Cleaning the Guitar Body

Cleaning the guitar body is an important aspect of regular maintenance for acoustic guitars. Over time, dirt, oil, and sweat can build up on the guitar’s surface and affect its appearance and playability. By cleaning the guitar body regularly, you can help maintain its aesthetic appeal and protect it from long-term damage.

Moreover, dirt and grime can accumulate in the guitar’s crevices and impact its sound quality. The buildup of dirt on the guitar body can also lead to discoloration and deterioration of the guitar’s finish, making it less attractive and valuable. Regular cleaning can help prevent these issues and keep your guitar looking and sounding its best. In addition, cleaning the guitar body can prevent the accumulation of dust, which can attract pests such as moths and spiders that may damage the guitar. By keeping your guitar clean, you can help prevent costly repairs or replacements and ensure that your instrument continues to play and sound great over time.

Here’s how to do it:

Use a Damp Cloth to Clean Dirt, Oil, and Sweat

Start by wiping down the body of your guitar with a soft, damp cloth. This will remove any dirt, oil, or sweat that may have accumulated on the surface. Be sure to use a clean cloth each time, and avoid using too much pressure.

Use a Guitar Cleaner

For tougher stains or dirt, you can use a specialized guitar cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a soft cloth, and gently wipe down the body of your guitar. Avoid using harsh chemicals or rubbing alcohol, as they can damage the finish of your guitar.

Cleaning the Guitar Strings

Cleaning the guitar strings is an important aspect of maintaining your acoustic guitar’s sound quality and prolonging its lifespan. As you play your guitar, sweat and dirt can accumulate on the strings and make them feel sticky, which can impact the tone and playability of the instrument. By cleaning the guitar strings regularly, you can remove this buildup and restore the strings’ clarity and tone.

Here are some ways to clean your guitar strings:

Cleaning the Strings with a Damp Cloth

After each playing session, wipe down your guitar strings with a soft, damp cloth to remove any dirt, sweat, or oil. This will help keep your strings sounding fresh and bright.

Using a String Cleaner

You can also use a specialized string cleaner to remove any stubborn grime or dirt that may have accumulated on your strings. Apply the cleaner to a soft cloth, and gently wipe down each string. You might want slightly loosen the strings for easy access.

Boiling the Strings

For a deeper clean, you can boil your guitar strings in water for a few minutes. This will remove any dirt or oil that may be trapped in the winding of the strings. Be sure to let the strings dry completely before restringing your guitar.

For this you’ll need to take out all the strings off the guitar which can be tedious but it works amazingly well. You can do this once every month or so depending on your use.

Using Rubbing Alcohol

You can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your guitar strings. Apply a small amount to a soft cloth, and gently wipe down each string. Be sure to let the strings dry completely before playing. We recommend taking the strings out before doing this or doing this very carefully in order not to touch any other part of the guitar as rubbing alcohol can damage the lacquered surfaces.

Cleaning the Guitar Fretboard

The fretboard is another important part of your guitar that requires regular maintenance. Fret cleaning and conditioning is essential to keep your guitar playing and sounding its best. Over time, the frets can become dirty or corroded, which can affect the tone and playability of your guitar. It also prevents the wood from drying out and cracking.

Here’s how to keep it clean and well-maintained:

Using a Damp Cloth to Clean

Start by wiping down the fretboard with a soft, damp cloth. This will remove any dirt or grime that may have accumulated on the surface.

Using a Toothbrush to Clean the Frets

To clean the frets, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and some fretboard cleaner. Gently scrub each fret to remove any dirt or corrosion.

Conditioning the Fretboard

After cleaning the fretboard and frets, it’s important to condition the wood to keep it from drying out. You can use a specialized fretboard conditioner or lemon oil to keep the wood moisturized. Apply a small amount of conditioner or oil to a soft cloth and rub it into the fretboard in the direction of the grain. Be sure to wipe off any excess conditioner or oil when you’re done.

Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Guitar Fret and Fretboard

• Dos: Use a soft cloth and gentle pressure to clean the frets and fretboard. Use a fretboard conditioner or lemon oil to maintain the wood’s moisture level.
• Don’ts: Do not use too much moisture or pressure when cleaning the frets or fretboard. Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive materials when cleaning.

Storing Your Guitar

Proper storage is crucial in maintaining the condition of your guitar along with its performance and longevity, especially if you’re not using it for an extended period. Proper storage and care can help your guitar last for years and even decades. By protecting it from damage, you can prevent costly repairs or replacements and ensure that your guitar continues to sound and play its best over time.

