Lesson #16: Common Time in D (Guitar, Beginner)

Did you learn the chords from yesterday's lesson? We're going to put those chords to use and start strumming in common time. In published sheet music, this is often stated as 4/4 time. Count it out!

In quarter notes: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4... Four quarter notes make a full measure (and you thought this wouldn't be fractions and math class!).

In faster eighth notes: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Got it? Let's try this chord progression:

D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...and repeat...D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...

Or this one:

D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4...

Or this one:

D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and
D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
A and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Five chords?

D and 2 and A and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and A and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Six chords?

D and 2 and Em and 4 and
F#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and A and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Get comfortable with fast chord changes!