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Six Strings

Practice · Song library

Music to practise with.

A short list on purpose. Each entry reinforces specific lessons. Chords and structure only: listen to the recordings for the melody and feel.

  1. Bob Dylan · Easier

    Knockin' on Heaven's Door

    Four open chords, a slow tempo and two repeating halves. The ideal first 'play it all the way through' song.

    G
    D
    Am
    C
    Progression

    Key of G: G D Am | G D C

    I V ii | I V IV

    Rhythm

    Steady eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent

    Start with just one down-strum per chord, then add the pattern.

    Techniques
    Open chord changes · Eighth-note strumming
    Lessons

    Learn the two halves separately: G D Am, then G D C. The G to D change is the one to drill. Count four beats per chord.

  2. The Beatles · Easier

    Let It Be

    The I V vi IV progression in its purest form, and a natural reason to practise the small F.

    C
    G
    Am
    F-mini
    Progression

    Key of C: C G Am F | C G F C

    I V vi IV | I V IV I

    Rhythm

    Gentle eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent

    Leave the last upstroke out for a calmer feel.

    Techniques
    Open chord changes · Small barre F · Dynamics
    Lessons

    Use the small F (strings 4 to 1) until the full barre is ready. Both work. The important thing is to keep time through the change.

  3. Ben E. King · Moderate

    Stand By Me

    Same I vi IV V shape as Let It Be, in a new key, with one real barre chord (F♯m, the E-shape at fret 2).

    A
    F#m
    D
    E
    Progression

    Key of A: A F♯m D E

    I vi IV V

    Rhythm

    Steady eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent
    Techniques
    E-shape barre (F♯m) · Eighth-note strumming · Playing without stopping
    Lessons

    Play it at 80 BPM before you try the record's tempo. The F♯m is the only hard moment; give it a full bar of preparation.

  4. Lynyrd Skynyrd · Easier

    Sweet Home Alabama (chord version)

    Three chords, a loping groove and a ♭VII chord that is a first taste of harmony beyond 'I IV V'.

    D
    C
    G
    Progression

    Key of D: D C G (repeat)

    I ♭VII IV

    Rhythm

    Accented eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent

    Push the accent on beat 2's downstroke.

    Techniques
    Accents · Three-chord changes
    Lessons

    Only the chords here, not the guitar riffs. Focus on making the accent land with the same strength every bar.

  5. Leonard Cohen · Moderate

    Hallelujah

    A slow 6/8 song that makes you feel the rhythm in two big pulses, and a good arpeggio piece later on.

    C
    Am
    F-mini
    G
    Progression

    Key of C: C Am C Am | F G C G

    I vi I vi | IV V I V

    Rhythm

    6/8 sway

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent

    Two big beats per bar, each divided into three.

    Techniques
    6/8 feel · Dynamics · Playing without stopping
    Lessons

    Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 with the stress on 1 and 4. Once the strum is steady, try arpeggiating each chord instead.

  6. Traditional · Moderate

    House of the Rising Sun

    The classic first fingerstyle song and a clear example of a minor-key progression with a relative major (C) in it.

    Am
    C
    D
    F-mini
    E
    Progression

    Key of A minor: Am C D F | Am C E E

    i III IV VI | i III V V

    Rhythm

    6/8 arpeggio (p i m a m i)

    Bass note on 1, then the three treble strings up and back. See the arpeggio lesson for tab.

    Techniques
    Arpeggios in 6/8 · Thumb independence · Minor key
    Lessons

    Play it strummed first, to know the changes. Then add the arpeggio pattern one chord at a time.

  7. Van Morrison · Easier

    Brown Eyed Girl (chord version)

    I IV I V is the shape behind hundreds of songs. A good way to get the G, C and D changes automatic.

    G
    C
    D
    Progression

    Key of G: G C G D

    I IV I V

    Rhythm

    Steady eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent
    Techniques
    Open chord changes · Strumming
    Lessons

    Notice that G is the home chord and D is the one that pulls back to it. That is the I-V relationship you will study in harmony.

  8. Exercise · Moderate

    12-bar blues in A

    One form that connects rhythm, seventh chords, pentatonic soloing and counting bars. You will use it for years.

    A7
    D7
    E7
    Progression

    Key of A: A7 A7 A7 A7 | D7 D7 A7 A7 | E7 D7 A7 E7

    I7 I7 I7 I7 | IV7 IV7 I7 I7 | V7 IV7 I7 V7

    Rhythm

    Palm-muted eighths

    80 BPM
    ↓ down ↑ up · miss (keep your hand moving) × muted > accent

    Palm-mute every stroke, then open up on the last bar of each line.

    Techniques
    Palm muting · Dominant 7th chords · Form and bar-counting
    Lessons

    Count the 12 bars out loud until the form is in your body. Later, play the A minor pentatonic over it.