RNB Workshop

Becoming Limitless R&B Guitar Video One
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THE BASICS

THE GUITAR- COMPONENTS OF THE GUITAR
There are three main types of guitars, the steel-string acoustic, the nylon
string or classical guitar, and the electric guitar. They all have the same
main parts. The picture below is an electric guitar.

Tuning Keys
These are used to tune your guitar. On a properly setup guitar you would
turn these clockwise to raise the pitch and anti-clockwise to lower it.
Head
The head is the name for the piece of wood from the nut upwards, and
exists really to locate the tuning mechanisms.
Nut
This is a piece if plastic or metal that has grooves for all the strings to go
through. It acts as an anchor for the strings vibrations, but allows the string
to move through it to allow tuning.
Frets
The frets are pieces of skinny metal that run across the fretboard at regular
spacing determined by the length of the neck.
Neck
The neck is the name for the piece of wood that holds the frets, from the
body of the guitar at one end, up to the nut at the other.

Fretboard
This is the name for the combination of the top part of the neck and the
frets. It is the place where all the fingering happens, and is usually laid out
as 22 or 24 frets. 24
Strings
A regular guitar has six strings. They go from thin to thick. The exact size is
the guitar owner’s choice.
When going from one size set of strings to another the guitar might need to
be set up by a guitar tech because of the various ways that the strings
affect the guitar.
Strap Button
The strap button is a metal protrusion that you hook your strap onto so you
can play while standing. There are two - the one shown, and another on the
bottom of the guitar.

Scratch Plate (Pickguard)
The scratch plate is usually a piece of plastic. It exists to cover up some of
the electronics of the guitar and to protect the finish of the guitar from over
enthusiastic pick movements.
Pickups
The pickups exist to convert the vibrations of the string into an electrical
signal. Having more than one pickup gives the guitar greater versatility
because you get different sound depending where exactly on the string you
place the pick up. Nearer to the neck gives a fuller more bass heavy sound,
nearer to the bridge gives you a more trebly and cutting sound.
Tremolo Bar
The tremolo mechanism consists of a movable arm and a pivot point for the
bridge. There are many different types of pickups, thus each with their own
sound. Moving the tremolo arm will raise or lower the pitch of all the strings
at once, and is used to give a vibrato type of effect.

Selector Switch
The selector switch determines which pickups are currently active. Most
guitars with 3 pickups have a 5-way selector switch allowing you to make
two pickups active at a time to blend the tone.
Volume Knob
This controls the overall output level of the guitar. Some guitars have just
one volume control; others might have one volume control for each pickup.
Tone Knobs
Controls the treble and bass output of the guitar. The effectiveness of tone
controls varies across guitars, some make little difference, some guitars will
have one overall tone control, others will have multiple controls.
Output Jack
This is where the electrical output of the guitar appears. Take a jack lead--
plug one end in here, and the other end into your amplifier.

Bridge
The bridge overall is the mechanism that holds the strings in place at the
bottom of the guitar. A little more complex than the nut, it allows a couple of
different types of adjustment.
HOLDING THE GUITAR
Sitting position
Sit down on a chair, put your two feet on the floor and keep your back
straight. Put the waist of the guitar on your right leg (if you’re right-handed)
and hold the back of the guitar against your stomach and chest. Keep the
neck of the guitar horizontal to the floor.

Don’t use the left hand to support the neck from leaning down towards the
floor, instead let your upper right armrest on the upper part of the guitar
body to avoid this. Make sure all this feels comfortable.
Standing Position
If you have a strap for your guitar then the standing positioning will be best
for you. When you stand, you don’t want your guitar hang too low. The
body of the guitar remains at a comfortable height for strumming/picking.

