Lesson #35: Time Signatures in B, for Example (Guitar, Intermediate)

You already know common time (4/4):

1 2 3 4...
or
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

You already know waltz time (3/4)

1 2 3...
or
one TWO THREE...

You already know 6/8:

1 2 3 FOUR 2 3...

You already have the feel to swing that 4/4:

1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a...

Now check out 5/4. It's basically five quarter notes per measure:

1 2 3 4 5...
or
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and...

And it just might liven up a tired riff or chord progression.

B 2 3 E 5
F 2 3 4 5

B and 2 and F# and G#m and E and

5/4 is quite odd, but in the right hands (pun...haha), it works!

Lesson #25: Common Time in E (Guitar, Beginner)

Did you learn the chords from yesterday's lesson? We're going to put those chords to use and start strumming in common time. In published sheet music, this is often stated as 4/4 time. Count it out!

In quarter notes: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4... Four quarter notes make a full measure (and you thought this wouldn't be fractions and math class!).

In faster eighth notes: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Got it? Let's try this chord progression:

E 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, E 2 3 4, A 2 3 4...and repeat...E 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, E 2 3 4, A 2 3 4...

Or this one:

E 2 3 4, B 2 3 4, E 2 3 4, B 2 3 4...

Or this one:

E and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and
E and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

E 2 3 4, B 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, A 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

E and 2 and 3 and 4 and
B and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and
A and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Five chords?

E and 2 and B and 4 and
A and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C#m and 2 and B and 4 and
F#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Six chords?

E and 2 and F#m and 4 and
G#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and
A and 2 and B and 4 and
C#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Seven chords?

E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
C#m 2 3 4
G# 2 G#m 4
E 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
E 2 3 4
B 2 3 4
C#m 2 3 4
G# 2 3 4
A 2 F#m 4
E 2 3 4
E

Get comfortable with fast chord changes!

Lesson #16: Common Time in D (Guitar, Beginner)

Did you learn the chords from yesterday's lesson? We're going to put those chords to use and start strumming in common time. In published sheet music, this is often stated as 4/4 time. Count it out!

In quarter notes: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4... Four quarter notes make a full measure (and you thought this wouldn't be fractions and math class!).

In faster eighth notes: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Got it? Let's try this chord progression:

D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...and repeat...D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...

Or this one:

D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4...

Or this one:

D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and
D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

D 2 3 4, A 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
A and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Five chords?

D and 2 and A and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Bm and 2 and A and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Six chords?

D and 2 and Em and 4 and
F#m and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and A and 4 and
Bm and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Get comfortable with fast chord changes!

Lesson #9: Common Time in G (Guitar, Beginner)

Did you learn the chords from yesterday's lesson? We're going to put those chords to use and start strumming in common time. In published sheet music, this is often stated as 4/4 time. Count it out!

In quarter notes: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4... Four quarter notes make a full measure (and you thought this wouldn't be fractions and math class!).

In faster eighth notes: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Got it? Let's try this chord progression:

G 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, C 2 3 4...and repeat...G 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, C 2 3 4...

Or this one:

G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4...

Or this one:

G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and
G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

G 2 3 4, D 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, C 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

G and 2 and 3 and 4 and
D and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Five chords?

G and 2 and D and 4 and
C and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Em and 2 and D and 4 and
Am and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Get comfortable with fast chord changes!

Lesson #2: Common Time in C (Guitar, Beginner)

Did you learn the chords from yesterday's lesson? Yes, they are hard on the fingers and tricky to remember, but keep at it! We're going to put those chords to use and start strumming in common time. In published sheet music, this is often stated as 4/4 time. Count it out!

In quarter notes: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4... Four quarter notes make a full measure (and you thought this wouldn't be fractions and math class!).

In faster eighth notes: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Got it? Let's try this chord progression:

C 2 3 4, F 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, F 2 3 4...and repeat...C 2 3 4, F 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, F 2 3 4...

Or this one:

C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4...

Or this one:

C and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Am and 2 and 3 and 4 and
C and 2 and 3 and 4 and
Am and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

Like juggling, let's try three chords:

C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, F 2 3 4, F 2 3 4...

Now four chords:

C 2 3 4, G 2 3 4, Am 2 3 4, F 2 3 4...

Get the picture? Good.