1. Two chords
You'll learn Em and G and switch between them in time with a band. That's enough to play a real song.
Beginner guitar · 10 minutes a day
Play your first song this week.
Murphy's Guitar Lab teaches guitar in small steps: two easy chords, a simple strum, then your first notes. A backing band plays along with you, and you never need to read music.
Free · runs in your browser · built-in tuner · turn your sound on
How it works
Songs first. Theory later.
2. Your first notes
Next comes a five-note scale that always sounds good. You'll play it over the band and make up your own little tunes.
3. More when you're ready
Once the basics feel easy, there are more chords and some extra credit on how the neck fits together. No rush.
The lessons
What you'll learn, step by step
- Meet your guitar. String names, frets, finger numbers, and a built-in tuner.
- Holding it. How to sit, where your thumb goes, and how to hold a pick.
- Reading tab. The simple way guitarists write music down.
- Your first chord: Em. Two fingers, six strings, one strum per beat.
- Changing chords. Add G, then the one-minute challenge.
- Your first song. Em and G with a band, reading a simple chord chart.
- Strumming up and down. The hand swing and the strum pattern behind countless songs.
- Your first notes. Four single notes over a backing track.
- The five-note scale. The scale behind most rock and blues solos.
- Ending on a home note. Why some notes sound finished, and how to use that.
- More chords. Nine open chords and the famous C – Am – F – G.
- Jam room. Pick a band and play along.
The full course
Beginner to advanced, in five levels
The lessons above are Level 1. When you finish them, the course goes on to rock and blues, the whole neck, musicianship and advanced playing.
Levels 1–2
Open chords, songs, power chords, the 12-bar blues, your first solos and fingerpicking.
Levels 3–4
Barre chords, keys, all five scale positions, CAGED, modes and learning by ear.
Level 5
Jazz harmony, advanced technique, solo arrangements, home recording and performing.
Practice tips
Four habits that help
Slow is fast
Play slowly enough that you never stop. Speed comes on its own once your hands know the moves.
Count your changes
Set a one-minute timer and count how many clean chord switches you make. Try to beat it tomorrow.
End on a home note
When you make up a tune, finish on a note from the chord the band is playing. It'll sound finished.
Sore fingers are normal
Your fingertips will toughen up in two or three weeks. Short daily sessions help more than long ones.
Questions
Do I need to read music?
No. Everything uses tab and chord pictures, and every lesson explains how to read them.
What guitar do I need?
Any acoustic or electric guitar works. Just make sure it's in tune. Lesson 1 has a tuner that listens through your microphone.
How long until I can play a song?
Most people can play Em – G with the band (lesson 6) within a week of 10-minute practice.
Which file do I open?
index.html is this page. murphy-guitar-lab.html has the lessons. Keep both in the same folder.