A simplified playing method and music notation system for the learning and teaching of playing the guitar, banjo, ukulele, or similar stringed instrument, primarily for use as accompaniment to singing. One embodiment of the method is comprised of 2 parts: 1. A notation system which specifies non-standard tuning information (24), specifies movable chord fingering information[(40), (42)], and uses numbers (20), letters, colors (64), or symbols to specify the fret space locations to implement the movable chord fingering, and 2. A modification to the instrument, adding a corresponding (numbered, colored, etc.) fret designation visual aid [(34), (68) to indicate where to place the movable chord fingering on the neck of the instrument. Since most chord changes are made simply by moving one simple chord shape up and down the fretboard, and the notation system is very easy to read, learning to play the instrument becomes significantly faster and easier.