Guitar Tricks Online Guitar Lessons

Learn Song: One At A Time

 
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Now it's time to try using our brand new arpeggiation technique in a song. Once again we'll have an intro, and we're keep that super simple by just strumming an open E minor chord, then a G major chord. Next to make it a bit more interesting we'll strum a cool rhythm.

Then for our main section of the song we'll play A minor and we'll use our arpeggiation pattern for 2 bars. Don't worry if this is still hard to execute cleanly, because our fretting hand is making it so that any note we play with the picking hand will sound good. So just embrace your mistakes and make it part of the music!

After that we'll go to the C major chord. Then we'll go back to A minor again, then we'll go to a G chord. Then we'll repeat the whole section.

Finally we'll reuse our intro as the outro and strum an A minor chord and let it ring to end the song.

Instructor Anders Mouridsen
Tutorial:
Arpeggiation
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
print notation download lesson open guitar tuner
Learn Song: One At A Time song notation

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Questions & Answers

3 months ago
Hi there, I see a lot of questions about the G chord, and personally, I also find it easier to switch from the C chord to the G chord by playing the G chord with your pinky. My former guitar teacher also taught me a kind of “G rock” chord that requires four fingers; I’m not quite sure what it’s called. I use this chord quite often now because it has a nice, full sound. To play this chord, place your index finger on the second fret of the A string, your middle finger on the third fret of the E string (the upper E string), your ring finger on the third fret of the B string, and your pinky on the third fret of the low E string. This creates a kind of G chord that is often used in rock songs, which gives a fuller G sound. I think that’s why Anders teaches the chord this way at first, so that you can use this “rock chord” more easily later on because it’s a chord that’s used quite often. . My two cents ;)
Mike Olekshy 3 months ago

Hi there - thanks so much for your suggestions!! However, I think you might have made a bit of a mistake in describing how to fret the 4 finger G chord. It should be as follows: Middle finger 3rd fret of the Low E string, Index finger 2nd fret of the A string, Ring finger 3rd fret of the B string, and Pinky 3rd fret of the high E string. Also - with regards to fretting the 3 finger G chord - yes, you can fret the chord as follows: Ring finger 3rd fret of the low E string, Middle finger 2nd fret of the A string, and Pinky 3rd fret of the high E string. This facilitates an easier switch to the open C chord since the Ring and Middle fingers can keep the exact same formation and simply move up to the A and D strings. Thanks again!! Hope this helps!!

7 months ago
My first guitar instructor and some YouTube videos say to fret the G chord with the pinky finger (#4) on the 3rd fret of the high E string, #3 finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, & #2 finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. This makes the transition between the C chord & G chord easier. I don't see where Guitar tricks suggests that as an option. Thoughts?
Mike Olekshy 7 months ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your question! Yes you can fret the G chord this way. Anders does not mention this in the Fundamentals course so as to keep things as simple as possible. The way Anders shows is the most common way the G chord is taught, but the alternate way to fret the chord is used plenty and indeed makes the transition to the C chord easier. Ultimately, it is good to be fluent in fretting the G chord both ways, as the context of the music will usually dictate which fingering is preferrable. Hope this helps!!

1 year ago
I have large round fingers which when doing arpeggiation deaden the strings next to them. I have to place the fingers exactly or the neighboring string is deadened. I am using medical tape to squeeze the finger tips which helps a little. Do you have any other suggestions?
Mike Olekshy 1 year ago

Hello - thanks so much for your question! Go slow with it, and try to curl your fingers as much as possible. Practice putting your fingers on the chord, with as much curl as you can - and scooch them in so that each note rings out cleanly. If there are any dead notes, you must adjust your hand, fingers, or thumb so that the note can ring out. Practice often so that the muscles in your fingers start to loosen up and you can go right to a clean chord without having to adjust. Stick with it! It's very challenging at first, but you'll get it!

2 years ago
Any thoughts on using a different fingering for the G chord, like instead of 1,2, & 3, using 2, 3, & 4?
Mike Olekshy 2 years ago

Hello and thanks for your great question! Absolutely - using 2, 3 and 4 is super helpful for index finger embellishments, or quicker chord changes depending on previous or next chord in the progression. Practicing both fingerings is well worth your while!