The 1 Day Guitar Hack

The
1 Day
Guitar
Hack
For Beginners
-Learn 4 Chords
-Learn 2 Strumming Patterns
-Play 8 Songs
-Impress Your Friends
-More Fun Than Tipping Cows
-BONUS - Rockstar Stance
The Ultimate GuitarHack
Welcome to the best and most simple guitar training you’ll ever use ! Are
you ready to learn a new skill?! Practice and get used to saying this
phrase:
“Yeah well I just picked up the guitar last week, learnt a few chords, now
I can play a few songs. It’s pretty easy once you know how.”
Here are the songs we’ll be learning for the purposes of picking up the
skill. (If you want others, I’ll release a 2.0 a bit later in the year - let me
know your requests in the comments.)
1. Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry)
2. I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
3. Apologize (One Republic)
4. Down Under (Men at Work)
5. No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley)
6.Fall at Your Feet (Crowded House)
7. Let It Be (The Beatles)
8. You’re Beautiful (James Blunt)
First things first!
You only need to know 4 chords to do this, and they’re easy ones. There
are some horrifying ones I don’t even want to ever do - but I’m happy
sticking with the easy ones for now! They get me what I want, which is to
be able to play a few songs and have a jam with people when the
opportunity presents itself.
There are 3 steps to this guide:
Step 1:The 4 Chords
Step 2:4 Strumming patterns (you don’t need to learn them, with
strumming you can do what you want, but they’re good to watch)
Step 3: Learning the songs one at a time.
That’s it!
Easy. So get your guitar handy and lets get started.
[Part 0 - TUNING.
If you need to tune your guitar, watch this video.]
PART 1: 4 CHORDS
(Time recommended: 1-2 hours)
C, G , A minor (Am) F
Once you have mastered these four (which will take you only a few
minutes each) you’ll have almost all you need, to play the 13 songs.
Remember, throughout the whole process, the tips of your fingers will
get a bit sore. (Especially if you have a steel string guitar.)
In the diagrams below, the vertical lines represent strings, and the
spaces between the horizontal lines represent frets. You’ll need to know
this a) when tuning and b) every time you want to form a chord.
You’ll see this chord uses 3 strings and also the first 3 frets.
You should be looking at the above diagram as if you were holding your
guitar out in front of you, facing you. (Do not actually do this - it’s just so
you can get an idea.) You can have your guitar sit on your left or right
knee - most people go for the right knee but it doesn’t matter. You want
to be using your middle three fingers of your left hand. Your pointing
finger will be on (1), then you add the second one and the third.
Once you’re pushing down on those strings, it’s a good idea to use your
right thumb and strum each string, to make sure each one sounds clear
and clean. If any of them sound muffled, it’ll be because your fat fingers
aren’t pushing down on the right one-and only the right one.
Practice getting your fingers into position, take them off and put them
back on a few times. Strum all the strings each time.
(Extra tip - try to leave out the lowest/deepest string. It’s unnecessary.)
This chord uses 3 strings again, but this time only the second and third
frets.
You want to use the same 3 fingers as you used for the C chord, and this
time your middle finger will be on (3) and your pointing finger will be on
(2)
Get excited when you strum this chord - it’s a good chord. You should
strum all the strings as well.
Optional: Take the rock star
stance. (Note I am not playing
a G - I am playing Am which is
coming up next.)
We’re using the first two frets again, and 3 strings. This is an awesome
chord and my personal favorite - your left pointing finger is going on (1)
and middle finger (2). (Please see caught in action in above image.)
Practice strumming just with your thumb, between the 3 chords you now
know. Again, two frets, three strings.
Extra tip: Leave out the bottom/deepest string again.
Optional: Bite the ends of the fingers on your left and and tell them to
keep their s*%& together, there’s only one chord to go.
AND: If you’re feeling like this, it’s OK.
If you feel like taking a break: watch this short video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRXUXXo87-o
I hate to break it to you - this guide is more likely to turn you into an
iguana than play the guitar like this. Maybe learning these 4 chords
could light a fire within you, causing you to practice like crazy for the
next 10,000 hours and maybe then we’ll see you on a viral youtube clip.
However - you’re more likely going to be like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1bt6NBatY
Sigh. If only he had this simple guide.
MOVING ON!
Last chord! Give yourself a high five (not right now, you’re busy.) And
it’s a bit different to the others. Put your pointing finger across the two
top strings on the first fret. You may have to turn your hand a wee bit
sideways to push the strings down effectively.
STRUM with your THUMB.
Practice changing between those four chords.
Optional: Shout “YEAH!” for each chord.
