While this week's picking lesson does not teach any new technical skills, it does encourage you to mix things up a bit. Within variety, you'll often find creativity. For example, let's use the word "art." There are only three letters that make up this word; but, it's a word filled with so much possible meaning depending on context. With those three letters, you can mix them up to spell "tar" and "rat," as well. By combining them with other words in a sentence, the meaning—the message—delivered to readers can vary (which by the way, is very similar to what music can do for listeners via notes, rhythms, dynamics, etc.).

Now think about the other picking exercises that you've recently learned. I presented them in a certain order to begin with (just like the order of the letters used in "art"); but now, it's time to start mixing them up (e.g., "tar," "rat") to discover other variations that come from them.

To sum this up, your goal for this week is to develop your foundational skills further by mixing what you've already learned up a bit. Let's train your brain to remain open for creativity rather than set it up for dead-ends and music ruts.


00:11 Left hand
00:25 Right hand inside picking
00:37 Right hand outside picking


Chords and Rhythm:

This week’s lesson introduces the D major chord. I intentionally chose only 1 new one for the week for a couple of reasons. First, the nice thing about having the same chords to work with is that it will allow you to focus more on developing other essential skills such as proper fingering, timing, reading, and strumming. Plus, a bonus of practicing music in different chord order is that it helps to increase finger dexterity, which I'm sure you realize, is VERY useful for guitar players!


00:13 D major chord
00:45 Chord exercise