time to time. So, check it out and then come back whenever you have a question. Rhythm notation indicates how long to play a note or rest). Here are the notes and rests you will be using. Music has its own language made up of notes (musical pitches) and rhythms (beats). Learning this language will help you become a better player.

NOTES

Whole notes get four beats each

Half notes get two beats each

&

&

&

&

Quarter notes get one beat each

Eighth notes get a half of a beat each

RESTS

RESTS
Whole and half rests are attached to a bar on the staff. The whole rest usually sits in the middle of the measure.

Whole Rests get four beats each

Half Rests get two beats each

&

&

&

&

Quarter Rests get one beat each

Eighth Rests get a half of a beat each

Music is written on a staff that contains five lines and four spaces.
LINE SPACE

A clef indicates where notes appear on a staff. Guitar music begins with a treble clef.
LINE 5 LINE 4 LINE 3 LINE 2 LINE 1 SPACE 4 SPACE 3 SPACE 2 SPACE 1

M US I C T H EO Ry A N d N O TATI O N
Music is divided into measures by bar lines. A double bar line means the end of a song. TREBLE CLEF BAR LINE DOUBLE BAR LINE

MEASURE

REpEAT SIGNS

NOTES ANd RHyTHMS

Music is made up of notes (pitches) and rhythms (length of notes). The notes are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet. Music notes appear on the staff in alphabetical order. The first line on a treble staff is E. The notes that extend above and below the treble staff use ledger lines.

TIME SIGNATURE
A time signature tells you how many beats are in each measure. For example:

..

..

Means repeat everything in between the signs.

..

Means repeat from the beginning.

Means there are four beats to a measure. Means a quarter note gets one beat (see page 7).

NOTE NAMES
The treble clef gives the staff lines and spaces the following note names. Memorize the note names and where they fall on the staff.

E Every

G Good

B Boy

d does

F Fine

Line notes are easily remembered with sayings such as: Empty Garbage Before dad Flips Every Good Boy does Fine

Space notes are best remembered with the word the letters spell from the lowest to the highest space: FACE

RHyTHMIC NOTATION
Common in guitar music, rhythmic notation contains slash marks for rhythms.

4 &4 |
Count: 1

Whole Notes (4 Beats)

Half Notes (2 Beats)

|
1

Quarter Notes (1 Beats)

1 2 3 4

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Eighth Notes (1/2 Beats)

pUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

This is a C (3rd space) whole note (four beats).

This is a G (2nd line) half note (two beats).

This is an A (2nd space) quarter note (one beat).

TA B L AT U R E
Tablature, or tab notation, indicates where to place your fingers on the fretboard.

1 2 3 4 5 6

T A B 6

1ST STRING 2ND STRING 3RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

T A B 3

This indicates the 3rd fret of the 6th string, the note G.

1ST ST 2ND S 3RD S 4TH S 5TH S 6TH S

1ST STRING 2ND STRING 3RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

T A B

5 3

1ST STRING 2ND STRING 3RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

This indicates the 5th fret of the T 5th string and the 3rd fret of the A B 6th string.
3

T A B 6

1ST STRING 2ND STRING 3RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

T A B

5 3

pUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

TREBLE STAFF

ND STRING RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

The treble staff above the tablature indicates the notes and rhythms. Read the tablature from left to right. A zero indicates that you OPEN play the OPEN should string open. In other words, dont press the 1ST STRING 0 0 string to the fretboard.

1ST FRET 1ST STRING

2ND STRING 3RD STRING 4TH STRING 5TH STRING 6TH STRING

3RD FRET
0

OPEN

OPEN
0

1ST FRET
1

3RD FRET
3

T A B

T A B

10

R H y T H M G U ITA R
Dont Play Play Open String

pLAyING CHORdS
A rhythm guitarist defines a songs groove using chords. Chords are a group of notes you strum together at the same time. Knowing just a few chords will enable you to play a large number of songs.

1
1

Fretting Finger

CHORd FRAMES
Chord frames (shown to the right) are pictures that tell you which notes to play and which strings to strum. An X above a chord frame tells you to avoid that string. An O indicates an open string (no left hand fingerings), and dots with numbers are fretting finger positions.