Here are some storage tips for your guitar.

Preventing Neck Warp and Damage

Storing your guitar in an upright position without proper support or leaving the strings tightened for extended periods of time can cause the neck to warp and damage the instrument’s overall structure. Loosening the strings or storing your guitar on a stand or in a case can help prevent this damage.

Dos and Don’ts of Storing Your Guitar

• Dos: Store your guitar in a case or gig bag when not in use. Use a humidifier to maintain the ideal humidity level for your guitar.
• Don’ts: Do not expose your guitar to extreme temperature or humidity. Do not store your guitar in direct sunlight or near a heat source.

Protect Your Guitar from Humidity and Temperature Changes

Extreme humidity and temperature changes can damage your guitar’s wood and affect its tone. Here are some ways to protect your guitar from humidity and temperature changes.

• Store your guitar in a temperature-controlled room away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Use a humidifier to maintain the ideal humidity level for your guitar.
• If you’re traveling with your guitar, use a hard-shell case or gig bag that offers protection against temperature and humidity changes.

Changing Guitar Strings

As you play your guitar, the strings will eventually wear out and lose their brightness. It’s important to change your strings regularly to ensure that your guitar sounds its best. But how do you know when it’s time to change your strings? And what mistakes should you avoid when changing them?

When to Change Your Guitar Strings

As a general rule, you should change your guitar strings every 3-6 months, depending on how often you play and how much you sweat. If you play your guitar every day or perform frequently, you may need to change your strings more often. But if you only play occasionally, you can probably wait a bit longer.

Here are some signs that it’s time to change your guitar strings:

• Your strings look dull or discolored
• Your guitar sounds “dead” or “muddy”
• Your strings feel rough to the touch
• Your guitar won’t stay in tune

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Guitar Strings

Changing guitar strings may seem simple, but there are some common mistakes that beginners often make. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t remove all of your strings at once. Instead, remove and replace one string at a time to avoid putting too much tension on the neck.
• Don’t cut your strings too short. Leave enough excess to wind around the tuning peg a few times.
• Don’t forget to stretch your strings. After you’ve replaced your strings, gently tug on each one to help stretch them out and keep them in tune.
• Don’t over-tighten your strings. Tighten each string gradually, but do not tune it. Once all the strings are secured, you can start the tuning process.
• Don’t forget to clip the excess string. Once you’ve tightened each string, clip the excess with wire cutters or scissors.

Polishing Your Guitar

Polishing your guitar is an essential part of maintaining its appearance and protecting its finish from scratches and wear. Regular use of the guitar can cause the finish to become dull and worn, which can be unsightly and impact the instrument’s value. Polishing your guitar regularly can help restore its shine and protect its finish, ensuring that it continues to look great for years to come.

Here are some tips for how to polish your guitar without damaging it:

How to Properly Polish Your Guitar

To polish your guitar, you’ll need a soft cloth and a guitar polish or wax. Here’s how to do it:

1. Apply a small amount of polish or wax to the cloth. Don’t use too much – a little goes a long way.
2. Gently rub the cloth over the body of the guitar, using circular motions. Be careful not to press too hard.
3. Use a clean part of the cloth to buff the guitar and remove any excess polish or wax.

Do Not Polish Too Often

While it’s important to keep your guitar looking clean, you don’t want to polish it too often. Polishing can remove damage lacquered surfaces if done too often. For most guitars, polishing once every few months is sufficient.

Dos and Don’ts of Polishing Your Guitar

Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when polishing your guitar:

• Do use a soft cloth. Microfiber cloths or cotton cloths work well.
• Do avoid getting polish or wax on the fretboard or other non-glossy surfaces.
• Do follow the instructions on the polish or wax label.
• Don’t use furniture polish or other household cleaning products on your guitar.
• Don’t use too much pressure when polishing your guitar.

Daily Maintenance Tips

These daily maintenance tips for can help prolong the lifespan of your instrument and maintaining its optimal performance. Simple tasks such as wiping down the guitar after use and storing it properly can prevent dirt and grime from building up and causing damage to the instrument. Regularly checking the guitar’s tuning and adjusting the strings can also help to keep it in good working order and prevent more significant issues from arising.

