P AURIC M ATHER

First Edition - 2014

Revised Editions - 2016 - 2018 - 2020
Copyright © Pauric Mather - All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any
means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems -
without the prior written permission of the author.

ISBN-13: 978-1547245697
ISBN-10: 1547245697

Layout & Design

Hammad Khalid - Malaysia - HMDGFX.COM

Photography
Emma Curtin - Ireland

Translation
Florica Dohan - Ireland
Marco Chu - Australia
Carlos Reyes - Mexico
Andrea Santucci - Italy
Michel Schneider - Germany
Jean-Michel GEORGE - France
Joana Peixoto Meneses - Portugal
 If this is your first day learning guitar you’re in good
company. All the greats had a first day too - and
began a lifetime playing guitar that day.

YOU CAN BEGIN A LIFETIME PLAYING GUITAR

TODAY!

• TO STRUM IN PERFECT TIME

• THE MOST PLAYED RHYTHMS
YOU WILL • THE MOST PLAYED CHORDS

LEARN
• TO CHANGE CHORDS FAST
• TO READ CHORD BOXES
• TO READ GUITAR TABLATURE

AND MUCH MORE!

 CONTENTS
LESSON 1 7
HOW NOT TO PLAY GUITAR
THE BEST GUITAR FOR YOU
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR

LESSON 2 19
START AT PERFECT
HOW TO HOLD A GUITAR PICK
HOW TO POSITION YOUR CHORD HAND

LESSON 3 27
HOW TO READ CHORD BOXES
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN CHORDS
15 EASY GUITAR CHORDS

LESSON 4 39
HOW TO PLAY RHYTHM GUITAR
HOW TO ROLL GUITAR RHYTHMS
6 POPULAR ACOUSTIC GUITAR RHYTHMS

LESSON 5 47
2 NEW CHORDS
HOW TO CHANGE CHORDS FAST
LESSON 6 55
THE SPIDER EXERCISE
HOW TO USE A CAPO
2 NEW CHORDS
4 EASY CHORD CHANGES

LESSON 7 67
MORE EASY CHORD CHANGES
3 NEW CHORDS
2 PLAYING EXERCISES

LESSON 8 75
HOW TO TIME GUITAR RHYTHMS
4 NEW CHORDS
MORE EASY CHORD CHANGES

LESSON 9 91
2 NEW CHORDS
5 POPULAR CHORD SEQUENCES
HOW TO READ GUITAR TABLATURE

LESSON 10 103
HOW TO PLAY FINGERSTYLE GUITAR
6 POPULAR FINGERSTYLES
50 MOST PLAYED GUITAR CHORDS
HOW TO LEARN
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
The ability to play guitar is “A Priceless Gift”.
It lets your heart speak, and your imagination
roam. Even when words fail, music speaks. And
yet, unlike material wealth, once you have it, no
one can take it away from you.

The lessons in this book have helped thousands of

people to play guitar. They are the most complete,
individual and personalised you will ever find. You
start simply by knowing what not to do - and also
by making sure you have the right guitar to learn on.

From there, it is vital that you follow each lesson

step by step. Don’t just read them. Personalise
and interact with them. Highlight tips that really
transform your guitar playing.

MAKE THIS YOUR OWN BOOK

Do not skip lessons. The only way they will not work is if you’re too eager to move to the
next lesson. By taking the time to absorb what you just learned, the quality of your guitar
playing will be so much better.

Most importantly, all your practice is pre-planned from start to finish. You know exactly
what to work on and won’t forget to practice anything. As well as being the key to your
success, the “practice programs” keep you on track from start to finish. And you can
achieve in weeks, what took many people years to learn.

So Come On Now ... Pick Up Your Guitar ... and come with me on A Truly Unique Musical
Journey.
 LESSON 1

Lesson • HOW NOT TO PLAY GUITAR

01
• THE BEST GUITAR FOR YOU

• EVERYTHING YOU NEED

• HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR

 LESSON 1

HOW NOT TO PLAY

GUITAR
There are 9 reasons why people fail to learn guitar. Avoid them and you have
just about written your own guarantee of success. Here they are;

• Weak fingers • Learning G the wrong way

• Bad guitar teachers • Holding a guitar pick badly

• Bad thumb positioning • Learning on nylon string guitars

• Learning music theory • Holding guitar neck in chord hand

• Learning rhythms badly

 LESSON 1

BAD THUMB
If your thumb is badly positioned
your guitar will often sound
muddy.

