GUITARS IN THE CLASSROOM 2012 Beginner Level Hand-Out
Based on the SmartStart Method by Jessica Baron by Judy Caplan Ginsburgh ,Michele Harris-Padron and Jessica Baron
Made possible with grants from:
Top Reasons Why Guitars In The Classroom Works GITC helps teachers make learning at school especially fun and creative by teaching them to play guitar, sing, lead children in song, and giving them ways to integrate music into daily studies and activities. GITC helps teachers find new ways to build students' musical self-esteem and selfconfidence by offering practical skills and lesson ideas for daily musical activities. GITC addresses the learning styles and strengths of students across the ability spectrum, bringing out the best in children who often struggle with more traditional modes of learning. GITC trains teachers to boost student literacy skills as well as multi-cultural awareness through the inclusion of songs in Spanish and English as well as other bilingual songs from a variety cultures. GITC trains teachers to boost students' language arts skills through songwriting and lyric writing activities as well as through literature-based songwriting activities. GITC trains teachers to engage children in every subject area through the inclusion of songs that introduce, reinforce or extend learning across the elementary school curriculum at all grade levels.
Guitars in the Classroom Resources Songs for Teaching – a wonderful website for teachers where you can search for songs on curriculum topics and download music and lyrics. You can visit it through the link at our website, www.guitarsintheclassroom.org or by going directly to www.songsforteaching.com. SmartStart Guitar - at the Songs For Teaching website, you can order all of Jessica Baron’s books including books and CDs on the SmartStart Guitar Method in English & Spanish. For more information and to order, visit: http://songsforteaching.com/guitarsintheclassroom/songbookscds.htm Tuning Your Guitar – need help tuning your guitar in Open-G? Visit this website, where you can train your ear to tune. http://guitar.about.com/library/bltuningdgdgbd.htm Guitars in the Classroom – Don’t forget our home website where you can find lots of information about using the guitar in your classroom. Find out where our programs are, read articles that support the use of music in the classroom, register for classes, participate in teacher forums and much more. www.guitarsintheclassroom.org
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Parts of the Guitar
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Open-G Tuning Open-G tuning is sometimes called “Hawaiian tuning”. In Open-G tuning, you are able to play a “G” chord without placing any fingers on the guitar. So, by just strumming down the strings, you will be playing a pleasant sounding guitar chord. Each row on the chart below represents a string on the guitar. The number (name) of each string is indicated in the first column. When you are holding the guitar correctly, the top string (the thickest string) is #6 and the bottom string (the thinnest string) is #1.
# 6 5 4 3 2 1
The first column starts with the top string if you are looking down at the guitar in your lap. In the second column, the chart indicates the musical notes for each string in OpenG tuning. Following is a word for each string to help you remember how to tune it. How that same string would be tuned in Standard tuning is indicated on the far right of the chart. Note Memory Words .............................................................................................. Standard Dads E D Give A G Dogs D D Great G G Big B B Dinners E D
NOTE:strings 2, 3, and 4 are tuned the same for both Standard and Open-G tuning.
Tuning Your Guitar The Notes: When you play in Open-G tuning, the notes from the 6th string to the 1st string are DGDGBD. They harmonize perfectly to create a G Major chord containing the notes G, B, and D. You can strum and sing along with a “G” chord without pressing down a single guitar string. The notes in Standard tuning are EADGBE. These notes sound dissonant. To play a harmonious major chord, your fingers must stretch across frets and guitar strings and press down on an average of three strings at the same time. Many people become frustrated and stop learning guitar because of this. Once you have mastered the Open-G method, your fingers will be better prepared to play in standard tuning. The Technique:
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Notice on the chart on page 5, that each string has both a numerical name and a note name. When you tune, you begin with string #6, progress to string #5, then #4 and so on, moving downward until you’ve tuned them all. You can match each string to its correct pitch using a piano, a pitch pipe, or another tuned instrument. This requires you to LISTEN to the pitches and compare the sounds. This is called “tuning by ear.” This is challenging at first, but gets easier with practice. There are also electronic tuners that can assist you by visually showing you when the string is in tune. To tune the guitar to itself, practice plucking string #6 (D) and then string #4 (D)and listening to them together, do they sound almost the same, both are the D note only one octave apart. When they do sound “the same” they are in tune to each other. Then repeat the process for #4 (D) and then string #1 (D). If all three D notes sound the same, then move on to try plucking string #6 (D) and then string #5 (G). Although these two notes do not sound the same, they should sound harmonious and resonate smoothly. Once you have adjusted string #5 (G), you can tune string #3 which is also a (G). Once you have those five strings sounding OK, you can adjust string #2. Only loosen or tighten a string as long as you can hear that string. Once the sound fades out, pluck the string you are tuning TO, then the string you WANT TO ADJUST, listen to them both then move the tuning peg slowly while you can hear them together. When you turn a tuning peg, you tighten or loosen the string around the peg. If you are not sure whether to loosen or tighten a string, loosen it and bring it “up” to pitch. If you tighten the string, you raise its pitch, if you tighten it too much, it may break. If you loosen a string, you lower its pitch. The important thing is to listen as you turn the pegs and trust your ears. ONE LAST “NOTE” ABOUT TUNING: although many things can affect the strings of your guitar, humidity, temperature, jostling, etc., strings tend to “settle” and a good guitar will tend to stay in tune and only require minimal adjustments.
