Lesson 4: E major

Week 4 of 27

Goal: You play E major and switch between Em and E – just one finger makes the difference.

Review

Last week: pressing properly. Play blues level 1 once – does B ring clearly?

Step by step

  1. Play Em as usual: middle finger on the A string, ring finger on the D string, both at the 2nd fret.
  2. Now add your index finger: G string, 1st fret. That’s E – E major. Listen: it sounds brighter, happier.
  3. Make sure your index finger doesn’t touch the B string below it. Pluck the strings one by one from low to high: do all six ring?
  4. Practise switching: middle and ring fingers stay put, only the index finger lifts off and lands again. Em – E – Em – E.
  5. Song time: Bruder Jakob in E needs only one chord. The backing waits for you.
E231

Time to make music: your piece

Bruder Jakob in E – only E major, four downstrokes per bar. Then in the rhythm tool: four times Em, four times E, round and round.

Bruder Jakob in E

Practise rhythm Pattern: Only down

Homework for next time

Five days, about ten minutes each:

  • Tune first every day.
  • Days 1–2: play E, pluck the strings one by one – do all six ring?
  • Days 3–4: Em – E – Em – E, only the index finger moves.
  • Day 5: play along with Bruder Jakob in E.
  • Fun: sing Bruder Jakob while you play!

Done when …

  • all six strings ring when you play E
  • you can switch between Em and E in time
  • you play Bruder Jakob all the way through once

If you get stuck

  • The B string sounds muffled? Your index finger is too flat. Arch it so only the tip touches the G string.
  • Three fingers at once is hard? Place them one after another: middle, then ring, then index. In time they’ll all land together.
For teachers: lesson plan
  1. ≈ 10 min Warm-up: the teacher alternates Em and E – the group calls out “sad” or “happy”.
  2. ≈ 15 min Practice: “index finger hop” – on cue, the group lifts only the index finger and puts it back, without strumming.
  3. ≈ 20 min Together: Bruder Jakob in E – first everyone sings, then everyone strums E along, finally sing it as a round in two groups.

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/4/

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