Key things to note here:
● Don't loosen the strap too much. If the guitar gets too low (i.e. down
at your knees) you will have problems wrapping your fingers around
the neck properly to play chords.
● Do not hunch.
● Still make sure your forearm is square on and angled out towards the
top corner of your guitar (not back behind you) so it can pivot
smoothly over the strings.
How to Hold a Pick
The main thing to remember when holding the pick is not to hold it too
firmly. It needs to flex over the strings with ease. Holding the pick
between the tips of your index finger and thumb is the best way to
achieve this.

THE STRINGS ON THE GUITAR
It's a very important to know the note names of the open strings on your
guitar. There are six strings on the guitar and they are numbered from first
to sixth starting on the smallest string and counting up to the biggest string.
The diagram below shows the strings on the guitar and also the letter that
correspond to each string.
THE TYPES OF STRINGS

The strings on your electric has a major impact on its sound and playability.
Each, when properly tuned, will exert a different tension on the guitar's
neck and if you jump to another size you'll probably need to adjust the truss

rod and get used to the new action of the fingerboard. As a beginner, the
standard string I recommend is the 10 or 9
gauges string or less (the gauge is the
thickness of the string).
There are a lot of brands of strings available
but the one I recommend is the D'Addario
Strings. These strings will gives you the clarity
and the exact sound you want.
AMPLIFICATION
Guitar amps might seem complicated, but they’re really just a lot of simple
electronics wired together, and it doesn’t take too long to fully understand
what’s going on in there. There are numerous options depending on size,
sound, amplifier technology, and configuration. Amplifiers can be
categorized into several types: tube, solid-state, hybrid, digital modeling,
and acoustic amps. Each type of guitar amp has different functions, as well
as pros and cons, so choosing one depends on what kind of sound and
style the buyer is interested in.

KNOWING YOUR FRETBOARD
Visualizing, learning, mastering and knowing the guitar fretboard can seem
like a daunting task. If you focus on memorizing the 6th and 5th string
notes, you can learn the others by using patterns.
There are 12 notes on the fretboard:
A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab
1st string - High E string (Thinnest string)

2nd string - B string
3rd string - G string
4th string - D string
5th string - A string
6th string - Low E string (Thickest string)
Learning the notes on the 6th and 5th strings should be the first step in
mapping out the fretboard. This will give you the frame of reference needed
to work out the other strings and fully leverage the principles that I teach for
learning barre chords, playing any chord across the fretboard and chord
substitution.

Also, there are dots on the face of the guitar fretboard. Each dot,
represents the different frets on the guitar, look below. The first dot is on
the 3rd fret, the second dot is on the 5th fret,
the third dot is on the 7th fret and so on all the
way up the fretboard. Most guitars will have
these dots, but some may not. The dots are
also at times located on the top edge of the
fretboard.

TUNING THE GUITAR
A guitar needs should always be tuned before you play. Tuning the guitar
involves tightening or loosening the strings to raise or lower the pitch to
match a constant pitch. The guitar can be tuned by using an electronic
tuner, or you can tune by “ear” using the other strings of the guitar, or you
can tune to a keyboard. When you’re just starting out, I recommend using a
tuner. Over time, your ear will be trained well enough that you can tune by
ear.
TUNING WITH AN ELECTRIC TUNER
Many electric tuners come with a built in microphone for use with an
acoustic guitar. If you are using an electric guitar you can plug your
instrument cable directly into the tuner. According to the directions of your
specific tuner, it will display whether you need to tighten or loosen the string
in order to be in tune. Electric tuners are an easy to use, fast, and accurate
way to tune your guitar.

2
CR METHOD:
CHORDS

INTRODUCTION
Before I explain the basic chords you should focus on, it’s important to
understand how to read the chord diagrams that I use. If you watch
my YouTube videos, you already know that I use chord diagrams to
help you learn the chords I use.
GUITAR CHORD DIAGRAMS
Using chord diagrams is one of the ways musicians communicate their
musical ideas. There are several songs that can be played by learning
some few guitar chords. Using chord diagrams is a good way to learn
and study new chords. A chord diagram is basically a graphic that shows
you where to place your fingers on the fretboard in order to make a
specific chord. You aren’t bound by the law to use the exact fingers in
the diagrams, however, they’re usually the most common way to
structure the chords. I myself don’t always follow the “standard’ way
to form a chord, so it’s okay if you deviate from the diagrams.

