Beat the Mersey: A Guitar Lesson Inspired by 1960s British Pop

Introduction
"Beat the Mersey" is inspired by the classic 1960s British pop groups. Think of bands like Jerry and the Pacemakers and The Beatles. The guitar sounds of that time were typically clean and known for their "jangly" quality. Musicians often used guitars made by companies like Rickenbacker and amps by Fender and Vox. However, whatever guitar you're using will be fine, just aim for a clean, bright tone.

Guitar Setup
For this track, I recommend using the bridge pickup. This will help your sound pop through the mix a little bit more.

Challenges
The main challenges in this lesson involve:

• Keeping your strumming even
• Maintaining clean picking sections

You will work on rhythms to ensure you are comfortable with your placement in the track, while also keeping your right hand relaxed.

Sections Overview
There are two sections to "Beat the Mersey":

• Section A: Strumming the chords in time
• Section B: Picking individual notes within those chords (known as arpeggiating)

The vocabulary used is typical of the bands of this era, featuring open chord shapes and picking that adds a melodic feel to what you're playing.

Section A: Strumming Chords

At the core of Section A is the strumming of chords. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Chord Shapes: Make sure you are confident with the chord shapes under your fingers. Spend time with your teacher practicing these shapes until you can make smooth chord changes. For instance, moving from a C to a G should feel seamless.

• Strumming Technique: A common mistake is to "dig in" when strumming, which means strumming too hard. If you hit the chord with too much energy, it can lead to a muddied sound.

• Plectrum Selection: Consider the plectrum you're using. If it's too thick, you might find it encourages digging in. A thinner plectrum will give you a softer sound. Ideally, use a plectrum about 1 millimeter thick, as it promotes a relaxed grip and a loose wrist.

• Clean Downstrokes: When strumming, ensure you're producing a clean downstroke. Strum all the notes together rather than one note followed by another.

• Playing Only Necessary Strings: When playing chords, be mindful to only strum the strings indicated on the sheet music. For example, when playing the C chord, do not include strings six and five.

Section B: Arpeggiating Chords

In Section B, the focus is on arpeggiating the chords:

• Technique: Play one note at a time to achieve an authentic sound. Allow the notes to ring out and blend into one another. This involves holding your fingers down and letting the pick fall gently down the strings rather than a heavy strum which can lose the effect.

• Tempo: "Beat the Mersey" has a mid-tempo beat that is still brisk. Practice this section slowly at first, and consider going through it with your teacher before using a backing track.

• Timekeeping: It's crucial to count your way through each bar to know when to change chords. For example, in the first bar, the chord lasts for four beats:

  • Example Counting:
    • 1, 2, 3, 4
    • 1, 2, 3, 4 (moving on to the next chord)

• Rhythm Consistency: Practice with a metronome to develop a strong sense of timing. This consistency will be essential in both the strumming and arpeggiated sections.

Final Notes

As you play the arpeggiated sections in Section B, remember:

• The C chord starts with four beats, with one note played on each beat:
  • 1, 2, 3, 4
  • 1, 2, 3, 4
  • 1, 2, 3, 4
  • 1, 2, 3, 4

And as always, keep those notes ringing out! It's crucial not to play too harshly when you want notes to sustain for a full four beats. Count to maintain their duration:

• 1, 2, 3, 4
• 1, 2, 3, 4
• 1, 2, 3, 4

By focusing on these elements, you'll capture the essence of the 1960s sound in your playing of "Beat the Mersey." Happy practicing!