Here are some daily maintenance tips to keep in mind:

Quick and Easy Maintenance Tips for Daily Use

• Wipe down your guitar after each use with a soft cloth to remove any sweat, oil, or dirt.
• Keep your guitar in a case or on a guitar stand when you’re not playing it.
• Use a humidifier in dry environments to prevent the wood from drying out.
• Use a strap to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the neck of the guitar.
• Check the tuning and make any necessary adjustments before playing.

How to Prevent Damage and Prolong the Life of Your Guitar

• Avoid exposing your guitar to extreme temperatures or humidity.
• Don’t leave your guitar in a hot car or near a window where it can be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Avoid touching the guitar with dirty or oily hands.
• Don’t put any stickers or tape on the guitar, as they can damage the finish.
• Avoid bumping or dropping your guitar.

By following these daily maintenance tips, you can help prevent damage to your guitar and ensure that it lasts for years to come.

Conclusion

Taking care of your acoustic guitar doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a little bit of knowledge and some simple tools, you can keep your guitar in top condition and ensure that it sounds great for years to come.

Regular cleaning, string changes, and polishing can help maintain the look and feel of your guitar, while proper storage and daily maintenance can help prevent damage and prolong its life.

Remember, your guitar is more than just an instrument – it’s a work of art that deserves to be treated with care and respect. So take the time to give your guitar the care it deserves, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, well-playing instrument that you can enjoy for years to come.

FAQs

How often should I clean my guitar?

You should clean your guitar after each playing session to prevent the accumulation of dirt and sweat. As for a deep cleaning routine, we recommend only performing it every few months or so depending on your use and skin chemistry.

Can I use household cleaning products to clean my guitar?

No, you should avoid using household cleaning products on your guitar as they can damage the finish.

How often should I change my guitar strings?

It depends on how often you play and how much you sweat. As a general rule, you should change your guitar strings every 3-6 months.

How do I know if my guitar is out of tune?

You can use a guitar tuner or tuning app to check if your guitar is out of tune.

Can I change my guitar strings myself?

Yes, you can change your guitar strings yourself. However, if you are not comfortable doing so, you can take your guitar to a professional luthier.

Today we have an awesome lesson from David Taub directed at all you beginners out there.  David is going to introduce you to the wonderful world of alternate guitar tuning.  You are going to be amazed at how quickly and easily you are going to be able to play music in this particular tuning.

The particular tuning you will be learning today is called “Open G Tuning”. When we say “Open Tuning”, all this means is that when you strum the strings open, without fretting any notes, it will play whatever chord that particular tuning is in. For instance, in this particular lesson you will be learning Open G Tuning, so when you strum the open strings, it will play a “G Major” chord.

Open G Tuning is a very popular alternate tuning. A lot of great bands use this particular tuning. Bands like Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, have all used Open G with their songs. You can get some really great sounds with it.

Apart from showing you how to tune your guitar to Open G, David will also show you how to play chords and progressions using this alternate tuning. Enjoy!

This song was a collaborative effort amongst the members of the band with Richard Wright and David Gilmour writing the music and Roger Waters writing the Lyrics.  It is from the 1973 Album “Dark Side of the Moon”, one of my favorites.

This song has some easy beginner chords but there are also some rather challenging ones mixed in there as well.   Do not shy away from this song because of the more challenging chords.  If you never challenge yourself, you will never improve past the beginner phase, so give this song a try.

Here are the chords you will need to know to play this song:

Chords:  E Minor, A7, CMaj7, BMin7, FMaj7, G Major, D7#9, D7b9

Enjoy the lesson!

Guitar Lesson

As Performed by Pink Floyd

Download the Easy Acoustic Songs Course from GuitarJamz!

This is a super easy beginner song using all basic guitar chords that you probably already know how to play.  The only part of this song that may be challenging if you are an absolute beginner is the strumming pattern.  It is a fast  paced rhythm that you may find a bit tricky.  If you are unable to play along at the correct speed, then slow it down.  Play it at a speed where you aren’t making any errors.  Once you perfect that speed, then go a little faster.

To play this particular version of the song that Marty teaches, you will need to use a capo on the 2nd fret.  If you aren’t sure what a capo is or how to use one, follow this link for more information on how to use a guitar capo for acoustic guitar.

The chord shapes you will need to know are :  A Minor, C Major, E Minor and D Major.

