Week 19 of 27
Goal: You know how long whole, half, quarter and eighth notes are, and play a march in 2/4.
Review
Last week: major and minor. Play E, Em, A and Am, saying “major” or “minor” for each.
Step by step
- Note values in 4/4: whole = 4 beats, half = 2, quarter = 1, eighth = half a beat. Two eighths are “1 and”.
- Try it on A: strum once and let it ring four beats (whole), then twice (halves), four times (quarters), eight times down-up (eighths).
- The time signature tells you how many beats are in a bar: 4/4 = four, 3/4 = three (waltz), 2/4 = two (march). More in Time signatures.
- In the rhythm tool choose “March (2/4)”: down, down-up. Counted: “1, 2 and”. Then Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz in A.
Time to make music: your piece
Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz in A with A and E7 – in the march pattern “down, down-up”. Brisk and lively, like riding a horse!
Practise rhythm Pattern: March (2/4)
Homework for next time
Five days, about ten minutes each:
- Tune first every day.
- Days 1–2: whole, half, quarter, eighth on A – count out loud.
- Day 3: march pattern with metronome, alternating A and E7.
- Days 4–5: Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz in A.
- Fun: march around the room while you count!
Done when …
- you can demonstrate the four note values on A
- you play the march evenly all the way through
If you get stuck
- Your whole note gets too short? After strumming, keep counting with your hand – tap your foot quietly along.
- The march stumbles? Play only “down, down” first, then add the “up”.
For teachers: lesson plan
- ≈ 10 min Warm-up: clap note values – the teacher shows cards with whole, half, quarter and eighth notes.
- ≈ 15 min Practice: four groups play A at the same time in wholes, halves, quarters and eighths – a living rhythm picture.
- ≈ 20 min Together: Ein Jäger aus Kurpfalz – march around the room while the guitars play, standing or seated.
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/19/