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.
Quiz Page
The Quiz Page was created with Flash Player which is no longer supported.
I hope to bring this page back soon!
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!
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
A Story from Long Ago: This is an arrangement I have done of a Grade 1 piano piece by Martha Mier.
Asturias: Or Leyenda from Suite espanola op.47 by Isaac Albeniz (1860 - 1909)
Golden Dawn: Golden Dawn is an instrumental duet from the album Fire & Ice by Swedish Guitarist/Composer Yngwie J. Malmsteen
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.
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 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.
Click here to download copy of all the above recordings plus a few more.
The grade pieces are taken from the Trinity/Guildhall 2016 - 2019 Guitar Syllabus
There is a two bar intro to all the pieces
I'm playing all the pieces
Backing Tracks
Apache
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!
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.
Blackbird - Paul McCartney
Cavatina - Stanley Myers - arranged by Paul Sweet
Charlie Brown - Coldplay
Classical Gas - Mason Williams
Happy Birthday - Patty and Mildred J. Hill
Hedwigs Theme - Harry Potter
Let Her Go - Passenger
Paul’s Blues - Paul Sweet
Penny for your Thoughts - Peter Frampton - Arranged by Paul Sweet
Pink Panther - Henry Mancini
Skyfall - Adele
Spanish Romance - Traditional - Anon
Titanic - Music by James Horner with lyrics by Will Jennings
Click here to download a pdf file of all the above scores.
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.
Useful Links
ABRSM links to the Piano Syllabus, grade 1 and Grade 2 Scales
Article by Hayley Kalimeris is an article by Hayley Kalimeris informing you about 'The guitar and it's many gifts'.
Audacity is a FREE, open source, cross-platform audio software. This software allows you to build your own tracks, import tracks, alter spped and tempo and much more.
Jazz Guitar Lessons
Justin Guitar The best guitar lessons online, and they're free! Fun, comprehensive and well structured courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced guitar
Muse Score Create, play and print beutiful sheet music. Free download.
Music Theory Introductory and intermediate music theory lessons, exercises, ear trainers, and calculators
Music Theory Academy helping you Learn How To Read Sheet Music.
Trinity Guildhall
links to the Guitar Syllabus of 2016-19 and 2020-23
Improvisation Guidence and sample tests
Electronic Keyboard and Organ Syllabus 2018-2022
link to the online exam booking form
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.
