30 Day Beginner Challenge [Day 7] Guitar Lessons For Beginners

Summary

In this guitar lesson from the 30-day beginner challenge, instructor Dan revisits the exercise from the previous day, emphasizing the importance of practicing. He introduces the concept of guitar tablature (tab) as the written language of the guitar, demonstrating how to read and write the first bar of the exercise in both fourth and eighth notes. Dan explains the basics of tab, including its function as a timeline and a guide for finger placement and timing. Viewers are encouraged to visit the website for full lesson materials, and to practice the exercise using the provided tab as a reference.

Takeaways

• 🎸 Lesson Seven of the 30-day beginner challenge focuses on reviewing the exercise from the previous day and introducing the concept of tab, the written language of the guitar.
• 🔄 The exercise can be played in either fourth notes or eighth notes, with the eighth note version being faster and suitable for more advanced beginners.
• 📝 Tab is a simplified form of musical notation that shows the strings and frets to play on the guitar, making it easier for guitarists to understand where to place their fingers.
• 📑 Tabs are laid out with six lines representing the six strings of the guitar, with numbers indicating the frets to be played.
• 🎼 Tabs also function as a timeline, indicating the rhythm and timing of the notes to be played, which is crucial for playing along with a beat.
• 👉 The instructor demonstrates how to write out the first two bars of the exercise in tab, showing the progression from the E string to the A string.
• 📈 The importance of practicing the exercise both in fourth and eighth notes is emphasized, with the choice depending on the learner's skill level and comfort.
• 📚 The website is mentioned as a resource for full write-ups of lessons, including tabs, chord boxes, and fretboards, to aid in mastering the material.
• 👍 The instructor encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and comment on the YouTube channel for support and to ask questions.
• 🎓 The lesson concludes with homework to practice the exercise and review the full tab on the website, reinforcing the importance of practice for learning.
• 🔗 Links to the next lesson and the beginning of the playlist are provided for easy navigation and continued learning.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson in the provided script?

The main focus of the lesson is to review the exercise learned in the previous day and to introduce and explain the concept of guitar tablature (tab), showing how to read and write it for the exercise.

What is the purpose of the 30-day beginner challenge mentioned in the script?

The 30-day beginner challenge is a structured learning program designed to help beginners learn to play the guitar in a step-by-step manner over a period of 30 days.

How does the instructor suggest practicing the exercise from the previous lesson?

The instructor suggests practicing the exercise by going over it one more time and learning to read and write it in tab to understand the timing and finger placement.

What is the significance of the term 'steps' mentioned in the script?

The term 'steps' refers to a specific guitar exercise that involves playing the frets 5, 6, 7, and 8 in sequence, which is a common practice pattern for beginners.

How does the instructor describe the difference between playing the exercise in fourth notes and eighth notes?

The instructor explains that playing the exercise in eighth notes effectively doubles the speed of the exercise compared to playing it in fourth notes, as you have to play eight notes in the space of four.

What is the basic structure of a tab according to the script?

The basic structure of a tab consists of six lines representing the six strings of the guitar, with numbers indicating the frets to be played, arranged in a timeline fashion to reflect the rhythm of the music.

How does the instructor explain the concept of a bar in the context of tab?

The instructor explains that a bar in tab is a way to break up a set of notes into groups that fit a certain rhythmic structure, typically four notes per bar in the case of the exercise being discussed.

What is the purpose of the bar line in tab?

The bar line in tab is used to indicate the end of a bar and the beginning of a new one, helping to visually organize the notes and show the rhythmic structure of the music.

How does the instructor suggest using the tab for learning guitar?

The instructor suggests using the tab to understand where to place fingers on the strings and to get a rough idea of the timing of the notes, especially when learning a new exercise or song.

What additional resources does the instructor recommend for learners who are new to the course?

The instructor recommends visiting the website for full write-ups of every lesson, including tabs, chord boxes, and fretboard diagrams, and encourages liking and subscribing to the YouTube channel for continued support.