FRETS

2
2

3
3

STRINGS
Lets play some chords. Follow the chord frames, tab, and music notation provided. Use a pick and strum downward over the strings until you get a clean clear sound. Practice each chord until you are comfortable playing it. Practice playing the D chord. Just for this exercise, take your fingers off of the fretboard in between notes, so you can practice grabbing the chord.

XX

1 3

CHORD Tip
If you get a buzz sound instead of a musical tone on a fingered string, it means you either have to press the string harder or move your finger farther away from the fret.

D Chord

T A B

2 3 2 0

XX

11

T A B

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

C
1 2 3 2 1

C Chord

G Chord

T A B

0 1 0 2 3

T A B

3 0 0 0 2 3

Try playing a C chord. When you are comfortable with the C, practice switching between the C and D chords, as shown in Practice A below.

Heres the G chord. Try switching between the three chords, as shown in Practice B below.
D
XX X

pRACTICE A X
C

C
X

C
XX

D D
XX

D
XX X

C
X

T A B T A B

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 3 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 3 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 3 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0

pRACTICE B
G
X

C
XX

D D
XX

G G

G
X

12

T A B T A B

3 0 0 0 3 2 0 3 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 3 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0

3 0 0 0 3 2 0 3 0 0 2 3

Play your new chords in the following progression using half notes (two beats eat). Notice this progression sounds like the chords to the classic rock song Sweet Home Alabama.

C
X

XX

D
T A B 2 3 2 0
XX X

C
2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

G
3 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3

G
T A B 2 3 2 0
X

D
2 XX 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 groove. This
X

C
3 0 0 0 2 3

G
3 0 0 0 2 3

Try the same chord on another familiar like the chord progression to Wild Thing.

one sounds

G
T A B

C
3 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3
X

D
2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3
XX X

C
2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0

T A B

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

13

S T R U M T H IS!
STRUMMING
The guitar is strummed with the right hand. So far, the songs and examples in this book use a downward strum, or downstroke.

dOwNSTROKE

UpSTROKE

G
X

C
XX

Start with the 6th or heaviest string and strum downward, striking all six strings.

Start with 1st or thinnest string and strum upward.

THE dOwNSTROKE:
The following strumming examples show the downstroke and the upstroke. G C
X XX

THE UpSTROKE:
G
X

C
XX

14

G
X

C
XX

G
X

C
XX

D
X

THE dOwN-UpSTROKE:
G
X

C
XX

T A B

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

STRUMMING pRACTICE

C G This strumming pattern works well for many rock grooves.

X

D
XX

G
X

C
XX

D
X

Lets add chords to the strumming pattern you just practiced to play a groove used in many rock tunes including Hang On Sloopy.
3 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0 2 3 2 0 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 3

T A B

ROCK GROOvE 3:
G

C
X XX

D
X

10

T A B

15

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 3 2 0

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 2 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

A tie connects two of the same notes together to be played as one.

The next rhythm and strum pattern is similar to the Sloopy groove with the addition of some ties and upstrokes. Practice this rhythm on a single chord.

Now try the same rhythm and strum pattern in the style of the Beatles Twist and Shout.

ROCK GROOvE 4:
G

11

C
X X

D
XX XX

C
X X

T A B

16

T A B

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

2 0 3 1 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 2 3

2 0 3 12 0 2 0 3 1 0 2 2 0 3 0 2 3

2 0 3 12 0 2 0 3 01 2 2 0 3 0 2 3

2 3 2 0 2 3 1 0 2 0 0 2 3

2 23 32 20 0

2 3 2 2 3 0 2 0

2 2 3 3 2 2 0 0

2 0 3 12 2 0 3 0 2 32 0

2 0 3 12 0 2 0 3 01 2 2 0 3 0 2 3

2 0 3 12 0 2 0 3 01 2 2 0 3 0 2 3

2 0 3 12 0 2 0 3 1 0 2 2 0 3 0 2 3

3 20 00 30 1 22 0 0 23 3

3 0 0 0 2 3

Here is a classic rock rhythm written in rhythmic notation. Notice the same two-bar strumming pattern is used throughout the entire groove.

12
G

Old Time Groove

C
X

D
XX

G
XX

|
17

T H E O p E N p OS ITI O N C H O R d S O U R C E
Youve mastered three important open position chords: G,C, and D, but there are many more to learn. The following is a chart containing the other open position chords available. Memorize these chords and work them into your playing.