If you raise your knuckle, you can

play basic chords. But fast chord
changing is impossible.
NO

If your thumb falls sideways, It

makes it very difficult to change
chords quickly, and to play
chords up the guitar neck.

NO

NO

BAD HOLD
With a bad grip you can play
basic rhythms but you will find
advanced rhythms very difficult
to perfect.
 LESSON 1

Learning the G chord as shown below is one of the main reasons why people
give up playing guitar. This G only works when you pick each string one by
one. But not when you strum all the strings at once.

It sounds muddy. And it can lead to other problems as you try to improve.

NO
Changing to C and D
can be difficult.

You can’t add as

many bass runs or
ornamentation.

YES

The best way to learn G is

more difficult, but only for a
few weeks.

After that you have a lifetime

of endless possibilities. It is
mostly played two ways.

One gives a rich airy sound. The other frees your 1st and 2nd fingers
to add more notes, polychords, and bass runs.
 LESSON 1

Most beginners pull the guitar neck back and crouch out and down to see the
strings. Avoid this and you will learn and improve much much faster. And your
guitar will be so much easier to play.

TOO
CROUCHED

NO

Guitar neck pulled back too far

• A faulty set up closes many doors

• It makes chord changing very difficult
• It makes strumming guitar rhythms very difficult
• It also can block the air supply needed to sing well
 LESSON 1

THE BEST GUITAR

FOR YOU
If you’re a beginner you need to know if you strum better with your right or left
hand. The one you write with is almost always the hand you strum a guitar with.
If you’re not sure try strumming a guitar both ways to see which is most natural.

A slim neck

Most professionals play slim neck - steel string - acoustic guitars. So should you
(unless you want to play classical guitar).
 LESSON 1

Light guage strings are easier to play

and won’t hurt your fingertips too much.
By keeping a guitar in a case when not
practicing the strings can last for a year
or more.

If it’s left out they tend to gather dust and

need to be replaced often. You can also
wipe them after playing.

GIRLS
Many of you have smaller
body frames than men so
it makes more sense to
learn on a slim size and
slim neck guitar.

As well as being much

easier to play, you will be
much more comfortable.
 LESSON 1

EVERYTHING

YOU NEED
GUITAR TUNER
If your guitar has a built-in tuner you
do not need to buy one.

A clip on tuner is the easiest to use,

especially if you’re a beginner.
 LESSON 1

Capo

String Winder

GUITAR BAG
Make sure the zip runs down the
side from top to bottom. Acoustic
Guitar Pick
It’s so much easier to put your
guitar into, and take it out of, this
type of guitar bag. Also it’s better
if the bag is well padded.
 LESSON 1

HOW TO TUNE

YOUR GUITAR
Guitar tuners can be tricky for beginners to use. Because they process sound waves
you have to pick a string to bring it alive. Then you need to keep sounding the string
to keep it responding....and turn the tuning head at the same time to tune the string.

A guitar tuner can process only one sound at a time. If it hears more it doesn’t know
which sound to process and gets confused.

A clip-on guitar tuner will solve all these problems instantly. They are the most user
friendly of all tuners because they only work when attached to the guitar head. So
they hear your guitar and nothing else. You can even tune with it in very noisy or
crowded areas.
 LESSON 1

STRING NOTE
6th E
5th A
4th D
3rd G
2nd B
1st E
In tune

It’s not enough to centre a needle or get a green light. The note on your tuner must
match the string you are tuning. Sometimes the strings need to be tuned more
than once. After tuning it’s a good idea to strum a little to settle them. Then tune
them again and you’re ready to play.

E
A
D
G
B
E
 LESSON 1

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • E A D G B E - 17

Lesson • TUNE YOUR GUITAR - 16

01
• REREAD HOW NOT
TO PLAY GUITAR - 8
 LESSON 2

Lesson • START AT PERFECT

02
• HOW TO HOLD
A GUITAR PICK

• HOW TO POSITION
YOUR CHORD HAND
 LESSON 2

START AT

PERFECT
How you set up to play guitar has
a huge impact on how quickly you
learn. Neglect this vital starting
point and it’s much more difficult
to play.

It only takes a few minutes to

learn, but you greatly increase your
chances of success.

