1. Playing Running Notes (10 minutes)
There are generally 2 ways to play running notes: using your index and middle finger and using your pick.
We can play running notes by alternating between our index and middle finger. The reason we do this is because it allows us to play faster than when we are using just one finger alone.
We can also play running notes by using a pick. We can also alternate between picking from the top to bottom and from the bottom to the top of each string, so that we do not have to pick from top to bottom, then move the pick back to the bottom and pick another note from top to bottom again.
2. Advanced Techniques (10 minutes)
a. Hammer-on. Place your 1st finger of your left hand on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Play it. While it is being played, use your 2nd finger on your left hand to strike the 3rd fret. This is a hammer-on on the first string from fret 2 to fret 3.
b. Pull-off. Place your 2nd finger of your left hand on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Place your 1st finger of your left hand on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Now play the first string with the 1st finger on your right hand. Then, pull down the string using your 2nd finger of your left hand, instead of releasing it normally. This is a pull-off on the first string from fret 3 to fret 2.
c. Vibrato. Place your 1st finger of your left hand on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Play it with the 1st finger on your right hand. As it is being played, use your 1st finger of your left hand to bend the string slightly upwards and downwards repeatedly.
d. Slides. Place your 1st finger of your left hand on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Play it. While it is being played, slide your 2nd finger on your left hand from the 2nd fret to the 3rd fret. This is a slide on the first string from fret 2 to fret 3.
There are more advanced techniques which are out of the scope of this course.
3. Reading Tablature (10 minutes)
The above diagram shows you both standard music notation and tablature. Standard music notation shows you the notes in staves and clefs. You will need to take time to read the note, and decide where to play it on the guitar. Tablature, on the other hand, already tells you where to play it on the guitar. The first 2 bars show you the notes we played earlier. However, tablature does not tell you the timing at which you play each note; you will need to know this beforehand by listening to a CD or recording.
4. Running Notes in “Holy Spirit” (30 minutes)
Notice that in the first 3 and 5 you see in the first bar, the 3 is smaller. This means 3 is a grace note, i.e. it is a very quick passing note. You may use a slide to execute this grace note.