The rhtyhm:  D U D U U U D U D U

The original version of this song is played on electric guitar and uses barre chords so it has a much different sound.  Marty has simplified this song for acoustic so that players of all levels can play along.  See the video below…

Video Tutorial

As Performed by Daft Punk

This song was written and recorded by Pink featuring Nate Ruess.  It is from Pink’s 6th studio album entitled “The Truth About Love” released in 2012.  The song enjoyed success here in the States as well as abroad in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy to name a few.  It was Pink’s third solo number one hit  on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  You can read more about this song over at Wikipedia.

Video Tutorial

Here is a popular easy acoustic guitar song for you to learn today. The name of the song is “Just give me a reason” and it’s by Pink. Marty Schwartz is your instructor and you can follow along with the lesson by watching the video above.

This is a fairly easy song. It is comprised of mostly beginner guitar chords with the exception of only one barre chord. So this is a great song to kind of take you out of that “beginner” zone into some intermediate guitar playing. So don’t click away from this page because you heard the words “barre chord”. Give this song a try and challenge yourself and take your guitar playing to a new level.

The chords you will need to know are: E Minor, A Major, D Major, G Major, C Major, C/B (this chords sounds much harder than it really is. All you need to do is play a regular C Major chord ,then remove your ring finger and then place your middle finger up to the second fret of the A String. Marty will demonstrate exactly how to do it in the video tutorial.), A Minor and the B Minor Barre Chord.

There is a lso a little lick to play which isn’t very difficult at all but if you are an absolute beginner, you can skip the lick and just play the chords. Marty will teach you how to play the lick in the video. IF you are an absolute beginner and you are feeling adventurous, by all means give it a try! It really isn’t difficult to be honest.

Marty will go over the chord progression and rhythm and other details of the song in the video. Tune in and learn this song now! I hope you enjoy.

As Performed by Pink

We are gonna use  base chords and  embellishments.  You can just stay on the base chords if you aren’t comofrtable with the embellishments, but let me show you what you can do with these chords.

The first chord is A Minor.  You can always take your first finger off and play the Asus2.  Your pinky can also go on the high E string on the third fret and play an A Minor 7th chord. Or you can put your pinky on the third fret of the B strting and play an Asus4.

We then go to the G Major Chord.  When playing this chord, play it with three fingers as opposed to 4 fingers because it will be easier to play the chord embellishments if you have a fourth finger free. For instance, with your index finger free, you can play a Gadd4 Guitar Chord by placing your index finger on the B string of the first fret.  You could also drop down your second finger and play the A note which is on the 2nd fret of the G string, which is a Gsus2.

From here we play a G Major chord again only this time we play it with four fingers.  You then take your first finger off of the 2nd fret of the A string and put it on the 2nd fret of the low E string. That is a G/F# Chord.  You then play an E Minor chord and then add your pinky to the d note of the 3rd fret giving you an Em7 chord.  We follow this up with a C Major then D Major and back to E Minor.

This is basically the same as if you were writing a song where the first verse would be the A Minor to G Chords.

If you are just starting out, you can stick with a simple A Minor to G Major chord progression without all the embellishments mentioned earlier and use a simple strumming pattern.

The strumming pattern used here is d/d/u/u/d/u

Once you are able to play this simple chord progression without error, you can then move on to adding the embellishments like the Asus2, Am7, Gadd4 etc. as discussed above.

We then move on to what sounds like the chorus, the C Major, D Major, G Major, G/F#, Em progression. The G/F# is a very popular way to walk down from the G Major Chord.  For that walk down process use the pattern: d/d/u  d/d/u.  For the whole progression, you will use the strumming pattern of : d/d/u/u/d/u.

The progression then ends with C Major, D Major to Em.

Again, just like the first progression, keep things simple and then start adding the variations that David teaches in the video lesson above.

Another great lesson from David Taub with Next Level Guitar.  In this lesson David will show you a really enjoyable and easy to play chord progression.  This a great lesson for the beginner as it covers things like strumming, timing and chord changes which are all essential techniques that every guitarist should master.

My name is Scott Edwards, and I’m the founder of EarTrainingHQ.com. I’ve written this article to explain the important concepts and exercises that make up the foundation of ear training. At EarTrainingHQ.com, we’re hoping to spread the word that ear training is achievable for everyone with the right approach, so I hope that with this article, I can get that message to you!

Why Train Your Ears?

There’s no point in learning how to do something, if you don’t see any reason to do it.. So let’s start out with the benefits that you’ll get from training your ears.

