Guitar Mastery My First Guitar Book

An introductory workbook for the guitar, music, and all the fun that goes with it for children ages 7 and up.

Written By Sarah Hanson-Ghazzawi Illustrated by Sarah Hanson-Ghazzawi

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Guitar Mastery My First Guitar Book

HG Publications Copyright  2007

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means without the permission of the publisher. Published by

HG Publications [email protected] Dearborn, MI, 48126 ISBN: 978-0-9801245-0-7 0-9801245-0-6 Library of Congress Control Number: 2007940965 Printed in the United States First Edition

Dedications

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To Ania and Angel

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Love, Mom 2

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Contents

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About the Author………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………..………4 Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………..4 Foreword…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….…….5 Introducing Mr. Pickity…………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….………6 Lesson 1, Part A: Guitar Basics………………………………………………………………………………………..……..….….8 Lesson 1, Part B: Holding the Guitar………………………………………………………………………….…..….….…..13 Lesson 2, Part A: The Warm Up………………………………………….…………….…….………………………….….….17 Lesson 2, Part B: String Letter Names…………………………….………..………..….….….………………………..21 Lesson 3, Part A: The First String Notes………………….………..………………….….…………………………….24 Lesson 3, Part B: The Second String Notes……………….……………..…………..….….………………………..27 Lesson 4, Part A: The Music Staff………………………………….……………………….….….………………………..30 Lesson 4, Part B: The Music Staff and Our Notes…………………………..……..…..……………………….35 Lesson 5, Part A: The Third String Notes…………….………………..……………….…..………………………..38 Lesson 5, Part B: Introducing Rhythm………………………….……………..………….…..…………………………..41 Lesson 6, Part A: Songs, songs, and more songs!…………………….….……….….….………………………….47 Lesson 6, Part B: Student questions…………………………………………..………….……..………………………….52 Lesson 7, Part A: The Fourth String Notes……………….…………………………….…..………………………..53 Lesson 7, Part B: Two Note Chords………………………………….………………….….….….………………………..57 Lesson 8, Part A: Down/Up picking…………………………………………….………..…………..………………………60 Lesson 8, Part B: Introducing Eighth Notes……………………………………….………..………………………..62 Lesson 9, Part A: More Songs!………………..…………………………………………….………..………………………….66 Lesson 9, Part B: Writing Music……………………………………………………….………….…………………………….71 Lesson 10, Part A: The Open Fifth and Sixth Strings……………….……………...…………………………74 Lesson 10, Part B: Introducing TAB…………………………………………………………..….………………………….77 Completion Certificate……………………………………………………………………………………….………………………….81 Fun Pages………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………….82

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About the Author

Sarah Hanson-Ghazzawi is a music educator and a full time mother of toddler twins. She currently teaches private music lessons for guitar, flute, and saxophone in Detroit, MI. Prior to settling in Michigan, Sarah received a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance from Towson University in 1999. Her main instrument and genre was jazz guitar. Music has been a passion and pursuit for her since she began playing flute in the 5th grade. She has played in countless ensembles ranging from church gospel, to marching band, to Towson University’s top jazz band. Sarah has been a music instructor for all ages and skill levels since the start of her music career in college. She has pursued many passions including world travel, martial arts, yoga, and tai chi, but it was her work as an elementary school substitute teacher where she found her enthusiasm. In 2003, she initiated her Masters Degree in Elementary Education and has now taken time off to raise her children. Sarah Hanson-Ghazzawi knows music. She knows the guitar and she’s passionate about children’s education. Sarah is the perfect blend of knowledge and experience to combine these elements for the ever-growing population of younger guitar players!

Acknowledgments I am grateful for all musical inspirations most especially my instructors and musical friends for displaying your eccentricity with laid back confidence and humor and of course for being incredible musicians. Thanks to all those who inspire! Thanks to my loving family. 4

Foreword

Yes, your child can learn the guitar! Today children are displaying a passionate interest in music at an increasingly younger age. Guitar Mastery: My First Guitar Book is filled with fun and simple but detailed instruction in the basics of guitar and music and it is personalized for your child. Your child will quickly benefit from the interactive lessons within. The loveable cartoon Mr. Pickity guides your child through each lesson with guaranteed results. Yes, your child will learn music. Guitar Mastery is a positive, hands-on educational tool inspired by reading, writing, and critical thinking practice suitable for an elementary child. Save your self the headache trying to decipher the in depth musical terms and complicated fingering charts often accompanying other guitar method books on the shelves today. Let your child learn kid-style with this attractive step-by-step, easy instruction. The music lessons within will positively reinforce their growing reading and writing abilities while learning how to play the guitar! Writing in the book is encouraged as each lesson asks for the completion of fitting musical exercises. Guitar Mastery is educational, fun, and will leave your child wanting more!

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Hi! I am Mr. Pickity!

I am going to help you learn how to play guitar. Just follow me!

Congratulations on getting your first guitar! The guitar is a wonderful and fun instrument. I know you will enjoy beginning to play. I bet you can’t wait to get started! Well then, lets begin! Here are a few things to remember: always follow the instructions carefully, take your time, and have fun jamming! 6

Before we begin, I’d like to get to know you better. So, I have a few questions for you to answer.

Fill in the blanks next to the questions below.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Do you write with your left hand or right hand? ___________ What kind of music do you like? _______________ Who is your favorite band or singer? _________________ What is your favorite song? _____________________ Do you like to sing? ____________________ Have you had a music class in school? ___________________ Do you play any other instruments? _____________________

Great! Now I understand your passion for music! Lets play guitar!

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LESSON 1, Part A: GUITAR BASICS

Read the paragraph below: There are basically two kinds of guitars. There are electric guitars and acoustic guitars. Electric guitars must be plugged in to hear the sound well. Acoustic guitars don’t need a plug. All guitars have strings and frets. The strings run over the sound hole, all the way along the neck, to the tuning pegs that turn to keep the strings in tune. Frets are the bars you see laying under the strings on the neck. In the picture below you will label the parts of a guitar. First, we will label an acoustic guitar. Then we will label the different things in an electric guitar. What kind of guitar are you playing? Circle: Acoustic / Electric

Now, write the number in the blank that matches the word with the correct part:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Strings Frets Sound hole Tuning peg Neck

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Good work! Now look at your own guitar.

Answer the questions below. 1. 2. 3. 4.

How many strings does your guitar have? ____________ How many frets does your guitar have? ___________ How many tuning pegs does your guitar have? ______________ Does each string connect to a tuning peg? Circle, Yes or No

Since some of you may be playing electric guitars, now we will review the parts of an electric guitar that we don’t see on an acoustic guitar. On top of the guitar is a switch that controls the pick up. The pick up picks up the sound and sends it to the amplifier. The volume is the knob under the strings. You must use a cord that plugs into the amplifier to hear the electric guitar.

Next, draw a line from the word to the correct part on the picture below. 9

1. Switch 2. Volume 3. Amplifier 4. Cord 5. Pick up Good Job!

Next, read the paragraph below:

There is one more thing to know about your guitar before we move on to Part B. The strings have number names! Your skinniest string is the first string. The first string is the string on the bottom when you look down at the strings. The numbers then go all the way up to your fattest string, the sixth string. The sixth string is the string on top when you are looking down at your strings. Now you can figure out the rest of the strings on the picture below!

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