Lesson #9: Common Time in G (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:

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

Or this one:

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

Or this one:

G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, C 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Five chords?

G and 2 and D and 4 and
C and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and D and 4 and
Am and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Get comfortable with fast chord changes!