The three chord trick method for tuning and playing a guitar.
(by Peter Gardner)

The magical purists among you, will probably say that this isn't magic but I would disagree.  Using the following method, anybody with a genuine interest to learn, can tune and play a guitar in a day. Now that's what I call magic, especially when you can use it for The Lord's work.

I regularly use a guitar, to accompany songs as a warm up at my children's shows. This gets the children used to me, it gets them all involved and I find that it works better than getting the children to shout out my name several times.  I also use it in church for leading choruses and for Christian outreach work.
 
To tune a guitar, you need to obtain a tuning fork, or a pitch pipe, tuned to the note 'E'. Any decent musical instrument shop will stock these. In the diagrams you will see the strings lettered and numbered. The arrangements shown are for a right handed player. The fingers of the left hand hold the neck of the guitar and press the necessary strings down. The fingers and thumb of the right hand pluck or strum the strings. 

I also use a device known as a 'CAPO'. This is fitted across the neck of the guitar and presses down on all the strings. There are various styles of Capo which you can buy. The one which I uses is elasticated and very cheap. It simply straps around the neck of the guitar. By sliding this behind various frets on the neck of the guitar, I can raise and lower the key of the chords I am playing while still keeping the same chord shapes. Now is that simple or cheating????? 

To Tune the Guitar

Tap the tuning fork and adjust string 1 the top 'E' string, this is the thinnest string, until it produces the same note when plucked as that made by the tuning fork. Press string 2, the 'B' string behind the fifth fret and adjust it until it sounds the same as the un-fingered string 1, the top 'E'. Press string 3 the 'G' string behind the fourth fret and adjust it until it sounds the same as the un- fingered 'B' string. Press string 4, the 'D' string behind the fifth fret and adjust it until it sounds the same as the un-fingered 'G' string. Press string 5, the 'A' string behind the fifth fret and adjust it until it sounds the same as the un-fingered 'D' string. Finally press the sixth string the lower 'E' behind the fifth fret and adjust it until it sounds the same as the un- fingered 'A' string. The guitar should now be in tune. You can run through the adjustments again if it needs slight adjustment. 

NOTE: Nylon strings are easier to play than steel strings. They give a softer tone than steel strings and do not cut into your fingers as steel strings do. 

The diagram above, shows the fingering for the three chords. The chords are 'E', 'A' and 'B7'. Using just these three chords, is known in musical circles as 'The Three Chord Trick'. It is a very simple matter to tune a guitar and to strum a couple of chords to accompany a whole host of songs and choruses using just these chords. 
The Beatles started out playing just three chords. Who knows how far you could go! ! ! ! . 

The numbers above the chord refer to the fingers of the left hand. Number one is the index finger. The black dots show where to press each string with the finger indicated. Take one of the chords and press the strings down as shown in the diagram. Strum across all the strings with the right hand thumb. The sound should be clean. If there is a buzzing sound, the strings may not be pressed down hard enough behind the frets, or your fingers may be touching other strings which will cause the buzz.

Once you have mastered the three chords, practice changing from one chord to another.  It will sound rough at first but with very little practice it will soon improve.

When using the three chord trick, what you are actually playing is the rhythm of the tune.  You have to sing the melody or lead with your voice.  Even people with gruff voices like mine sound good when accompanied on the guitar, believe me.

 
Some simple songs for you to play 
The chords to play are shown above the words, change chords at the word where the chord changes. Simply strum the chords as you sing the melody line for these songs.

Coming round the mountain (The children do different actions to each verse) 
E 
She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes
                                                                       B7 
She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes
              E                                         A 
She'll be coming round the mountain, coming round the mountain,E                         B7                         E 
coming round the mountain when she comes. 

Chorus 
E                                                                                B7
Singing I yi yippee yippee yi, singing I yi yippee yippee yi,
            E              A                E   B7                 E 
Singing I yi yippee, I yi yippee, I yi yippee yippee yi. 

Whole World in His hands 
E                                                                          B7 
He's got the whole world in his hands, He's got the whole wide world in his hands, 
E                                                                                                      B7 
He's got the whole world in his hands, He's got the whole world in his hands. 

Hokey Cokey 
E                                                                                           B7 
You put your left foot in, your left foot out, in out, in out, you shake it all about
                                                                                                E 
You do the hokey cokey and you turn around, that's what it's all about.
                                                              B7       E                       A 
Oh hokey cokey cokey, Oh hokey cokey cokey, Oh hokey cokey cokey.
E                 B7                E 
Knees bend, arms stretch, rah, rah, rah.

The Telly Tubbies Song 
The children all know the words of this song and will correct you if you miss-name the characters or the program. This song is excellent for younger children, especially those in playgroups.
E                   A        E            B7 
Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Lah Lah, Po 
E                    A                    E    B7   E 
Telly Tubbies, Telly Tubbies, Say He...llo.    EH OH! 

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