Lesson 2: The Am Chord
A close cousin of Em — and your first chord change ·
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- I can form Am and strum the top five strings.
- I can change between Em and Am while keeping the beat.
- I can play 'Two-Chord Sway'.
🕸Stretch & Press3 min
- Spread your fretting fingers gently, then relax them — three times.
- Press all four fingertips onto one fret each, then lift together.
- Roll your wrist loose. Chords need a relaxed hand more than a strong one.
🎸The Shape Shift5 min
- Am: fingers 2 and 3 stay side by side (strings 4 and 3), finger 1 adds fret 1 on string 2.
- From Em, the whole hand slides down one string — same finger pair.
- Practice the swap in the air first: Em... Am... Em... without strumming.
🥁Count It3 min
- Count the rhythm out loud before you play.
- Turn on Counts or the metronome and lock in with it.
- Loop it slowly first; speed comes on its own.
📖Play It7 min
- Read it slowly and cleanly the first time through.
- Drag-select any tricky spot and loop it.
- Use the tempo slider — move up only when it's clean.
🎵Two-Chord Sway7 min
- Play 'Two-Chord Sway' at the slow default tempo.
- It's fine to simplify: strum once per bar until the change is smooth.
👂Train Your Ear2 min
- Press play on any line above, look away, and listen once through.
- Hum the first bar back, then find it on the guitar by ear.
✨Make It Yours3 min
- Take one idea from this lesson and bend it — change a rhythm, reorder the chords.
- Play your version twice so it sticks.
MY ENDING (write or describe it):
⭐Practice Tracker
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|
| Two-Chord Swayonce through, daily | | | | | |
| The Am 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 Am Chord: A close cousin of Em — and your first chord change
COMMON MISTAKES & FIXES
- Rushing ahead of the beat. → Fix: Turn the metronome on and drop the tempo until it feels easy.
- Buzzing or muted notes. → Fix: Press just behind the fret with the fingertip, thumb relaxed behind the neck.
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
- You're building real technique — the same fundamentals every guitarist runs on.
✅Assessment
Tap one level per skill — saved on this device.
AccuracyPlays the right notes and chords.
TimingKeeps a steady beat.
ToneNotes and strums ring clean and clear.