“Scratch,” as in something being “from scratch,” is a funny kind of expression, don’t you think? It turns out that it means: “proceeding from the starting line, or a scratch in the dirt, as in a race.” This leads to a more general definition: “to come from nothing, to be without advantage.” If this describes your current relationship with the guitar, then, boy, have I got a book for you. Table of Contents PreliminariesChoice of guitarPicks, capos and the neckFretting and tuningRelative tuningChords and chordsE Minor chordSome principlesE Major chordA Minor chordSwitching from Em to AmC Major chordSwitching from Em to Am to CG Major chordSwitching between G and CTeamworkSympathy and more G chordsSong ExamplesD Major ChordThe G Chord Family - song examplesThe Rhythm ChangesF Major chordD Minor chordThe C Chord Family - song examplesStrumming AwayDown-Up motionNotationRock Strum PatternFolk Strum PatternCountry Strum PatternHip Hop Strum PatternThe D Chord Family - song examplesA Major chordB Minor and B Minor-seventh chordsSeventh chords - D7, G7 and A7 1 - 4 - 5 substitutionsThe A Chord Family - song examplesSwitching from A to D to E to E7The E Chord Family - song examplesB7 chordThe Circle of FifthsProgressions in C, G and DStrumming, Part TwoEscape hatchJazz chordsMajor-seventh chordsMinor-seventh chordsSuspended chordsAnchor chordsChord ReviewFingerpickingNotation and the Tier SystemArpeggios and Tablature¾ TimeArpeggios in the wildTravis-Style fingerpicking5/4 and 6/4 bass patternsInside-Out picking patternsOutside-In picking patternsPinch patternsStrumming, Part Three (variations)Power chords: E-shape and A-shapeBarre chords: E-shape and A-shape1 - 4 - 5 and Rhythm ChangesEpilogue Appendix A: Bunches of Useful ChordsAppendix B: Using the capo to make key changes
