Guitar lessons. Keep exploring.

Builds on: Your first guitar chord

String 6 open-note pulse

Isolate string 6, E2, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 6 open-note pulse

String 5 open-note pulse

Isolate string 5, A2, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 5 open-note pulse

String 4 open-note pulse

Isolate string 4, D3, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 4 open-note pulse

String 3 open-note pulse

Isolate string 3, G3, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 3 open-note pulse

String 2 open-note pulse

Isolate string 2, B3, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 2 open-note pulse

String 1 open-note pulse

Isolate string 1, E4, and return after each silent beat.

Builds on: String 1 open-note pulse

String 6 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 6; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 6 first-fret ladder

String 5 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 5; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 5 first-fret ladder

String 4 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 4; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 4 first-fret ladder

String 3 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 3; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 3 first-fret ladder

String 2 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 2; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 2 first-fret ladder

String 1 first-fret ladder

Map frets 0–3 on string 1; each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.

Builds on: String 1 first-fret ladder

Open-string 6 to 5 crossing

Track the register change between strings 6 and 5, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 6 to 5 crossing

Open-string 5 to 4 crossing

Track the register change between strings 5 and 4, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 5 to 4 crossing

Open-string 4 to 3 crossing

Track the register change between strings 4 and 3, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 4 to 3 crossing

Open-string 3 to 2 crossing

Track the register change between strings 3 and 2, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 3 to 2 crossing

Open-string 2 to 1 crossing

Track the register change between strings 2 and 1, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 2 to 1 crossing

Open-string 6 to 1 crossing

Track the register change between strings 6 and 1, then reverse the order.

Builds on: Open-string 6 to 1 crossing

A minor open-chord outline

Pick the notes of the A minor shape from its lowest sounding string upward; skip muted strings.

Builds on: A minor open-chord outline

C major open-chord outline

Pick the notes of the C major shape from its lowest sounding string upward; skip muted strings.

Builds on: C major open-chord outline

G major open-chord outline

Pick the notes of the G major shape from its lowest sounding string upward; skip muted strings.

Builds on: G major open-chord outline

E major open-chord outline

Pick the notes of the E major shape from its lowest sounding string upward; skip muted strings.

Builds on: E major open-chord outline

D major open-chord outline

Pick the notes of the D major shape from its lowest sounding string upward; skip muted strings.

Builds on: D major open-chord outline

Low E three-note riff

Return to the low E anchor between two fretted neighbors.

Builds on: Low E three-note riff

A-string step melody

Trace a whole-step then half-step melody on the A string.

Builds on: A-string step melody

D-string rising reply

Find two whole steps on the D string and answer from the upper note.

Builds on: D-string rising reply

G-string minor color

Compare a minor third and whole step above open G.

Builds on: G-string minor color

B-string upper neighbor

Extend the existing B-string melody to fret 5 and descend.

Builds on: B-string upper neighbor

High E answering phrase

Read a short high-register phrase on the thinnest string.

Builds on: High E answering phrase

Low E offbeat replies

Enter halfway between clicks on low E.

Builds on: Low E offbeat replies

A-string paired eighths

Play two notes per cell and leave space between cells.

Builds on: A-string paired eighths

D-string late entrance

Start on beat two of each two-beat cell.

Builds on: D-string late entrance

G-string two-beat rest

Preserve two silent beats between paired phrases.

Builds on: G-string two-beat rest

B-string dotted reply

Count a dotted-quarter gap before each reply.

Builds on: B-string dotted reply

High E repeated offbeats

Repeat the upper E on every and-count.

Builds on: High E repeated offbeats

Bass-treble delayed answer

Keep a two-and-a-half-beat gap when crossing registers.

Builds on: Bass-treble delayed answer

E minor spaced upper notes

Outline the upper E-minor chord members with unequal gaps.

Medium 30 exercises

Builds on: E minor spaced upper notes

String 6 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 6; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 6 chromatic reversal

String 5 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 5; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 5 chromatic reversal

String 4 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 4; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 4 chromatic reversal

String 3 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 3; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 3 chromatic reversal

String 2 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 2; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 2 chromatic reversal

String 1 chromatic reversal

Change direction inside a four-fret cell on string 1; keep the eighth-note spacing even.

Builds on: String 1 chromatic reversal

E low pentatonic fragment

Follow the E low five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: E low pentatonic fragment

A low pentatonic fragment

Follow the A low five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: A low pentatonic fragment

D upper pentatonic fragment

Follow the D upper five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: D upper pentatonic fragment

E upper pentatonic fragment

Follow the E upper five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: E upper pentatonic fragment

G major pentatonic fragment

Follow the G major five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: G major pentatonic fragment

C major pentatonic fragment

Follow the C major five-note collection across three or more strings.

