Learn Basic 1-3-4-5 Chord Progression C, Em, F, G

Goal: Understand and learn the chord progressions presented in the document for guitar, piano, and bass guitar.

Materials:

Study Plan:

Phase 1: Basic 1-3-4-5 Chord Progression (Pages 1-2, top sections)

Day 1: Introduction to C, Em, F, G (Page 1)
- Focus: Identify the C, Em, F, and G chords for your instrument.
- Activity:
  - Look at the chord diagrams/notation for C, Em, F, and G on Page 1.
  - Practice playing each chord individually until you can comfortably switch between them.
  - Play the "C Em F G C Em F G" progression slowly. Pay attention to the transitions.
  - Repeat this until the changes feel smooth.
Day 2: Reinforcing the Basic Progression (Page 1)
- Focus: Build speed and fluidity with the C-Em-F-G progression.
- Activity:
  - Start with a slow metronome (e.g., 60 bpm) and play the C Em F G progression, holding each chord for 4 beats.
  - Gradually increase the tempo as you feel more comfortable.
  - If available, try playing along with a backing track in the key of C.
Day 3: Introducing Cmaj7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7 (Page 2, top section)
- Focus: Learn the 7th chords corresponding to the 1-3-4-5 progression.
- Activity:
  - Examine the diagrams/notation for Cmaj7, Em7, Fmaj7, and G7 on Page 2.
  - Practice playing each 7th chord individually. Note the differences from the basic triads.
  - Play the "Cmaj7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7" progression slowly.
  - Compare the feel of the 7th chord progression to the basic triad progression.

Phase 2: Exploring Different Voicings and Rhythms (Pages 1-2, middle and bottom sections)

Day 4: Varied Voicings and Rhythms (Page 1, middle/bottom sections)
- Focus: Understand how the same C, Em, F, G chords can be played with different fingerings or rhythms.
- Activity:
  - Identify the different ways C, Em, F, and G are presented on Page 1 (e.g., higher fret positions on guitar, different inversions on piano).
  - Choose one new voicing for each chord and practice incorporating it into the C-Em-F-G progression.
  - Pay attention to the rhythmic notations (e.g., "-3-"). Practice playing these rhythms accurately.
Day 5: Varied 7th Chord Voicings and Rhythms (Page 2, middle/bottom sections)
- Focus: Apply the concept of varied voicings and rhythms to the 7th chords.
- Activity:
  - Examine the different voicings and rhythmic notations for Cmaj7, Em7, Fmaj7, and G7 on Page 2.
  - Practice playing these variations.
  - Try to create your own variations by combining different voicings with the provided rhythms.
Day 6: Putting it All Together
- Focus: Consolidate your understanding of both basic and 7th chords with different voicings and rhythms.
- Activity:
  - Choose a section from Page 1 and play it through.
  - Choose a section from Page 2 and play it through.
  - Try to alternate between sections from both pages, challenging yourself to switch between different chord types and voicings.

Phase 3: Application and Creativity

Day 7: Improvisation and Songwriting Ideas
- Focus: Apply what you've learned to create your own music.
- Activity:
  - Using the C-Em-F-G progression (or Cmaj7-Em7-Fmaj7-G7), try to create a simple melody over the chords.
  - Experiment with different rhythms and voicings you've learned.
  - Try to write a short 4 or 8-bar progression using these chords.

Ongoing Practice:

Daily Warm-up: Spend 5-10 minutes each day reviewing the basic C-Em-F-G and Cmaj7-Em7-Fmaj7-G7 progressions.
Transposition (Advanced): Once you're comfortable with these chords in C, try to transpose them to other keys (e.g., G, D, A). This will greatly enhance your understanding of chord theory.
Listen Actively: Pay attention to songs you hear and try to identify when similar 1-3-4-5 progressions are used.

This plan is a guideline. Feel free to adjust it based on your learning pace and prior experience. Good luck!

Johnny Jam