Lesson 3
C Major Scale
Just remember, from E to F and B to C are raise a semi-tone, others all raise a tone. The first C is middle C.
Notes on the guitar strings
E, A, D, G, B and E are open strings. 5th string 3rd fret is middle C. From fret 1 to fret 2 is raise a semi-tone, from fret 2 to fret 3 is raise a semi-tone and so on, so every single fret in guitar sound difference with a semi-tone.
Basic rhythmic notation
A crotchet has a value of 1 beat, a minim has a value of 2 beats; 2 quavers have a value of 1 beat, 4 semi-quavers have a value of 1 beat; 2 semi-quavers have a value of half beat (quaver). A stem may go either up or down from the note head, it is the same. For guitar piece, notes with stems go up indicate melody and notes with stems go down indicate bass, and a bass note normally pluck with thumb.
Time signature
For example : 3 crotchet beats in a bar
Tuning the guitar - In this modern day, using electronic guitar tuner to tune guitar is the easiest way. What you need to do is just pluck the string and watch the needle on the meter of the electronic guitar tuner. If you had learnt music before, you may try the traditional methods of tuning which required a sense of pitch, using aids like tuning fork, pitch pipe or matching the sound from piano.
For example, using a tuning fork label with A, you may tune the 5th string first, then press the 6th string 5th fret to tune the 6th string. Continue with other strings, as below :
Press the 2nd string 5th fret produces the sound E same as 1st open string E, press the 3rd string 4th fret produces the sound B same as 2nd open string B, so you can tune all the strings like this.
