This week we have a guitar lesson for the absolute-total-never-picked-up-a-guitar beginner. This one is simple and easy by design. It will teach you how to hold a pick, how to get good sounding notes out of the guitar, how to use your thumb, and where to place your finger in the fret.

I call it the strength builder exercise. Here's what you do:

1. Place the guitar on your right leg as you're sitting, with the waist of the guitar sitting on your leg.

2. The strings are numbered 1 through 6 with the 1st string closest to the ground. The frets are numbered from 1 to 22 or 24, with the first fret closest to the tuners. The frets are the spaces between the metal wire along the neck of the guitar.


3. Use your index finger on your left hand and press at the 6th string, first fret. With your right hand, use your pick and pluck only the 6th string. You're looking for a tone that is open and clear, with a long sustain. If you get any buzz, or if the note sounds dead, you should press harder and try again.

4. Use your index finger and play the 1st fret, middle finger and play the 2nd fret, ring finger and play the 3rd fret, pinky and play the 4th fret. Play each note one after another on the 6th string. You're going for good tone, using the correct finger, and steady tempo.

5. Repeat this sequence, 1, 2, 3, 4 on each subsequent string until you get to the 1st string.

6. As you play through the exercise, pay attention to a few things:

• Make sure your thumb is positioned on the back of the neck, squeezing the neck between your fingers and your thumb.
• Place your fingers towards the "front" of the fret, just behind the fretwire, on the side of the fret closer to your picking hand. It's easier to get a good tone and it takes less force to fret your note.
• Hold your pick between the thumb and index finger on your right hand. Make sure the pinky, ring, and middle finger are straight and not curled up into a fist as you pick.

7. When you complete the exercise forwards, turn around and do the exercise backwards. Start on the first string and play the 4th fret with your pinky finger, 3rd fret with your ring finger, etc.

8. This is a great exercise to use as a warm up. Play it forwards and backwards. If you can do that without making a mistake, play it 3 times without making a mistake.