Am
1

A7

2 34

23

X 2

B7
1 3 4

C
1 2 3

C7
1 2 3 4

XX

XX 2 3

Dm
1

XX

D7
1 2 3

2 3

E
1 23

Em

E7
1

23

XX

F*
1 1 2 3
*Make a bar with your 1st finger across the 1st fret

G7
1

1 2
3 3

18

p Ow E R C H O R dS
One of the most important tools in a rhythm guitarists tool kit is the power chord. power Chords are made up of two or three notes. They are among the most common sounds in rock music providing a foundation and a big, fat, driving sound.

A5
5th fret

XXXX
7th fret

X 1

E5

XXX
5th fret

X 1

D5

XXX

1 3

A5 Chord

E5 Chord

D5 Chord

T A B

7 5

T A B

9 7

T A B

7 5

Practice these power chords until you can comfortably change chords using half notes.

13
A5 D5 E5 D5

T A B

7 5

7 5

9 7

7 5

19

p Ow E R C H O R d B LU E S
You probably already know that the blues is a style of music. But it is also a song form: 12 bars (measures) and three chords used in a very specific order. Check it out. Play the chord progression to Baby Blue.

14

Baby Blue
A5

T A B

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

D5

A5

T A B

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

E5

A5

T A B

9 7

9 7

7 5

7 5

20

p Ow E R C H O R d G R O Ov E S
Lets put these power chords to work and jam on some familiar rock grooves. The rhythms might look fierce, but you have probably already heard these grooves for years. Work through the TAB and the rhythm notation.

This groove is in the style of Louie Louie.

15
ROCK GROOvE 5:
A5 D5 E5 D5 A5

T A B

A5
7 5 7 5 7 5

D5
7 5 7 5

E5
9 7 9 7 9 7

D5
7 5 7 5

A5
7 5

The following groove is in the style of Joe Jacksons hit T A5 D5 A song, Is She Really Going Out With Him? 7 7 9 9 B

16

7 5

7 5

7 5

9 7

E5

7 5

7 5

A5
7 5

ROCK GROOvE 6:
T A B

A5
7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5

D5
7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5

E5
9 7 9 7 9 7 9 7

A5
7 5

T A B

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

9 7

9 7

9 7

9 7

7 5

21

M O R E p Ow E R C H O R dS
Here are some more power chords and rock grooves to try.

G5
3rd fret

XXXX
1st fret

X XXX 1 3
1st fret

F5

X 1

B5

XXX

1 3

G5 Chord

F5 Chord

B 5 Chord

T A B

5 3

T A B

3 1

T A B

3 1

17
ROCK GROOvE 7:
G5 F5 B5 G5 G5

T A B

5 3

5 3

3 1

3 1

3 1

3 1

3 1

5 3

5 3

22

The shift slide lines mean to move smoothly from the first note to the next. For this example, slide your finger up two frets (7 to 9). Be sure to play both notes with you pick hand.
T A B 7 9

F5 Sometimes songs begin after the first beat of a measure. The notes in an incomplete first measure are called pick-up notes.

G5

F5 G5

F5

T A B

3 1

5 3

5 3

3 1

5 3

3 1

18
ROCK GROOvE 8:
F5 G5 F5 G5 F5
T A B 7 9

T A B

3 1

5 3

5 3

3 1

5 3

3 1

23

M Ov E IT O N Ov E R !
Power chords are movable. That means you can play them on any fret. The root, or name of the power chord, is always played by the first finger. Memorize the following names and positions, and youll have access to the whole world of power chords.

