Re: Beginner help please
Zurf is right... this style of written music (words and chords and NOT standard notation) doesn't lead to a simple read and play. You really should start with a song that you know well. If you can listen to a recording, try to hear where the chord changes are. With some songs they'll be after a strum cycle every time, some songs will be in the middle of a strum cycle, it's different with each song. Chordie simply pulls the songs together from other places on the net and tries to make them more easy to find and read. It's not foolproof, it's not always correct, and guitar certainly isn't always easy as you know.
I was going to say to stick with "Leaving on a Jet Plane" but I'm not really sure it's your "style" that you'll enjoy it enough to stick with it, but that was the first song I learned. I can honestly say that I played that song to death while learning it that I almost never ever play it anymore LOL! BUT... it's a simple song, you play each chord for an entire strumming pattern and play the E twice through the strum pattern (well that's what I do) and you can use a really simple pattern or a trickier one. I had a video up at one point but I took it down as I felt I was more confusing than helpful. Pix will get you going on the right track!!
For your amusement, my youtube name is the same as my username here on Chordie. If there's any junk I've done on there that you'd like me to slow down and explain, I'd be glad to. I've learned a lot more songs, but most of those up there are from my first year playing... I'm coming up on my official year two mark here in a few months. If you live and breathe guitar for a while, you'll get it!! Stick with it, I look forward to seeing more posts from you on your progress! OH... and, WELCOME TO CHORDIE!!
Amy
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.