What is the homework assigned to the students at the end of the lesson?

The homework is to continue practicing the 'one two three four, five six seven eight' exercise, check out the full tab on the website, and practice it in front of the tab to reinforce learning.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 Introduction to Guitar Tab Reading

In this introductory segment, Dan from the Guitar Academy welcomes viewers back to lesson seven of the 30-day beginner challenge. He emphasizes the importance of practicing the exercise from the previous day and introduces the concept of tab, which is the written language of the guitar. Dan explains that they will use the previously learned exercise to demonstrate how to read and write tab, starting with the first bar. He encourages new viewers to visit the website for full lesson write-ups, including tabs, chord boxes, and fretboards. He also asks viewers to like, subscribe, and comment on the YouTube channel for support and questions.

05:01

📚 Understanding Tab Basics and Timing

Dan continues by explaining the basics of tab notation, drawing a six-line representation of the guitar strings on the whiteboard. He clarifies that these lines represent the strings of the guitar and introduces the concept of fret numbers as a way to indicate where to place fingers on the strings. He demonstrates how to read and write the tab for the exercise they have been practicing, focusing on the E and A strings. Dan emphasizes the importance of understanding the timing of notes in relation to the beat, using the example of playing the exercise in both fourth and eighth notes. He also explains the concept of a bar line in tab and how it helps to break up notes into manageable sections.

10:01

🎵 Applying Tab to Guitar Practice

In the final segment, Dan concludes the lesson by summarizing the importance of tab in guitar practice. He explains that tab is a simplified form of musical notation that helps guitarists know where to place their fingers and the rough timing of notes. He demonstrates how the tab for the exercise they have been practicing is written out, showing the progression from the E string to the A string and the inclusion of a bar line. Dan encourages viewers to continue practicing the exercise and to visit the website to see the full tab. He also reminds viewers to check out the next lesson in the series and to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and commenting on the YouTube channel.

Keywords

💡Guitar Academy

The 'Guitar Academy' refers to the educational platform or course where the video is part of a series of lessons. It is the main setting for the video's content, providing structured learning for beginners in guitar playing. In the script, the instructor, Dan, introduces the lesson as part of the '30-day beginner challenge', indicating the structured nature of the course.

💡Tab

In the context of guitar playing, 'tab' or tablature is a form of musical notation that shows guitarists where to place their fingers on the fretboard. It is essential for learning specific songs or exercises, as it provides a visual guide for finger placement. The script emphasizes the importance of learning to read tab as it is the 'written language of the guitar'.

💡Exercise

The term 'exercise' in this script refers to a specific guitar playing practice routine that the students are expected to learn and master. The instructor revisits an exercise from the previous lesson, indicating its importance and suggesting that students are still practicing it, which is a common approach in educational settings to reinforce learning.

💡Strumming Pattern

A 'strumming pattern' is a sequence of up and down movements used by guitarists to play chords or notes in a rhythmic manner. In the script, the instructor discusses transitioning from a fourth note to an eighth note strumming pattern, which changes the rhythm and speed of the exercise being taught.

💡Fourth Notes and Eighth Notes

These terms refer to different durations of musical notes. A 'fourth note', or quarter note, holds a beat's duration, while an 'eighth note' is half as long. The script uses these terms to differentiate between two versions of the exercise, with the eighth note version being faster due to the increased number of notes per beat.

💡BPM (Beats Per Minute)

BPM is a measure of tempo in music, indicating how many beats occur in one minute. In the script, the instructor sets a tempo of '50 bpm' for practicing the exercise, which helps students maintain a consistent speed while playing.

💡Fretboard

The 'fretboard' is the part of a guitar where the strings are pressed down behind the frets to change the pitch of the notes. The script mentions 'fretboards' in the context of providing resources for learning, including diagrams that help students understand where to press the strings when playing.

💡Chord Boxes

A 'chord box' is a visual representation of where to place fingers on a guitar fretboard to form specific chords. The script mentions 'chord boxes' as part of the resources available on the website, which would help students learn and visualize the formation of chords.