And if you learn to hold a guitar

pick correctly from the start, it’s
much easier to learn rhythms.

Hold guitar pick correctly

 LESSON 2

WEIGHT
OF GUITAR
UNDER ARM
SIT
TALL

GUITAR
ANGLED
OUT

Guitar rests on the same leg as your rhythm hand

Keep the guitar neck angled out about the length of your forearm. This sets
your hand in front of you, the same as turning a key in a door. It makes chord
changing much easier, and helps to release your natural ability.
 LESSON 2

HOW TO HOLD A

GUITAR PICK
Some people don’t like using a guitar
pick. They say it slips as soon as they
start playing.

But in reality it’s their fingers that lose

position because they’re not holding it
the right way.

The learning technique on the next

page gives you a great way to hold a
guitar pick. Acoustic guitar pick
 LESSON 2

Make Slide finger Add

a circle under thumb guitar pick
 LESSON 2

HOW TO POSITION YOUR

CHORD HAND
Here is the simplest and best way to
position your chord hand every time.

1 Tilt your guitar

2 Position your thumb

3 Then position your fingers

This simple approach makes it much

easier to learn guitar chords.

And it’s easier to speed up your

chord changing too, which is the
great secret of playing guitar.
Thumb first - Then fingers
 LESSON 2

TILT
YOUR GUITAR
Tilting makes learning chords so
much easier. The guitar is now
doing some of the work for you.
It also helps to produce a good
sound.

POSITION
YOUR THUMB
1. Thumb on top for open
chords
2. Thumb low and centred for
barre chords

POSITION
YOUR FINGERS
T
The simple 3 step approach here
is technically perfect and exactly
as played by top guitarists.

It can help you achieve in weeks, 1

what many people took years to 2
learn.
 LESSON 2

Open chords Barre chords Other chords

THE SECRET
THE SECRET

Here is one of the great secrets of

playing guitar. In fact without it,
nothing is possible.

If you watch any great guitarist,

in any style of music, anywhere in
the world you’ll see ”The Guitar
Triangle”.

• Makes room for fingers to move

• Lets you play with your fingertips

• Prevents knuckles from collapsing

• Makes chord changing easier

Open chords
 LESSON 3

Lesson • HOW TO READ

CHORD BOXES

03
• THE BEST WAY TO
LEARN CHORDS

• 15 EASY GUITAR CHORDS

 LESSON 3

HOW TO READ

CHORD BOXES
Chord boxes are hugely helpful if you’re an
T Thumb
experienced guitarist. But because they only
show you the front of the guitar neck, They do
not work for most beginners. 1 1st Finger

However, if you’re a beginner the secret is to 2 2nd Finger

combine “The 3 Step Approach” (Page 25)
with the chord box.
3 3rd Finger
Now they’re much easier to follow - and save
you time. 4 4th Finger
 LESSON 3

x
T
6th String

2
1 String does
NOT sound

1st String

6th String

1st String

OR
x

2
 LESSON 3

THE BEST WAY TO

LEARN CHORDS
The absolute best way to learn guitar
chords is to practice a sequence of 3 or 4
chords at a time. And with your chord hand
only. Once you get to know the chords you
can then add your rhythm hand.

As well as learning new chords, this

helps to speed up your chord changes
(the bit between them). Whether you’re
a beginner or professional, D is D and G
is G. But the professional is much faster
between chords.

Players’ view
 LESSON 3

15
EASY
GUITAR
CHORDS
 LESSON 3

Em T

1
2

Cmaj7
T
x
2
1

G6
T
2
x
 LESSON 3

F# easy T

1
x

A2
T
x
1
2

G easy
T
2
x

3
 LESSON 3

D2
T
x

1
3

Dmaj9
T
x

1
2

Fmaj7
T
x
4TH x
FRET

1
3
 LESSON 3

Em7 T

E7 T

Am7
T
x
2

1
 LESSON 3

D7sus2
T
x
4TH
FRET

1
2

D/e
T
x
6TH
FRET

1
2

Amaj7
T
x
2
1
3
 LESSON 3

PLAYING EXERCISE 1
Keep repeating this chord sequence

EM - 32

Cmaj7 - 32

G6 - 32

F# - 33

SONG EXAMPLE
Zombie - The Cranberries
 LESSON 3

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • TUNE YOUR GUITAR - 16

Lesson • HOLD A GUITAR PICK - 23

03
• 2 NEW CHORDS - 32-36

• PLAYING EXERCISE - 37
 LESSON 4

Lesson • HOW TO PLAY

RHYTHM GUITAR

04
• HOW TO ROLL
GUITAR RHYTHMS

• 6 POPULAR ACOUSTIC
GUITAR RHYTHMS
 LESSON 4

HOW TO PLAY

RHYTHM GUITAR
The quickest way to master guitar rhythms is to
mute the strings with your chord hand. Now you
don’t have the pressure of trying to play a song
at the same time.