Bonus points: Be in the rockstar stance while you do it.
HOLY COW we are almost ready to learn a song! There is just one tidbit
to learn before we get started.
PART 2: STRUM YOUR FACE OFF
OK guys this is super easy.
If you want to use a pick from here on out, you can. I don’t - I have
always found them hard to use and I keep dropping them or losing them.
Do whatever you want here - I have fingernails so I just use those, or you
could suck it up like a real man (or woman) and strum with your fingers.
I strum down with the fingernails of my right hand, and up with the
thumbnail.
Check out the videos of me doing the songs. to learn how to strum - as
long as you’re keeping with the rhythm, it doesn’t matter how you do it.
I’d start just strumming in a downwards motion once for each chord as
you change through them.
Take a break now and watch the videos. Obviously I’m no pro! But I’ve
learned pretty quickly on my own, quite a few songs just using a few
chords.
Check out the Youtube channel here
PART 3: PLAYING SOME EFFING SONGS!
Watch the accompanying videos - and let’s get straight into it.
Song 1:SAVE TONIGHT
Eagle Eye Cherry
OK. From here on out, my commentary is going to be written in red.
The key here is to play the songs SLOWLY. You need to get used to
changing chords. For the first one, just strum with your thumb. Make
yourself a slow remix of this song. Why not?
Intro AM F C G
AM F C
G
AM F C
G
Go on and close the curtains, cause all we need is candlelight
AM F
C
G
You and me, and a bottle of wine,
AM
F C G
Gonna hold you tonight, uh huh
AM F C
G
AM F
C
G
Well you know, I’m going away, and how I wish, I wish it weren’t so
AM F C
G
So take this wine, and drink with me
AM
F
CG
Let’s delay our misery
AM
F C
G
Save tonight and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
F C
G
Save tonight and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM F
C G
AM F
C
G
There’s a log on the fire, and it burns, like me for you
AM F
C G
Tomorrow comes with one desire,
AM
F C
G
To take me away, it’s true
AM F C
G
AM F
C
G
Well it ain’t easy to say goodbye, darling please, don’t start to cry
AM
F
CG
Cause girl you know I got to go...oh
AM
F
CG
And lord I wish it wasn’t so...
AM
F C
G
Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
F C
G
Save tonight and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
F
C
G
Tomorrow comes to take me away
AM
F
C
G
I wish that I, that I could stay
AM
F
CG
Girl you know I got to go
AM
F
CG
And lord I wish it wasn’t so
AM
F C
G
Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
F C
G
Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
F C
G
Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn
AM
FC
G
Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM F C
G
Tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM F C
G
Tomorrow I’ll be gone
AM
FCG
Save Tonight
AM
FCG
Save Tonight
AM
FCG
How was that? Did you love it? Let’s move on to the next one while
you’re on a roll.
SONG #2: I’M YOURS
Jason Mraz
C
Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
G
I tried to be chill but your so hot that I melted
Am
I fell right through the cracks
F
And I'm tryin' to get back
C
Before the cool done run out I'll be givin it my bestest
G
And nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention
Am
F
I reckon it's again my turn, to win some or learn some
C
G
Am
But I won't hesitate no more, no more
F
It cannot wait, I'm yours
C
G
Well open up your mind and see like me
Am
Open up your plans and damn your free
F
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
C
G
Listen to the music people dance and sing
Am
We're just one big family
F
It's your godforsaken right to be loved loved loved loved Loved
C
G
Am
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
F
It cannot wait, I'm yours
C
G
There's no need to complicate our time is short
Am
F
This is our fate, I'm yours
C, G, Am F (let yourself just make some random sounds - have fun)
C
Scooch on over closer dear
G
And I will nibble your ear
Am
F
Oh, dontcha wanna
C G AM F (this is where you can let your voice run free, like a gazelle)
C
I've been spending way too long checkin my tongue in the mirror
G
And bending over backwards just to try and see it clearer
Am
But my breath fogged up the glass
F
So I drew a new face and I laughed
C
I guess what I be saying is there ain't no better reason
G
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
A
It's what we aim to do
F
Our name is our virtue
C
G
Am
But I won't hesitate no more, no more
F
It cannot wait, I'm yours
C
G
Open up your mind and see like me
Am
Open up your plans and damn your free
F
Look into your heart and you'll find the sky is yours
C
G
Am
So please don't please don't please don't
F
There's no need to complicate
C
Cause our time is short
G
Am
And this is this is this is our fate
F
I'm yours
You just completed your second song! WELL DONE! If you have any
questions or queries, feel free to email me on guitar@becky.co.nz, or just
keep going until you forget about it! Haha just kidding.