💡Musical Notation

While 'musical notation' generally refers to a formal system of representing music, in the script, it is used to contrast with 'tab', which is a simplified form more specific to guitarists. The instructor explains that tab is not as detailed as traditional musical notation but is sufficient for the guitarist's needs.

💡Timeline

In the context of the script, a 'timeline' refers to the horizontal representation of musical notes and their duration over time in a tab. It helps visualize the sequence of notes and their timing, similar to how a conductor might visualize a piece of music. The instructor uses the analogy of a 'Mickey Mouse' bouncing across lyrics to explain the concept of a timeline in tab.

💡Steps

The term 'steps' in the script seems to refer to a specific exercise or pattern that the students are expected to practice, as indicated by the instructor's comment 'google it steps five, six, seven, eight'. It suggests a progression of notes or a sequence that students are encouraged to look up and practice.

Highlights

Introduction to Lesson Seven in the 30-day beginner challenge.

Reviewing the exercise from the previous lesson and its importance for practice.

Introducing the concept of tab as the written language of the guitar.

Explanation of how to read tab and its significance for guitar players.

Demonstration of writing the exercise in tab format for better understanding.

Differentiating between practicing the exercise in fourth notes and eighth notes.

The impact of choosing between fourth and eighth notes on the speed of playing.

Guidance on choosing the right note pattern based on the player's experience level.

Visual representation of tab on a blank script with six lines for guitar strings.

Explanation of how numbers in tab indicate frets to be played.

Understanding tab as a timeline for playing notes in sequence.

Use of a bar line in tab to indicate the end of a musical measure.

How tab provides a guide for finger placement and rough timing.

The practicality of tab for guitarists who want to play a piece they have heard.

Homework assignment to practice the exercise and check the full tab on the website.

Invitation to like, subscribe, and comment on the YouTube channel for further support.

Encouragement to continue with the next lesson or start from the beginning of the playlist.

Transcripts

hey guys dan here from your guitar

academy and welcome back to

lesson seven and we're in unit two of

our 30-day beginner challenge

um and today we're going to be taking

the exercise we learned yesterday i i

know that's a lot so you're definitely

still practicing that

we'll just go over it one more time and

we'll also just learn

tab okay because tab is the language the

written language of the guitar

really and i need to show you how to

read tab so we're going to use the

exercise that we've learned

to actually write that out in tabs so

you can start or at least the first bar

so you can really start to get a feel

for how tab

works so pick up your guitar and let's

get started

[Music]

[Music]