Strumming from over the soundhole gives you a

smoother sound. And because the strings seem
to bend easier the pick is less lightly to slip.

Some guitarists don’t use a pick at all. Instead

they strum with their thumb (downstrokes) and
1st finger (upstrokes), or their first finger only
for up and down strokes.

Mute the strings

 LESSON 4

DOWNSTROKE

Strum Down
Sound The Strings

Strum Down
Miss The Strings

Plectrum pointed UP
Strum 6 strings or less

UPSTROKE

Strum Up
Sound The Strings

Strum Up
Miss The Strings

Plectrum pointed DOWN

Strum bottom 4 strings or less
 LESSON 4

HOW TO ROLL
GUITAR RHYTHMS
To strum on time you need to softly roll your rhythms. It is the great key to good sound
and perfect timing. Even though there are thousands of different sounding rhythms, there
is only one pattern for them all. Here it is.

Down Up Down Up
 LESSON 4

BLACK Arrows - Strum The Strings GREY Arrows - Miss The Strings

Once a song starts can you feel how it rolls along? It doesn’t start stop start
stop. To do this on guitar your hand must have a down up down up non stop
rolling movement.

In many guitar lessons, someone trying to teach you will say go down down
down down. This is very misleading for many people. If I do four downstrokes
in a row my hand will hit the ground.

NO

YES

To do four downstrokes:

• You must also do upstrokes between them

• You continually roll your arm / wrist up and down

• But your audience only hears the black arrows

 LESSON 4

6 POPULAR ACOUSTIC
GUITAR RHYTHMS
rhythm 1

rhythm 2
 LESSON 4

rhythm 3

rhythm 4

rhythm 5

rhythm 6
 LESSON 4

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • TUNE YOUR GUITAR - 16

Lesson
• PLAYING EXERCISE - 37

04
• GUITAR RHYTHMS - 44-45

• 2 NEW CHORDS - 32-36

 LESSON 5

Lesson

05
• 3 NEW CHORDS

• HOW TO CHANGE
CHORDS FAST
 LESSON 5

Em T

2
3

• Thumb not touching 6th string 2 3

• Can also be played with 1st and 2nd finger

• Strum 6 strings - All 6 sound

 LESSON 5

E7sus4 T

• Thumb not touching 6th string 2 3

• Can also be played with 1st and 2nd finger

• Strum 6 strings - All 6 sound

 LESSON 5

HOW TO CHANGE

CHORDS FAST
When a finger is in the same position
for a sequence of two or more chords
you don’t need to move it.

It’s called a pivot finger. Just keep it

pressed down and pivot around it.

Most easy chord changes have a pivot

finger. Difficult ones don’t. Learning
guitar is much easier if you practice
pivot finger changes first.
 LESSON 5

PLAYING TIP 2
To change chords well, start moving
your fingers in the direction of the
new chord, during the last upstroke
of your present chord (Em7).

If you don’t do this you will have a

muddy sound at the start of the next
chord you play.

Get it right and two things happen;

1. The chord change is easier

2. The sound Is much clearer

Lift 3rd finger

Em

Lift 3rd
finger
E7sus4
 LESSON 5

PLAYING EXERCISE 2
Keep repeating this chord sequence

Em - 48

E7sus4 - 49

Em

E7sus4

SONG EXAMPLE
A Horse With No Name - America
 LESSON 5

E T

2
3
1

• Thumb not touching 6th string

1

2 3

• 1st finger in corner of fret

• Strum 6 strings - All 6 sound

 LESSON 5

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • TUNE YOUR GUITAR - 16

Lesson • PLAYING EXERCISE - 37

05
• GUITAR RHYTHMS - 44-54

• CHORD CHANGING - 51
 LESSON 6

Lesson • THE SPIDER EXERCISE

06
• HOW TO USE A CAPO

• 2 NEW CHORDS

• 4 EASY CHORD CHANGES

 LESSON 6

THE SPIDER

EXERCISE
If you’re a beginner your fingertips are too soft to produce clear sound. It usually
takes about three weeks for them to harden. Secondly you need four skilled fingers.
This exercise will help you to quickly upskill and strengthen all your fingers.

