Week 18 of 27
Goal: You hear the difference between major and minor and know which note makes it.
Review
Last week: picking. Pick Stille Nacht once – then E and Em, picked.
Step by step
- Play E and then Em. Major sounds bright and happy, minor softer and often a little sad.
- The difference is just one note: the third. In E your index finger frets the G string at the 1st fret (G#); in Em the G string rings open (G) – one semitone lower.
- Guessing game: someone plays E or Em, A or Am – you just listen and say “major” or “minor”. More in Major and minor.
- The chord detective listens and tells you which chord you’re playing – including whether it’s major or minor.
Time to make music: your piece
Amazing Grace in G: G, C and D7 in major – and Em in one spot. Can you hear how the minor chord briefly changes the mood?
Homework for next time
Five days, about ten minutes each:
- Tune first every day.
- Days 1–2: alternate E – Em and A – Am, listen closely.
- Day 3: play five chords for the chord detective.
- Days 4–5: Amazing Grace in G.
- Fun: play major and minor for someone – can they guess?
Done when …
- you can usually tell major from minor by ear
- you can show which finger turns E into Em
If you get stuck
- Can’t hear a difference? Pluck only the G string: once open, once at the 1st fret. Then the whole chord.
- The detective doesn’t recognise anything? Strum one chord clearly and firmly, let it ring, close to the microphone.
For teachers: lesson plan
- ≈ 10 min Warm-up: the teacher plays major and minor chords, the group shows thumbs up (major) or thumbs sideways (minor).
- ≈ 15 min Practice: pairs play E/Em and A/Am for each other and guess.
- ≈ 20 min Together: Amazing Grace – the group briefly raises a hand at the Em.
Differentiation: those who are confident play the piece with down-up or help a partner; those who need more time strum only on beat one of each bar.
For the board: openstring.de/gitarre/en/lesson/18/