Holding the Guitar
The guitar body is rested on the right, or left, thigh with your legs crossed or uncrossed.
The position that is most comfortable for you is the one you use. The guitar can
also be held by use of a shoulder strap. Grasp the neck with the left hand so that the first phalange hangs over the neck a little. Relax your Left elbow.
Numbers
Finger Numbers
The fingers on the left hand are numbered 1 through 4 with the Index Finger being 1 and the Pinky being 4.
String Numbers
The strings are numbered 1 through 6, the smallest diameter strings (highest pitch) is 1 and the thickest diameter string (lowest pitch) is 6.
Fret Numbers
The frets are also numbered and each finger has its own fret. The first finger is placed behind the first fret wire and is called fret one. The second finger is placed behind the second fret wire and is called fret two. The third finger is placed behind the third fret wire and is called fret three. The fourth finger is placed behind the fourth fret wire and is called fret four.
Holding the Pick
The pick is held in the right hand between the thumb and the index finger so that the line formed by the tip of the pick and the thumb are a perpendicular position with about an inch of the plastic being visible. Notice that the finger print of the Index finger holds the pick and not the side of the Index finger. The hold is firm but not tight.
As though you were doing a karate chop, rest your right hand on, and parallel to, the bridge. The second, third and fourth fingers of the right hand are relaxed with the fourth finger touching the body of the guitar.
Stay with me, you will be playing soon.
Stroking
Striking the string so that your right hand starts high and goes down toward the floor is the “Downstroke”. Striking in the opposite direction (toward the ceiling) is called the “Upstroke”. Alternating between these two (I.e. down/up, down/up) is called alternate stroking. Always use alternate stroking.
Tone Production
Strike the string hard. Good guitar tone comes from clearly ringing strings. Listen to determine if you have a good clear tone. If you don’t get a clear tone:
(1) You’re not pressing the strings (with left hand) hard enough,
(2) One of your fret fingers is touching a string that it shouldn’t be touching.
Position Playing Part 1
Position Playing Part 2
Position Playing Part 3