okay so if you're new to this course and

you've just come through to this on

youtube

then please remember that you can head

on over to the website and you'll find

full write-ups for every lesson all of

the tab all of the chord boxes the

fretboards

everything you need to absolutely smash

and master every single lesson

as well as that please do like and

subscribe to our youtube channel it

massively helps us

continue to provide you these free

courses and leave us a comment if you've

got questions we will get back to you so

leave us a comment under the video and

we'll speak to you there okay then guys

so

let's talk about tavern we're going to

be using the the whiteboard of the

blackboard sorry again

and we're going to be getting this drawn

out now

at the end of the last lesson i talked

about how you can do the

exercise either in fourth notes or

eighth notes that's going to be

important for our tabbing i'm going to

kind of

give you a bit more indication about how

that works now so

if i did that exercise we'll do it one

more time just to kind of remind you

where we are with it so i've got it

let's just go with 50 bpm

okay and here's our drum beat now

if i chose to do this exercise in fourth

notes

i'm literally counting one two

three four one

two nice and slow three four my notes

reflect that

one two three

four okay if i did it in eighth notes

remember those ands you know one

and two and from the strumming pattern

i'm now doing all of those as well

okay so it will end up sounding like

this

one and two and three and

four and okay so what it essentially

does

by doing the eighth note version is

doubles the speed

you know because you've got an outfit

eight notes where you did play four so

four notes

one two three

four and then eighth notes one and two

and three and four and okay so you've

got to do

double speed so you're you're kind of

working with one or the other at the

moment

totally depending on you like i said if

you're a total total total newbie this

is the first thing you've done

fourth notes is a great idea you know

because you want to be making sure that

technique is bang on

if you've already had a year or so is

playing or maybe six months and you kind

of got your fingers moving a little bit

already

try and aim for that eighth note version

okay at kind of 50 odd bpm 45 50 bpm

now tapping wise we've got to kind of

lay down some groundwork so

let me pop the guitar down for a second

all right tab is a wonderful wonderful

thing it's it's it's kind of like

music uh musical notation

simplified um essentially and we're not

gonna go into too much detail we're just

gonna work out the basics of tab here at

the moment so

first thing i'm going to draw out is my

my kind of my

blank tab script so i'm going to draw

six

lines so as i'm doing this if you can

guess what these six lines mean so

here's

uh let me just get this right so one two

three four

five six

i'm gonna pop a bar in there okay so

six magical lines so

this is your tab okay and and as you

might have guessed already these are

just the strings of the guitar

okay and it's kind it's exactly as if

you turned your guitar

facing this way so imagine that your

headstock is

is there okay so there's your tuning

pegs

just imagine that for a second just

visually in terms of that's where

that is so this is the low e string and

this is the thinnest e string

okay so let me just uh because i don't

want you to get confused by thinking

this is literally a picture

of the guitar so i'm just going to wipe

off that that bit there

um so uh one second let me just make

sure that is as wiped off as i can get

it for the moment

um there we go there we go so

that's the kind of idea really so this

is the low

e string a d string

g string b string e string and we now

know that we've covered that

excellent and what i then do is i start

to suggest

by putting numbers here what notes i

want to play what frets i need to play

so let me just

do this okay so

okay so let's have a look at that let's

have a look at that so we've got

i've written five six seven eight and

we're back to that step song

um so five six seven eight and that

actually is the

the start of the exercise that we played

because what this

is saying is that on the e string so

this is the e string remember this

string here

all the way there this is all e string

play the fifth fret

so we that's exactly what we did then

play the sixth fret

so yeah that's exactly what we did then

play the seventh fret

then play the eighth fret like that so

it it's

it's in one way it's a picture of the

strings

but very very differently to the chord

boxes that we looked at

it's it's also a timeline okay so you're

kind of

you're you're drum b as i play that drum

beat

it's moving along you know across like

that it's a timeline this will go on and

on and on

the best way i i like to kind of think

about it

is if you remember um if you ever

watch old kind of disney stuff and if

you like when they did songs they used

to have that kind of mickey mouse

bouncing across with the lyrics so like

hey

hey hey hey hey the the kind of the

mickey mouse will guide you

in terms of your time so it's a timeline

like that okay imagine it kind of

scrolling across

in time and it's saying on the first

beat do the five then

six seven eight something else something

else whatever else it's gonna be

okay so that's kind of like your basics

okay and for the purpose of this tab

we're gonna do four

four so as in fourth notes so the first

exercise that i did with the fourth note

so we're gonna say if that drum beat

comes back in

okay i cut myself in three

four it's gonna be five six

seven eight like that okay

so we just go along each one of those

is a quarter value and by the end of it

i can put in a

bar line okay so this is the other thing