In everyday life you use your thumb and first two fingers for most activities. The 3rd
and 4th are seldom used except maybe for typing or playing a piano. Even then
you’re only lightly touching the keys. Pressing guitar strings is very demanding on
all four of your fingers.
 LESSON 6

STEP 1
Move 1st finger to the
5th string 1st fret

STEP 2
Move 2nd finger to the
5th string 2nd fret

STEP 3
Move 3rd finger to the
5th string 3rd fret

STEP 4
• Place 4 fingers on the 6th string
Move 4th finger to the • One finger in each fret
5th string 4th fret
• Move one finger at a time

You’ll find it quite difficult to

move the third finger on its own.
Because it’s still too weak to
play guitar, you might have to
use your other hand to move it.

Each time you do this exercise

you’re a step closer to playing
guitar really well.
 LESSON 6

1 2

Move 1st finger Move 2nd finger

CRAMP
Do you feel cramp during this exercise? Don’t worry. It’s quite
normal. Rest your hand until you feel ready to start again. Once
your hand is strong it won’t cramp anymore.

This exercise really exposes any weakness in your chord hand

and fingers in relation to playing guitar. But it’s also the solution.
 LESSON 6

3 4

Move 3rd finger Move 4th finger

• Once you arrive at the finish you can practice back up one
finger at a time.

• Start with the 1st finger up one string, then the 2nd finger up
one string, then the 3rd and so on.

• Keep going until all four fingers are back on the sixth string.
You will find it much easier going back up.
 LESSON 6

HOW TO USE

A CAPO
A capo can be placed on up to ten
frets. Even though you play with
the same chord positions, you get a
different set of sounds for each fret
that the capo is on.

Also the guitar should be pitched

to the vocalist in order to retain the
quality of their voice.
 LESSON 6

If a song suits your voice that’s

great. If it doesn’t, try putting a
capo on the 1st fret.

All you have to do is play the

same chord sequence again
and the song is in a higher key.

If this position suits your voice

that’s great. If not you can
move it up or down as many
frets as you like until it suits.

Capo on 1st fret

Capo on 4th fret

 LESSON 6

PLAYING EXERCISE 3
Keep repeating this chord sequence

CAPO ON 1ST FRET

G6 - 32

G6

CMAJ7 - 32

CMAJ7

SONG EXAMPLE
Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley
 LESSON 6

G easy T
2
x

3
x

• Thumb can touch 6th string

• 5th string muted by inside of 2nd finger 2 3

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 6

Asus2 T x

2
3

• Thumb touching 6th string

2 3

• 3rd finger in corner of fret

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 6

PLAYING EXERCISE 4
Keep repeating this chord sequence

Em - 32

G - 63

D - 84

Asus2 - 64

SONG EXAMPLE
Mad World - Tears For Fears
 LESSON 6

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • FINGER EXERCISE - 57

Lesson • CHORD CHANGING - 51

06
• GUITAR RHYTHMS - 44-45

• PLAYING EXERCISES - 62-65

 LESSON 7

Lesson • MORE EASY

07
CHORD CHANGES

• 3 NEW CHORDS

• 2 PLAYING EXERCISES
 LESSON 7

MORE EASY CHORD

CHANGES
As you saw earlier, it dramatically
increases your speed of progress to
learn at least two chords at a time.

The real art of your chord hand is

not the chords you play. It’s what
happens between them.

For the next 3 chords your first finger

stays in the same position. Am to D7
to Fmaj7. Again, there is no need to
move it when changing from chord
to chord. Next 3 chords - Thumb on top
 LESSON 7

