This first course is like a quick start guide; ten simple things you need to know right at the beginning of your journey. In further courses we'll be jumping further into the deep end but for now, take as much time as you need to get familiar with the basics.

In this course we'll be learning to play over 15 well know TAB songs. TAB is short for 'guitar tablature', and is a form of notation that uses lines (representing the strings), and numbers (fret numbers) to show you where to place your fingers on the fretboard. It's the easiest and quickest way to start learning songs on the guitar.

In this course we'll be learning to play basic chords and moving quickly between them; the top priority for every beginner. Many guitarists lose heart because they never seem to master the quick chord change. The key is repetition. Move enough times between two chords and your fingers will soon remember. Ina very short while you will not even have to look at your fingers, they will know what to do. Starting with small steps is often the best way as struggling through a whole song before you are ready can be frustrating. As you work through the ten lessons your confidence and ability will increase as you progress.

In this chapter we’ll be focusing on the right hand finger picking – the left hand will simply be playing the same chords we learnt in the chords course. Whichever way you look at it finger picking is fiddly, but it is one of the most rewarding skills you can learn on the guitar.

In this course we shall be learning basic classical notation for the guitar. Classical notation is a universal musical language that indicates rhythm, timing, and much more. Although for many it's harder to understand than TAB (which is limited to guitarists only), once classical notation is understood it can be read and played by any musician on any instrument – anywhere in the world.

So, you've been learning the guitar for a while, got the six basic chords off by heart, strummed a few songs, but you need something 'extra'. This section has been written to give you a nudge in the right direction – a springboard to the next stage of your journey. It's got all the goodies I would have appreciated working on after my first six months of learning. Enjoy!