Cullin Hills - Isle of Skye



Lessons

The intention of these lessons is for existing pupils to use them as a study and practise aid.
They are all played at a metronome speed of 60 beats per minute (bpm).
Make use of the audio track by clicking on the score to be practised and playing along.
There is a one bar count in on all the pieces.

  • Open String Sheet uses the top three open strings. The E, B and G.
  • Sheet One uses the open G, string three, and the A second fret string three.
  • Sheet Two as sheet one but with the open B, string two, added.
  • Sheet Three uses the G, open string three, the B, open string two and the C, first fret string two.
  • Sheet Four uses the G, A, B and the C.
  • Sheet Five uses the G, A, B, C and the open E string one.

Click here to download pdf file of all the lesson sheets above.

Click here to download music for all the above lessons.



Note Recognition

To help identify notes I have included the TAB which is shown underneath the score. Tablature or TAB for short is a graphical representation of where the notes appear on the STAVE. There are two pieces on each sheet. Watch out for the double bar lines, these mark the end of each piece!
The open string sheet and sheet one to four are in 4/4 time and sheet five is in 3/4 time.
Click here if you need help with the location of notes on the guitar fretboard!
Click here if you would like to have a go at writing in the note names and entering the string and fret numbers of a piece of music.
This will help with memorising notes and their location on the fretboard.

Click here to download pdf file of the Stave. This also includes the basic notes on all six strings.
Click here to download the basic notes on strings 1 to 6 as they appear in Debbie Cracknell's book ENJOY PLAYING GUITAR book 1.



A selection of Guitarists Way Pieces (book 1)

  • Up from G - The Ladder
  • Dutch Folk Song - Chinese Tune
  • Merrily - Morning Mood
  • Study - The Ladder
  • German Folk Song - The Star
  • La Bergamasca - At the Show
  • In The Moonlight - First String Melody
  • Aunt Rhody - The Tallis Canon
  • Oh When The Saints

Click here to download pdf file of the following pieces (letters names of notes only! including colours) from Guitarists Way Book 1

Click here to download enlarged copies of the individual pieces above.



Fretting Notes

When you are fretting notes please make sure that left hand fingers are on the correct fret.
The left hand thumb is positioned behind the fretboard and the finger tips should be used and placed just behind the fret.
When you start - first finger plays first fret, second finger plays second fret and third finger plays third fret.
As you play up the fretboard keep lower fingers down i.e. changing from C to D or from F to G, to make the note transistions smoother.
This is very important as pieces become more difficult. Use scales to practise this.

Get into the habit right from the start!



C2 A3 D2



Alternating

Alternating is very important as this helps to play your pieces more fluently. It is particularly useful in scale passages as this produces a more Legato effect, as opposed to Staccato. This can be done using the index and middle finger i.m. or the middle finger and ring finger m.a. or all three, i.m.a. Pieces can use this to great effect as in Francisco Terraga's piece, Requerdos de la Alhambra. Two styles can be used, either Apoyando (rest Stroke) or Tirando (free stroke). In rest stroke the fingers are much straighter, and free stroke the fingers are more curved and the wrist is arched.

Alternating is very important as pieces become more difficult. Use scales to practise this. When playing notes the right hand thumb should be resting on string six and the index and middle finger should alternate!

The knuckles should be in line with the strings - BOTH HANDS, get into the habit right from the start!

Posture is also very important as this aids your guitar playing.

Click here to view pictures of posture and hand positions.
Click here to view my video of posture.