AM T
x
2
3
1

x
1
• Thumb touching 6th string
2 3

• 1st finger in corner of fret

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 7

D7 T
x
x
2
1
3
x x
1
• Thumb touching 6th string 2 3

• 1st finger in corner of fret

• Strum bottom 4 strings

 LESSON 7

FMAJ7 T
x
x
3
2
1

x x
1
• Thumb touching 6th string
2

• 1st finger in corner of fret 3

• Strum bottom 4 strings

 LESSON 7

PLAYING EXERCISE 5
CAPO ON 2ND FRET
AM - 69

D7 - 70

FMAJ7 - 71

EM - 48

PLAYING TIPS SONG EXAMPLE

Am to D7 to Fmaj7 - Don’t move 1st finger Jammin - Bob Marley

Em - Raise your thumb

 LESSON 7

PLAYING EXERCISE 6
CAPO ON 5TH FRET

AM - 69 G - 63

AM G

AM G

AM G

SONG EXAMPLE
Somebody that I used to know - Gotye
 LESSON 7

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • FINGER EXERCISE - 57

Lesson • PLAYING EXERCISE - 65

07
• CHORD CHANGING - 69-71

• PLAYING EXERCISES - 72-73

 LESSON 8

Lesson • HOW TO TIME

GUITAR RHYTHMS

08
• 4 NEW CHORDS

• MORE EASY
CHORD CHANGES
 LESSON 8

HOW TO TIME
GUITAR RHYTHMS
1. Can you listen to a slow song that you
know well?

2. As it’s playing pick up your guitar

and mute the strings with your chord
hand. Count 1 2 3 4
3. -- 1 2 3 4.

4. If that does not work put on another

slow song until you can clearly hear
1 2 3 4 -- 1 2 3 4.

5. Start softly strumming the strings up

and down until you are on time with
the song. Very Important - A good hold
 LESSON 8

Your chord hand keeps the strings muted while you are doing this. It’s so much
easier to strum when you don’t have the added pressure of playing chords at the
same time.

Eventually you should be able to find a rhythm to suit any song you want to play.
It may not be exactly as recorded but the timing will be right. Also your own style
will be starting to develop.

RHYTHM 1

1 2 3 4

RHYTHM 2

1 2 3 4

RHYTHM 3

1 2 3
 LESSON 8

C T
x
3
2

x
1
• Thumb touching 6th string 2

• 1st finger in corner of fret 3

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

A T
x
1
2
3

• Thumb touches 6th string 1 2 3

• Squeeze 3 fingers together

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

PLAYING EXERCISE 7
Keep repeating this chord sequence

CAPO ON 2ND FRET

G - 63

Am - 69

Am
 LESSON 8

C - 78

PLAYING TIP SONG EXAMPLE

Am to C - Don’t move What’s Up - 4 Non Blondes
1st or 2nd finger
 LESSON 8

PLAYING EXERCISE 8
Keep repeating this chord sequence

C - 78

Am - 69

Am
 LESSON 8

Fmaj7 - 71

Fmaj7

PLAYING TIP SONG EXAMPLE

C to Am to Fmaj7 One - U2

Don’t move 1st finger

 LESSON 8

D T
x

1
3
2
x

• Thumb touching 6th string

1 2

• 3rd finger in middle of fret 3

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

A7sus4 T
x
1

• Thumb touching 6th string

1

• 3rd finger in middle of fret 33

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

Cadd9 T
x
2
1

• Thumb touching 6th string 1

• 3rd finger in middle of fret 2 3

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

G T
2
x

3
4
x

• Thumb may or may not touch 6th string

• 5th string muted by inside of 2nd finger 2 3 4

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 8

PLAYING TIPS
You can play tens of thousands of songs
on guitar without moving your thumb,
3rd finger, or triangle.

This keeps your fingers close to the strings

and your chord changing becomes much
faster.

If you look closely at all these chords

you’ll see:

1. The 3rd finger is in the same place

for all of them

2. The 3rd finger stays constantly

pressed into the string

3. The Guitar Triangle

4. The 1st and 2nd fingers do most

of the changing. Your hand stays
almost still.
 LESSON 8

PLAYING EXERCISE 9
Keep repeating this chord sequence

CAPO ON 3RD FRET

D - 84 G - 87

Let G chord sound

G D A7sus4 - 85

Let A7sus4 chord sound

PLAYING TIP
When changing, don’t
move your
SONG EXAMPLE
1. Thumb
Free Falling - Tom Petty
2. 3rd finger

