Basic Guitar with Jim

Beginner Guitar Course from Jim Deeming

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Fingerstyle master Jim Deeming teaches you the basics of guitar playing. With over 30 years of experience teaching and playing, Jim will definitely start you in the right direction. This is a great series for beginners and guitarists looking to refresh their knowledge.

25 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

91% Appoval

1756 of 1836 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.

Included

Access this course, along with all other courses with Membership.

Full Course Breakdown

You will be taught guitar techniques necessary in all genres. Jim will move you from beginning subjects such as buying a guitar all the way up to playing chords, basic finger picking, ear training and more. This lesson set will adequately prepare you for Jim's Phase 2 Fingerstyle series.

Begin the Course
1

Introduction Lesson

In this short lesson, Jim Deeming will introduce himself and talk about his upcoming lessons.

6:12 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

2

Choosing a Guitar

Jim gives his thoughts on purchasing your first guitar.

7:09 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

3

Goal Setting

Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.

11:00 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
4

Changing the Strings

Jim Deeming walks you through the process of changing your strings. He gives some excellent tips on this important process.

41:09 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

5

Meet Your New Guitar

Jim introduces proper playing technique. Then, he explains how to play your first chord.

52:24 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

6

Learning More Chords

Jim teaches you the 3 primary chords in G major. He also explains how chords relate to specific keys. A great lesson!

39:15 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

7

Right Hand Revisited

Jim discusses a plethora of right hand techniques that are essential to guitar playing.

35:19 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

8

New Chords and Keys

This lesson provides additional information about chords and keys.

19:08 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

9

Let's Play

This lesson is all about playing. Jim will start you off playing a song. You will have the opportunity to play along with him.

20:10 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

10

Alternating Bass and Chords

Jim teaches you a few more commonly used chords. Then, he discusses a technique known as the alternating bass line.

40:54 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

11

A Shape Chords

Jim covers all possible fingering options pertaining to the basic open A chord shape.

17:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Basic Guitar Checkup

Jim talks about the future of his Phase 1 guitar series and where to go from here.

4:18 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

13

Notes, Scales and Theory

Jim delves into basic music theory. He starts from square one in this lesson.

29:00 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

14

Chord Fiesta

Jim Deeming invites you to a veritable chord fiesta. He demonstrates common dominant and minor chord shapes.

43:00 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Movable Chords

This lesson is all about movable chords. Learn the importance of barre chords and other movable shapes.

40:00 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Proper Practicing

Jim Deeming explains how to create a productive practice routine. Make sure you aren't wasting needless time!

30:00 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

17

The Pinky Anchor

Many guitarists use their pinky as an anchor. Jim explains the pros and cons of this technique.

9:00 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

18

Palm Muting

Jim discusses an important technique--palm muting. He explains how palm muting is used by flatpickers and fingerstyle players.

7:00 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Reading Tablature

Jim Deeming covers the basics of reading guitar tablature. Knowledge of tablature will help with JamPlay lessons as well as learning your favorite songs.

21:12 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

20

Tuning Extravaganza

Jim explains various tuning methods. He provides useful tips and tricks that will ensure that your guitar is sounding its best.

31:45 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

21

Let's Play: "Red River Valley"

Jim is back with another "let's play" style lesson. He teaches the classic song "Red River Valley" and encourages you to play along.

52:38 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

22

Drop D Tuning

Jim Deeming introduces drop D tuning. Drop D is a popular alternate tuning used in many styles of music including rock, fingerstyle and blues.

25:25 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

23

Let's Play: "Wayfaring Stranger"

Jim Deeming breaks down the song sections to the classic tune "Wayfaring Stranger".

29:20 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

24

More On Drop D

Jim Deeming takes another, more focused look at drop D tuning.

6:27 Runtime

1.5 Difficulty

25

Your Friend, the Metronome

Jim Deeming discusses how to use a metronome for practice, skill building, and speed building.

24:02 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

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Jim Deeming

1,756
  • Berthoud, CO
  • Playing since 1969
  • 160 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Jim Deeming got his first guitar when he was only six years old. His Dad was taking fingerpicking lessons, and Jim wanted to be just like him. The Mel Bay books didn't last very long before he strapped on a thumb pick and added the Chet part to Red River Valley so it sounded better.

Most of Jim's early learning was by ear. With unlimited access to his Dad's collection of Chet Atkins albums, he spent countless hours decoding his favorite songs. They were never "right" until they sounded just like Chet. Around the age of 12, Jim heard Jerry Reed for the first time and just knew he had to be able to make that "Alabama Wild Man" sound. The styles of Chet & Jerry always have been a big influence on his playing.

More recently he has pursued arrangements by Tommy Emmanuel and Doyle Dykes, in addition to creating some of his own and writing originals.

Jim has performed in front of a variety of audiences, including concerts, competitions, weddings and the like, but playing at church has always been a mainstay. Whether playing in worship bands or guitar solos, gospel music is deep in his roots and is also the driving theme behind his debut CD release, titled "First Fruits".

Jim has been playing for about 38 years. He also has taught private lessons in the past but believes JamPlay.com is an exciting and better venue with many advantages over the traditional method of weekly 30 minute sessions.