Other Guitar Tools Pick - Although some people strum the guitar with their fingers, you will probably want to use a flat pick. A pick is made of plastic. You grasp it between your thumb and pointer and middle fingers. The pick helps to protect your fingers and makes guitar strums sound crisp and louder than strumming with your fingers. Strap – A guitar strap made of leather, fabric or other materials can be attached to your guitar to help you hold it securely while sitting or standing. Capo - A capo (short for capotasto, Italian for "head of fretboard") is a device used for shortening the strings, thereby raising the pitch, of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. When a capo is placed on the guitar to raise the pitch, the capo becomes the end of your
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guitar and all fingerings are done to the right of it closer to the body of the guitar. The closer the capo is placed to the body of the guitar, the higher the pitch of the song will be.
Open-G Chord Charts
-
When looking at these chord charts, String #6 (the fattest string) is on the left side of the chart. String #1 (the thinnest string) is on the right side of the chart.
-
Each row of boxes indicates the space on the fingerboard between two frets on the guitar.
-
The first row is the space between the first and second frets from the end of the neck, the second row is the space between the second and third frets, etc.
-
The “X” indicates that no finger is placed on these strings of the guitar.
-
The “P’ tells you to place your Pointer finger on a particular string on a particular fret.
-
The “M’ tells you to place your Middle finger on a particular string on a particular fret.
-
The “R’ tells you to place your Ring finger on a particular string on a particular fret.
-
The letter names under the chart tell you what musical notes you are strumming on the guitar when you play that chord.
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Guitars in the Classroom Chord Charts for Playing in Open G or Taro Patch Tuning Open G Chord D G D G B D
C Note D G D G B D
Easy D Chord D G D G B D
Easy C Chord D G D G B D
Easy G7 D G D G B D
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FIRST SONGS MAKE NEW FRIENDS
traditional
G Make new friends, G One is silver and G A circle’s round, G That’s how long I
and keep the old the other is gold it has no end want to be your friend.
Are You Sleeping?
Capo: 3rd fret Tempo: Walking Pace Open G Are you
1.
Strum: Basic Down Strum First Singing Note: 3rd string,open
sleep- ing,
are
you
sleep- ing,
Bro - ther
John?
- Bro - ther
John?
Morning bells are ring - ing! Morning bells are
ring - ing!
Ding, dong,
ding!
-
Ding, dong,
ding!
-
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rd
capo: 3 fret
There's a Hole in the Bucket
strum: Down Strum
Tempo:Steady 1st singing note: 4th string open
Strum this whole song in Open G with a marching strum in groups of 3 (create a strong-weak-weak pulse) to the steady beat. Open G
Boys. There's a hole in the buck-et, dear Li - za, dear Li - za, Open G
There's a hole in the bucket, dear
Li - za a hole!
Open G
Girls: So fix it dear Hen- ry, dear Hen - ry, dear Hen- ry, Open G
So fix it dear Hen- ry, dear Hen - ry, fix it! Boys:
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
Girls:
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
Boys:
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza, The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
Girls:
So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
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Boys:
With what should I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
Girls:
Use the hatchet, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use the hatchet, dear Henry, the hatchet.
Boys:
But the hatchet's too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza, The hatchet's too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Girls:
So, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, So sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it!
Boys:
With what should I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I sharpen, dear Liza, with what?
Girls:
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, the stone.
Boys:
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza, The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Girls:
So wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, So wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.
Boys:
With what should I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
Girls:
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water.
Boys:
With what should I carry it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I carry it dear Liza, with what?
Girls:
Use the bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, the bucket!
Boys:
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole!