Note: Some also use tabular (aka tabs). I generally don’t like to teach
using tabs because I want you to use your ear to learn new ideas. It’s
very easy to become solely dependant upon using tabs.
UNDERSTANDING THE FRETBOARD
The fretboard consist of six vertical lines, which represent the strings of the
guitar (E.A.D.G.B.E). The far left string represents the low E and the far
right string represents the high E. Frets are shown by horizontal lines.
Since chord diagrams do not show the entire fretboard, the fret numbers
are placed next to frets to indicate the location on the fretboard.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHAPES / PATTERNS
The more simple you can make something, the easier it is to duplicate.
That’s really my approach to playing guitar. You’ll always hear me say that!
That’s why I don’t focus on information that’s not practical. If you think in
terms of patterns and shapes, you’ve won half the battle in becoming
limitless.
What do I mean by patterns and shapes? Well, instead of trying to
memorize every chord there is, if you learn the notes on the 5th and 6th
strings of the guitar (I give you a diagram in the BASICS section), then you
can play in ANY key. That’s the secret! So, now we’re going to learn the
core shapes you should learn - for ALL LEVELS.
MAJOR AND MINOR CHORDS (BEGINNER LEVEL)
Following are diagrams of R&B chord diagrams. But we should still start
with major and minor chords. I didn’t really discuss these chords in the
video, because I wanted to focus on the common R&B chords, but the
major and minor chords are good to know. This is also a good time to
probably mention that many times, when I say “minor chord” I’m typically

referring to the minor 7 chord, and also, when I say major chord, I’m usually
referring to the major 7. Again, that’s because we don’t use the “major” and
“minor” chords much in R&B.
The major chords are denoted with the abbreviation "Maj", while minor
chords are denoted with "m", thus A Maj means the A Major chord and Am
means the A minor chord. Major chords are considered “happy” chords
because they have a bright sound. Minor chords have a “sad” sound. Now
let’s take a look at the chord diagrams for major and minor chords.
MAJOR CHORD SHAPES (BEGINNERS)

MINOR CHORD SHAPE (BEGINNERS)

MAJOR 7 CHORD SHAPES (BEGINNERS)

MINOR 7 CHORD SHAPES (BEGINNERS)

BEGINNER’S LEVEL EXERCISE:

Practice in the key of C using the 5th string. Go to the I, ii, iii, & IV. The I
and IV will always be a Major 7 shape. The ii & ii will always be the minor 7
chords. As you play, call out the names of the shapes. The distance from I
to ii is 2 fret. The distance from the ii and iii is 2 frets. From the iii to the IV
is one fret.
For the 6th string, let’s go with the key of G so you’re in the same area.
Again, go to the I, ii, iii, and IV.
This will help you learn the number system and a little bit of theory.
Refer to the Theory Section (BONUS) in the back for more information.

MINOR 11 CHORD SHAPE (INTERMEDIATE)
You can switch a minor 7 chord at times
with the minor 11 chord.

7TH SUS4 CHORD SHAPE (INTERMEDIATE)

DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORD SHAPES (INTERMEDIATE)
INTERMEDIATE EXERCISE
Create a catchy chord progression. In the key of G, go to the ii, iii, Sus4 to
Dominant 7. Use the minor 11 shape for the ii and iii.
Next, you can do the same exercise, interchanging the minor 11 with the
minor 7 chord. You can loop it, speed it up or slow it down.

DIMINISHED CHORD SHAPES - DIM7 (ADVANCED)
Think of a diminished chord as a “passing chord” to fill up space within a
song. It can work between the ii and iii chords.

