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

Lesson 3: The D Chord

The little triangle — and a three-chord vocabulary ·

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • I can form D and strum the top four strings.
  • I can change Am to D and back.
  • I can play 'Three Together'.

🕸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 D5 min

  1. Fingers 1 and 2 take fret 2 on strings 3 and 1; finger 3 takes fret 3 on string 2 — a little triangle.
  2. Strum only strings 4-3-2-1; the low strings sit this one out.
  3. Check each string: the triangle tends to mute string 1.

🥁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 Triangle Time Quarters then halves on D — clean top four strings.
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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 D Check Four strings only — aim your strum at the middle of the guitar.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop
3 Am to D A bigger shape change — slow, deliberate, on the half notes.
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Tempo 75 bpm Count‑in Metronome Drums Loop

🎵Three Together7 min

  1. Play 'Three Together' — three chords, steady quarters.
  2. Look ahead: think about the NEXT chord during each bar.
4 Three Together Your whole chord vocabulary in one tune.
Loading notation…
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
Three Togetheronce through, daily
The D 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 D Chord: The little triangle — and a three-chord vocabulary

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.

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 3 · v1.0 · generated from lesson data

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