Tag: acoustic guitar

Open String Licks – Key of C

Using open strings combined with fretted notes is a “guitar move” often associated with Telecasters and country guitar. It’s also a staple of classical guitar. “Leyenda” comes to mind with that statement. This isn’t about playing open strings while in open or first position but while fretting notes in higher positions.

These are meant to be played fingerstyle or using pick and fingers. I imagine you could use a cross picking technique if you just use a flat pick. Tough though! There are 4 phrases worked out here. They can be used over any C major chord (maj7, maj9, 6th, etc.) or G dominant chord (G7,9,11,13) that resolve to C. The suggested left and right hand fingering is also indicated.

Below is link to the notation/tab PDF. Check out the video below for further explanation and to give it a listen, if you like.

Open String Lick PDF

Desperado Piano Intro

This is the piano intro to Desperado by the Eagles arranged for guitar. This is a very doable part for players of almost any level. It is a pretty sparse piano part that moves gently and at an easy speed. Click below for the notation/tab PDF. Check out the YouTube video if you want to hear it or get any playing tips. I played with my fingers in the video but it can easily be played with a pick, as well.

Desperado Intro PDF

Bridge Over Troubled Water Intro

I did a fingerstyle guitar arrangement of the piano intro to “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. The original is in Eb. I used a dropped D tuning (low E tuned a whole step down) and arranged it in D. If you want to do the record key just put a capo on the first fret and play everything up one fret.

This is basically a just a chord melody. Depending on how long you’ve been playing, some of the chord shapes along with melody notes may or may not be challenging to you. Squeezing piano parts out of the guitar is a great way to expand your musical thinking and fretboard vocabulary. As always, take your time and follow notion/tab closely. Click below for downloadable PDF. Scroll down for video.

Bridge Over Troubled Water Intro

Simple Acoustic Blues #4 Bass and Melody – 2 against 1

In this 12 bar blues there is an eighth note lead/melody line against a steady quarter note bass line. It also has a traditional blues intro/turnaround and some walking bass lines. As always, play slow at first until you are comfortable with the individual bass and melody line. Then you can gradually pick up speed. PDF link and video below.

Blues #4 PDF

“I Feel Fine” Intro – For Acoustic –

The original intro to the Beatles’ “I Feel Fine” uses bar chords with some finger stretches. That can be tough for some players and on some guitars. This is that intro reworked using open chords. It’s perfect for acoustic players or just for smaller hands. There is no compromise on the notes played either, it’s just easier on the fretting hand. This can be played with pick, fingers, or pick and fingers.

Download the PDF and take a look at the video.

I Feel Fine Intro