6TH STRING pOwER CHORdS:

X XXX
1st fret

F5

1 3

F5 Chord

T A B

6th string

3 1

F /G

G /A

A /B

C /D

D /E

5TH STRING pOwER CHORdS:

6th string

X 1

B5

F /G

G /A

A /B

C /D

D /E

XXX

3
A /B B C C /D D D /E E F F /G G G /A A

5th string

5th string

A /B

C /D

D /E

F /G

G /A

24

M O R E G R O Ov E S
Lets use the new power chord positions to play some more familiar rock grooves. A muffled string sound is produced by the fret hand pressing lightly while the pick hand plays. Keep your fingers on the strings so that they dont ring open, but dont press so hard as to fret them! These are sometimes called chucks or cuts. T
A B

MUFFLEd STRING pRACTICE

T A B

19
ROCK GROOvE 9:
F5
T A B

B5

A5 F5

D5 B5 A5

T A B

F5

3 1

3 1

B5

T A B

A5
3 1 3 1

6 4

6 4

D5
6 4

Use the muffled string technique and your new power A5 chords to play F5 a groove in theB 5 of Nirvana. style
T A B

D5
6 F5 4

F5 B5
6 4

20

3 1

3 1

A5

ROCK GROOvE 10:

T A B

F5

3 1

3 1

3 1

3 1 T A B

B5

A5
3 1

6 4

6 4

6 4

6 4

D5
3 1 3 1 3 1

F5
6 4 6 4

3 1

T A B

3 1

3 1

3 1

3 1

6 4

6 4

6 4

6 4

3 1

25

Use your new power chords to play a rhythmic groove in the style of Green Day.

21
ROCK GROOvE 11:
G5 D5 B5 C5 D5 G5

T A B

5 3

5 3

5 3

7 5

7 5

7 5

4 2

4 2

4 2

5 3

5 3

5 3

7 5

5 3

G5

D5

B5

C5

D5

G5

T and A B last

Create your own rock grooves with the power chords the classic rock grooves youve learned so far. The 4 7 7 7 page of the book has more space5for you to write 5 5 5 2 5 5 3 3 3 T your own grooves.
A B

4 2

4 2

5 3

5 3

5 3

7 5

5 3

My ROCK GROOvE:

T A B

26

7 5

5th fret

T H E 6T H p Ow E R
Power chords can be altered to create a sixth chord by lifting the third finger and adding the fourth, as shown below. Used in combination with the standard power chord, the sixth chord gives you a boogie sound made famous by such artists as The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Chuck Berry, and more. A5 Chord
A5
XXXX

T A B

A6 Chord
A6
XXXX

5th fret

5th fret

T A B

7 5

(Make this stretch with your 4th fretting finger)

T A B

9 5

22
ROCK GROOvE 12:
A5 A6 A5 A6 A5 A6 A5 A6 A5

T A B

7 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

Chord

A5
X XX D5 X

A6
D5

A5 D6

D5 Chord A6 D5 D6

A5 D5 5th fret

A6
X

A5 D6 D5

A6 D6

D6 A5 Chord
X

D6

XXX

D5

5th fret

5th fret

T A B

T A B 7 5 7 5 9 5 9 5

7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 9 5 9 5 9 5 9 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 9 5 7 5 9 5 9 5 7 5 9 5

T A B 7 5 7 5

9 5 9 5 7 5 9 5 9 5 9 5 7 5 7 5

23

T A B

ROCK GROOvE 13:

D5 D6
5th fret
A6
XXXX

A6 Chord D5 A5 Chord D6 D5 D6 D5 D6 D5

A5

XXXX

T A B

A5

XXXX

5th fret T A B 7 5 T A B 9 5 7 5 7 5

9 5 9 5 9 5 7 5 7 5 9 5 9 5 7 5 7 5 9 5 9 5 7 5

5th fret

27

7 5

E5 Chord
X

E6 Chord
X

E5

E6

XXX

XXX

7th fret

7th fret

T A B

9 7

T A B

11 7

24
ROCK GROOvE 14:
E5 E6 E5 E6 E5 E6 E5 E6 E5

T A B

9 7

11 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

palm muting is a common rock guitar technique. Use the heel of your picking hand to mute the strings and get a thicker, more percussive sound. A5 P.M. Use this technique when you see the abbreviation P.M. under the notes. This signature sound can E6 E5 E6 be heard inE5variety of songs including My Best a Friends Girl by The Cars, Barracuda by Heart, and many others. ----------------- P.M. -----------------------T A B 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5

G5 E5 E6 E5 E6

A5 E5

T A B

25

9 7

11 7

P.M.

----------------- P.M. ------------------------

28

T A B

7 5

7 5

7 5

7 5

------------------------

------------------

A5

6 7 8 9

ROCK GROOvE 15:

G5

7 8 9

-----------------------7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5 9 7 9 7 11 7 7 5 7 5 7 5 7 5

------------------

7 5

7 5

5 3

7 5

11 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

A5

7 5

7 5

5 3

7 5

Using the blues form and sixth chords, try a boogie blues. Notice the call for palm muting (P.M.) under the first measure.

