Guitar Lessons

I’m trying to learn play guitar (obviously), and the beginners book I’m using explains three simple chords, C, G, and D7. They involve holding three fingers down and strumming five strings. Then it gives me music with the five lines and single notes on the lines. The chord letters are above the lines. It says to play the melody and the chord at the same time. How can I do this? If the chord is one thing, and the melody another, how can they possibly be played simultaneously? What am I supposed to be doing?

It’s not likely that your book is actually telling you to play the chords and melody at the same time, although it IS possible.

Here’s a video of me doing a version of My Funny Valentine:

That sort of thing is a much more advanced type of guitar playing than you’re ready for now. The hardest part is playing the melody louder than the chords, which is crucial in making it sound like more than one guitar (which is the idea)