Play better
Understand what you're playing.
A practical reference for the shapes, sounds and ideas you meet every time you pick up the guitar.
Fretboard map
See the scale. Then play it.
Root note — start and end your phrases here.
Circle of fifths
Which chords go together?
C
major · rel. Am
I
C
IV
F
V
G
vi
Am
ii
Dm
iii
Em
Try I–V–vi–IV. It's behind thousands of songs.
Metronome
Timing is the skill.
80
BPM · Groove
The 5 BPM rule. Play it clean three times, then add 5 BPM.
Hit the one. Land chord changes on the accented beat.
Half time. Stuck? Drop to half speed. Clean beats fast.
Guides in this section
Go deeper.
Beginner · 6 min read
Your First Chords
Start with E minor, G, C and D — they unlock hundreds of songs.
Beginner · 5 min read
The Pentatonic Scale
A five-note scale that sounds good over most rock, blues and pop.
Intermediate · 6 min read
Learning the Fretboard
Learn the notes on the low E and A strings first — everything else follows.