As you may or may not know, a hobby of mine that I picked up two summers ago is playing guitar! I took a guitar class in high school where I learned 4 chords, and almost everything else I know is from YouTube. I know that a couple people around campus want to learn to play guitar and that some are just now beginning, so I wanted to give you guys some good links to use! The first video is an introduction to guitar, the second video are chords that if you learn you will be able to play hundreds of songs, and all the other videos are easy songs for beginners to learn! When I wanted to learn more songs, I just searched for ones that I wanted to learn, or I searched something like “acoustic guitar songs” or “country acoustic guitar lessons.” I do want you to remember this: it will take a little while to learn, so just give it time and keep practicing!

If you’re brand new to guitar, this video will teach you about the guitar along with a couple chords: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llNuwhZWXKA

Chords A Major through G Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAlyjGrThGo

• The most common chords are G major, D major, E minor, and C major. Learn these and you’ll be able to play hundreds of songs! If you learn some the others, you’ll just be able to play more.

   

  Riptide- Vance Joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vRWKGNbciQ

• Depending on what key you want, you can put the capo on either the 5^th or 6^th fret.

Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlJNPj9CJBQ

Let It Be- The Beatles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCTpcFTicf4

• Don’t worry about all the runs he does unless you really want to spice up your playing! They are just extras! Also, sometimes the capo is put on the 5^th fret.

Free Fallin’- Tom Petty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQSEaBT3P-A

• I recommend playing this with a capo on the 3^rd fret to match the recording.

Hallelujah- Jeff Beckley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzm1enk7W4Y

• In this video, he also teaches how to fingerpick the song. So, if you’re wanting to challenge yourself, this is a good song to practice once you have to chord shapes down and memorized!

Nick Rush ’20 is studying Sports Management and plans on minoring in another business area. He plays baseball for MU, and he plans on working in the sports industry after graduation.