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capo: 3rd fret strum: Marching
Old Joe Clark
Tempo: Lively first singing note: 3rd string open
Open G(4) Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark
Chorus:
Fare thee well, I say
Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark
I'm a- goin' a- way -
1. Old
Joe Clark, he had a house
Eighteen stories high
-
Ev'ry story
in that house was
Filled with chicken
pie!
-
1.
I went down to Old Joe's house Stayed to have some supper Stubbed my toe on the table leg And stuck my nose in the butter
2.
Raccoon has a bushy tail 'Possum's tail is bare Rabbit has no tail at all 'Cept a bunch of hair
CHORUS
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3.
I wish I had some bacon I wish I had some eggs I wish I could get Old Joe Clark to shave his hairy legs
4.
Old Joe Clark had a mule, His name was Morgan Brown, And every tooth in that mule's head Was twenty inches ‘round.
5.
Old Joe Clark he had a dog that Chewed a smelly shoe That old dog had such bad breath He made the cat say P.U.!
Miss Lucy Had a Baby Capo: 5th fret
Strum: Down Strum Tempo: Lively
First Note: 4th string open
Guitar Hint: Always change chords at the end of the second and fourth lines of each verse.
1.
Open G Miss Luc- y
had a
bab- y
-
She named him
Tin - y
C Note Tim -
-
She put him
in
the
bath- tub -
To
see if
he
could
Open G swim. - -
2.
He drank up all the water He ate up all the soap He tried to swallow the bathtub But it wouldn’t go down his throat!
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3.
Miss Lucy called the doctor Miss Lucy called the nurse Miss Lucy called the lady With the alligator purse!
4.
In came the doctor In came the nurse In came the lady With the alligator purse
5.
“Measles” said the doctor “Mumps” said the nurse “Nothing” said the lady With the alligator purse
4.
Out walked the doctor Out walked the nurse Out walked the lady Out walked alligator purse! Row, Row, Row Your Boat (round)
Capo: 5th fret Tempo: Slow Motion
Strum: Basic Down First Singing Note: 3rd string,open
To sing this as a round, group one begins and group two comes in when group one finishes singing “Gently down the stream.” Both groups keep singing until they have both sung the whole song three times through. 1.
Open G Row, row,
row your boat
Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily C note Life is
Open G but a dream!
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2.
Open G Row, row, row your boat Gently on the lake Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily C note Open G Life’s a piece of cake!
Michael Finnegan Strum: Basic Down Strum & Down Up Strum First Singing Note: 4th string open
Capo: 5th fret Tempo: firm
Guitar Hint: As you repeat the verses faster each time, add more down strums! Open G (4) There once was a man named Mi- chael Finne- gan
Easy D (4) He grew whis- kers on his chin-ne-gan
Open G (4) The wind came up and blew them in a-gain
Easy D (2) Poor old
Open G (2) Mi- chael
Finnegan, be-gin a-gain!
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Mama Don’t Allow Capo: 5th fret Tempo:Lively
Strum: Down Up Strum or Down, Down-Up First Singing Note: 3rd string,open
Open G
Mama don’t allow no mu - sic makin’ round here.
C note
Mama don’t a-llow no mu -sic makin’ round here. Open G
We don’t care what Mama don’t a-llow! C note
Gonna make mu- sic a- ny- how! Open G
C note
Open G
Mama don’t allow no mu - sic makin’ round here. Mama don’t allow no drum playin’ ‘round here. Mama don’t allow no drum playin’ ‘round here. We don’t care what Mama don’t allow! We’re gonna make music anyhow! Mama don’t allow no music makin’ round here. Papa don’t allow no shaker playin’ ‘round here…… Sister don’t allow no scraper playin’ ‘round here….. Sister don’t allow no scraper playin’ ‘round here…… Brother don’t allow no wood block playin’ ‘round here…. Grandma don’t allow no guitar playin’ ‘round here…… 15 CABE 33 ANNUAL CONFERENCE RD
B-I-N-G-O! (And Bingo Was His Name-Oh) Capo: 3rd fret
Strum: Down Strum
First singing note: 4th string open
Guitar Hint: This makes a fun game for learning to play a C note. Just remember that in this song, you either add the C note or take it away every time you sing the letters “N-G-O.” Remember to finish the song by playing the G chord on the final “name-oh!” Also, you can knock on your guitar for every beat that people usually clap their hands when you sing the verses that remove a letter in Bingo’s name from the song. Have fun! Open G 1.
- - - There was a far-mer had a dog and Bingo was his name - oh! C note
BI- N- G- O! Open G
BI- N- G- O!
C note BI- N- G- O! and Open G
Bingo was his
name- oh!
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