Step into the world of music with award-winning songwriter Jimmy Yeary as your guide. In this series of beginner-friendly guitar lessons, Jimmy shares the same simple techniques he learned from his father—helping you go from holding a guitar for the first time to strumming real chords and songs. Each lesson builds on the last, giving you practical tips, clear demonstrations, and plenty of encouragement. Whether you dream of playing around the campfire or writing songs of your own, this series will get you started on a journey that’s both fun and rewarding.
In this special lesson, Jimmy Yeary is joined by Austin Andrews for a conversation about persistence, practice, and the joy of making music. They talk openly about the challenges every beginner faces—sore fingers, slow progress, and frustration—and how repetition eventually leads to breakthrough moments. You’ll also see a live example of fingerpicking and how playing with others makes guitar both fun and rewarding.
Jimmy Yeary introduces you to minor chords, beginning with A minor, B minor, and C minor. These shapes may feel tricky at first—especially the bar chords—but they open the door to countless songs. With step-by-step guidance and plenty of encouragement, Jimmy shows how practicing these forms builds strength and prepares you to add real depth and variety to your playing.
Jimmy Yeary rounds out your chord knowledge by teaching the remaining three major chords: E, F, and B. You’ll practice finger placement, learn how to handle the tricky F and B shapes, and see why mastering all seven majors opens the door to playing nearly any song. With steady repetition, your fingers will strengthen, your ear will sharpen, and you’ll be ready to move from chords into full songs.
Jimmy Yeary introduces the C chord and shows how it works alongside D and G to open up new possibilities. Using the hymn Amazing Grace as your first full song, you’ll practice a simple waltz strumming pattern while learning how chords shift between keys. This lesson helps you hear the difference between playing in D and G, giving you flexibility to match songs to your voice and style. With steady practice, these chord changes will start to feel natural.
In this lesson, Jimmy Yeary gets you strumming right away by teaching three essential beginner chords: D, G, and A. With these alone, you can play countless songs. Jimmy breaks down finger placement step by step, explains the concept of 1-4-5 chord progressions, and offers practical tips for overcoming early challenges like finger pain and muffled notes. Stick with it, and these chords will become the foundation of your playing.
In this first lesson with award-winning songwriter Jimmy Yeary, you’ll get a hands-on introduction to the guitar itself. From tuning keys and frets to picks and string names, Jimmy walks beginners through the basics in a simple, encouraging way. You’ll even tune your guitar together—getting it ready for the chords and songs to come. Whether you’ve never held a guitar or just need a refresher, this lesson lays the foundation for your musical journey.