3. Triangle
 LESSON 8

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • FINGER EXERCISE - 57

Lesson • GUITAR RHYTHMS - 44-45

08
• PLAYING TIPS - 88

• PLAYING EXERCISES - 80-83

 LESSON 9

Lesson • 2 NEW CHORDS

09
• 5 POPULAR
CHORD SEQUENCES

• HOW TO READ
GUITAR TABLATURE
 LESSON 9

Asus4
T
x
1
2
3

• Thumb touching 6th string 1 2

• 3rd finger in middle of fret 3

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 9

Am7 T
x
2

x
1
• Thumb touching 6th string 2

• 1st finger in corner of fret

• Strum 6 strings - Only 5 sound

 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 10
Keep repeating this chord sequence

PLAY FAST
D - 84

Cadd9 - 86

G - 87

PLAYING TIP SONG EXAMPLE

Don’t move 3rd finger Sweet Home Alabama
 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 11
Keep repeating this chord sequence

CAPO ON 2ND FRET

A - 79

D - 84

G - 87

Em - 32

SONG EXAMPLE
Pride - U2
 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 12
Keep repeating this chord sequence
G - 87

D - 84

cadd9 - 86

cadd9

SONG EXAMPLE
Knocking On Heavens Door
Bob Dylan
 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 13
Keep repeating this chord sequence

CAPO ON 1ST FRET

G - 87

D - 84

Am7 - 93

Am7

SONG EXAMPLE
Rise - Gabrielle
 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 14
Keep repeating this chord sequence

D - 84

Asus4 - 92

Asus4
 LESSON 9

Cadd9 - 86

Cadd9

G - 87

PLAYING TIP SONG EXAMPLE

Don’t move 3rd finger Linger - The Cranberries
 LESSON 9

HOW TO READ

GUITAR
TABLATURE
Guitar tablature is very easy to learn. The six horizontal lines represent the six strings on
the guitar. The numbers are the frets to play. 0 = Open String. 2 = 2nd Fret.

If the numbers are written one after another, you pick the strings one at a time (after you
have fingered the chord). If the numbers are written on top of each other, you play all the
strings at once (strumming).

Pick 4th string 2nd

fret with 1st finger.
Pick 1st string Then pull 1st finger
open twice C off to sound open
Mostly 4th string.
Em Upstroke
1st string 0 0 0 0
2nd string 0 1
3rd string 0 0 2 4
4th string 2 2 2 0
5th string 2 0 2
6th string 4 0
Downstroke
Pick 6th string Pick 5th string open. Pick 3rd string 2nd
4th fret once Then hammer on to fret. Then slide finger
5th string 2nd fret to 3rd string 4th fret.
with 2nd finger.
 LESSON 9

PLAYING EXERCISE 15

D - 84 G - 87
2 3
3 3 3 3
2 2 0 0
0
3

HOW TO CONVERT SHEET MUSIC

INTO GUITAR TABLATURE

b #
b #
# #

T 0
A 0 1 2 3 4
B 0 1 2 3 4
0 1 2 3 4
E F F# G G# A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G

# #
b
#
b #
#

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
T 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4
A
B
G# A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G G# A Bb B
 LESSON 9

PRACTICE
PROGRAM • FINGER EXERCISE - 57

Lesson • PLAYING EXERCISES - 80-83

09
• PLAYING TIPS - 88

• PLAYING EXERCISES - 94-99

 LESSON 10

Lesson • HOW TO PLAY

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR

10
• 6 POPULAR
FINGERSTYLES

• 50 MOST PLAYED
GUITAR CHORDS
 LESSON 10

HOW TO PLAY

FINGERSTYLE
GUITAR
Competent guitarists play by feel
and without looking at their picking
hand. They do this by playing from a
reference point.

Many have the heel pad of their

hand lightly resting on the bridge
pins (pictured right).

Others have the 3rd or 4th finger on

the guitar (Next page).
 LESSON 10

HITCH
HIKERS
THUMB
T

RAISED
KNUCKLES

PLAYING TIPS
• Visualize a ball in your hand

• Thumb picks down

• Fingers pick up

• Thumb picks a little louder

than fingers
 LESSON 10

ROMANZA
Fingerstyle Guitar

7 7 7 7 5 3
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
T

3 2 0 0 3 7
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

12 12 12 12 10 8
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

1st finger presses 1st finger

3 strings on 5th fret. still pressing
4th finger on 8th fret 3 strings

8 7 5 5 7 8
5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5
0 0

Thumb moves
to 5th string
 LESSON 10

7 5 3 3 2 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0
Thumb moves
to 6th string

