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Learn Basic Chords, Rhythms, and Strum Your First Songs: Seeing Music

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Published in Left Handed Guitar Beginners Jumpstart: Learn Basic Chords Rhythms And Strum Your First Songs (Seeing Music)

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Welcome to the wonderful world of guitar playing! Learning to play guitar can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, and it's easier than you might think. This article will guide you through the basics of guitar playing, including learning basic chords, rhythms, and strumming patterns. By the end of this article, you'll be able to strum your first songs and impress your friends and family with your musical skills.

Getting Started

Before you can start playing guitar, you'll need a few things:

Left-Handed Guitar Beginners Jumpstart: Learn Basic Chords, Rhythms and Strum Your First Songs (Seeing Music)

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A guitar
A guitar tuner
A guitar pick (optional)

Once you have your equipment, you can start learning how to play. The first step is to learn some basic chords. A chord is a combination of three or more notes played together. Chords are the building blocks of songs, and they give songs their unique sound.

Basic Chords

There are many different chords that you can learn, but the following three chords are a great place to start:

C major
G major
D major

These three chords are used in countless songs, and they're easy to learn. Here's a diagram of each chord:

Diagram Of C, G, And D Chords Left Handed Guitar Beginners Jumpstart: Learn Basic Chords Rhythms And Strum Your First Songs (Seeing Music)

C Major Chord

The C major chord is made up of the notes C, E, and G.
1. Place your index finger on the first fret of the second string (B string).
2. Place your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string (D string).
3. Place your ring finger on the third fret of the fifth string (A string).
4. Strum the bottom three strings (E, A, and D).

G Major Chord

The G major chord is made up of the notes G, B, and D.
1. Place your index finger on the second fret of the sixth string (E string).
2. Place your middle finger on the third fret of the first string (E string).
3. Place your ring finger on the third fret of the second string (B string).
4. Strum the bottom three strings (E, A, and D).

D Major Chord

The D major chord is made up of the notes D, F#, and A.
1. Place your index finger on the second fret of the third string (G string).
2. Place your middle finger on the third fret of the second string (B string).
3. Place your ring finger on the fourth fret of the first string (E string).
4. Strum the bottom three strings (E, A, and D).

Rhythms

Once you've learned some basic chords, you can start learning how to strum them. A strumming pattern is a repeating pattern of downstrokes and upstrokes that you use to accompany the chords you're playing.

There are many different strumming patterns that you can learn, but the following three patterns are a great place to start:

Down-down-down-down
Down-down-up-down
Down-up-down-up

These strumming patterns are easy to learn, and they can be used to accompany a wide variety of songs.

Strumming

Strumming is the act of using a guitar pick or your fingers to pluck the strings of a guitar in a rhythmic pattern. There are two basic strumming techniques: downstrokes and upstrokes.

Downstrokes

A downstroke is a strumming motion where you move the pick or your fingers down across the strings. Downstrokes are typically used on the downbeat of a measure.

Upstrokes

An upstroke is a strumming motion where you move the pick or your fingers up across the strings. Upstrokes are typically used on the upbeat of a measure.

When you're strumming, it's important to keep your wrist relaxed and your elbow close to your body. You should also try to strum with a consistent motion and rhythm.

Putting It All Together

Once you've learned some basic chords, rhythms, and strumming patterns, you can start putting it all together to play your first songs. Here's a simple song to get you started:

You Are My Sunshine

Chords: C, G, D

Strumming Pattern: Down-down-down-down

Lyrics:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray You'll never know, dear, how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away

To play this song, simply strum the C, G, and D chords in the order indicated, while singing the lyrics. You can use the down-down-down-down strumming pattern, or any other strumming pattern that you like.

Congratulations! You've now learned the basics of guitar playing. With a little practice, you'll be able to play a variety of songs and impress your friends and family with your musical skills.

Here are a few tips to help you continue learning and improving your guitar playing: