Hey Ben!

Here are some songs that I’d like you to have a listen to. Keep a sheet of paper beside you whilst you listen and write down anything that you like about the songs (the words, the instruments, any cool effects etc…). Keep an open mind and try to find at least one thing to write from each song.

A really important thing to keep in mind is that musicians are story tellers. When we play music, we are telling a story. All these videos are messages/stories/memories/pictures… that the composers and musicians are trying to share with you. So have a think about what the stories are. If anything comes to you, you can write that on your sheet too 🙂

These are the chords I remember us doing before the break. The black dots are the simplified versions (only play the first three strings with these), and then the yellow dots show the extra notes needed to make up the full shape.

Can you go through each of these shapes and work on getting to know them better? Practice putting your fingers down 1 at a time, slowly. These are the fundamentals, so the sooner you have these under your fingers the more songs you’ll be able to play.

First I’d focus on getting the simplified versions comfortable, before moving onto the full shape.

I’d like you to organise these chords into a song. You can write lyrics if you want to, or just keep it for only guitar. When we start up lessons again we’re going to use the recording studio to make a song, so you can think of some ideas now before we start back.

I’d like you to think of some ideas for your song before you start.

-Do you want it to sound happy or sad? Slow or fast? Whats the mood? Is there a story? Are there characters in the story? If so, what are they like?

Try and think of as many details as possible. Then get onto the guitar and just play around until you find the sounds you need to make the story come alive.

Have a go and I’ll look forward to seeing what you make 🙂