Let’s do another song!
SONG 3: APOLOGIZE
One Republic
[Intro]
Am F C G
Am F C G
[Verse]
Am
I'm holding on your rope,
F
C
G
Got me ten feet off the ground
Am
F
C
G
And I'm hearing what you say but I just can't make a sound
Am
You tell me that you need me
F
CG
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
Am
You tell me that you're sorry
F
C
G
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say...
[Chorus]
Am
F
C
G
That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am
F
C
G
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am F C G
[Verse]
Am
F
I'd take another chance, take a fall
C G
Take a shot for you
Am
F
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
C
G
But it's nothing new - yeah
Am
F
I loved you with the fire red
C
G
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
Am
F
C
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
G
But I'm afraid...
[Chorus]
Am
F
C
G
That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am
F
C
G
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am F C G
Am F C G Am
Am
F
C
G
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am
F
C
G
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Am
F
C G
I said it's too late to apologize, yeahAm
F
C G
I said it's too late to apologize, yeahAm
F
C
I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet... off the ground...
3rd song down!
How are we going? Do you feel like a rock star? NO?
I GET IT - there will be things you’re struggling with, chords you keep
screwing up, bits where the timing is messed up. You know how some
performers smash their guitars at the end of a show? THIS IS NOT
WHY :)
Play the songs again. The most important thing here is chord transition that means how quickly you can get from one chord to another chord.
Don’t worry that you have to keep stopping. Everyone was there once.
Just play it slowly. Play the bit you find hard slowly many times. And
(Yoda voice) “easy, it will become.”
Song 4: LAND DOWN UNDER
Men At Work
INTRO Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2
Verse:
Am
G
Am
FG
Traveling in a fried-out combie
Am
G
Am
FG
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
Am
G
Am
FG
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
Am
G
Am
FG
She took me in and gave me breakfast
C
G
Am
FG
"Do you come from a land down under?
And she said!
C
G
Am
FG
Where women glow and men plunder?
C
G
Am
FG
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
C
G
Am
FG
You better run, you better take cover." (Oh Yeah)
Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2
Am
G
Am
FG
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
Am
G
Am
FG
He was six foot four and full of muscles
Am
G
Am
FG
I said, "Do you speak my language Brother?"
Am
G
Am
FG
He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich And he said,
Chorus:
C
G
Am
FG
"I come from a land down under
C
G
Am
FG
Where beer does flow and men chunder (and women too)
C
G
Am
FG
Can't you hear the thunder?
C
G
Am
FG
You better run, you better take cover."
Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x2
Verse :
Am
G
Am
FG
Lying in a den in Bombay
Am
G
Am
FG
With a slack jaw, and not a lot to say
Am
G
Am
FG
I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me
Am
G
Am
FG
Because I come from the land of plenty?" And he said,
Chorus:
C
G
Am
FG
"Oh! Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah)
C
G
Am
FG
Where women glow and men plunder?
C
G
Am
FG
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
C
G
Am
FG
You better run, you better take cover." (Cause we are)
C
G
Am
FG
Living in a land down under?
C
G
Am
FG
Where women glow and men plunder?
C
G
Am
FG
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
C
G
Am
FG
You better run, you better take cover."
Am G (Stop) ; Am F G x4
Song 5: NO WOMAN NO CRY
Bob Marley
C
G
Am
F
No woman, no cry,
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
No woman, no cry,
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry. Said, said,
C
G
Am
F
Said I remember when we used to sit
C
G
Am F
In the government yard in Trenchtown
C
G
Am
F
Ob - Observing the hypocrites, yeah,
C
G
Am F
Mingle with the good people We meet, yeah,
C
G
Am
F
Good friends We have or good friends we've lost
C
G
Am F
Along the way, yeah!
C
G
Am
F
In this great future, you can't forget your past
C
G
Am
So dry your tears I say
F
C
G
Am
F
No woman, no cry,
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
Here little darling don't shed no tears
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry. Said, said,
C
G
Am
F
Said I remember when we used to sit
C
G
Am F
In the government yard in Trenchtown
C
G
Am
F
And then Georgie would make the fire light
C
G
Ami F
As it was like a wood burning through the night
C
G
Am
F
Then We would cook cornmeal porridge
C
G
Am F
Of which I'll share with You
C
G
Am
F
My feet is my only carriage, and so
C
G
Am
F
I've got to push on through. But while am gone
C
G
Am
F
Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright.
C
G
Am
F
Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright.
C
G
Am
F
Ev'rything's gonna be alright. Ev'rything's gonna be alright.