ADVANCED LEVEL EXERCISE:
Use the 2 diminished shapes. Create a vibe and practice using both
shapes. You’ll begin to develop muscle memory and experiment with your
ear, where the chords work.

2
CR METHOD:
RIFFS

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MINOR 7 SHAPE
If you study how I play, you’ll begin to realize that a lot of the riffs I use are
based on using the minor 7 shape. So, if I am in the key of C, I’ll use the
Am7 pentatonic shape. Then, the riffs I use, I’ll use notes based on the A
minor pentatonic shape.
NUGGET: BE AS SOULFUL AS POSSIBLE
Beginners, pick out single notes. Create a small melody within a chord
progression. I demonstrate how to do this in the video. You’ll notice that I
just don’t stay within the first position of the minor pentatonic scale. I’m also
playing the same notes within the scales, but outside of the first shape. In
fact, they are either octaves or part of the other shapes of the minor
pentatonic. Following, is a diagram of the minor pentatonic scale, but
extended.
For Intermediates, since you already should know the scale, you can
incorporate techniques such as palm muting. You should also work on
double stop moves. I also demonstrate an exercise you can do to practice
double stops. Applying these techniques can change the dynamics of a
song.

Advanced players, you can do more with your licks by recycling licks by
using octaves. I give an example in the video of what you can practice.
There’s even a walkup I do that you should learn. If you’re having trouble,
you can slow down the video to learn.

2
CR METHOD:
RHYTHM

IMPORTANCE OF COUNTING
The main point for all levels is to recognize it’s important for you to get used
to counting. Don’t rely on the drummer. Learning how to count helps you
know when to transition between chords. Move your feet and/or head to
help you. That’s why using the metronome is key.
HOW TO USE A METRONOME WHEN PRACTICING
You first of all set the metronome at the speed you want to practice. Always
remember not to set a metronome slower than 60 bpm (beats per minute).
It’s impossible for a beginner to keep an even beat at a slower pace
because you’re just too new to the idea. However, a good position to start
with chord changes is playing chords at a rate of 70 bpm. Your ear has the
advantage of hearing a usable tempo, and your hand gets to work at a
slower pace.

TIPS IN USING A METRONOME
● Play moderately slow, then build upon it. Not excessively slow, but
moderately slow. How fast that is exactly depends on the rhythm or
song you are playing.
● Find the trouble Spot when practicing. Music is never of equal
difficulty throughout. There will be easier areas and harder areas. As
you raise the tempo, you will notice certain problem spots and "stress
points" begin to appear. The metronome's unforgiving nature helps
you identify these spots.
● Now perfect what you are playing. Note that perfect playing doesn’t
mean you should overplay in terms of raising the tempo. However
perfect playing is to repeat the correct motions over and over. Playing
too fast with lots of mistakes is counterproductive. Thus, playing it
perfectly 100 times at gradually increasing speed is the best.

PRACTICE ROUTINES BONUS
A guitar practice routine is the most effective way to become limitless.
There are no shortcuts. No matter what style of music you play, or your
experience level, organized practice time helps you grow as a player.
Find time to sit down and work out a routine, and then spend time each day
practicing, even if it’s 15 minutes a day.
1. Understand how to play the major scale. Take the scale from one
position to the next position. The more you can do this the easier it
will be for you to remember that chord.
2. Also when practicing, call out the numbers out loud (1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
– 6 – 7). This makes it easy to remember.
3. When learn the notes on the guitar, you create flash cards. It makes
the learning process easier.
4. Always practice using a metronome to stay in beat.
5. Practice a chord progression in multiple keys (I - II - III - IV).
6. Spend time playing rhythm guitar. Because this is going to take you
to the next level.

