Guitar Playing Terms:

Tones One of the different sounds that can be heard on the guitar. These sounds are also known as notes. The notes on the guitar are

C, C #, D, D #, E, F, F #, G, G #, A, A #

Attention:

C # = D b, D # = E b, F # = A b, G # = A b, A # = B b.

A b is called flat and # is called a sharp.

Many guitar players cannot read notes but many don't need to. They can play the guitar well without it.

Nonetheless, guitar lessons involving notes are advised for all guitar players besides students of the classical guitar.

Guitar notes are generally played with a piece of plastic called a pick or with bare fingers. Chords

A group of notes played together are known as a chord. The most common chord is called a major chord. Other types of guitar chords are minor, 7th, major 7th, minor 7th. Major chords are usually called simply chords. For example the C major chord is usually known as a C chord. The lower case m is often used for minor chords. For example, A minor is often written as A m.

Progressions

A group of chords that sound good together are known as a progression. For example, the C major progression has the C, F, G, and A minor chords. There are also minor chord progressions. There are certain formulas to find which chords belong in a certain chord progression. Feel free to check out my music theory and transposing lessons for more info.

Keys

A group of chords that sound good together are also known as a key. For example the key of C is pretty much the same thing as a C chord progression. If somebody says let's play in the key of C then we know to play the C, F, G and A minor chords.

Arpeggios

Notes are usually played together in chords. However, sometimes each note of a chord is played by itself. Playing each note of a chord is playing an arpeggio. For example, the C chord has the C, E, and G notes. If we played the C, E, and G notes by themselves in order then we are playing the C arpeggio. Guitar arpeggios are easier to play then scales and more useful to beginning guitarists. What is a scale?

Scales

A scale involves more notes than an arpeggio. For example the C major scale has the C, D, E, G, A, B, and C notes. Many guitar players take blues guitar lessons. These lessons involve learning the blues scales. These scales are more useful than major or minor scales for many students of the guitar.

Lead Guitar

Scales and arpeggios allow people to play lead guitar. Lead guitar sometimes involves chords but mostly involves playing single guitar notes. Feel free to check out the free guitar lessons involving scales. They are found in lead guitar. Rhythm Guitar

Rhythm guitar, on the other hand, does not involve too many notes. Nonetheless, Arpeggios and to a le dd0 sser extent scales are useful for the rhythm guitarist. Otherwise, rhythm guitarists would simply play chords all the time. Playing a chord is known as strumming. The player moves the pick across the strings of the chord and strums the chord. Anyways, a rhythm guitarist with a little lead guitar knowledge can play more interesting stuff. Don't miss the rhythm guitar lessons.

Transposing

A small knowledge of music theory allows players to take a song in one key and change it to another key. This is known as transposing. For example, the C, F, and G chords in the key of C transposed to A would become the A, D, and E chords. C would become A. F becomes D and G becomes E. Look at the guitar lessons which are about transposing.

Chord and scale Shapes

Often the notes on a guitar follow the same pattern. They look the same. For example, we know basketballs and footballs have their own shape. Likewise, certain chords have similar shapes and differ from other chords. For example, one G chord and an A chord have a similar shape. They differ from an C chord and a D chord which have a different shape from the G and A chords. Note: There are many different C, D, G, and A chords. I'm only referring to a single example of each guitar chord.

Scales also follow patterns. The D major scale and E major scale have a similar shape and differ from the A major and B major scales. Check out my guitar lessons about movable chords and shapes. There is a lot of information about root notes. Root notes allow us to find movable chords and scales.

Mini-chords

Sometimes it is not necessary to play a full guitar chord. An mini-chord can be played. A mini-chord consists only of the most necessary notes of a chord. For example, a long chord like the A major 7 chord might be played with fewer notes.

Mini-chords are also called shell chords. They are commonly taught in jazz guitar lessons. However, you can find them in a variety of guitar styles.

Guitar Licks

Licks are a primary feature of guitar lessons. Licks are fun lead guitar patterns. These patterns are variations of scales and arpeggios. Blues and Jazz guitar licks are popular subjects for guitar players.