Day 3 - 5th Jul 2011

Day three we were thinking what are we going to learn and all we were in for was more exercises. Atleast they were a bit different. So here we go with a couple more on exercises.

Its similar to the first exercise just that we have to use four fingers and the direction alternates for every string. So we go from 1st finger on 1st fret of the 6th string, then 2nd finger on 2nd fret, 3rd finger on 3rd fret to 4th finger on 4th fret of the 6th string. Keep strumming the 6th string. Then play from 4th finger on 4th fret of the 5th string till 1st finger on 1st fret of the 5th string. Continue with this pattern till the 1st string and play backwards.

Another exercise we practised was not like a continuous fretting on every string. The fingers had to play on different frets in each string. It was tricky initially, but then after an hour's practice we got used to it.

So we go from 1st finger on 1st fret of the 6th string and then 4th finger on 4th fret. Then 1st finger on 1st fret of 5th string and 3rd finger on 3rd fret. 1st finger on 1st fret of 4th string and 2nd finger on 2nd fret.
Again same thing repeated on 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings and backwards in reverse order.

Day 2 - 30th Jun 2011

Day two was as eventful as day one. The initial days are the rosy ones and the energy begins to diminsh after a few lessons. So we were bit peppy and were about to show off how well we learnt during our first lesson.

This one is similar to the earlier one just that you have to move your fingers to other frets. The numbers on the picture depict the finger numbers. And the frets are from 1 to 6, depicted from right to left.
1st finger is on 1st fret of 6th string, 2nd on 2nd fret, 3rd and 1st on 3rd fret. First play with the 3rd finger on 3rd fret of the 6th string and then play with 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. And continue with 2nd finger on 4th fret, 3rd finger on 5th fret and 4th finger on 6th fret of the 5th string.
Continue the same for 4th and 3rd string and for 2nd and 1st string.


The next one I learnt was again similar to this one. Just that I had to move my fretting hand further across the neck of the guitar.

The numbers on the picture depict the finger numbers. And the frets are from 1 to 16, depicted from right to left.

1st finger is on 1st fret of 6th string, 2nd on 2nd fret, 3rd and 1st on 3rd fret. (First play with the 3rd finger on 3rd fret of the 6th string and then play with 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string). And continue with 2nd finger on 4th fret, 3rd finger on 5th fret and 4th finger on 6th fret of the 5th string.

Start again from the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string and 2nd on 8th, 3rd on 9th and play with 1st finger on 9th fret of the 3rd string and so on till 16th fret on 1st string. 

Once done with these try playing both backwards.

Day 1 - 28th Jun 2011

After many a changes to the day for the inception of my journey thru music - 28th, June 2011 was the lucky one. Hurrah!!! I get to go along with a friend to the class by walk. It was just the first day enthusiasm that kept me going by foot. 'Coz it all vanished from the very second class. So we started for the class by half past four coz it was supposedly a bad time from 3 till 4:30 IST. We met Sian and kicked off with our lessons on the basics of guitar.


Know your fingers
For beginners its better to sit on a arm less chair and learn. So the guitar would be resting on your lap and your right hand holding the pick and glided over the guitar.
The thumb is used to hold the back of the neck of your guitar and the rest four fingers to fret the guitar.

And now that we know how to hold the guitar this was the first exercise I was told to practice to get my fingers accustomed .

The numbers on the left indicate the strings. So the sixth string is the thickest string and the one closest to your face. And 1st string is the one closest to your lap. 

So start from playing open on the 6th string and then take your index finger from the fretting hand and press down the 1st fret in the 6th string  and strum your pick downwards. 

Now you use the finger marked 2 and press the 2nd fret and again strum the 6th string with the pick. Repeat this for the 3rd fret.

Now move on to the 5th string and play open, 1st, 2nd, 3rd frets. Repeat this for all the strings Once you are done with this, try playing this backwards - starting from the 1st string to the 6th in the exact reverse order (3rd fret to 1st fret)

Hola...

a

The world of guitar was introduced to me a month back. I always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I bought my first guitar in Nottingham. Its an Ashton Classical Guitar. Its been untouched for almost 2 years now. Now that I'm not working I find plenty of time to engage myself in art forms. One being cooking and the other being guitar.


So suddenly I thought why not pen down all the instructions from Sian my teacher at Kalanjali. What if rain spoils my notebook?? What if I misplace it?? Yeah here's my tryst with the guitar....


Love
Rudra!!