THEORY

THE NUMBER SYSTEM
When you play with other musicians, it’s not uncommon for someone to
say, “We’re going to play in the key of C. Let’s play the vi, V, iii, IV. “
Understanding what this means allows you to play in any key. In music,
you’ll find that most use Roman numerals, with upper case for Major
chords, and lower case for minor chords.
The number system is based off the major scale. There are 7 notes in the
major scale. Each note is given a number. It sounds like “Do-Re-Mi-Fa-
Sol-La- Ti- Do”, where Do is I, Re is ii and so on. The last “Do” is the same
as the 1st, so essentially, it’s the I. And each note is associated with a
number.
Memorize this:
● The I, IV, V are ALWAYS going to be Major.

● The ii, iii, vi are ALWAYS going to be minor.
● Technically, the vii is diminished, but in R&B we can use a minor.
THIS NEVER CHANGES.
Looking at the major scale, if you know how to play it on your guitar, and
you’ve memorized what number goes with what chord type, you’re in great
shape. You’ll begin to see relationships of where chords reside with
respect to the numbers. For example, if you know where the I is of any key
is on the 5th string, you will learn over time that the vi of that key can be
found on the 6th string, 2 frets to the right. There are other shortcuts you’ll

learn that’ll help you navigate with more ease across the fretboard that
you’ll begin to notice with more practice and over time.
So, I think including the major scale shape will help you “see” what I’m
referring to. Let’s look at the major scale shape - with the root on both the
6th string and the 5th string:

CONCLUSION
There’s a lot of information in Video one and also here, so use this as a
reference. Don’t feel overwhelmed. I wanted to try and accommodate as
many as I could. Start at whatever level you are. Have fun and practice.
You will see progress. Post your comments / questions in the chat box and
I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can.

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Becoming Limitless R&B Guitar Video One

NOTICE: You ​Do NOT​ Have the Right

You Also ​MAY NOT​ Give Away,

Help stop Internet crime by reporting this to ​support@kerry2smooth.com

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THE GUITAR- COMPONENTS OF THE GUITAR

main parts. The picture below is an electric guitar.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 4

exists really to locate the tuning mechanisms.

to move through it to allow tuning.

spacing determined by the length of the neck.

body of the guitar at one end, up to the nut at the other.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 5

the guitar owner’s choice.

affect the guitar.

bottom of the guitar.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 6

Scratch Plate (Pickguard)

The scratch plate is usually a piece of plastic. It exists to cover up some of

enthusiastic pick movements.

at once, and is used to give a vibrato type of effect.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 7

two pickups active at a time to blend the tone.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 8

different types of adjustment.

HOLDING THE GUITAR

neck of the guitar horizontal to the floor.

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body to avoid this. Make sure all this feels comfortable.

body of the guitar remains at a comfortable height for strumming/picking.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 10

Key things to note here:

the neck properly to play chords.

smoothly over the strings.

How to Hold a Pick

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 11

THE STRINGS ON THE GUITAR

correspond to each string.

THE TYPES OF STRINGS

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 12

standard string I recommend is the 10 or 9

gauges string or less (the gauge is the

thickness of the string).

There are a lot of brands of strings available

but the one I recommend is the D'Addario

Strings. These strings will gives you the clarity

and the exact sound you want.

what’s going on in there. There are numerous options depending on size,

sound, amplifier technology, and configuration. Amplifiers can be

categorized into several types: tube, solid-state, hybrid, digital modeling,

style the buyer is interested in.

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 13

KNOWING YOUR FRETBOARD

notes, you can learn the others by using patterns.

There are 12 notes on the fretboard:

A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab

1st string - High E string (Thinnest string)

6th string - ​Low E string​ (Thickest string)

Copyright. kerry2smooth.com . All Rights Reserved 14

the 3rd fret, the second dot is on the 5th fret,

the third dot is on the 7th fret and so on all the

NOTICE: You Do NOT Have the Right

You Also MAY NOT Give Away,

Help stop Internet crime by reporting this to support@kerry2smooth.com

6th string - Low E string (Thickest string)