My philosophy of ear training focuses on the development of one skill:

Learning how to recognise which notes are being played when you hear music.

This skill is invaluable for any musician. If you can recognise the notes of any music you hear, you’ll be able to either write down, or play any music you hear. The uses of this skill are endless. You’ll be able to:

• Memorise music quickly and effortlessly, because you can play anything you can sing or hum. Meaning all the music you already know how to sing/hum, will instantly become a part of your repertoire.
• Improvise and compose music naturally, entirely by ear, by simply playing/writing down the melodies/chords that appear in your head.
• Play/transcribe the music you hear from other musicians/recordings, by just writing down or playing along with them as you hear them.

Once you’ve trained your ears, you’ll never play music in the same way again – you’ll become a natural and musical player, and you’ll be able to easily play any music that pops into your head. This is a huge change that I absolutely guarantee will revolutionise your experience with music, and you’ll never look back.

Key Concept

The Tonic is The Boss

The tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale of a piece (for example, in C major, it’s C, in F# major it’s F#). If you learned solfege in school, the tonic is do. It’s the note in any piece of music (other than atonal music, but that’s for another time) that everything else revolves around and eventually resolves to. Because of this, it’s the one that sticks out the most, so it’s the best reference point, and it’s your starting point. Before you try to work on any other part of ear training, you need to learn to sing and identify the tonic in a piece of music. From there, you can start adding all the other notes to it.

Process

Outline a tonal Centre

Always start any ear training exercise by outlining a tonal centre. This puts the sound of the tonic in your ear, so everything you hear after it is heard in relation to it, allowing you to hear the relationships those notes create with the tonic.

A simple and effective way to outline the tonal centre is to play a perfect cadence (I – (IV )- V – I).

Use a System to Label Every Note Based on its relationship to the tonic

Use a system to label every note based on its relationship to the tonic. This gives you an easy label that you can attach to any note, based on the relationship that you’ll learn to recognise. The two most common systems are solfege and scale degrees.

Solfege

As you may have learned in school (or from the movie: sound of music), solfege gives a syllable to each note, based on it’s scale degree. The tonic is ‘do’, the second scale degree is ‘re’ etc. This system is great, especially for singers, because it allows you to easily sing any note after any other, because the syllables all work together.

The downside of solfege is the extra time involved in learning the system, especially because the syllables have been chosen based on their sounds, rather than on their relationship to the tonic. This creates a barrier to getting started with the system, because it takes some time to get used to it.

Scale degrees

Labelling by scale degree is a simpler system if you haven’t already learned solfege. Each note is labelled by a number that correlates to it’s position in the diatonic scale of a piece. The tonic is 1, the second scale degree is 2 etc. Chromatically altered scale degrees are labelled with sharps and flats. This is the system that we use at Ear Training HQ, because it requires no time to learn. This makes it instantly accessible for everyone.

Internalise the sound of Each Individual Note Based on this relationship

Once you’ve outlined a tonal centre, and you’ve chosen which system suits you best, you’re ready to get started with the ear training.

The aim of the game is to listen to and sing each note, until you start to create a solid memory of the way that it sounds. You’re creating an internal memory or representation of the sound, that you’ll use to recognise the note whenever you hear it again. At Ear Training HQ we refer to this process as internalisation.

To internalise the sound of each note, try the following:

Outline a tonal centre on your instrument, then play the note that you’re aiming to internalise (we’ll call this the target scale degree). Listen to the note, and sing it. Also sing the tonic, to get used to the interval between the two. If you need to re-outline the tonic, feel free to do so. Spend a few minutes doing this – listening to and singing the target scale degree in relation to the tonic chord.

This exercise sounds deceptively simple, but it achieves exactly what we’re aiming to do – you’re exposing yourself to the sound of the target scale degree, in relation to the tonic. If you spend a few minutes on this exercise every day for a few days, you’ll start to feel familiar with the tonic. Once you feel this, you can move on to the next scale degree and repeat the process.

Continue this until you’ve completed it with all seven diatonic scale degrees. (I recommend leaving the chromatically altered scale degrees for later, once you’ve had some success with the diatonic ones).

Grouping Notes

Once you’ve internalised the individual scale degrees, it’s simply a matter of grouping them together – into short melodies and chords.