C
G
Am
F
Everything's gonna be alright .... Everything's gonna be alright so
C
G
Am
F
No woman, no cry,
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry
C
G
Am F
No my little sister don't shed no tears
C
F
C G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
Said I remember when we used to sit
C
G
Am F
In the government yard in Trenchtown
C
G
Am
F
And then Georgie would make the fire light
C
G
Am F
As it was like a wood burning through the night
C
G
Am
F
Then We would cook corn meal porridge
C
G
Am F
Of which I'll share with You
C
G
Am
F
My feet is my only carriage, and so
C
G
Am
F
I've got to push on through. But while am gone
C
G
Am
F
No woman, no cry,
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
Oh my little darlin' don't shed no tears
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
Little darlin' don't shed no tears
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
C
G
Am
F
Little sister don't shed no tears
C
F
C
G
No woman, no cry.
SONG 6: Fall At Your Feet
CROWDED HOUSE
Am
I’m really close tonight
C
G
And I feel like I’m moving inside her
Am
Lying in the dark
C
G
And I think that I’m beginning to know her
Am
Let it go
C
I’ll be there when you call
Am G
Am F
And whenever I fall at your feet
C G
Am F
You let your tears rain down on me
C G
Am
F
Whenever I touch your slow turning pain
Am
You’re hiding from me now
C
G
There’s something in the way that you’re talking
Am
Words don’t sound right
C
G
Am
But I hear them all moving inside you, go
C
I’ll be there when you call
Am G
Am F
And whenever I fall at your feet
C G
Am F
You let your tears rain down on me
C G
Am
F
Whenever I touch your slow turning pain
C
G
The finger of blame has turned upon itself
Am
G
And I’m more than willing to offer myself
C
G
Do you want my presence or need my help
Am
F
Who knows where that might lead
C
G
Am
F
I fall
C
G
The finger of blame has turned upon itself
Am
G
And I’m more than willing to offer myself
C
G
Do you want my presence or need my help
Am
F
Who knows where that might lead
C
G
Am
F
I fall
C
At your feet
Song 7: Let It Be
THE BEATLES
CG
When I find myself in times of trouble
Am F
Mother Mary comes to me
CGFC
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
CG
And in my hour of darkness
Am F
She is standing right in front of me
CGFC
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
CHORUS 1 :
Am G F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
CGFC
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
CG
And when the broken hearted people
Am F
Living in the world agree,
CGFC
There will be an answer, let it be.
CG
For though they may be parted there is
Am F
Still a chance that they will see
CGFC
There will be an answer, let it be.
CHORUS 2 :
Am G F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
CGFC
Yeah, There will be an answer, let it be.
Am G F C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
CGFC
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
CG
And when the night is cloudy,
Am F
There is still a light that shines on me.
CGFC
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
CG
I wake up to the sound of music
Am F
Mother Mary comes to me
CGFC
There will be no sorrow, let it be.
SONG 8: YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL
James Blunt
C
My life is brilliant
G
My love is pure
Am
I saw an angel
F
Of that I'm sure
C
She smiled at me on the subway
G
She was with another man
Am
But I won't lose no sleep on that
F
'Cause I've got a plan
Chorus:
F
G
You're beautiful
C
You're beautiful
F
G
C
You're beautiful, it's true
F
G
I saw your face
C
Am
In a crowded place
F
G
Am
And I don't know what to do
F
G
C
'Cause I'll never be with you
C
Yes, she caught my eye
AG
As we walked on by
Am
She could see from my face that I was
F
Flying high
C
G
And I don't think that I'll see her again
Am
F
But we shared a moment that will last to the end
F
AG
You're beautiful
C
You're beautiful
F
G
C
You're beautiful, it's true
C
G
I saw your face
C
Am
In a crowded place
F
G
Am
And I don't know what to do
F
G
C
'Cause I'll never be with you
F
C
F
C
F
C
G
La-la-la-la La-la-la-la La-la-la-la La-a (haha yessssssss go for it)
F
G
You're beautiful
C
You're beautiful
F
G
C
You're beautiful, it's true
F
G
There must be an angel
C
Am
With a smile on her face
F
G
Am
When she thought up that I should be with you
F
G
Am
But it's time to face the truth
F
G
C
I will never be with you
OK We’ve reached the end of the last song, but your practice is not over!
You can now play 8 songs on the guitar! The key is muscle memory. Just
keep practicing and you’ll get faster and more confident.
Thanks for using this guide and we’d love to hear your feedback. You can
email us on guitar@becky.co.nz
You probably feel like this right now.
Thanks for giving this guide a go! Check out more cool stuff by going to
www.lifestyleninja.com