Practice Routine for Level 4

Practice Routine for Level 4 (30 minutes)

The following routine should last about 30 minutes. If you want to go on longer or can't do the full 30 minutes then PLEASE STILL PICK THE GUITAR UP as close to everyday as possible. Even just 5 minutes a day is MUCH better than a mammoth 2 hour session once a week.

Chord Practice (Strum, Pick, Strum)

• Changes between each minor chord plus the G chord will need work

• Particular changes include the 3 minor chords, G to Am and Sus chords

Chord Sequences - If you can do these, then use this time on songs instead

• Minor chords workout from Lesson 6

• Sus chords workout from Lesson 6

• |D |Em |G |A || (Not as common, more sophisticated!)

Song Practice - Keep 4 or 5 songs from the previous level and add:

• 'Ain't No Sunshine' by Bill Withers - essential in my opinion

• 'Songbird' by Oasis - the easiest song I know with a G chord in it!

The Cycle of Accelerated Returns

The most benefit will be found if you can do this nearly every day. If you do this, you'll start to get into something called The Cycle of Accelerated Returns, also known as the Snowball effect! When good practice is done on consecutive days, the benefits you get are multiplied considerably.

Level 4 Goals

• Be able to play the chords from memory (E, Em, Esus4, A, Am, Asus2, Asus4, D, Dm, Dsus2, Dsus4, G) and be able to demonstrate them in a chord sequence

• Be comfortable with off-beat strumming, preferably in a song

• Recognise the difference in sound between major and minor chords (covered in lesson 8)

• Be able to play any of the recommended chord sequences and as a bonis - be able to make up your own!

• Be able to play at least 5 songs - Ideally you should only need the chord sheets as a prompt rather than reading each chord as it comes. You should have a go at playing these along to the record. these can be 5 totally new songs, but it's best to keep your favourites from previous levels too (e.g. 3 new, and keep 2 old ones)