| When we start out learning how to play guitar, we | | | | around with the root note of the chord-- all following |
| may buy guitar books and guitar DVDs, or even start | | | | a 12 Bar Blues chord pattern. |
| guitar lessons, and all of these ways are great at | | | | Five- Nothing Else Matters |
| advancing your guitar technique and musical | | | | It's not often that a Thrash Metal band writes such a |
| understanding as a beginner guitarist. However, the | | | | heartfelt, emotional song-- and even less often that |
| very best way to learn the instrument, and to see it | | | | they get away with it! Although quite long (at around |
| in action in a band situation, is to do so by learning | | | | 6 minutes and 28 seconds), this song is great for |
| songs- but, where do you start? | | | | practicing your open chords-- and your picking-- as |
| To answer this question, I have compiled a list of the | | | | each chord is arpeggiated. |
| top ten beginner guitar tunes that you must learn to | | | | Six- House of the Rising Sun |
| play-- whether by guitar TAB, or by musical | | | | How have we got over half way, without mentioning |
| notation-- and I list several reasons explaining each | | | | this classic? In a similar vein to my last choice, this |
| choice. | | | | song is great to lean for the chords and arpeggios |
| Number one-- 12 Bar Blues. | | | | around them. It's also a great track to solo over-- |
| Ok, so this isn't really a song, but it's so important for | | | | once you're learnt the A minor pentatonic scale of |
| a modern guitarist to understand Blues music-- as this | | | | course! |
| is what every contemporary music genre is based on! | | | | Seven- Wonderwall |
| Whether you prefer to play acoustic guitars, or like | | | | Although considered "overplayed" by some, this track |
| to use a high powered amplifier with tonnes of guitar | | | | deserves our attention because of its, surprisingly |
| pedals to achieve "that"Â guitar tone, this | | | | complicated, rhythm part. Many people think they can |
| classic piece of musical literature is a must for any | | | | play it right, but if you can get the vigorous |
| aspiring guitar player! | | | | strumming of this one down, you're well on your way |
| Two- Smoke on the Water. | | | | to becoming the next Noel Gallagher. |
| Any wannabe guitarist, who doesn't want to learn | | | | Eight- Sweet Home Alabama |
| this brilliant piece of musical history, should probably, I | | | | Maybe this has been played too much, maybe not, |
| don't know, take piano lessons instead! Everyone | | | | but this southern rocker cannot go without a mention |
| recognises the first riff, crafted out of a mixture of | | | | somewhere in this list! It requires lots of picking |
| aggressive power chords and sheer rock! All, of | | | | control to properly execute this riff, as the rhythm is |
| course, carved by the bare hands of Richie | | | | the key feature. So make sure you give it plenty of |
| Blackmore. Truly a legendary guitar piece! | | | | practice... |
| Three- You Really Got Me | | | | ...as if you need me to tell you that?! |
| If you learn the Kinks original, or Van Halen's souped | | | | And Finally... |
| up cover version, the four power chords of the main | | | | Anything written by the guitar genius Jimi Hendrix, |
| riff should be a part of your musical vocabulary | | | | does he need an explanation? From the rhythm |
| almost as soon as you can hold a guitar! Keeping to | | | | playing in "Little Wing" to the backwards guitar solo in |
| the theme of crunchy powerchords, this was the | | | | "Third Stone from the Sun", his guitar parts are |
| first popular song to include distortion as a desired | | | | inspiring to say the least. Be inspired! By the way, this |
| effect, and that effect can still be felt to this day! | | | | one counts for at least two choices-- its that |
| Four- Sunshine of your love | | | | important! |
| With my earlier mention of this 12 Bar Blues, this | | | | So there we have it, ten songs that are not |
| should go without explanation. The main riff is taken | | | | Stairway to...I mean that you must learn to play, and |
| from the D minor pentatonic scale, which is moved | | | | why! |