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So, you want to play the guitar!
So did I, from the time I heard my first Bob Dylan record, courtesy of my uncle and his collection of 45’s. I got my first instrument, a six string acoustic “Silvertone” brand, from Sears-Roebuck, for Christmas in 1969. I even got a Teach Yourself Guitar book, from Hal Leonard Music, that spelled out the basics of getting started, and after about a week of study and practice, I could strum out a truly crappy version of that all time classic, Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey… Where were the books that would teach me Dylan, or the Beatles, or CCR? Apparently, not available to the instructionally challenged kids like me!
Over the next 38 years, I owned quite a few more guitars, bought a few more teach yourself books, an assortment of chord charts, and even taught myself six chords that I could play fairly well. They just never seemed to be the chords that I could use to play a song. You see, although I had been a student in the Middle School chorus class, I had obviously slept right through the lessons on basic music theory, and never quite grasped the concept of musical keys. That’s a bit of a problem when trying to play any instrument. Oh, and this might be a good time to mention that during this same time frame, I co-founded a nationally known tribute band, and fronted them for over twenty years as the lead singer. You see, while instrumentally inept, I was always a singer, so my voice became my instrument.
In 2001, the band decided to record an album, and three of my songs, one written by me alone, and two written with my keyboard player, Bill, as collaborator, were included. I was bitten by the songwriting bug, and proceeded to pump out lyrics on a regular basis, always giving them to Bill for the musical composition, since I didn't play an instrument… Four years passed, and not one of those lyrics had ever been put to music. My middle son got a guitar, and wanted to take lessons, and my lead guitar player, Roy, offered to teach him. After the second lesson, Roy, knowing how much I had always wanted to play the guitar, said that if I wanted, he’d make a special price to teach us both. I accepted, and our lessons continued with him for the next several months. A tragedy in our family ended our lessons with Roy, but his teachings never left us, and we use them to this very day. I play now as a solo artist, far more than with the band. In fact, it’s how I make my living. Also, I can now compose the music for my lyrics without waiting for the input of others, unless I want to. I owe it all to Roy!
You want to play the guitar… Well, I’m gonna teach you, with my own modified “Roy” system, three chords that will allow you to play some of the most popular music, from the most popular genres, learn it fast, and play it well.
Welcome to 3 Chord Orchestra. Let’s get started!
Gary Snead
Virginia Beach, Virginia
April 9, 2016”
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