BrightNote
Six String Strummin' · Beginner · Unit 3 · Lesson 1

Lesson 1: The Em Chord

Your first chord — two fingers, six strings ·

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • I can form the Em chord and strum all six strings cleanly.
  • I can lift and re-place the shape without looking.
  • I can play 'Easy Does It'.

🕸Stretch & Press3 min

  1. Spread your fretting fingers gently, then relax them — three times.
  2. Press all four fingertips onto one fret each, then lift together.
  3. Roll your wrist loose. Chords need a relaxed hand more than a strong one.

🎸Building the Em5 min

  1. Fingers 2 and 3 press fret 2 on strings 5 and 4.
  2. Curve the fingers so they don't touch the neighboring strings.
  3. Strum slowly across all six — then pick each string one at a time to find any dead notes.

🥁Count It3 min

  1. Count the rhythm out loud before you play.
  2. Turn on Counts or the metronome and lock in with it.
  3. Loop it slowly first; speed comes on its own.
1 Strum on the Beat Strum-strum-hold. Keep the arm swinging even during the hold.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop

📖Play It7 min

  1. Read it slowly and cleanly the first time through.
  2. Drag-select any tricky spot and loop it.
  3. Use the tempo slider — move up only when it's clean.
2 Em Check One slow strum per bar. Let it ring; listen for buzzing strings.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop
3 Em in Quarters Down-strums on every beat — loose wrist, brush all six strings.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop

🎵Easy Does It7 min

  1. Play 'Easy Does It' — the chord never changes, so put all your attention on tone.
  2. Six clear strings on every strum is the win.
4 Easy Does It Whole, halves, quarters — one chord, four feels.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop

👂Train Your Ear2 min

  1. Press play on any line above, look away, and listen once through.
  2. Hum the first bar back, then find it on the guitar by ear.

✨Make It Yours3 min

  1. Take one idea from this lesson and bend it — change a rhythm, reorder the chords.
  2. Play your version twice so it sticks.

MY ENDING (write or describe it):

🏠This Week at Home

⭐Practice Tracker

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5
Easy Does Itonce through, daily
The Em Chordclean & steady
Metronome onat least one exercise
My own variationmake one up

★ Check off each day you play — ten focused minutes counts. Consistency beats marathon sessions.

🍎Teacher Guide

PREP

  • The Em Chord: Your first chord — two fingers, six strings

COMMON MISTAKES & FIXES

  • Fingers flattening and muting string 3. → Fix: More curve — fingertips at 90° to the fretboard.
  • Strumming too hard. → Fix: Brush the strings like you're dusting them; volume comes from confidence, not force.

IF STRUGGLING

  • Drop the tempo well below comfortable and loop one bar.
  • Play just the chord changes (or just the rhythm) before combining.

IF ADVANCED

  • Bring it to full tempo with the metronome.
  • Add your own variation — a different rhythm, an extra chord.

EXTENSIONS

  • Apply tonight's skill to a song you already love.

TALKING POINTS

  • Em is the easiest full chord on the instrument — and it's in thousands of songs.

✅Assessment

Tap one level per skill — saved on this device.

Accuracy
Plays the right notes and chords.
Timing
Keeps a steady beat.
Tone
Notes and strums ring clean and clear.

★ BrightNote · Six String Strummin' · Beginner · Unit 3 · Lesson 1 · v1.0 · generated from lesson data

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