Jim lives in Berthoud, Colorado with his wife, Linda, and their four children. Although he still has a "day job", he is actively performing and is already back in the studio working on the next CD. If you wonder how he finds time, look no further than the back seat of his truck where he keeps a "travel guitar" to take advantage of any practice or song-writing opportunities he can get.

The opening song you hear in Jim's introductory JamPlay video is called, "A Pick In My Pocket". It's an original tune, written in memory of Jim's father who told him early on he should always keep a pick in his pocket in case he ever met Chet Atkins and got the chance to play for him. That song is slated to be the title track for his next CD, which will feature several more originals plus some of his favorite covers of Chet and Jerry arrangements.
Reviews & Feedback 91/100 with 1836 ratings
balmoral

Jim has a great way of communicating in his lessons. Great teacher!

whitetail deer

I have no musical background so it's kinda hard for me to understand it all and he really helps me out I just hope I can play as good as him one day

6220876

It is just great that he posts the chords on the top of the page. If other teachers did that as well I would try them, but it is very hard to figure out when you are a beginner to figure out what most teachers are doing. Jim nailed it! Thanks J

Willy1941

very articulate!

Playforfun

great lesson...

jackphotoca

More good fundamentals. I keep trying to jump ahead and get nowhere fast. After months of flailing, I'm going back to building up my basic skills, and this is "just what I need." Jim's a really good teacher.

supermoto30

Actually, all the above. Getting some fruit out of going back to the basics and watching someone cover key factors that I overlooked. Thank, S. Hall U.S.A-RET.

1stdrdan

And easy to understand. He assumes no musical background but does not teach down. Much appreciated.

Jaw86

I like the conversational tone he has.

maria.cc

I like his in depth style very much. He is very thorough. I also would like to fingerpick and think he will be a great teacher for this!

smoothly

all the above great to be back with jam play o.k nuff said flame on dude.ready to learn master. da smokeman.

jhjam

I think this is what I need to get Jerry Reed's " breakdown" to speed.. Dario Cortese did a fantastic job getting through the tab and fingering but I struggle yet with the speed so I will try the metronome as you say. Thank you .. also wonderin

gstewart

Very clear and easy to understand.

salty

Jim is a great instructor. He is very comprehensive, and is a pleasure to listen to. I wish I could meet him. I loved the interview he had with Tommy Emmanuel, who is my all time favorite. My son bought tickets to see Tommy two or three years a

asnyder

Very down to earth instructor. I can relate to his teaching style. He's a natural (starting at 5 yrs old), and so am I. Going through my 2nd carpal tunnel surgery early 2015, so I will be watching mostly for the immediate future.

lenny from VA

I like the fact that so far the talk is not overpowering with technical jargon. Simple and "down to earth" speaks much to my ability to understand and understand.

guitargirl2

Liked the 1_4_5 explanation. Very helpful.

Charlie640

Jim is a great teacher and communicator

timmason

I kind of know this stuff already, but Jim puts it all into place very clearly and reinforces it

martyrogers

I like his voice, he is calm, and well grounded. Makes me feel comfortable.

58Rich

Jim Is making this so easy as compared to a teacher I had !0 years ago,I am a Rank beginner,as after 3 months I put the guitar down,and about 10 years latter I am revisiting the guitar. found this site and found Jim,s teaching .Thanks for thi

Flashm4n

I never knew that's how they worked our what made up a 7th cord or a minor cords. So simple, thanks Jim! I did notice on some of the charts for the barre cords that they showed fret one but Jim was actually playing at fret 5.

gbeck

I'm an intermediate fingerstyle player but want to start over from scratch to make sure I'm not skipping over anything important. Kind of like "spring training" for baseball players....a return to basics. Jim Deeming is why I signed up for Ja

patrick.c3331

sooo excited!

djmarsh

Seems like a "real guy"

brainrover

Great review and build on previous lessons!! Jim is well worth the money invested in the membership! I'm 48 years old, new to music and guitar and this is just what I was looking for!!

Larryf

My goals are to be able to play well with others, be able to play with the slide and more finger picking.

ebeagle

great teacher

BobPharmD99

Very good instructor, gets the point across clearly

bubbiebear

how would you set the metronome for cut time?

drjoed

He has inspired me to practice and perhaps play like him someday

Aces_N_Eights_65

Have enjoyed this series a bunch!

Oldsoul

Great advice!!

Artilleo

Great clear messege

1jerbear

I'm excited to get started. I have always thought that fingerpicking was one of the hardest styles to learn. But after being introduced to Mr Deeming and seeing his passion for teaching. I know I'm gonna learn alot.

lavenderblue

good job good info thanks

Buff

Thank You Jim,that was very informative and great of you to share all of the tips.

hebegb

jim comes across as amusician in charge and at ease

ScSmith

This is gonna be tough.

maccaroo

Friendly, confident, talented. Loved watching.

chancipapa

Great teacher

ishkar

Great start; I would like to meet this person one day. He comes across as genuine with a deep love for the guitar and music desiring to help others enter into a life long expression of music.

Sewilliams

I can watch Jim's lessons three times and still pick up something I missed.

Gatagirl

Actually I would have chosen all three if I could have. Jim is great.