Recordings

Angelina: This is piece by Tommy Emmanuel, written for his youngest daughter, Angelina.
Apache: This is by the The Shadows (originally known as The Drifters)
Asturias: Or Leyenda from Suite Espanola op.47 by Isaac Albeniz (1860 - 1909)
Ballad of Easy Rider: From the film Easy Rider (1969) with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper.
The song was written by Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds with input from Bob Dylan.
My take on the version played by Tom Petty
Golden Dawn: Golden Dawn is an instrumental duet from the album Fire & Ice by Swedish Guitarist/Composer Yngwie J. Malmsteen
Horizons: Written by Steve Hackett, guitarist with the band Genesis
Longer: This was originally recorded by Dan Fogelberg in 1979
Love Will Set You Free: This is my version of the UK Eurovision entry 2012. Sweden won that year
Natural Elements: This was written by an acoustic duo called Acoustic Alchemy and was used as the theme tune to the BBC TV Programme Gardeners' World. It is the title track from the album Natural Elements, released in 1988. The original duo were Simon James on nylon strung guitar and Nick Webb on steel strung guitar. I have posted videos on You Tube playing the piece showing Right and Left Hand Fingering.
Ruby Tuesday: This is my version of Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones
Remember Me: This is my instrumental version of Remember Me from the Disney animation Movie - CoCo. Download the sheet music here.
Signe: Signe is an instrumental. It is the first track from the Unplugged album by Eric Clapton
Song for Rina: This is the only song I have ever written. It was put together one Sunday afternoon in the year 1975. So it's a few years old.
There are six tracks, two vocal, one classical guitar, one acoustic guitar, one bass guitar and a drum track. I'm playing and singing on all tracks. You might ask yourself, "who is Rina?" but thats another story
Streets of London: This is my own version of the song written and sung by Ralph McTell. It was first recorded in 1969 on McTell's album Spiral Staircase but was not released in the UK as a single until 1974.
The Boxer: This is my version of the classic Simon and Garfunkel song
The Clap: This is my version of the classic Steve Howe's solo "The Clap" from The Yes Album. It was heavily influenced by Davy Graham's track 'Fingerbuster'. The piece was written to celebrate the birth of Howe's son Dylan and the baby's attempts to clap in his pram.

To download the above recordings click here.



Grade Pieces

The grade pieces are taken from the Trinity/Guildhall 2019 - 2023 Guitar Syllabus
There is a two bar intro to all the pieces
I'm playing all the pieces



Backing Tracks

Apache - The Shadows

Clicking on the title of the piece will play the audio file. When opening any audio file it will take time to download. Be Patient!



Basic Chords

On this page you will find twenty one basic chords:

seven majors
seven minors
seven sevenths

If you feel the chord box is too small then you can enlarge it by clicking on the name of chord. Click on the enlarged chord box to make it disappear.
Once on the page there are links at the bottom where you can download a right or left hand version of the chords displayed.

Click here to download a pdf file of Mini Chords.



Scores

Blackbird - Paul McCartney - Arranged by Paul Sweet
Classical Gas - Mason Williams - Arranged by Paul Sweet
Penny for your Thoughts - Peter Frampton - Arranged by Paul Sweet

Click here to download a pdf file of the above scores.



Downloads

This includes the three finger Chords C , F , and G for Piano and Keyboard The Starter pack is for those pupils beginning guitar or for those who wish to re-acquaint themselves with note positions etc.

It Shows:

  • General posture and hand positions
  • Basic notes on all six strings
  • Mini chords - chords that are played on the top four strings
  • 21 Basic chords - seven major - seven minor - seven sevenths. These are chords which use all strings and include use of a barré.

The Blank Sheet link takes you to pdf documents of numerous Tab, Stave and Chord sheets for those who wish to write down their own compositions or just doodle.
The Basic chord sheet is for right handed people. A left handed version is available by clicking here



Scales

E minor open - this shape uses open strings starting on the lower 6th E string. First position.
A minor open - this shape uses open strings starting on the lower 5th A string. First position.
A minor fretted - this shape uses fretted notes starting on the 5th fret String 6. Fifth position.
D minor fretted - this shape uses fretted notes starting on the 5th fret String 5. Fifth position.

Five Basic Shapes - This page shows the five different shapes.
Joining Pentatonics: This page shows how to join up each of the scales enabling you to move up and down the fretboard.



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