where it gets a bit confusing

if you start to think of this and a

chord box and a fretboard diagram and

all these things

that's a bar line now okay so that's

musical value is now saying this is this

is now

four beats and now we're into the next

bar it's a way to kind of break up just

a constant set of notes by saying

these four these four notes fit into the

bar and then you're into the next bar

okay

and we know that they're even as well

and that's something later down the line

you know they don't all have to be even

but

they are in our case okay so then i

would then

add the second bar which is five six

seven eight again okay so let's have a

look at that

so five six seven eight but now we're on

the a

string okay so we've done the e string

five six seven eight and now we have

five

six seven whatever the notes are no idea

um but we're now on the a string so you

can see we've moved up a string

we're in the next bar along so as the

drum beat moves along

five six seven

eight five six we're moving along like

that

seven eight and so on okay

so tab the beauty of tab is it gives you

enough okay as a guitarist we're not

that interested unless you're going to

go down the route of wanting to be able

to sight read which we're not setting

you up here for at the moment

um we're not that interested in the

musical

notation value that this is necessarily

a quarter this is maybe a dotted eighth

note or

whatever but what we are interested in

is knowing okay well i can hear

the exercise i know what it sounds like

or i can hear the song i can hear the

solo

so i could kind of sing that i could get

the the um

the rhythms from listening but where do

i put my fingers that's what we want to

know and that's what tab gives us what

it's saying

well you put your finger on the fifth

fret on the e string then the sixth fret

then the seventh bit then the eighth

fret then in the next bar

the fifth fret on the a string sixth

fret seventh and so on

so it's giving you a rough indication of

the timing and it's giving you exactly

where to put your fingers on the strings

that's the beauty of tap that's what

we're getting out of tab okay

so with that if i pick up the guitar

that's my kind of like first two bars of

my tab

if i pick the guitar back up that's what

i have so

i had the the fifth fret i'll get my

drum beat

i'll on myself in three four i've got

fifth fret sixth fret seventh fret

eighth fret then i did fifth fret on the

a string sixth bear

seventh fret eighth fret and that was

the end of our beautiful tab

and then you'd go on to write out the

rest of the tab so then you'd have a

fifth

number five on the d string okay so

if we bring back the the the tab here

you know i then create i'm gonna run out

of blackboard here but i'd create

another bar

you know and then i'd obviously these

would have to be extended

like that and then you'd have

five six and so on so you then go into

the next bar and then

the tab would then go down to the next

level next level like so and you'll see

it

when you go over to the website you'll

see the full tab now

of this exercise okay so you can see

this nice and

written out on a computer very neatly

and you'll start to get the idea

so the beauty of tab is that it's quite

simple

and it's enough for us guitar players

all right so as a guitar player we do a

lot of listening as well it's part and

parcel of the

uh of learning the guitar really you

listen to that

guitar solo that you want to play for

example you know it you can sing it in

your head we've all been there we've all

air guitar to brian may or whatever it

is

and and you're you know the part that

you're trying to play

okay we're not classical musicians where

we're just gonna or or session musicians

at this point whereby

a sheet of music goes up in front of us

we've never heard it before

and we're expected to then play that

sheet of music that's not what we're

aiming for with tab

with tab we hear the part we want to

play

so we know what it sounds like we know

we're aiming to to get to play

but the tab just shows us this is where

you put your fingers

and this is the rough timing bar by bar

okay

so with this particular um

exercise you know that our our five six

seven eight

like that um we know it we've heard it

you've been practicing it

so you kind of know what it should sound

like and now when you look at the tab

you can see okay so that reflects this

so your homework at this stage is of

course to continue practicing

that um that one two three four that

five six seven eight exercise so i keep

uh avoiding the the steps reference and

for those of you who have never heard of

steps

it's just gonna i'm just gonna sound

like a madman but google it steps five

six seven eight you'll see what i mean

um and this is

gonna your exercise your homework may

get distracted there

uh your homework is to go over to the

website check out the full tab for this

exercise

and do it in front of that now we've

drawn out the tab in both

fourth notes and eighth notes okay so

you can see the difference there

obviously with the fourth note once it's

as i did it there

in the on the on the blackboard with the

eighth notes you're gonna fit eight

into a bar so one bar will be one and

two and three and four and

okay so depending on which one you're

kind of working with

depending on your level as a beginner

you'll see it there and you can kind of

work with that so good luck with that

guys and i'll see you

tomorrow for the next lesson okay guys

so thank you so much for watching this

video that's it for today

please do head on over to the next

lesson when you're ready which you can

find here

or you can start from the beginning of

the playlist right here on youtube

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helps thank you so much guys speak to

you later