26

Boogie Blues
A5 A6 A5 A6

P.M. Throughout
T A B

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

D5 D6 D5 D6

A5

T A B

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

E5

A5

A5

T A B

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

9 11 11 7 7 7

9 7

9 7

11 7

11 7

9 7

9 11 11 7 7 7

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

7 5

9 5

9 5

7 5

7 5

9 9 5 5

7 5

29

L E A d G U ITA R
The lead guitarists role is to play melodies, solos, or riffs while the rest of the band keeps the rhythmic groove going. A riff is a pattern of notes that can be repeated.

(Each riff is played four times) Here is a riff that can be played over a G chord.

27

T A B 3

G
X

Here is that same riff with notes that can be played over the C chord.

28
0 T A B 0 3 1 3

0 3

C
X XX

Here is that same riff with notes that can be played over the D chord.

29

0 3

1 3

T A B

2 0

30

R I F F B LU E S
Lets put them together and play this riff over a blues progression. Have a keyboard player or guitarists play the chords to accompany you.

30

Riff Blues

T A B 3

0 3

0 3

0 3

C
X

T A B

0 3

1 3 3

1 3 3 0 3

0 3

D
XX X

T A B

2 0

3 3

1 3 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3

31

IT S O N Ly R O C K N R O L L !
Lets put all of your new rock tools to work. The following grooves contain licks, riffs, and power chords.

Heres a groove that is in the style of The Rolling Stones.

31
ROCK GROOvE 16: T
A B 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 2

T A B

2 2

2 2

Heres one in the style of Ritchie Valens.

32
ROCK GROOvE 17:

T A B 3

0 2

0 0

2 3

1 2

0 0

0 2

0 0

2 3

1 2

0 0

Congratulations! Youve made it to the end of the book! You can play chords, power chords, riffs, grooves, 1 T 2 0 and licks. There is so much more to know.0Listen to 2 A 3 2 0 B 3 2 0 recordings of your3favorite guitarists and try to figure out what they are playing. Pick up more instructional guitar books and DVDs. Find a guitar teacher who can coach you along your path to becoming an accomplished rock guitar player. Good luck!

0 0

0 2

0 0

2 3

1 2

0 0

32

T A B

T A B

T A B

T A B

T A B

33

CONGRATULATIONS
FOR

FIRST ACT

COMPLETING THE

ROCK GUITAR METHOD

You have learned the basics of your instrument and how to tune the guitar. You are reading music, playing notes and chords and understanding music notation. You are well on your way to having lots of fun learning and playing the guitar. First Act, the publisher of the First Act Learn & Play Rock Guitar method, is committed to providing quality musical instruments, accessories, and learning methods. As a guitarist, you may be interested in our First Act line of guitar accessories including strings, picks, straps, tuners, cables and more. First Act products are available at retailers worldwide and online at FirstAct.com. Visit our website for guitar tips and tricks, tuning instructions, printable guitar chord charts, and more!

LEARN & pLAy

34

LEARN & PLAY ROCK GUITAR

The First Act Learn & Play Rock Guitar method is an easy and enjoyable way to learn to play the guitar. , Teach yourself how to play by following the method s step-by-step approach. Youll be jamming in no time!

WITH THE FIRST ACT LEARN & PLAY GUITAR METHOD, YOU CAN:
LEARN TO PLAY CHORDS AND MELODIES TO MORE THAN 15 SONGS PLAY ALONG WITH A GREAT-SOUNDING BACK-UP BAND ON CD LEARN CHORDS USED IN THOUSANDS OF POPULAR SONGS

Colors and speci cations depicted on packaging may vary from product. First Act Consumer Relations Toll Free (888) 551-1115 First Act Inc. 745 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116 USA rstact.com Made in China First Act and the First Act logo are trademarks of First Act Inc. US Pat Nos. D496,387 and D496,390. Patent pending.

2009 First Act Inc. All rights reserved. Ages 14+ This product is not a toy.

Model no. : M2-LPG11000 Art : M2-LPG11000.01