Builds on: C major pentatonic fragment

A minor outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of A minor instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: A minor outside-in arpeggio

C major outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of C major instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: C major outside-in arpeggio

G major outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of G major instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: G major outside-in arpeggio

E major outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of E major instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: E major outside-in arpeggio

D major outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of D major instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: D major outside-in arpeggio

E minor outside-in arpeggio

Alternate bass and treble members of E minor instead of following adjacent strings.

Builds on: E minor outside-in arpeggio

E octave crossings

Find E in three registers using string skips.

Builds on: E octave crossings

A octave crossings

Track the same pitch class across three A registers.

Builds on: A octave crossings

D octave reply

Contrast the D octave with an A response.

Builds on: D octave reply

G octave and fifth

Link G octaves with the D fifth.

Builds on: G octave and fifth

C octave and third

Find two C notes and the E third between them.

Builds on: C octave and third

B octave and fifth

Read a B-centered line spanning nonadjacent strings.

Builds on: B octave and fifth

A minor syncopated outline

Keep the A minor chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Builds on: A minor syncopated outline

C major syncopated outline

Keep the C major chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Builds on: C major syncopated outline

G major syncopated outline

Keep the G major chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Builds on: G major syncopated outline

E major syncopated outline

Keep the E major chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Builds on: E major syncopated outline

D major syncopated outline

Keep the D major chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Builds on: D major syncopated outline

E minor syncopated outline

Keep the E minor chord tones intact while entering on a mixture of beats and offbeats.

Expert 30 exercises

Builds on: E minor syncopated outline

A minor wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of A minor using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: A minor wide-string circuit

C major wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of C major using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: C major wide-string circuit

G major wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of G major using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: G major wide-string circuit

E major wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of E major using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: E major wide-string circuit

D major wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of D major using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: D major wide-string circuit

E minor wide-string circuit

Revisit separated members of E minor using a repeated nonadjacent-string route.

Builds on: E minor wide-string circuit

E minor seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of E minor seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: E minor seventh chord-tone weave

A minor seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of A minor seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: A minor seventh chord-tone weave

C major seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of C major seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: C major seventh chord-tone weave

G dominant seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of G dominant seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: G dominant seventh chord-tone weave

D minor seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of D minor seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: D minor seventh chord-tone weave

E dominant seventh chord-tone weave

Name root, third, fifth, and seventh of E dominant seventh while playing a non-scalar route.

Builds on: E dominant seventh chord-tone weave

E low three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the E low fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: E low three-note sequence

A low three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the A low fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: A low three-note sequence

D upper three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the D upper fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: D upper three-note sequence

E upper three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the E upper fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: E upper three-note sequence

G major three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the G major fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: G major three-note sequence

C major three-note sequence

Advance a three-note cell through the C major fragment; let its grouping cross the quarter-note pulse.

Builds on: C major three-note sequence

A minor sixteenth placement

Place the A minor chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: A minor sixteenth placement

C major sixteenth placement

Place the C major chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: C major sixteenth placement

G major sixteenth placement

Place the G major chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: G major sixteenth placement

E major sixteenth placement

Place the E major chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: E major sixteenth placement

D major sixteenth placement

Place the D major chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: D major sixteenth placement

E minor sixteenth placement

Place the E minor chord tones on e/a subdivisions as well as beats; use the slow reference tempo.

Builds on: E minor sixteenth placement

A minor to C major displaced change

Change from A minor to C major after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

Builds on: A minor to C major displaced change

C major to G major displaced change

Change from C major to G major after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

Builds on: C major to G major displaced change

G major to E major displaced change

Change from G major to E major after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

Builds on: G major to E major displaced change

E major to D major displaced change

Change from E major to D major after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

Builds on: E major to D major displaced change

D major to E minor displaced change

Change from D major to E minor after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

100

Builds on: D major to E minor displaced change

E minor to A minor displaced change

Change from E minor to A minor after four notes while keeping the second chord entrance off the beat.

Read a little more

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How to use a metronome for beginner practice

A simple beginner metronome routine: choose a tempo, count a steady pulse, practice a short piano, guitar, or drum pattern, then repeat calmly.

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Guitar string names: standard tuning from low E to high E

Learn the six guitar string names, E A D G B E, how string numbers work, and how to practice open strings on an online guitar.

Guitar

Beginner guitar chords: E minor, A minor, C, and G

Read four beginner guitar chord shapes, understand open and muted strings, and start with an E minor picking exercise in your browser.

Guitar

How to read guitar tabs: strings, frets, and a first melody

Read simple guitar tablature: six lines represent strings, numbers show frets, and 0 means open. Try a five-note melody on the B string.