From D7
move 1st finger
to 5th string Add 4th Lift 4th
2nd fret finger finger
D7 - Page 70
2 2 2 2 3 2
1 1 1 0 0 0
2 2 2 2 2 2
0 2

Thumb moves
to 5th string

First time only

0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0
2
2
3 0

NOW GO BACK TO START

Second time

12
12 12
12 12

0
 LESSON 10

6 POPULAR

FINGERSTYLES
Em - 48
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

0 0
T 1 2 3 2 1

Am - 69
0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 0

T 1 2 1 T 1 2 1
 LESSON 10

Cmaj7 - 32
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
2 2
3 3

T 1 2 3 T 1 2 3

Asus2 - 64
0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0

T 3 1 T 2 1

Cmaj7 - 32
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
2 2
3 3

T 1 2 3 2 1 T 1

Am - 69
0 0 0 0
1 1
2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0

T 1 T 1 T 1
T
 LESSON 10

50 MOST PLAYED
GUITAR CHORDS
 LESSON 10

A
x
T

1
2
3

Asus2
T
x
5TH
FRET
3
2

Amaj7
T
x
4TH
FRET
2
3
1
 LESSON 10

A7
T
x
1

Am
T
x
2
3
1

Am7
T
x
2

1
 LESSON 10

A/e
1
3 4TH
FRET
4
2

B
3 6TH
FRET
4
1
2

B easier
x
1
3
4
 LESSON 10

Bsus4
1
3 6TH
FRET
4
2

Bm
x
3
4 1
2

Bm easier
T
x
x
3
2
1
 LESSON 10

C T
x
3
2

C another way
T
3
4
2

C7 T
x
3
2
4
1
 LESSON 10

Csus4 T
x
3
4

Cmaj7
T
x
3
2

Cadd9 T
x
2
1

3
 LESSON 10

C/b T
x
2

C#m
x
3RD
FRET
3
4 1
2

C#m easier
x
1 3RD
FRET
3
4
 LESSON 10

D
T
x

1
3
2

Dm
T
x

2
3
1

D7
T
x
x
2
1
3
 LESSON 10

D2
T
x

1
3

Dsus4
T
x

1
3
4

Dm7
T
x

1
 LESSON 10

Dmaj7
T
x
x

E T

2
3
1

E/a polychord
2 5TH
FRET
3
1
 LESSON 10

E/b polychord
2 7TH
FRET
3
1

Emaj7
3 3RD
FRET
4
1

E7 T

1
 LESSON 10

Esus4 T

1
2
3

E5
1 6TH
FRET
3
4

Em/g
T
3
1
2
 LESSON 10

F
T
3
4
2
1
x

F easier
T
x
3
4
2
1
x

F2
T
3
4

1
x
 LESSON 10

Fmaj7
T
x
x
3
2
1

Fmaj7 easier
T
x
4TH x
FRET

1
3

F#m7
T
x
3
4
1
 LESSON 10

F#m
3
4
1

F#m easier
T
x
3
4
1

G
T
2
x

3
4
 LESSON 10

G another way
T
3
x

G7 T
3
x

Gmaj7 T
2
x

1
 LESSON 10

GaddD7
T
3
x

2
1
4

Gsus4
T
3
x

1
4

gaddC
T
3
x
2

1
4
 NOW YOU CAN PLAY GUITAR

Have you come this far step by step?

If so ... You Have Done A Great Job!

CONGRATULATIONS!
NOW YOU CAN PLAY GUITAR
Even if you have not fully mastered every lesson
you’re still doing very well. Any new discipline
can be painful, but only for a short time.

It does get easier. The most important thing right

now is to understand these lessons. In time they
become a permanent part of your playing style.

And you have enough guitar chords, rhythms

and playing skills for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Q uestions or T houghts R eview R equest

Email If you have a moment, please
leave a review. Your feedback
pauricsguitarschool@gmail.com
greatly helps all of us on our
musical journey.
I would love to hear from you.
 MEET THE AUTHOR

MEET THE
AUTHOR
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the most individual and personalised you will ever find. They have helped thousands
of people to learn guitar. What’s even more remarkable is that you need no
knowledge of music to learn from his teaching style.

As well as being an expert guitar

teacher, Pauric Mather is the author
of 4 #1 best sellers.

From Dublin, Ireland, he’s been a

professional guitarist since 1987, and
has worked with many successful
artists.

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world. His books and teaching
methods are available in more than
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