You can repeat the exercise outlined above, but instead of internalising individual scale degrees, play two – one after the other. Get used to recognising the two quickly. This is important for when the melody speeds up. Do it with two, three and then four scale degrees. This will develop your ability to hear a fast melody, and recognise the notes in melodic groupings, so you can keep up.

And finally, do the same with chords. Outline the tonal centre, then alternate between the tonic chord and a ‘target chord’: for example, the IV chord (In C major, the F major chord). When you hear the target chord, find the root note of the chord (you may have to practice playing a single major/minor chord, and singing the root note, to get used to the way that it sounds), and then identify the scale degree of that note. This will allow you to quickly identify any chord in a tonal piece of music, with a very fast and accurate two step approach.

Sight Singing

As you’re working through this process, add sight singing exercises to the mix. Take simple melodies and try to sing them using your internal representations of the scale degrees. Feel free to outline the tonal centre first, but try not to cheat. If you can’t get a certain note, go back to it and keep working at internalising it better!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

This is essentially the process for ear training. It’s much simpler than you would think. Try it for a few weeks, and as you start progressing, I guarantee you’ll get hooked. Then just keep working on it and you’ll be coming along in leaps and bounds, and it’s simply a matter of practice until you can play and transcribe whatever you like by ear!

Turbo Charging the Process

I truly believe the process I’ve just explained is the most effective way to go about training your ears. This is the method that we’ve based the Progressive Ear Training Course on, but there is a difference between what I’ve explained here and the course itself.

In the course, the exercises have all been recorded for you. There’s a whopping 20 CDs of audio exercises that start with the tonic (of course!) and work up to 16 bar tunes for you to transcribe. By using the course, you can take advantage of the exercises, which will allow you to work on these exercises anywhere (in the car, on the train, in bed, wherever!). They’re also set out in sequence, so you’ll always know exactly where to go next, and on top of this, as a member you’ll get direct access to me, so I can help you out if you run into any problems. So if you are interesting in some serious Ear Training, I highly recommend you drop by EarTrainingHQ.com to check it out.

I hope you enjoyed the lesson!

Gloria was written by Van Morrison but was actually recorded by Van Morrison’s band “Them”.  It was recorded in 1964 and released as a single on the B side of “Baby Please Don’t Go”.

This is a great classic rock song aimed at all of you beginners out there.

The chords you will need to know for this particular song are E Major, D Major, A Major,

Here is the strumming pattern for this song:

D/D/U/D/U/D

Make certain that you are playing this extremely slowly in the beginning.  This is very important.  Do not try to rush through the chord progression until you are able to play without error.

Marty has some other great tips and advice in this lesson so be sure to tune in to the video below.

Enjoy!

Video Lesson

The Eb7sus4 Guitar Chord is found by locating the 1, 4, 5 and b7 positions of the Eb Major scale: Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb, or the notes Eb, Ab, Bb and Db. The “b7” symbol is referring to the flattened 7th position of the Eb Scale. When we flatten a note, we are simply going back 1/2 step from that note. In this case, because the “D” is the 7th note of the Eb Major Scale, when we flatten it by 1/2 step, we come up with a Db.

Below are four different ways to play this particular guitar chord along the neck of your guitar.  These are more advanced chords so if you are an absolute beginner, you may find these a bit challenging as you will need to understand how to mute strings and play barre chords in order to play these correctly.  It is important that you don’t get discouraged if you find these too difficult at the moment.  Just keep trying as it is very important to always challenge yourself.

Here is a key that will help you read the chart:

Everything on the above chart should be self explanatory, except for the last three in the third column. They may need a bit of explaining. The O, or open symbol, simply means that you do not press down on any notes on that string. The X means you do not strum that particular string. The Barre symbol means you need to barre that particular fret. When you barre a fret you are pressing down on multiple strings at the same time with one finger.

Follow this link for more advanced guitar chords.

This song reached number 4 on the UK singles chart as well as number 18 on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks.  I personally feel it should have done better than that, but I am a huge Colplay fan.

Learn more about the song over at Wikipedia.

Well on to the song lesson shall we!

Learn how to play the song “Fix You” by Coldplay with this free acoustic guitar tutorial taught by Marty Schwartz with GuitarJamz.com.

This song is originally played on piano and has been transposed to acoustic guitar.   You will be using a guitar capo on the third fret and the chord shapes you will need to know are:  C  Major, E Minor, A minor, G Major, G Sus4

Strumming Pattern:  D D D D U

Video Lesson

As Performed by Coldplay