Fundamentals of the Guitar
Instrument: guitar
Level: beginner

Available exclusively through the On the Music Path app for the iPad

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Steve Postell

Steve Postell, singer-songwriter and noted guitarist, explains all the fundamentals of how to play the guitar from how to hold and tune a guitar to how to take your own leads.

Lesson 1:
How to hold the guitar. How to position your hands. How to read chord charts. Plucking with your right fingers and thumb. Using a pick. How to strum. Basic first position chords. Playing your first song on the guitar.Songs taught: Midnight Special, Bad Weather Blues.


Lesson 2:
Easy (half) bar chords. Simple fingerpicking style. Rock Strumming. Basic classical technique. Songs taught: House of the Rising Sun, Leyenda, Teach Your Children.

Lesson 3:
Full bar chords. Accented strumming patterns. The pentatonic scale. How to play lead guitar. Songs taught: Peaceful Easy Feeling, Long Time Gone.

Lesson 4:
Alternate bass picking. More pentatonic positions for more advanced soloing. Songs taught: Take Me Home Country Roads, Sweet Melissa.

about the artist

Steve Postell is a singer/songwriter, composer and guitarist based in Los Angeles. Trained at Mannes/Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Steve has had a varied career, ranging from performing in Broadway shows such as “Evita” and “Man Of LaMancha” and fronting for popular New York City bands such as “Chain ‘O Fools” and “Little Blue” to writing scores for film and television. He recently won a HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARD for best song in the Americana/Roots category for his song “3:45 Coming Through” (which features guitarists Buzzy Feiten and Robben Ford).

His latest solo CD on Immergent Records features a host of illustrious guests including David Crosby, Jennifer Warnes, John Oates, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Dave Koz, Paul Barrere and many others.

When he’s not on tour, Steve performs with his all-star band “Night Train Music Club” at venues throughout Los Angeles, manages Pier Street Sound and The Renegade Music Group, and teaches at Westwood Music in Los Angeles.

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