You can learn to play melodies on your guitar even if you do not know sheet music notation. You will instead use easy to learn guitar tab or guitar tablature. Let's learn Yankee Doodle!
"Yankee Doodle" is a well-known American song, often sung patriotically today (although originally satirical). It is the state anthem of Connecticut.
The first verse and refrain goes like this:
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-Riding on a pony
He stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy
We will use guitar tablature so you will not need to read sheet music notation. You will only use the thinnest strings on the guitar. The string with the highest pitch is called the first string or E-string. Look at the following guitar tab:
1. 0--0--0--------------------
2. --------- 1--1--1-----------
3. ------------------2--2--2--
This is a guitar tablature staff and the four number 0 indicate that you play the first string four times without pressing down any finger on your right hand. This is called to play on an open string.
The four number 1 coming after is played on the second string pressing down your first finger on the first fret. Then you will play the third string four times pressing down the string on the second fret. This is what the previous guitar tablature notation is telling you.
Let's take a look at Yankee Doodle and see what the melody looks like with guitar tab notation. We will start playing the melody to the following lyrics:
Yankee Doodle went to town
This will look as follows with guitar tablature:
1. ----------0-----0-----
2. -1--1--3-----1-----3--
3. ----------------------
4. ----------------------
The names of the four notes you have played are C C D E C E D
If you want to use your left hand in a professional way you can play the guitar tab notes on the first fret with your first finger, notes on the second fret with your middle finger and the notes on the third fret with your ring finger.
Let's proceed with the next words:
A-Riding on a pony
1. --------------0--------
2. -----1--1--3-----1--0--
3. --0--------------------
4. -----------------------
The names of the seven notes are G C C D E C B
How do you play guitar tab with your right hand?
Well, there are many ways to pluck or play the strings with your right hand. The easiest way is to use your right hand thumb.
Here's the next lyrics and guitar tablature:
He stuck a feather in his hat
1. --------------0--1--0-----
2. -----1--1--3-----------3--
3. --0-----------------------
4. --------------------------
The names of the tablature notes are G C C D E F E D
And called it macaroni
1. -----------------------
2. --1--0--------0--1--1--
3. --------0--2-----------
4. -----------------------
The names of the guitar tab notes: C B G A B C C
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
1. -----------------------
2. -----0-----------0--1--
3. --2-----2--0--2--------
4. -----------------------
Guitar tablature notes: A B A G A B C
Yankee Doodle dandy
1. --------------------
2. --------------------
3. --0--2--0--------0--
4. -----------3--2-----
Guitar tab notes: G A G F E G
Mind the music and the step
1. -----------------------
2. -----0-----------0--1--
3. --2-----2--0--2--------
4. -----------------------
Guitar tablature notes: A B A G A B C
And with the girls be handy
1. -----------------------
2. --------1--0--3--1--1--
3. --2--0-----------------
4. -----------------------
Guitar tab notes: A G C B D C C
Now when you understand guitar tablature notation you can find many songs written this way on the internet. Search for guitar tab or guitar tablature. A complete guitar tablature staff has six lines representing the six strings.
Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free guitar tabs at http:www.capotastomusic.com
Source: www.articlesbase.com
