Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Guitar 7 Chapter 1: Guitar Basics: The Parts of a Guitar and How It Makes Music.9 Chapter 2: How to Tune Your Guitar.15 Chapter 3: Preparing to Play: Holding the Guitar and Reading Guitar Notation 23 Part II: Ready to Play: The Basics 35 Chapter 4: The Best Way to Begin: Strumming Chords 37 Chapter 5: Playing Melodies without Reading Music! 55 Chapter 6: Adding Some Spice with 7th Chords 65 Part III: Beyond the Basics: Starting to Sound Cool 81 Chapter 7: Making Things Smooth by Playing in Position 83 Chapter 8: Doubling Up with Double-Stops 93 Chapter 9: Stretching Out: Barre Chords 101 Chapter 10: Special Articulation: Making the Guitar Talk 125 Part IV: A Pile of Styles 153 Chapter 11: Ready to Rock: Rock Guitar Basics 155 Chapter 12: Bluer Than Blue: Blues Guitar Basics 183 Chapter 13: Around the Campfire: Folk Guitar Basics 207 Chapter 14: Maestro, If You Please: Classical Guitar Basics 233 Chapter 15: Sunglasses and Berets: Jazz Guitar Basics 249 Part V: A Guitar of Your Own 263 Chapter 16: Shopping for a Guitar 265 Chapter 17: Eyeing Guitar Amps, Effects, Cases, and Accessories 281 Chapter 18: Changing Your Strings 297 Chapter 19: Guitar Wellness: Basic Maintenance 311 Part VI: The Part of Tens 327 Chapter 20: Ten (Or So) Guitarists You Should Know 329 Chapter 21: Ten Great Songs for Beginning Guitarists 333 Part VII: Appendixes 337 Appendix A: How to Read Music 339 Appendix B: 96 Common Chords 349 Appendix C: How to Use the Website 353 Index 369